Potter Captures "No Bull" Round One!! By Fay Hendricks

June 3, 2006;  Lake Geneva, WI. - Even though full moon won’t arrive for another week, some started ahead of time Saturday night. Not only did the evening end with a frustrating flurry of cautions at Lake Geneva Raceway, the program was punctuated with lengthy cleanup efforts due to exploded engines, hoses, radiators and car crunches. Yet everything was completed just after 10:30, so there should be no complaints from the fans. The insanity of announcer Dave Kamholz had everyone chuckling through the night, and he rewarded the feature winners with ice cream treats while interviewing them.

The Weapons field was the rotating division to appear this week, one of Lake Geneva’s 15 different classes of cars that run on Friday and Saturdays on the oval track. Even more races are run on the motocross course as well as Sunday karting events at the busy speed plant. The Weapons ran their entire feature with a side-by-side duel between Andy Krueger and Mark Ludtke. At the checkered flag it was Ludtke ahead for the win, and he might have been almost as happy if he finished second. “It’s fun when you can driver side by side”, declared Ludtke with praise for his rival, adding, “We got a good motor in here.” The 20-lap contest was run from start to finish, but had a light car count.

The same was true for the sportsman field, which also ran a nonstop feature. At Lake Geneva there are some who enter more than one driver per car, for they know they can’t appear every week. There are also substitutes nearly every week in some division, so it’s a challenge keeping track of all the changes. This Saturday it was interesting to learn that late model chauffeurs Eddie May and Sonny Schoffen chose to run in the sportsman class as well. Schoffen usually borrows mounts from most any field during the season, just having fun. May led off the 20-lap feature before Erik Pierce took over to the end. “I’m beat”, stated Pierce from victory lane. “I thought he had me”, Pierce continued, “And then I saw him getting loose and went for it.” Having to work for it made it all the more satisfying.

In the super stock division there were constant two-abreast battles for position, sometimes escaping disaster when stacking the cars three wide. The first heat race was the closest when Randy Schneider stole ahead of young Tyler Peterson for the win on the last lap. Tom Roney’s mount was done for the night, so he borrowed that of fellow competitor Tom Fay to pad his point tally. With a deep invert after the roll of the die, quick-timer Scott Norton had his work cut out for him to finish third at the end. Helped by three cautions and lane choice, it was veteran Jack Rubach who made up even more ground for the win, taking charge at the halfway point. In past years Rubach used to end up in victory circle nearly every week, and told the audience, “I was telling Dave (Rex, the starter) I’ve been waiting to see him for a long time.” Challenged to the final stripe by John Maki Jr., Rubach praised his fellow competitor for running him clean, “That was a lot of fun.”

The late model field had a few more new entries Saturday, and ran a semi to place the final four into the 50-lap feature. Eddie May was the first to qualify, visiting Jeff Storm logged in the identical time later, and quick time honors went to May by virtue of setting it first. Don Collins probably has the most laps around the third-mile oval, having raced at Lake Geneva back when it was still the flat track. For the checkered flag season at Lake Geneva, Collins decided to return to his roots. Collins began in a Dodge Charger decades ago, and will help close the track in one. The bad news is Collins failed to make the main event; the good news is Collins failed to make the main event. Josh Wallace made the start, then retired to the pits right away with problems.

It seemed that Jeff Way was going to have his way from his front-row start, staying ahead until May got spun and others got involved. This ended May’s hopes of doubling quick time with the big money win. With 20 circuits remaining, things became a real challenge. It’s true that one caution breeds another caution flag, proven Saturday when Jeff Holmgren Jr. and Way made contact, moving the top two from the front of the race to the back. Then there was no way at all when Way retired to the pits. Terry Patnode then became the leader until the following circuit when he spun with Storm. Landry Potter then took charge, survived a couple more tangles, and hung on to the end. “That was pretty much an enduro”, said Potter, claiming, “I didn’t think I had that good a car, but I guess it was good enough .”

It doesn’t matter how fast you are unless you finish. Nearly half the late model field did not complete the big event, missing out on the money and points. Kenny Joosten survived to finish third after transferring from the semi and starting in the last rows. Also coming from the semi to top ten finishes were Mike Lange and Mike Gunderson. Patience really does pay off in the end, as well as a quick braking foot.

We’ll be missing the next few weeks at our Saturday “home”, so wish them well for the full moon weekend. As quickly as it turned from May to June, we can’t return here until the first week in July. In just a few weeks Winter was supplanted by Spring, now Summer is arriving in Wisconsin. Just like our racing, the weather is never boring.

Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Erik Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 2. Bobby Giers, McHenry, Ill.; 3.Eddie May (t), Crystal Lake Ill.; 4. John Janssen (t), Burlington, Wis; 5. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 6. Mike Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 7. John Fischer, Burlington, Wis; 8. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield, Wis; 9. Todd Stoner, Pleasant Prairie, Wis; 10. Greg Beebe, Waukesha, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Adam Mass (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 2. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 3. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield, Wis; 4. Mike Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 5. John Fischer, Burlington, Wis; 6. Greg Beebe, Waukesha, Wis; 7. ToddStoner, Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Bobby Giers, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Erik Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 3. John Janssen (t), Burlington, Wis; 4. Cliff Adee, Gilberts, Ill.; 5. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 6. Mike Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 7. Eddie May (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 8. John Fischer, Burlington, Wis; 9. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield, Wis; 10. Todd Stoner, Pleasant Prairie, Wis; 11. Greg Beebe, Waukesha, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Bobby Giers, McHenry, Ill.; 2. John Janssen (t), Burlington, Wis; 3. Erik Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 4. Cliff Adee, Gilberts, Ill..

Super Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Landry Potter (t), Genoa City, Wis; 2. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Kenny Joosten, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 4. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington, Wis; 5. Denny Hiffman(t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Jeff Storm, Waterford, Wis; 7. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 8. Matt Kocourek, Franlink, Wis; 9. Mike Lange, West Allis, Wis; 10. Earl Counter (t), OakBrook, Ill.; 11. Jamie Wallace (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 12. Mike Gunderson, Wind Lake, Wis; 13. Terry Patnode (t), South Milwaukee, Wis; 14. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 15. Jeff Way, Burlington, Wis; 16. Jason Hicks (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 17. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 18. Rob Summers (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 19. Jerry Cowan (t), Burlington, Wis; 20. Josh Wallace (t),

B-Main 01 -- 1. Kenny Joosten, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 2. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 3. Mike Gunderson, Union Grove, Wis; 4. Mike Lange, West Allis, Wis; 5. John Baumeister, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Larry Epright, East Troy, Wis; 7. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 8. Mike Simon Sr, Grayslake, Ill.; 9. Shane Bishop, Lake

Heat 01 -- 1. Larry Epright, East Troy, Wis; 2. Mike Lange, West Allis, Wis; 3. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 4. Kenny Joosten, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 5. Rob Summers (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. John Baumeister, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Mike Simon Sr, Grayslake, Ill.; 8. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 9. Mike Gunderson, Wind Lake, Wis; 10. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Jason Hicks (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Jerry Cowan (t), Burlington, Wis; 3. Jamie Wallace (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 4. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 5. Earl Counter (t), OakBrook, Ill.; 6. Terry Patnode (t), South Milwaukee, Wis; 7. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Jeff Way, Burlington, Wis; 9. Josh

Time Trial -- 1. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Jeff Storm, Waterford, Wis; 3. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington, Wis; 4. Landry Potter (t), Genoa City, Wis; 5. Randy Rodgers (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Matt Kocourek, Franlink, Wis; 7. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Jamie Wallace (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 9. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 10. Jason Hicks (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 11. Jeff Way, Burlington, Wis; 12. Terry Patnode (t), South Milwaukee, Wis; 13. Josh Wallace (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 14. Jerry Cowan (t), Burlington, Wis; 15. Earl Counter (t), OakBrook, Ill.; 16. Rob Summers (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 17. Mike Gunderson, Wind Lake, Wis; 18. Kenny Joosten, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 19. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 20. Mike Lange, West Allis, Wis; 21. John Baumeister, Lake Geneva, Wis; 22. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 23. Chuck Duncan,Milwaukee,Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Landry Potter (t), Genoa City, Wis; 2. Randy Rodgers (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington, Wis; 4. Jeff Storm, Waterford, Wis; 5. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Matt Kocourek, Franklin, Wis.

Super Stocks
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jack Rubach (t), Burlington, Wis; 2. Adam Regnier (t), Twin Lakes, Wis; 3. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 4. John Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.; 5. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 6. Darryl Traber (t),Waterford, Wis; 7. Bob Moeller, Algonquin, Ill.; 8. Craig Mertes, Antioch, Ill.; 9. Shane Sapp (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 10. Josh Matz, Burlington, Wis; 11. Bill Morris (t), Streamwood, Ill.; 12. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 13. TylerPeterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 14. Dan Huber (t),Antioch,Ill; 15. Chris Sackman, Union Grove, Wis;16. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis; 17. Tom Roney, Ridgefield, Ill.; 18. Vaughn Lesko, Twin Lakes, Wis; 19.
Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis; 20. Seth Lootens, Kenosha, Wis; 21. Joe DeCubellis, Burlington, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis; 2. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Chris Sackman, Union Grove, Wis; 4. Bill Morris (t), Streamwood, Ill.; 5. Josh Matz, Burlington, Wis; 6. Seth Lootens, Kenosha, Wis; 7. Vaughn Lesko, Twin Lakes, Wis; 8. Scott Smart;.

Heat 02 -- 1. Craig Mertes, Antioch, Ill.; 2.Darryl Traber (t),Waterford, Wis; 3. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis; 4. Tom Roney, Ridgefield, Ill.; 5. Shane Sapp (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Joe DeCubellis, Burlington, Wis; 7. Dave

Time Trial -- 1. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 2. Jack Rubach (t), Burlington, Wis; 3. Dan Huber (t), Antioch,Ill; 4. John Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.; 5. Bob Moeller, Algonquin, Ill.; 6. Adam Regnier (t), Twin Lakes, Wis; 7. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 8. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis; 9. Eric Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 10. Shane Sapp (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 11. Joe DeCubellis, Burlington, Wis; 12.Darryl Traber (t),Waterford, Wis; 13. Craig Mertes, Antioch, Ill.; 14. Tom Roney, Ridgefield, Ill.; 15. Josh Matz, Burlington, Wis; 16. Tom Fay, Arlington Heights, Ill.; 17. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis; 18. Bill Morris (t), Streamwood, Ill.; 19. Vaughn Lesko, Twin Lakes, Wis; 20. Chris Sackman, Union Grove, Wis; 21. Seth Lootens, Kenosha, Wis;

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Adam Regnier (t), Twin Lakes, Wis; 2. John Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.; 3. Jack Rubach (t), Burlington, Wis; 4. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 5. Bob Moeller, Algonquin, Ill.; 6. Dan Huber (t),Antioch,Ill.

Weapons Division
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 4. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 5. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Glenn Tomasini, Burlington, Wis; 7. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 8. David Grenlund, Sharon, Wis; 9. Joshua Grenlund, Delavan, Wis; 10. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 2. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Glenn Tomasini, Burlington, Wis; 4. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Joshua Grenlund, Delavan, Wis; 6. Mike Herwald,

Time Trial -- 1. David Grenlund, Sharon, Wis; 2. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 3. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 4. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 7. Anthony Vito, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 8. Joshua Grenlund, Delavan, Wis; 9. Glenn Tomasini, Burlington, Wis; 10. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 2. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. David Grenlund, Sharon, Wis; 4. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill..