| July 20, 2005 - Saturday's temperatures were in the low
90's as we arrived at Lake Geneva Raceway for another treat of close racing. At this
arena, it isn't necessary to have photo finishes, but it is seen often. This week's
rotating division was the Rascal Outlaw winged mini-sprint group, basically bodied
go-karts powered by snowmobile engines. Saturday was a clean sweep for Kip Novotny, who
also serves as the organization's vice president. As stated earlier, Novotny's goal for
2005 is, "To beat Mark Findley", the group's president. This was achieved in
dramatic fashion, as Findley was able to lead only a few laps of the feature before
Novotny took over, then faded slowly to the back of the field. "That was a lot of
fun", declared Novotny afterwards. The super stocks began their 25-lap feature with
all 21 entries, forcing tightly-bunched groups to keep cool until someone could break free
of the pack. Two cautions led off the event before 5 laps were scored, and then Adam
Regnier took over from Josh Wallace to the end. John Maki Jr. had made it up to third
place as the laps wound down, but then his mount began smoking. To keep him from oiling
the race surface, Maki's night ended with the black flag instead of the top finish.
Regnier notched his fifth win of this season, wishing his daughter a happy birthday in the
process. "We're pretty far behind still (in championship points), but I think we can
make a run at it", said Regnier.
The sportman feature field began with an unlucky 13 cars, was slowed by three spins,
but provided the most different leaders of the night. Tight quarters and too little time
to get through, one could sense that something was about to happen, yet major disaster was
avoided. Kenny Joosten took home his fifth feature win at Lake Geneva, yet you would think
this was his first from his display of joy. "This is my fourth year now",
declared the winner, who also owns the car driven by James Swan.
Saturday's finale was the super late model 40-lap contest, which was riddled with
yellow banners. As a way to keep racer's costs down, this arena allows only one new tire a
week to keep all teams on an even playing field. Managing tire wear becomes more difficult
on a hot night while racing alongside others who are pushing your limits. Thus we may have
seen more single-car spins than previously, yet the outcome was very close. Afterwards, it
turned out that the winner's equipment was not that close to compliance. Kent Burkoth
originally thought he lost the win by inches, but ended up taking the pay and points for
first place.
Shortly after 10:00 the races were over, but Lake Geneva's after-hours lasted much
longer. Now the racers and fans can feast at the adjacent restaurant as well as enjoy
beverages at the bar upstairs, all without leaving the parking lot. Life is good.
Sunday's temperatures climbed to the mid-90's, with only a slight waft of air
occasionally breaking through the humid day. At Slinger Speedway the remnants of the
previous week showed up to race. From now on, it's a countdown to the end of the season.
More than once the medical crew scurried to treat victims of the oppressive heat, and they
had a full night ahead of them.
The 75-lap late model feature only saw a pair of cautions as the tightly-bunched field
managed to find a way to get past roadblocks. Patience and experience pay off in the end,
yet we saw rare equipment failure park a few top runners. Keeping defending track champion
Brad Mueller behind him, former track champion Lowell Bennett took home his third win of
the year, declaring, "We had to work tonight". Bennett put on even more miles
coming to Slinger four times in one week, twice for the Nationals, once for the monster
truck show on Saturday, and once for the weekly show.
The mod field may have been down, but the field was a closely-matched as ever. Steven
Schultz probably didn't think of it until afterwards, but if he would have qualified
quicker, he could have had a clean sweep. With defending title-holder Dale Prunty hot on
his rear bumper, Schultz was happy to see the checkered flag at the end.
The sportsman field was bunched up for a long time while Scott Shambeau and Mike
Borchardt Jr. ran in tandem at the front. Everything came to a screeching halt just past
the halfway point when Tom Elsinger's mount was engulfed in flames, and he rapidly rolled
to a stop before exiting. The audience applauded the sight of Elsinger walking to the
ambulance after the scary sight of flames all through his car. Another caution came with
only ten laps left, and a few circuits later Mike Graczkowski was able to wrest the lead
away from Shambeau. Graczkowski was so happy afterwards that he spun donuts on the
frontstretch.
The Thunder Stocks had a nonstop race that was topped by Aaron Cain. Right behind him
was another young driver who came through the beginner's division of Slinger Bees. Even
though Ryan DeStefano was celebrating his 21st birthday Sunday, it would have to be as
runner-up.
There were 36 Slinger Bees split between two 8-lap races, and the amateurs somehow
corrected their misdirected mounts to finish in some semblance of order. The field no
longer contains any drivers with prior race experience to allow the learners their own
venue.
When Chris Price led the figure 8 field to the checkered flag, it was not yet 10:00.
The thermometer may have dropped a bit, but it was tough to cool off Sunday night. Few
tempers flared, though. It was too hot.
What occurred earlier in the week was Slinger Speedway's 26th version of the Miller
Lite Slinger Nationals. The Tuesday show was delayed until Wednesday after persistent
moisture kept returning, and much fun was to be had in the off-hours. Legendary Dick
Trickle was joined by NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace, Ron Hornaday Jr., Todd Kluever, Kerry
Earnhardt, and Rich Bickle Jr., all vying to make the show among 50 of Slinger's tough
veterans and several visiting hot shoes. Trickle's car was supplied by Minnesota owners,
Wallace wheeled a Rich Loch spare, Earnhardt was aboard Tony Strupp's other car, and
Hornaday ran Conrad Morgan's car. Morgan is sidelined for several weeks while his arm's
tendons heal, but was on hand to direct the car's setup. Hornaday is somewhat taller than
Morgan, yet showed me that he had added padding to the race seat.
The fastest 16 qualifiers made the show, followed by the next 18 in time running a last
chance race in which Lowell Bennett, Wallace, Dave Teske, and Josh Bauer transferred.
Travis Dassow was running second when he suddenly pitted from this race, then Trickle
dropped out early and Kluever had contact with Freddy Winn end his top run. The four
provisional entries, then were needed for Trickle, Hornaday, Kluever, and Earnhardt, with
Tony Strupp joining them for a 25-car field. We spotted several veteran racers serving as
crew members for The Nationals, just happy to be at Slinger in some capacity.
The sportsman field provided a 40-lap race to give the late models teams a chance to
prepare. They put on a good show, with four different leaders and a flurry of action. Rob
Braun may have proved the old adage that your engine goes fastest before it blows, leading
until it ended abruptly 13 laps before the end. Collin Bamke then was in charge until
defending champ Gary Lamonte took over. Lamonte's engine made awful noises in the final
circuits as he faded rapidly, Brad Keith leading the final two laps.
The big race was begun with a massive 14-car invert to make things even more
interesting, and the whirlwind began. Ryan Mathews and Nick Schumacher provided the early
duel for the lead, while behind them others had to work for their positions. Mathews had
to exit later when flames erupted under his mount, perhaps from leaking brake fluid. Many
mounts developed problems, sidelining all but a dozen by the end. Only Kluever was left of
the NASCAR visitors, becoming one of those lapped late in the going. Nathan Haseleu once
left Wisconsin to venture into the major leagues, and found out you don't have to leave
home after all. "I don't know what to say", stated Haseleu as fireworks went off
overhead. "I don't think I could have gotten Matt (Kocourek, who led until a
late-race caution)". On the lap 214 restart, Haseleu found a way to leap into the
lead, and was not to give it up to the end.
Kocourek didn't feel bad afterwards, stating, "It's not a win, but it's probably
the highlight of my career". For a short-track racer to come to a track only a few
times and lead the most prestigious race of the year, we have to agree with Kocourek.
Shortly after 10:00 Wednesday night, the fans swarmed into the pits to spend time with
their heroes. Even when we left much later, Trickle and Earnhardt were still signing
autographs. For Earnhardt, it was a pleasure to be somewhere where he didn't have to field
constant inquiries about his half-brother or father, telling your scribe he would be
delighted to return. We have to wait a whole year until the next time.
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