Gnatzig Red Hot at LGR! By Dale R. Erdmann, Breanna Blink and Kim Straube

July 15, 2005;  Lake Geneva, WI. - It was another perfect night for stock car racing, with over 100 race cars in the pit area and the largest crowd of the season came out despite the high humid and low 90’s temperature that couldn’t stop the show from going on. Curt Gnatzig of Hartford won the big one last Saturday night and at Lake Geneva Raceway Friday night, the defending champion just missed a clean sweep. First Curt broke the two week old qualifying mark, by turning in a time of 18.228 seconds for the one third mile paved banked oval, managed a third in the close dash and squeezed off a win in the  exciting 15 lap feature race by a matter of a few inches for the Perfection Auto Body legends cars.

Photo Highlights

Josh Wallace made it look easy by winning the Late Model feature in convincing fashion. Eventual winner Curt Gnatzig (#6) holds off a challenge by Michael Bilderback (#2) during the Legends feature. Reid Kahrs, Jr. (#97) tries to get by eventual winner Mark Ludtke (#229) during the Weapons feature. Dave Rex, Jr. celebrated his first BIC heat win of the year in Victory Lane. Bob Koch (#3) passes Andy Portzen (#43) on his way to another BIC feature victory. Kevin Hill (#68) spins in front of the BIC dash field. John Homan (#57) and eventual winner Lenny Adams (#2) take evasive action. Bill Trusky won the Mini-Mod feature with a last-turn, last-lap pass. Branden Allen set quick time for the Bandoleros.

In another great feature, Michael Cooter of Machesney Park, Illinois won his third feature of the season during the running of the 15 lap INEX bandolero feature. Bob Koch of McHenry,IL.won another Double R towing Basic International feature for a non stop 15 lap race. Bill Trusky of Silver Lake pulled off an unbelievable victory in the Lusia’s pizzeria mini modifieds.

Mark Ludtke of Lake Geneva pulled off another win in the 15 lap weapons feature race, leading all of the race. Vincent Merry of Wadsworth, IL. just can’t get enough racing with his late model, as the four time champion won another Midwesat sport truck feature race for 12 laps using Todd Ross mount this time to win it and Josh Wallace of Pell Lake won one more feature race for the late model race cars.

The legends feature got off to a rocky start, first rookies Ryan Miles and Ross Kenseth, along with Curt Gnatzig couldn’t make it through the first lap. Then on lap two Don Schaal and Joe Scala got together for the first Yellow Book USA caution period of the night. Ernie Schaal led the first lap, but as soon as the next lap began Eric Lokemoen charged in front with Gnatzig, Ernie Schaal and Michael Bilderback right on his bumper. Visiting John Memmer joined the fray two laps later, as Schaal dropped to fifth.Gnatzig got by Lokemoen on lap nine, as Bilderback followed the new leader.Miles stalled on lap eleven for the final caution. The four lap dash was worth the price of admission, as the final lap came and out of turn four, Gnatzig the winner, came across the line with Bilderback, Lokemoen and Memmer with a four deep finish to the delight of the crowd. Schaal was fifth.

The mini modified feature saw Chris Thomazin out front at the display of the double greens. Curt Thomazin was second for just one lap before Bill Trusky moved in that position for one lap,before Thomazin went back into second., then into the lead on lap five, with Trusky right on his tail. Fast time quailifier Glen Vernezze was already two thirds of the way to a clean sweep slipped into third with five laps to go. Mike Van Houten was fourth, with a glowing left rear rotor. Coming around for the checkered flag it looked like Thomazin would win the event,until turn three, when Trusky shot under him and sailed home to a surprised Thmoazin who took second,Vernezze was right  at his side in third, with Jerry Giuliano fourth and Curt Thomazin, nipping Van Houten for fifth in another exciting race.

It was a carbon copy of last weeks weapons feature as Mark Ludtke led every lap of the 15 lap event.This week fast timer Reid Kahrs Jr.moved into second with four laps to go and chased the leader across the line for second. Jeff Schultz who did his part before Kahrs moved by, was third.Mark Tomasi was fourth and Bobo  Smith in his first time out was fifth.

The bandolero feature was a close race with Kyle Palma out front at the off set of the contest. Quickly Michael Cooter moved into second then in front on lap five. Fast qualifier Branden Allen was right behind the new leader, as the only caution  came when Palma tagged Collin Laursen sending him around.With the green back out Cooter ran to the corner quicker than Allen and Kyle Justis Cooter eventually won the race with Allen, Justis, rookie Hope Bidlack and a recovered Palma who were under a blanket for the next positions. There were no cars lapped as everyone finished within the straight away of each other.

Rob Schiebel paced the field as the BIC feature began. Nick Henning, Andy Portzen and Jason Conrad glued together for the next position.Portzen crept into the lead on lap five for just one lap as Bob Koch in the Kevin Hill car caught him and never looked back for the win, despite Kevin Hill in one of Koch’s cars right on him for second. Lenny Adams was third, with Steve Doherty fourth and Portzen right there in fifth for  a close race.

Earlier in heat action Ashleigh Kitterman of Burlington won her first career semi feature in BIC cars.17 year old second generation driver Jeff Carlton drove the Jason Spittle car to victory in the first BIC heat.

The late model feature saw Paul Edmundson move in front as the race began, with Carrie Dygon next and Ralph Gentile third. But four laps later somehow Josh Wallace climbed in front and cruised to an impressive victory despite a late caution on lap twenty three as Sonny Schoffen went around while challenging the leader. Earlier Keith Tolf tried everything to move in front, but Wallace won the main event with Tolf and fast timer Brian Ulrich next.Gentile was fourth and Schoffen recovered for fifth, nipping Dygon at the wire.

This coming Friday night the super mini cups and the rascal outlaws join four other divisions of racing with time trials at 6pm. and racing starting at 7:30 sharp.

INEX Bandoleros
A-Main 01 -- 1. Michael Cooter (y);; 2. Branden Allen (y), Yorkville, Ill.; 3. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 4.Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 5. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 6. Collin Laursen, Nelson, Wis; 7. Tyler Blume (b), Oregon, Ill.; 8. Dave Cooter Sr., Loves Park, Ill.; 9. Andy Luebke, Union Grove, Wis; 10.RyanMilligan,Salem,Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 2. Michael Cooter (y);; 3. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 4. Tyler Blume (b), Oregon, Ill.; 5. Dave Cooter Sr., Loves Park, Ill.; 6. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 7. Andy Luebke, Union Grove, Wis; 8. Ryan Milligan, Salem, Wis; 9. Branden Allen (y), Yorkville, Ill.; 10. Collin

Time Trial -- 1. Branden Allen (y), Yorkville, Ill.; 2. Collin Laursen, Nelson, Wis; 3. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 4. Michael Cooter (y);; 5. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 6. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 7. Dave Cooter Sr., Loves Park, Ill.; 8. Tyler Blume (b), Oregon, Ill.; 9. Andy Luebke, Union Grove, Wis.

Basic Int'l Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Kevin Hill, McHenry, Ill.; 3. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Steve Doherty, Woodstock, Ill.; 5. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 6. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 7. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 8. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 9. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 10. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 11. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 12. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 13. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove,Ill.; 14. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 15. Ashleigh Kitterman, Burlington, Wis; 16. Tad De Rousse, Antioch, Ill.; 17. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 18. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 19. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis;

B-Main 01 -- 1. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Tad De Rousse, Antioch, Ill.; 3. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 5. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 6. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill; 7. Amanda Wolfe, Burlington, Wis; 8. Jennette Ellifritz, Genoa City, Wis; 9. Bryan Talbert, Kenosha, Wis;

B-Main 02 -- 1. Ashleigh Kitterman, Burlington, Wis; 2. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis; 3. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 4. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 6. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 7. Mike Hudson, Pell Lake, Wis; 8. Joshua Grenlund, Delavan, Wis; 9. John Toft, Elkhorn,

Heat 01 -- 1.Jeff Carlton, McHenry,Ill. 2. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 3. Mike Hudson, Pell Lake, Wis; 4. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 5. Amanda Wolfe, Burlington, Wis; 6. Jennette Ellifritz, Genoa City, Wis; 7. John Toft, Elkhorn, Wis; 8. Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis; 2. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Joshua Grenlund, Delavan, Wis; 4. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 5. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 6. John Gariepy, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 8. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 9. Gary Elliott, East Troy, Wis.

Heat 03 -- 1. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Bryan Talbert, Kenosha, Wis; 3. Ashleigh Kitterman, Burlington, Wis; 4. Tad De Rousse, Antioch, Ill.; 5. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 6. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 8. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 9. Paul Becker, Oell Lake, Wis;

Heat 04 -- 1. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 2. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 3. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 4. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 5. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 6. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 7. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 8. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 9. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill..

Time Trial -- 1. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 2. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Steve Doherty, Woodstock, Ill.; 4. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 5. Kevin Hill, McHenry, Ill.; 6. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 7. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 8. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 9. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 10. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 11. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 12. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 13. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 14. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 15. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 16. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 17. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 18. Tad De Rousse, Antioch, Ill.; 19. Ashleigh Kitterman, Burlington, Wis; 20. Scott Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 21. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 22. Bryan Talbert, Kenosha, Wis; 23. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 24. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 25. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 26. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 27. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 28. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 29. John Gariepy, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 30. Gary Elliott, East Troy, Wis; 31. Joshua Grenlund, Delavan, Wis; 32. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 33. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis; 34. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 35. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 36. Jason Spittle, Trevor, Wis; 37. Amanda Wolfe, Burlington, Wis; 38. Mike Hudson, Pell Lake, Wis; 39. Jennette Ellifritz, Genoa City, Wis; 40. John Toft, Elkhorn, Wis; 41. Paul Becker, Oell Lake, Wis; 42. Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis.

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

INEX Legends
A-Main 01 -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Michael Bilderback , S. Beloit, Ill.; 3. Eric Lokemoen, Merrill, Wis; 4. John Memmer, Evansville, Ind.; 5. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 6. Kurt VanVuren, Wausau, Wis; 7. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 8. Michael Wankowski, Oak Creek, Wis; 9. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 10. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 11. Ross Kenseth, Lake Barrington, Ill..

Heat 01 -- 1. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 2. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 3. Ross Kenseth, Lake Barrington, Ill.; 4. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Kurt VanVuren, Wausau, Wis; 6. Michael Wankowski, Oak Creek, Wis; 7. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill..

Time Trial -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Eric Lokemoen, Merrill, Wis; 3. Michael Bilderback , S. Beloit, Ill.; 4. John Memmer, Evansville, Ind.; 5. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Ernie Schaal, Waucond, Ill.; 7. Ross Kenseth, Lake Barrington, Ill.; 8. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 9. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 10. Michael Wankowski, Oak Creek, Wis; 11. Kurt VanVuren, Wausau, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Michael Bilderback , S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Eric Lokemoen, Merrill, Wis; 3. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 4. John Memmer, Evansville, Ind..

Limited (Millenium) Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 3. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine,Wis; 4. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 5. Sonny Schoffen (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis;7. Jeff Graf, Milwaukee, Wis; 8. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 9. Rob Maule, Burlington, Wis; 10. Paul Edmundson, Whitewater, Wis.

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

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

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

Mini-Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis; 2. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 4. Jerry Giuliano, Park Ridge, Ill.; 5. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 7. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 8. Barry Trusky, Waukegan, Ill.; 9. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill..

Heat 01 -- 1. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 2. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 5. Jerry Giuliano, Park Ridge, Ill.; 6. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 8. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 9. Barry Trusky, Waukegan, Ill..

Time Trial -- 1. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 2. Jerry Giuliano, Park Ridge, Ill.; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 5. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis; 6. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 8. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill..

Weapons
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 3. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 4. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 5. Bobo Smith, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Eric Schoffen Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 3. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 4. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 6. Bobo Smith, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 2. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 5. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 6. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Duane Lounsbuny, Beloit, Wis; 8. Bobo Smith, Elkhorn, Wis.