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Raceway Loses It's Best Friend, But The Show Did Go
On!
By Dale R. Erdmann |
All of this sounded like a normal night,but one person was
missing.Mark “Tiny” Amborn of Burlington.Tiny was everyones friend and will be
sadly missed by the fans,officials and drivers of Lake Geneva raceway. Mark died Saturday
morning at 34 years of age. Mark is survived by his wife Jenny,daughters Alyson and Emily.
Back in the day, Tiny was the gas person for Russ Blakeley and current the crew chief for
Jack Rubach.Before racing, nearly every driver brought their mini modified, sportsman,
super stock and super late model onto the track for a moment of silence as a black flag
lap took place,as race fans stood in total silence and shook,that a truly nice person was
gone.As of this release, no further information about funeral arrangements were available.
Chuck Duncan moved in front of the super late model feature with Billy Skinner Jr. Jesse
Wilcox Jr. Shane Bishop and Terry Patnode in hot pursuit. Lap five Wilcoxdumped something
on the surface,in turn three. Rob Summers, Don Collins, Jacob
Humphrey and Tony Bentz all flew off the track,with the first Yellow Book USA caution
period. No one was injured,but Collins who just returned after three weeks of putting his
race car back together, now had more damage.
On the restart Duncan walked away from the field for the next three laps, before Skinner
came across the line first. The group behind the leader was side by side, with Patnode,
Eddie May and quick timer Jamie Wallace. On lap fifteen Bentz and Summers tangled stopping
the race again. Under way for just three more laps, Kent Burkoth tagged Jeff Holgren Jr.
sending him around and another caution came out.
On the next green May scooted out front with Skinner and Patnode both looking for
second.On lap thirty the caution appeared for a precautionary reason,as a heavyodor of
gear lube was present. This cut May’s big lead, with Patnode and Wallace putting on
the pressure .The final caution came on lap thirty two, when Skinner Jr. made contact with
point leader Jason Hicks who was running fourth, sending him around in front of the field.
Everyone cleared the spun car. May won the contest with Wallace and Patnode nearly a dead
heat, but in that order. Rick Corso, Landy Potter and Randy Rodgers. A post race
inspection dropped Patnode from the feature finish.
John Maki Jr. and Tom Boyd dueled for the lead in the super stock feature for the first
three laps. Mike Bell got around Boyd, with Daryl Traber, Dave Edwards and Adam Regnier
all within striking distrance. The first caution of the evening came with Tom Roney leaked
something in turn two. Everyone slid everywhere but no one received any damage.On the
restart,it took Janssen six laps to get by Bell,but Maki was running a great race in
front.
With five laps to go,things were heating up at the top, as Maki and Janssen ran side by
side, before the lead changed with four laps to go. That was short lived because Bob
Moeller now was right there. Coming for the white flag, it was again
to close to call, as Moeller pulled ahead with just one lap to go. Jack Rubach who had
fast time and was racing tonight because his late friend would have wanted it that way,
managed to move up ,but fall short of taking the lead and the win. Moeller won his third
feature, with Rubach ,Regnier, Adam Mass, Janssen and Scott Norton in a very close race
finish.
Eric Pierce and Danny Powell raced hard together before Powell slipped in front. Jamie
Dorsey moved into second and set his sights on the leader, who he caught on lap seven to
take over the lead. On lap eleven Mike Smart raced along side Dorsey before moving out
front briefly,before the caution came out for Bobby Giers solo spin. Dorsey moved back in
front,with Smart losing second to Jeremy Bloomberg two laps later.
The final caution came just after Bloomberg took over the lead on lap sixteen. Pierce
collected Gary Norton and then Randy Schneider got involved,before all race cars were
stopped. Bloomberg climbed back on top and won the race over Dorsey, Smart, a recovered
Giers, quick timer Kenny Joosten and Pierce.
Glen Vernezze moved in front of the mini modified feature with Curt Thomazin, Jesse
Johnson and Mike VanHouten all over the leader.Van Houten was on the Move,smoothly moving
into second on lap five. Fast qualifier Ken Johnson joined the cluster up front on lap
ten,with Phil Schultz moving past Thomazin.
Vernezze looked like a sure winner,but on lap fourteen the veteran driver veered To the
right, then the left and spun around as Van Houten went by to win the race, Ken Johnson
was second, with Schultz, Tomazin, Andy Krueger and Gerardo
Giuliano sixth.
Next Saturday night Speedway Auto Mall presents the rescheduled legends Regional
qualifier, along with the bandolero cars. Plus a full race program of Super late
models and super stocks. Quality Tire/American car care center will present the Midwest
sportsman championship series events. Time trials begin at 5:45 pm first race at 7pm.
Mini-Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 2. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.; 3. Phil
Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 4. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva,
Wis; 6. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 7. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 8. Jesse
Johnson, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 10. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.;
11. Chris
Heat 01 -- 1. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva,
Wis; 2. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 3. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 4. Jesse
Johnson, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.;
7. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge,
Ill.; 2. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 3. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 4. Phil Schultz,
Silver Lake, Wis; 5. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.;
7. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 8. Jesse Johnson, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. Andy Krueger, Lake
Geneva, Wis; 10. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 11. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis; 12.
Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Phil Schultz, Silver
Lake, Wis; 2. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 3. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.; 4. Glen
Vernezze, Salem, Wis.
Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, Ill.; 2. Jamie Dorsey, Rockford, Ill.; 3. Ken
Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 4. Bobby Giers, McHenry, Ill.; 5. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder Lake,
Ill.; 6. Erik Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 7. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 8. Gary
Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 9. Danny Powell, Polo, Ill.; 10. Jack Clark, Delafield, Wis; 11.
Rick Rowlett, Marengo,
Ill.; 12. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis.
Heat 01 -- 1. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun,
Wis; 2. Rick Rowlett, Marengo, Ill.; 3. Danny Powell, Polo, Ill.; 4. Jamie Dorsey,
Rockford, Ill.; 5. Ken Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 6. Erik Pierce,Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 7.
Jack Clark, Delafield, Wis; 8. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis; 9. Russ Blakeley,
Delavan, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder
Lake, Ill.; 2. Bobby Giers, McHenry, Ill.; 3. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 4. Jeremy
Bloomberg, Hampshire, Ill.; 5. Ken Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 6. Jack Clark, Delafield, Wis;
7. Jamie Dorsey, Rockford, Ill.; 8. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 9. Russ Blakeley,
Delavan, Wis; 10. Danny Powell, Polo, Ill.; 11. Erik Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.;
12. Rick Rowlett, Marengo, Ill.; 13. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Bobby Giers, McHenry,
Ill.; 2. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, Ill.; 3. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 4. Kenny Joosten
(t), Wonder Lake, Ill.
Super Late
Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Jamie Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 3. Rick
Corso (t), McHenry, Ill.; 4. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Randy Rodgers (t),
Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Kent Burkoth (t), Burlington, Wis; 7. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 8.
Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 9. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 10. Brandon
Hill, Lake Geneva, Wis; 11. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 12. Rob Summers, Lake Geneva,
Wis; 13. Tony Bentz;; 14. Jason Hicks, Delavan, Wis; 15. Jesse Wilcox Jr., Delavan, Wis;
16. Dave Martinson, Waukegan,Ill.; 17. Billy Skinner Jr (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 18. Ron
Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 19. Fran Prestay, Waterford, Wis; 20. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis.
Heat 01 -- 1. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth,
Ill.; 2. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 3. Jesse Wilcox Jr., Delavan, Wis; 4. Tony Bentz;; 5.
Rob Summers, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Ron Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 7. Dave Martinson, Waukegan,
Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis;
2. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Terry Patnode, South Milwaukee, Wis; 4. Billy
Skinner Jr (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 5. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 6. Jason Hicks,
Delavan, Wis; 7. Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Kent Burkoth (t), Burlington, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Jamie Wallace, Pell Lake,
Wis; 2. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Randy Rodgers (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Fran
Prestay, Waterford, Wis; 5. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Rick Corso (t),
McHenry, Ill.; 7. Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Jason Hicks,Delavan, Wis; 9. Jeff
Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 10. Terry Patnode, South Milwaukee, Wis;
11. Billy Skinner Jr (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 12. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 13. Chuck
Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 14. Jesse Wilcox Jr., Delavan, Wis; 15. Ron Stoehr, Dousman, Wis;
16. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 17. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 18. Rob Summers, Lake
Geneva, Wis; 19. Tony Bentz;; 20. Dave Martinson, Waukegan, Ill.; 21. Kent Burkoth (t),
Burlington, Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jamie Wallace, Pell
Lake, Wis; 2. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Rick Corso (t), McHenry, Ill.; 4. Randy
Rodgers (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Fran Prestay,
Waterford, Wis.
Super Stocks
A-Main 01 -- 1. Bob Moeller, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Jack Rubach (t), Burlington, Wis; 3. Adam
Regnier, Twin Lakes, Wis; 4. Adam Mass (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 5. John Janssen, Burlington,
Wis; 6. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 7. John Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.; 8. Dave Edwards,
Salem, Wis; 9. Mike Bell, Waukesha, Wis; 10. Shane Sapp, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 11. Daryl
Traber;; 12. Tom Fay (t),
Arlington Heights, Ill.; 13. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis; 14. Kyle Prestay, Kansasville,
Wis; 15. Tom Boyd, Antioch, Ill.; 16. Tom Jastrab, Pell Lake, Wis; 17. Dan Clemenz,
Waukegan, Ill.; 18. Tom Roney, Ridgefield, Ill.; 19. Brian Gunderson;Waterford; 20. Mike
Gunderson (t),Wind Lake, Wis.
B-Main 01 -- 1. Tom Jastrab, Pell Lake,
Wis; 2. Kyle Prestay, Kansasville, Wis; 3. Jason Krage, Huntley, Ill.; 4. Willy Peterson,
Woodstock, Ill.; 5. Chris Sackman, Union Grove, Wis; 6. Bill Morris (t), Streamwood, Ill.;
7. Rick Paap, Franksville, Wis.
Heat 01 -- 1. Tom Fay (t), Arlington
Heights, Ill.; 2. Willy Peterson, Woodstock, Ill.; 3. Tom Jastrab, Pell Lake, Wis; 4. Dan
Clemenz, Waukegan, Ill.; 5. Kyle Prestay, Kansasville, Wis; 6. Jason Krage, Huntley, Ill.;
7. Bill Morris (t), Streamwood, Ill.; 8. Chris Sackman, Union Grove, Wis; 9. Rick Paap,
Franksville, Wis.
Heat 02 -- 1. John Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.;
2. John Janssen, Burlington, Wis; 3. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis; 4. Tom Roney,
Ridgefield, Ill.; 5. Adam Mass (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 6. Daryl Traber;; 7.Brian
Gunderson;Waterford; 8. Tom Boyd, Antioch, Ill.; 9. Mike Bell, Waukesha, Wis; 10. Dave
Edwards, Salem, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Jack Rubach (t),
Burlington, Wis; 2. Mike Gunderson (t), Wind Lake, Wis; 3. Bob Moeller, McHenry, Ill.; 4.
Shane Sapp, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 6. Adam Regnier, Twin
Lakes, Wis; 7. Tom Roney, Ridgefield, Ill.; 8. Adam Mass (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 9. John
Janssen, Burlington, Wis; 10. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 11. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis;
12. Daryl Traber;; 13. Brian Gunderson;Waterford; 14. Mike Bell, Waukesha, Wis; 15. John
Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.; 16. Tom Boyd, Antioch, Ill.; 17. Dan Clemenz, Waukegan, Ill.; 18.
Tom Fay (t), Arlington Heights, Ill.; 19. Tom Jastrab, Pell Lake, Wis; 20. Brent Mason,
Winthrop Harbor, Ill.;21. Kyle Prestay, Kansasville, Wis; 22. Willy Peterson, Woodstock,
Ill.; 23. Bill Morris (t),
Streamwood, Ill.; 24. Jason Krage, Huntley, Ill.; 25. Chris Sackman, Union Grove, Wis; 26.
Rick Paap, Franksville, Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jack Rubach (t),
Burlington, Wis; 2. Adam Regnier, Twin Lakes, Wis; 3. Bob Moeller, McHenry, Ill.; 4. Mike
Gunderson (t), Wind Lake, Wis; 5. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 6. Shane Sapp, Crystal
Lake, Ill.. |
