Qualifying began with the new entry-level division called the Weapons, which can also be entered by those owning Enduro cars. It was Midwest Enduro veteran Tom Barnharst who took top honors in this field. John Maki Jr. achieved his very first super stock quick time, Erik Pierce had his second consecutive fast time in the sportsman class, and Terry Patnode beat the rest of the super late model field.

Lake Geneva owner Kevin Dawson declared one of his never-ending new ideas later, knowing that it‘s always a point of pride for racers to have their names in the record for something. This year they will have a chance on the first Saturday of every month, including the October Classic. Most every kind of car will be allowed, I am told, to enter the quest for top speed in qualifying before the track closes for good. Right now that honor belongs to a dirt late model driver, second-generation Russ Scheffler, according to their records. For more news on this before the first attempt comes on May 6 check the track’s website or call them.

Following the dashes and heats were the super stock semi transferred Sam Redmond and Jamie Starks to the feature, and the late model semi ended with three Mikes earning berths: Simon, Lange, and Gunderson. The feature field inversion placed quick qualifiers deep in the starting order, but at this oval there is a bonus. When there is a caution, drivers can choose which lane they want on the restart, sometimes moving up in the order or at least getting a new chance. Sometimes they run from green flag to checkered, so this doesn’t always occur. The Weapons proved this by gong nonstop for 20 laps, Mike Herwald taking charge just past the halfway mark. “It was a blast”, declared Herwald, “We’ve been struggling for years to get a car together for Friday nights”, referring to the other divisions competing during the track’s three separate race programs. The Sunday competitors would begin the next day here in what is the busiest little oval we can think of.

The sportsman field was down in car count, also running nonstop with two different leaders. Or at least that’s the way it looked until the final corner of the final lap when Pierce went all-out for the top spot. We don’t know if his eyes were open while the daring 3-wide finish came cross the stripe, but credit goes to him, Ken Smart, and John Janssen for keeping out of trouble. “That was probably the most fun I’ve had racing”, declared Pierce, “We were 3-wide and any one of us could have won”. Breathing was optional.

The super stock main began with a car suddenly slowing to condense the entire field, and one more caution was needed before halfway through 25 circuits. The lead changed every few laps and ended with Shane Sapp taking back the point on the final lap to the end. A happy Sapp told the audience, “To be honest, I was just feeling the car out. Last week I had car parts all over the frontstretch.” Thanking his crew, Sapp added, “We all worked hard to get the car ready for this week. I thought I was going to settle for second. Dave (the starter, Dave Rex) said pick a lane, I picked a lane and here I am.”

The late model field polished off the program with only one slowdown for a minor spin. There may have only been two leaders, switching positions a few times, but the audience was captured by the duel between father and son right to the end. Jamie Wallace not only had to fend off Joe Fischer during the event, but son Josh in the Fran Prestay mount as well. “I couldn’t be a prouder dad”, claimed the senior Wallace, adding, “He’s a great driver. You just gotta smile”. The proud papa was as happy for his son as for his own victory Saturday night, knowing that this will be the end of three generations of racing for the family at this oval. ,

It was all over shortly after 9:30, leaving way too much time for the after-race festivities next door at the saloon. Then again people had to warm themselves. Next week another treat for the drivers comes as the first of the No Bull Triple Crown Series is all about the money.

Sunday arrived with the same blustery wind, which at least kept the clouds blowing through the skies instead of dumping their water content. The thermometer hovered between the mid 50’s and just into the 60’s, with wind chill not calculated as Slinger Speedway opened with its traditional Twin 75 race program. Along with 43 late models vying for the twin feature berths were a dozen mods and nearly 20 sportsman entries. Qualifying was changed to include the fastest 23 cars instead of using provisionals, which gave Slinger regular Mark Bitzan the final starting spot. Erik Darnell, sporting his Driver X suit after winning the Jack Roush Gong Show, told me earlier, “I never run good here”, but later made the cut. Nathan Haseleu returned to local racing after the rigors of the NASCAR tour, told your scribe, “I think we’re in the ballpark”, then posted quick time before 3-time track champ Brad Mueller lowered the mark. Also making the cut was former track champion Rich Bickle Jr., who also made the journey to NASCAR and back. With such competitive visitors racing this show, several weekly racers chose to be in the audience.

An interesting beginning to the program had track announcer Todd Behling sing the national anthem after the recorded version failed to air. Actually, he did a better job than many of the singers who try to put their own spin on the standard. The late models opened with a dash, consy, and semi feature, which could not transfer any cars to the main in the special format. The latter began with Andrew Morrissey’s wheel leaving as the field took the green flag, becoming the first of the season to do so. The first 75-lap feature began with a 12-car invert, and Nick Schumacher led from the outside of the front row until shortly before the halfway mark. Bickle’s efforts ended way too early, contact from another resulting in broken steering.

Al Schill’s decades of racing has taught him patience, steadily moving up from the sixth row to take charge to the end. “It’s my 1997 car”, said the 61-year old marvel, adding, “This year we took it down to the bare frame and redid everything but the driver. We can’t do anything about him”. Darnell had an outstanding run from the tenth row to eighth place, followed by Jeremy Lepak, who had to restart at the back of the field after he and David Prunty made contact on lap 35. Brad Mueller was moving up until contact with Matt Kocourek and Collin Bamke sent the trio to the back prior to Lepak, then Dave Teske and Chad Barker brought out the next yellow banner, followed by the final caution four circuits later when rookie Gary Lamonte spun. All but three finished the initial race, and only a trio of cars were lapped. The second contest would invert all lead-lap cars, giving the racers a new challenge.

The mod main began with un-retired race veteran Terry Helmbrecht leading off, then dirt racer Bill Tandetzke taking charge until three-time champion Dale Prunty made his way through the pack. The fifth caution was the final one, and quite jarring for Steve Huelsbeck when hitting the concrete wall. The wall always wins. By the end of 35 circuits, only half of the dozen were still running, and two of them were lapped.

The late model field came back onto the track for their second 75, all 23 starters having to figure out how to make their old tires work. Haseleu’s mount faded quickly from the pole, and he parked it for the day. Dennis Prunty did a wall test, Tony Strupp spun, and then Bitzan spun with only ten circuits remaining. During all this David Prunty kept the lead, telling the audience, “The car’s not perfect yet. Wait until next week”. Great runs were seen by several, with Bickle coming from last place to sixth place. Schill made it from the back rows to the top four, and Lowell Bennett mirrored Schill’s style by smoothly moving up one car at a time for a pair of top finishes. Darnell later admitted he made the wrong choice on setup the second time. With clouds and sun taking turns all day, this was one of the biggest challenges the teams faced.

The sportsman field finished the day’s event with a 40-lap contest only slowed twice. The final caution ended Rob Braun’s hopes for a third-place finish, and set up a four-lap duel to the end. It was then that returning champion James Swan took the led away from David Obermeyer, celebrating with several burnouts on the fronstretch afterwards. The day was done at 5:30, plenty of time for families to take their youngsters to meet racers before heading home. Next week will also be an afternoon event, and this time the kids will be offered a penny pickup.