Gnatzig, Johnson and Bilderback Win LGR Crowns! By Dale R. Erdmann

October 8, 2004; Lake Geneva, WI. - After an all day rain at 4:55 pm.the skies parted and the 8th.annual Small Car World Championships took place at Lake Geneva Raceway, Friday night on Bilderback Auto Parts of South Beloit night. ”Doctor tooth” Ken Johnson out of Park Ridge, Illinois won his fifth title in the Luisa’s pizzeria mini modifieds. Johnson
had fast time and won the 15 lap feature race.Curt Gnatzig of Hartford had a excellent night by taking a clean sweep in the INEX legends class and won his second championship in three seasons. Gnatzig took fast time, won his heat and the non stop 20 lap feature.

Photo Highlights

During the Small Car World Champ- ionships Curt Gnatzig won the Legends feature Friday at Lake Geneva Raceway and captured the track Legends title. Vincent Merry won the sport truck feature and the track championship Friday at OGeneva. Michael Bilderback was best in the Bandelero class main event and was crowned track champ in his class. Ken Johnson swept the mini-modifieds events during racing Friday during the Small Car World Championships at LGR and won the championship in the process. Jeff Lesage topped the Rascal Outlaw feature Friday at Lake Geneva Raceway during the Small Car World Championships

Michael Bilderback of South Beloit,IL.the defending champion in the bandolero cars had a perfect night, by taking a clean sweep with fast time, winning his heat and the 10 lap feature, which gave the Beloit Junior high school driver the 2004 championship. First nighter Chris Hibbard a rookie from nearby Fontana showed everyone he would be a threat to this division next season as he took fast time, won the heat and the 10 lap feature.

Fast qualifier Jeff LeSage won his first 20 lap Rascal outlaws feature of the year. .Vincent Merry of Wadsworth,IL. took another clean sweep,this time in the 4 cylinder class and in the Burris touring karts, features went to Cody Lipstreuer for the kids karts, Brad Becker for the champ karts and Aaron Kitzenberg nipped Tyler Peterson a third generation racer with just one lap to go for the win of the senior karts.

The non stop mini modified feature brought Hermie Schultz into the lead with rookies Scott McCarthy and Gerardo Giuliano next.Lap three Glen Vernezze was on the move running third on lap one,second on lap two and in the lead on lap four.
The next two laps Schultz and Ken Johnson fought for second with Mike VanHouten looking for an opening.Johnson moved in on the leader and just as the midway signal was shown it was a new show as the lead changed for the final time.Vernezze had big problems on lap fourteen dropping out with engine problems.At the checkered Johnson was clearly the winner,with VanHouten second,Andy Krueger third,as Curt Thomzazin, Phil Schultz and Hermie Schultz all within inches of each other.

Michael Bilderback led lap number one of the legends feature with Robb Duffek and Curt Gnatzig in hot pursuit.Duffek got under Bilderback on lap two,with Gnatzig quickly following.Four laps later there would be another new leader and there be no looking back, as Gnatzig won the race ahead of Duffek, Steve Licht, Bilderback and Ernie Schaal.

The bandolero feature brought out the only Yellow Book USA caution, with Michael Cooter back after the first time since that incident that left his race car damaged, out   front, before Kyle Jusits spun and was nearly collected on the wall, but some slick driving stopped that from happening,but the race came to a halt. On the restart Cooter and Michael Bilderback raced into the first corner with a new leader before the lap ended.Until the finish and the win,Cooter stayed right on Bilderback’s bumper for second, with rookie Kyle Palma fourth, Jusits fifth and Dwight Dunlap fifth.

The open wheel Rascal outlaws feature was close as Mark Findley darted out front Lee Halverson, Dave Shine and Rob Pollak remained in a cluster. Halverson slipped In front on lap nine,then fast timer Jeff LeSage crept in front three laps later going on To win just inches ahead of rookie Keith Christophersen. ollowing next was Kip Novothy, Butch Torkelson, John LeSage and John Benkert, in another close race.

The final two oval track events come on Saturday October 23rd. for the Midwest Enduro series stock car event at2:30pm. Then on Saturday October 30th.the Great Lakes enduro group puts on a show at 4pm.in the memory of Mark”tiny”Amborn.

INEX Legends
A-Main 01 -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Robb Duffek, Orland Park, Ill.; 3. Steve Licht, Burlington, Wis; 4. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 5. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill..

Heat 01 -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Steve Licht, Burlington, Wis; 3. Robb Duffek, Orland Park, Ill.; 4. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 5. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill..

Time Trial -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Steve Licht, Burlington, Wis; 3. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 4. Robb Duffek, Orland Park, Ill.; 5. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 6. Hermann Greinig, Addison, Ill..

Mini-Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.; 2. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 3. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Phil Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 6. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 7. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 8. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 10. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 11. Glen Vernezze,

Heat 01 -- 1. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 4. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 5. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 6. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis.
Heat 02 -- 1. Phil Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 2. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 5. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill..

Time Trial -- 1. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.; 2. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Phil Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 5. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 6. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 7. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 9. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 10. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.;

Bandoleros
A-Main 01 -- 1. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Michael Cooter (y);; 3. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 4. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 5. Dwight Dunlap (o), Machesney Park, Ill..

Heat 01 -- 1. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Michael Cooter (y);; 3. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 4. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 5. Dwight Dunlap (o), Machesney Park, Ill..

Time Trial -- 1. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Michael Cooter (y);; 3. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 4. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 5. Dwight Dunlap (o), Machesney Park, Ill.

Rascal Outlaws
A Main 01. 1.Jeff LeSage,Elgin,Ill; 2.Keith Christophersen,Antioch,Ill.;. 3.Kip Novothy,Johnsburg,Ill; 4.Chris Bedor,Poplar Grove,Ill;5.Chris Carlson,Cary,Ill;6.Jim Thiel,Tinley Park,Ill;

Heat 01---1.Lee Halverson,Bristol,Wis; 2.Jim Thiel,Tinley Park,Ill. 3.Rob Pollack,Lake Geneva,Wis;
Heat 02--- 1.Keith Christophersen,Antioch,Ill; 2.Chris Carlson,Cary,Ill; 3.Kip Novothy ,Johnsburg,Ill;
Time Trial—1.Jeff LaSage