Binkert, Luedtke and Hill Score First Career Wins at LGR! By Dale R. Erdmann

July 8, 2005;  Lake Geneva, WI. -  It was another big night of racing Friday night at Lake Geneva raceway, as over 80 race cars were in the pit area. John Binkert of McHenry, Illinois scored his first ever win in the open wheel rascal outlaws leading all 15 of the laps for the driver who started racing back in 1997. Mark Ludtke of Lake Geneva won his first career feature the weapons division 15 lapper, on his first night out. Mark was a former street stock driver back in the early 90’s here. Kevin Hill of McHenry,IL. also won his first feature in the Double R towing Basic International cars for the 15 lap non stop-event. Four time champion Vincent Merry of Wadsworth,IL .found another Midwes sport truck to use, winning another 15 lap feature and points leader Josh Wallace of Pell Lake survived the 25 lap late model feature.

Photo Highlights

Josh Wallace had a good night by setting quick time and winning the feature for the Late Models. Steve Kreft's car lays on its side, while Chris Bedore (#88) pulls to the infield after being involved in an incident during a Rascal Outlaws heat race. No injuries were reported. Jeff Graf (#81) and Rob Maule (#99) race in close quarters during a Late Model heat. Mark Ludtke made his first trip to LGR this year a good one by winning the Weapons heat and feature. Kevin Hill came home the victor in the BIC feature. Vincent Merry (#28) holds off a challenge by Todd Ross on his way to winning the Sport Truck feature.

The rascal outlaw feature brought John Binkert off the outside pole after having  problems qualifying, but moved ahead of Rob Pollak,Lee Halverson and Jeff LeSgae. LeSage gained second by lap four and Chris Bedore moved into second on lap eleven, by then the leader was a quarter lap ahead,of second place Bedore. The last lap was quite usual as Bedore slowed when he saw the tow truck’s brakes light, as did some of the others. Binkert was so far ahead he never saw what was happening way behind him. Because the inside lane slowed, Mark Findley finished second, LeSage remained third,
rookie Jim Thiel moved into fourth, Keith Christophersen was fifth and Bedore was way back in sixth.

The weapons division came out with a season high number of cars Mark Ludtke grabbed the lead quickly and flew out front with the waving of the greens. Mark Tomasi was second until lap five when fast timer Andy Krueger took over the runner up spot. The next five laps were a show of shows,as both drivers swapped the lead numerous times, before the red came out as Krueger coasted to the infield on fire. No one was injured, but his night was over and Ludtke moved back in front coming home the winner five laps later.R eid Kahrs Jr. was a close second, with Tomasi and Jeff Schultz under a blanket for the next positions.

Nick Henning led lap number one, before the shuffle for positions changed many things, as Kevin Hill moved from row three, to the top in just one lap. Andy Portzen, Jack Rabey, Henning and Cindy Krause in her daughter Ashleigh Kitterman’s were next. Rabey gained second on lap eight,with an extremely tight field. By lap ten Bob Koch was third, then second on lap twelve with just three laps to go. The final lap was great as Koch tried everything to get by, but Hill held his line and remained the leader and eventual winner. Koch was second, with Steve Doherty nipping Rabey at the wire and tonights fastest qualifier Lenny Adams fifth.

Vincent Merry climbed in front of the sport truck feature with fast timer Todd Ross following him. By lap seven Ross was the new leader, as Merry and last  weeks feature winner Steven Johnson dueled for the same spot. On lap ten  Johnson crept past Merry and chased the leader down. Then with two laps to go Johnson made contact with Ross and around went both drivers and the Yellow Book USA caution period ensued. Merry went on to win the event with Tom Ross second,Johnson recovered for third, Todd Ross was fourth and Chad Ross was fifth.

Carrie Dygon was the leader of the late model feature for the first two laps before Sonny Schoffen, Keith Tolf and Josh Wallace got by her. The next lap  Tolf and Wallace made contact causing the field to jack up as everyone tried to make it through the small opening as a melee followed.When all the dust cleared, Dygon had gotten pushed into the wall. She was not injured, but her great night after winning a heat was now over. On the restart Schoffen shot out front with Brian Ulrich, Wallace and Paul Dygon next.The next slowdown was after a tight race between Tolf and Paul Edmundson ended with contact and around went Edmundson. Then two more cautions came before some all out racing for the final six laps, when Wallace went in front for the win.Second place went to Schoffen, with Ulrich right at his side for third,Tolf recovered for fourth and Edmundson was fifth.

Next Friday night the mini modifieds,bandolero and legends return for seven divisions of action.Time trials are at 6pm.racing begins at 7:30 sharp.

Basic Int'l Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Kevin Hill, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 3. Steve Doherty, Woodstock, Ill.; 4. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 5. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 7. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 8. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 9. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 10. Jason Spittle, Trevor, Wis; 11. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 12. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 13. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 14. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 15. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 16. Leo Bujak, SpringGrove, Ill.; 17. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 18. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 19. Wes Schultz,

B-Main 01 -- 1. Jason Spittle, Trevor, Wis; 2. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 3. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 4. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 5. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Gary Elliott, East Troy, Wis; 7. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 8. Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis; 9. Charlie Spry, Orfordville, Wis; 10. Micheal

B-Main 02 -- 1. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 2. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 3. Tad De Rousse, Antioch, Ill.; 4. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis; 5. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 6. Scott Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 7. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 8. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 9. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 10. Amanda Wolfe, Burlington, Wis; 11. Michael Ellis, Delavan, Wis; 12. Mike Hudson, Pell Lake, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 2. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 3. Gary Elliott, East Troy, Wis; 4. Mike Hudson, Pell Lake, Wis; 5. Charlie Spry, Orfordville, Wis; 6. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 7. Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis; 8. Michael Ellis, Delavan, Wis; 9. Jennette Ellifritz, Genoa City, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Jason Spittle, Trevor, Wis; 2. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 3. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 4. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 7. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis; 8. Joe Mistretta, Spring Grove, Ill.; 9. Scott Redden, Woodstock, Ill..

Heat 03 -- 1. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 2. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 4. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 6. Cindy Krause Burlington, Wis; 7 Tad De Rousse, Antioch, Ill.; 8. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 9. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill..Heat 04 -- 1. Kevin Hill, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 3. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 4. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 5. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 6. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 7. Amanda Wolfe, Burlington, Wis; 8. Ken Eleury, Milwaukee, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 3. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 4. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 5. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 6. Steve Doherty, Woodstock, Ill.; 7. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 8. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 9. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 10. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 11. Kevin Hill, McHenry, Ill.; 12. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 13. Cindy Krause Burlington, Wis; 14. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 15. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 16. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 17. Tad De Rousse, Antioch, Ill.; 18. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 19. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 20. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 21. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 22. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 23. Scott Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 24. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 25. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 26. Joe Mistretta, Spring Grove, Ill.; 27. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis; 28. Jason Spittle, Trevor, Wis; 29. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 30. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 31. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 32. Charlie Spry, Orfordville, Wis; 33. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 34. Gary Elliott, East
Troy, Wis; 35. Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis; 36. Michael Ellis, Delavan, Wis; 37. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 38. Mike Hudson, Pell Lake, Wis; 39. Jennette Ellifritz, Genoa City, Wis; 40. Amanda Wolfe, Burlington, Wis; 41. Ken Eleury, Milwaukee, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Steve Doherty, Woodstock, Ill.; 2. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 3. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 4. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 6. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis.

Limited (Millenium) Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Sonny Schoffen (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 4. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 5. Paul Edmundson, Whitewater, Wis; 6. Jeff Graf, Milwaukee, Wis; 7. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 8. Rob Maule, Burlington, Wis; 9. Ralph Gentile, Racine,

Heat 01 -- 1. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 2. Paul Edmundson, Whitewater, Wis; 3. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 4. Rob Maule, Burlington, Wis; 5. Jeff Graf, Milwaukee, Wis; 6. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 3. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine,Wis; 4. Sonny Schoffen (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 6. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 7. Paul Edmundson, Whitewater, Wis; 8. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 9. Jeff Graf, Milwaukee, Wis; 10. Rob Maule, Burlington, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Sonny Schoffen (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 3. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 4. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis.

WEAPONS
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 3. Mark Tomasi, Windlake, Wis; 4. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 5. David Donahue, Milwaukee, Wis; 6. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Mark Tomasi, Windlake, Wis; 3. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 4. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5.Eric Schoffen Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. David Donahue, Milwaukee, Wis; 7. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 8. David Grenlund, Sharon, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 3. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 4. Mark Tomasi, Windlake, Wis; 5. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Eric Schoffen Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. David Donahue, Milwaukee, Wis; 8. David Grenlund, Sharon, Wis.