 |
Gillentine and Merry Score Another Clean Sweep!
By Dale R. Erdmann |
17 yearold Ernie Schaal of Wauconda,IL.a rookie in the
Perfection auto body legends class, won his first career 15 lap feature.Glen Vernezze of
Salem won his second Lusia’s pizzeria mini modified 15 lap feature.Joe Bechtold of
Carol Stream,IL. took fast time and won his first 12 lap feature of the season for the
Central states region super mini cups. Point leader Michael Bilderback of South
Beloit,IL.just missed a clean sweep, but won the heat and the 9 lap feature for the
Bandana bandito bandolero cars and 17 year old Josh Wallace of Pell Lake, won his second
feature of his rookie season, leading every lap in the S&P motorsports millennium late
models, 25 lap main event.
Josh Wallace darted in front of the millennium late model feature with Brad Kossow, Ryan
Walsh, Mark Hartline and Mike Held in only his second visit here were all over the leader.
On lap four something had to give and it sure did,as Hartline and Walsh made contact in a
racing incident,causing Walsh to slam into the wall. No one was injured, but Walsh had
some damage but came back before the green was displayed.
As the field came out of four for the green,fast timer Keith Tolf spun causing another
delay. When racing finally resumed, Wallace had Hartline right on his bumper with Bill
Hobson looking for an opening, then Brian Ulrich, Paul Dygon, Sonny Schoffen and Kossow
were in close formation. On lap twelve it wasn’t Tolf’s night as he now got
together with Schoffen for the final Yellow Book USA caution period. Hobson charged up on
the leader when the final green came out,but now Dygon was there and things were heating
up for those final ten laps.
Wallace held his own,as the it was a see/saw battle for second,it was just too close to
call. Before the race was over race fans got their monies worth,as Wallace won the race
over Dygon, Ulrich, Hobson, Schoffen and Hartline, in the closest finish of the month.
The legends feature brought Kyle LaPier in front briefly, then retiring to the pits with
problems. Rookie Tom Palma scooted in front,with Ernie Schaal second. From near rear of
the field Michael Bilderback was now third, even with the slick outside groove, the young
rookie slipped into second by lap three. On lap six, the leader and Steve Licht tangled,
causing Palma to spin and the only caution would come out.
On the restart Bilderback moved past Schaal becoming the new leader, leading lap
seven.Schaal was on the inside and gained the top spot one lap later, with point leader
Curt Gnatzig now on the move, as this threesome put on a great show. Hermann Greinig who
was running fourth,had Licht already back to fifth by lap ten. The five lap dash was
great, first Gnatzig led lap twelve, but Schaal wasn’t going to be intimidated. Just
before the white flag came out, Licht rejoined the front runners, mixing up the group, but
Schaal wasn’t going to be stopped, as he won the feature, just ahead of Licht,
Gnatzig and Bilderback in the closest feature of the night. Greinig and Palma rounded the
top six.
The mini modified feature saw Jesse Johnson move in front with Gerardo Giuliano, Glen
Vernezze and Andy Krueger all trying to be the leader. Johnson had problems coming off
turn four slipping just slightly and Vernezze quickly charged
in front on lap three, just before the John DeMay went around in turn four and the rare
caution appeared. Two laps later an even rarer sight was a Hermie Schultz spin in the same
spot for the final caution of the race.
All out racing ensued for the final nine laps,Vernezze now had Johnson back on his bumper,
with Mike VanHouten a very close third and Phil Schultz fourth.Giuliano retired to the
pits on lap eleven, with problems while running eighth. VanHouten got stuck behind a
lapped car,as time ran out. Vernezze breezed to a safe margin of victory, VanHouten was
second, with Phil Schultz, Johnson, quick qualifier and point leader Ken Johnson fifth and
Krueger completed the top six.
The bandolero feature was all Michael Bilderback’s as he led every lap, but the green
flag start was perfect,as it became a four way battle for that top spot. Kyle LaPier who
turned fast time and fresh from his win of the championship at
another area race track, tailed eventual winner Bilderback the entire race with third
place Michael Cooter win streak ending at two.Kyle Jusits was fourth and Steven Erickson
fifth.
Next Friday night marks the end of the season for weekly Friday night racing. This will
not be championship nights for any of the divisions. They will be determined at the small
car world championships sponsored by Bilderback used auto parts of South Beloit,IL. This
event will take place on October 1st. The millennium cars will have their championship
September 25th.part of the Saturday night show.
Next Friday nights program kicks off three days of racing over the
Labor Day weekend. The Basic international cars return after two weeks away. The open
wheel Rascal Outlaws will be here, along with the millennium late models, mini-modifieds,
sport trucks, legends and the bandolero cars.
Originally the bandolero’s were to race both Friday and Saturday
night. But because of curfew on Saturday night and four divisions plus Doug Rose and his
green mamba jet dragster, the schedule was too tight so now the Bandoleros will race
the following three Saturday nights.
For additional information call 262-248-8566.
Pro motocross racing will run through the end of September, due to
all the rain outs earlier in the season. |