First Career Win for Gentile. Bilderback and Schultz Three for Three!! By Dale R. Erdmann

July 28, 2006;  Lake Geneva, WI. - With temperatures in the low 100’s,the Friday night race program at Lake Geneva Raceway was another history making night. Ralph Gentile of Racine has raced in the LGR late models for the last three seasons. Tonight will be a night to remember for General manager of his own automotive group. Gentile won his first career feature. Michael Bilderback of South Beloit,Illinois won his third 15 lap feature, again on the last lap for the Perfection
Auto Body INEX legend cars.Michael also raced in the late models for the first time ever. The 14 year old talented driver won the dash for the top six qualifiers. He took fifth in time and finished fourth in the feature race.
 

Photo Highlights

A Ralph Gentile was the winner of the Late model feature. He posed in Victory Lane with LGR Junior Fan, Robby Rusciano. In his first races ever in a Late Model, Michael Bilderback won the Fast Dash. He also won the Legends feature later in the night. The BICs ran clockwise on the quarter-mile for their feature, but that did not keep Steve Doherty out of Victory Lane. Here he poses with his Father after his win. The Super Mini-Cup Kids Division made an appearance at LGR and Cody Lipstruer was the winner of their feature. Curt Gnatzig has set fast time for the first time this year for the Legends cars. Robert Palka scored an impressive win in a BIC heat race.

Jeff Schultz of Lake Geneva won his third weapons feature in a row, easily winning the 20 lap event. Steve Doherty of Rockford,IL won his fifth 15 lap Basic International feature, even thou the 20 cars ran clockwise, which never stopped the point leader. Nick Peska of Antioch,Il. won his first career 15 lap Luisa’s mini modified feature. 15 year old Frankfort,Il. driver Alex Arelano made it two in a row in the 15 lap INEX bandolero cars. Local youngster Cody Lipstreuer of Genoa City where many famous drivers have come from, won the super mini cup kids feature race. This group consists of young people from 8 years of age to 12, for the new division.

The late model feature was just two laps old, when the first Yellow Book USA  caution appeared, for a solo spin, to slow the field down with Mike Schmitz in front. On the restart Chad Reimer grabbed the lead, with Schmitz, Ralph Gentile and Nick Shutkas in a tight cluster. Gentile moved into second on lap four, then swiftly out front one lap later. The second caution came on lap twelve. Ricky Bilderback picked the right lane and moved into second on the restart. Reimer gave way to Joe Rusciano and Michael Bilderback. Something happened to Rusciano’s mount, causing the next caution on lap seventeen. Then two laps later fast timer Sonny Schoffen, had something let loose. This clean up was lengthy due to all the liquid around the oval. Before the slowdown Michael Kruschke had just moved into second. With the green out, Gentile marched in front, with Kruschke, Ricky Bilderback, Michael Bilderback and Brian Ulrich, all over each other. Spotters were told any more cautions, the race would be  over due to the time both clean ups took .Those final six laps were great, as Ricky Bilderback came back to challenge the leader. Ulrich was right there anytime Bilderback left alittle space for him to use. There was another solo spin on lap twenty six and the race was over. Gentile ran his own line to victory, with Ricky Bilerback second, Ulrich third, Michael Bilderback in his first run in a late model here was a impressive fourth, Kruschke was fifth and Reimer sixth, in a good show.

The non stop legends feature saw Ryan Miles pull off a slick move as the race started moving from his second row starting spot into the lead before the field got to turn two. Tom Palma was second until Ross Kenseth moved by him, as did Kyle
LaPier. Kenseth worked on Miles, with a lot of close racing behind them. Michael Bilderback and LaPier raced side by side for three laps before the position changed. Fast qualifier Curt Gnatzig followed Bilderback, with LaPier still along side. With five laps to go Bilderback moved into second, the pack was still glued together and too close to call.With just one lap to go,Bilderback drew even with Miles, then Miles came right back, coming off the turn four with just a lap to go, Miles was still
in front. The final lap Bilderback inched ahead for the win. Miles was second, Kenseth was third, Gnatzig fourth, Ernie Schaal nipped LaPier for fifth, as the top eight finished under a blanket.

The discision was made to run the BIC cars backwards, (clockwise) and it never made a difference, as Morgan Breeding led lap one, before Kevin Lynn moved in front. Robert Palka was next to lead, with tight formation right behind him. By lap
six fast timer Steve Doherty was in front, with the non stop race ending nine laps later with Doherty the winner. Palka was second, Lynn was third, Roger Schultz fourth, Evan Townsend fifth and Leo Bujak rounded out the top six.

The weapons feature was won by Jeff Schultz who clean swept the division. Earlier leader Mike Herwald led laps one through four. Lap five it was a dead heat between Herwald and Schultz. The non stop event went to Schultz, over Herwald, Andy Krueger, Reid Kahrs Jr., Michael Shorten and Mark Tomasi.

The bandolero feature was another non stop event, as Alex Arelano took the lead at the off set and never looked back,winning the contest over Kyle Palma, who had Hope Bidlack at his right throughout the race. Blake Brown nipped Bidlack for third right at the wire. Quick qualifier Kyle Justis was fifth and Steve Grossman was sixth.

The mini modified feature went non stop as Curt Thomazin led the first lap. NickPeska forged in front one lap later and thirteen laps later,the rookie was the winner. For the entire race, Peska was haunted by multi time champion Ken Johnson who took a close second. Thomazin was third, with Jonathn Gagne in his best finish fourth. Scott McCarthy was fifth and Chris Thomazin was sixth.

This Friday night there will be no weekly racing due to the special on Thursday Night August 3rd.August 4th. is only a raindate, for that show. For the first time ever, the Hoss, winged outlaw sprint cars and the Big 8 series will be here, along with the LGR weapons race cars.I

n the Big 8 series,NASCAR truck series racer, 21 year old Erik Darnell has entered the program. The Bilderback’s Ricky, the 5 time Rockford champion, finished second at LGR last Friday will be here. Michael Bilderback, the former bandolero champion at LGR and second in points here in legends, will race a Big 8 car. Josh Wallace the LGR late model champion last season,will debut his new race car. In weapons action, raceway announcer Dave Kamholtz will race the “Old black Betty ”bam ah lam," Anthony Vito race car. A field of 24 sprinters and some 40 plus Big 8 cars will be here. Tickets go on sale at 5 pm. the night of the show.

INEX Bandoleros
A-Main 01 -- 1. Alex Arelano, Frankfort, Ill.; 2. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 3. Blake Brown, Franksville, Wis; 4. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 5. Kyle Jusits(y), Kenosha, Wis; 6. Steven Grossman, Barrington, Ill.; 7. Aaron Moyer, Eden, Wis; 8. Brody Beyers;.

Heat 01 -- 1. Alex Arelano, Frankfort, Ill.; 2. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 3. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 4. Blake Brown, Franksville, Wis; 5. Steven Grossman, Barrington, Ill.; 6. Aaron Moyer, Eden, Wis; 7. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 8. Brody Beyers;.

Time Trial -- 1. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 2. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 3. Blake Brown, Franksville, Wis; 4. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 5. Steven Grossman, Barrington, Ill.; 6. Alex Arelano, Frankfort, Ill.; 7. Aaron Moyer, Eden, Wis; 8. Brody Beyers;.

Basic Int'l Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Steve Doherty, Rockford, Ill.; 2. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 3. Kevin Lynn, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 5. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 7. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 8. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 9. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 10. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 11. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 12. Dustin Richards, Kenosha, Wis; 13. Gary Mondus, Antioch, Ill.; 14. Lori Jacoby, Elkhorn, Wis; 15. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 16. Ronnie Mink, Bristol, Wis; 17. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 18. Jason Condrad, Burlington, Wis; 19. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake,Ill.;

B-Main 01 -- 1. Dustin Richards, Kenosha, Wis; 2. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake, Ill.; 3. Gary Fogarty, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Travis Dean, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Justin Steffan, Burlington, Wis; 6. Shawn Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Bill Johnson, Antioch, Ill.; 8. Scott Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 9. Brian Doherty;; 10. Frank

Heat 01 -- 1. Lori Jacoby, Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Dustin Richards, Kenosha, Wis; 3. Gary Fogarty, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Tim Jendrycki, Round Lake, Ill.; 5. Frank Richards, Kenosha, Wis; 6. Scott Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 7. Shawn Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Bill Johnson, Antioch, Ill.; 9. Justin Steffan, Burlington, Wis; 10. TravisDean, Lake Geneva, Wis; 11. Jennette Ellifritz, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Ronnie Mink, Bristol, Wis; 3. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 4. Gary Mondus, Antioch, Ill.; 5. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 6. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 7. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 8. Jason Condrad, Burlington, Wis; 9. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 10. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 11. Kevin Lynn, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 2. Steve Doherty, Rockford, Ill.; 3. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 4. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 6. Nick Henning, Lake Villa, Ill.; 7. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 8. Tom Homan, Antioch, Ill.; 9. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 10. Tim Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 11. Jason Condrad, Burlington, Wis; 12. Gary Mondus, Antioch, Ill.; 13. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 14. Ronnie Mink, Bristol, Wis; 15. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 16. Kevin Lynn, Lake Geneva, Wis; 17. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 18. Lori Jacoby, Elkhorn, Wis; 19. Tim Jendrycki,
Round Lake, Ill.; 20. Travis Dean, Lake Geneva, Wis; 21. Shawn Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 22. Dustin Richards, Kenosha, Wis; 23. Frank Richards, Kenosha, Wis; 24. Scott Redden, Woodstock, Ill.; 25. Gary Fogarty, Elkhorn, Wis; 26. Jennette Ellifritz, Lake Geneva, Wis; 27. Justin Steffan, Burlington, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 2. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 3. Steve Doherty, Rockford, Ill.; 4. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 5. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Nick Henning, Lake

INEX Legends
A-Main 01 -- 1. Michael Bilderback , S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Ross Kenseth, Lake Barrington, Ill.; 4. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 5. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 6. Kyle La Pier , Belvidere, Ill.; 7. Tom Palma, Delavan, Wis; 8. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 9. Hermann Greinig, Addison, Ill.; 10. Timothy Narr, Franklin, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Tom Palma, Delavan, Wis; 2. Ross Kenseth, Lake Barrington, Ill.; 3. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Hermann Greinig, Addison, Ill.; 5. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 6. Timothy Narr, Franklin,

Time Trial -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 3. Michael Bilderback , S. Beloit, Ill.; 4. Kyle La Pier , Belvidere, Ill.; 5. Ross Kenseth, Lake Barrington, Ill.; 6. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Tom Palma, Delavan, Wis; 8. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 9. Hermann Greinig, Addison,

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Michael Bilderback , S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Kyle La Pier , Belvidere, Ill.; 3. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 4.Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.. Late Models

Late Model
A-Main 01 -- 1. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 2. Ricky Bilderback, South Beloit, ; 3. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 4. Michael Bilderback , S. Beloit, Ill.; 5.Denny Norton Jr.McHenry, Ill.; 6. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis; 7. Chad Reimer, Watertown, Wis; 8. Jack Rabey,Brighton,Wis.; 9. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 10. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park, Ill.; 11. Ryan Destefano;; 12. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 13. Mike Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 14. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 15. Mike Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 16. Jeff Graf, Milwaukee, Wis; 17. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 18. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 19. Nick
Beinlich, Lincolnshire,Ill.

Heat 01 -- 1. Mike Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 2. Jeff Graf, Milwaukee, Wis; 3. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 4. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 5. Nick Beinlich, Lincolnshire, Ill.; 6. Ryan Destefano;; 7. Mike Dygon, Wind Lake,Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 2. Ricky Bilderback, South Beloit, ; 3. Chad Reimer, Watertown, Wis; 4. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 5. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis; 6. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park,

Time Trial -- 1. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 3. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 4.Denny Norton Jr.McHenry, Ill.; 5. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 6. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis; 8. Jack Rabey, Brighton,Wis.; 9. Ricky Bilderback, South Beloit, ; 10. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 11. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park, Ill.; 12. Chad Reimer, Watertown, Wis; 13. Mike Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 14. Nick Beinlich, Lincolnshire, Ill.; 15. Ryan
Destefano;; 16. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 17. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 18. Jeff Graf, Milwaukee,

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 3. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 6.Denny Norton Jr.McHenry,Ill.

Mini-Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1.Nick Peska,Antioch,Ill.; 2. Ken Johnson,Park.Ill.; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Jonathan Gagne, Deerfield, Ill.; 5. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 6. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 8. Barry Trusky, Waukegan, Ill..

Heat 01 -- 1. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 2.Ken Johnson,Park Ridge, Ill.; 3.Nick Peska,Antioch,Ill.,; 4. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 5. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 6. Barry Trusky, Waukegan, Ill.; 7. Jonathan Gagne, Deerfield, Ill.; 8. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1.Nick Peska,Antioch,Ill.; 2.Ken Johnson,Park Ridge, Ill.; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 5. Jonathan Gagne, Deerfield, Ill.; 6. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 8. Barry Trusky, Waukegan, Ill..

Weapons Division
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 2. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 5. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 6. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 7. Glenn Tomasini, Burlington, Wis; 8. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 2. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 5. Glenn Tomasini, Burlington, Wis; 6. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 7. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 8. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 2. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 3. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 5. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Glenn Tomasini, Burlington, Wis; 7. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis.