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Miller Wins MSCS Feature,
Humphrey Chalks Up First SLM Win!
By Dale R. Erdmann |
sportsman champion started off where he ended last season, winning the 40 lap feature race
for the two year old series. ”I hope to win this series again” Miller told track
announcer Dave Kamholtz, after his impressive win.
The next series event is at Slinger Speedway on May 23rd. In other action
17 year old Jacob Humphrey of Lake Geneva,the 2003 millennium champion won his first
career 35 lap feature in the Jim Olson Collision centers super late model division.
Humphrey in only his fourth start in this division has amazed even the veteran drivers
with his great finishes so far this season. This bright young star is a junior at Badger
high school less than one mile up the street from the raceway. John Janssen out of
Burlington,another former champion won the non stop McHenry Limousine super stock feature
and Kip Novotny from Johnsburg,IL. won the Novotny Sales and Service 20 lap Rascal Outlaw
feature and took fast time.
Jamie Dorsey came off the outside pole and moved to a comfortable
lead at
quickly at the drop of the green in the MSCS main event. Erik Pierce, Bobby Hacker and
Josh Nelms ran in a cluster behind him. By the end of the tenth lap Nelms was second but
the leader was still some distance ahead of the field, that still remained very tight.
By lap twelve Jeremy Miller had worked his way up to third and Nelms was starting to
challenge the leader. Then on lap eighteen contact was made between Nelms and the leader.
Around went Dorsey and out came the only Yellow pages USA caution period. Both drivers
were sent to the back and Miller was the new leader. First Josh Bauer stayed with the
leader,with Hacker getting his second wind on the inside.
With just ten laps to go fast qualifier James Swan and John Senerchia were moving around
Hacker. The top ten were close, as Ken Smart put the pressure on Hacker with just eight
laps to go. Swan suddenly slowed and dropped to the infield on lap thirty four with
unknown problems. It was Miller taking the win with Senerchia at his tail, Bauer was along
side for third, with Hacker was fourth and Bill Prietzel nipping Smart at the wire, as the
top eleven were under a blanket.
The super late model feature was another fast and furious contest as the veteran Don
Collins and former millennium late model driver, only in his second year of racing Earl
Counter dueled for the lead. Vincent Merry, Jeff Lorenz, rookieDave Thomas a former
sportsman driver and Shane Bishop were all trying to advance.
Merry slipped around Counter on lap six. The intense pace was slowed on lap thirteen when
Jeff Menolascino and Steve Vaughn tangled bringing out the Yellow Pages USA caution
period.
On the restart Collins again walked away from the field after a brief tussle with Merry
and Thomas. Bishop and Jacob Humphrey picked the right lane with both all over Thomas
within one lap. The next caution came on lap nineteen, again on as the green flew Collins
marched in front with now Bishop, Humphrey and Merry searching for a way to move up.
Somehow Bishop crept inside of the leader on lap twenty one and there was a new leader.
Humphrey briefly followed but Collins came right back only to have his move taken away one
lap later. Fast timer Rick Corso was now in the fray as Merry could feel the pressure with
Randy Rodgers next.
With just six laps to go Humphrey was looking for a way around Bishop.
This twosome raced together for the next three laps
before Humphrey moved in front for good and went on to win the feature in fine fashion.
Bishop was second with Rodgers staying in front of Corso,Collins and Merry in a close
finish.
The super stock feature brought Dave Melahn in the Adam Regnier mount out front with Zac
Deeringer in the Tom Fay ride and Darryl Traber in the Al Kuphal race car, John Janssen
and Ken Eisbrenner following the leader.Deeringer had problems drifting forwards the wall
before recovering. Scott Norton moved along side Matz and the race still looked like a
parade lap on lap eight.
Traber and Janssen were able to move up with Melahn just a few feet ahead of both of them
on lap ten. From laps eleven to sixteen the lead changed three times as Traber put on a
show with the leader, before the top spot changed hands. Moving in for the challenge
Jack Rubach diced with Janssen for four laps. Then Bob Moeller joined the group at the top
and it was too close to call.
Janssen moved along side Traber a few times but the Midwest Enduro promoter would not give
up and either would Janssen. With the white flag out Janssen inched ahead for good and
went on to win the race. Rubach nipped Traber at the line, with
Moeller, Mike Gunderson and fast qualifier Norm Paulsen completing the top six for another
barn burner race.
The Rascal outlaws feature started off with Rob Pollack out front with Steve Kreft, John
LeSage, Jeff LeSage and Kip Novotny all over the leader. Butch Torkelson somehow moved up
and into the lead on lap seven, but Pollack and Novotny were not going to let the new
leader out of their sights. On Lap twelve Pollack slowed and then stopped in turn one on
the edge of the surface. This brought out the only caution of the event.
On the restart everyone got out of quack as the green reappeared and Mark Findley spun but
did not cause a caution, as he fell in at the tail. Quickly Novotny overhauled Torkelson
and went on to easily win the event over Dale Olson, Jeff LeSage John LeSage who was upset
by his brother’s move to finish in front of him. Kreft and rookie Keith
Christopherson in his first race.
The stadium course moto cross racing weekly Friday night show begins this weekend at 8pm.
On Saturday night on the oval the Luisa’s Pizzeria mini modifieds are here for the
first ever appearance along with the super late models, super stocks and sportsman.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS Lake Geneva Raceway May 1st, 2004:
Results Not Available
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