By Mary Horneck
Manitowoc, WI.; May 27, 2007 - In a special Sunday night edition of the Eastern Wisconsin Stock Cars program, after a rainout on Saturday, the 360 Sprints joined the Grand Nationals and the Eastern 8’s at the Manitowoc County Expo for the Budweiser / Larry’s Distributing Night at the Races. Hard-charging racing action, great weather and a fast track highlighted the special night of racing for the fans.
Photo Highlights |
|---|
n the final A-Main of the night, the 360 Sprint car 25-lap race hit the Manitowoc track in a thunder of racing action with 43 competitors vying through qualifying and five heats to run the race program’s main event.
When the green flag flew for the 23 cars lined up, Ben Schmidt of Plymouth charged into the early lead with Brian Kristian of Zion, Illinois moving into second. Schmidt hooked up on the outside to charge out in front a distance in the lead. As lapped traffic started to become an issue, Kristian gained on leader Schmidt and took over the top spot in lap 10. EWSC Modified Track Champion Paul Pokorski of West Bend charged into third behind Schmidt and began pressuring for the challenge spot as Schmidt weaved through the lapped traffic. At the line in lap 17, Kurt Davis of Milwaukee passed Pokorski to take over third just three laps before the only yellow flag of the race appeared for a spun car. The field lined up for a five lap dash to the checkered flag with Kristian out in front alone and Schmidt and Davis behind him. When the green flag flew to restart the race, Davis used the high side of the track to take over second behind the charging leader Kristian. Schmidt held onto third with Pokorski in fourth. Two laps from the end, Pokorski retired to the pit with mechanical problems leaving Tim Haddy of Waupun and Danny Schlafer of Sussex battling for fourth. At the checkered flag, Kristian charged through to win the 360 Sprint A-Main with Davis following in second. Schmidt and Haddy finished third and fourth and after passing Schlafer at the white flag, fast qualifier and heat winner Lance Fassbender of Burnett rounded out the top five.
After transferring the top nine finishers from the B-Main, the Grand National A-Main featured 20 of the fastest competitors in the division. Only one yellow flag halted the racing action after the first lap, so the fans were treated to 19 uninterrupted laps of hard charging, bumper to bumper racing as EWSC Track Champion Brian Gilles of Plymouth charged into the early lead with Shane Heaney of Milwaukee racing the extreme high side of the track after the re-drop of the green flag to pressure Gilles for control of the race. A lap later, Heaney passed Gilles for the lead as Tommy Moore of Muskego pulled into third. Coming through turns three and four to complete lap five, Moore pulled next to Gilles as the two competitors charged side by side with Moore passing Gilles by inches to take over second. Gilles battled back the next lap and took back the challenge spot but Moore was not through yet as he regrouped and moved into the position on lap seven. By lap eight, Heaney held a healthy lead over the field as Moore focused on catching him. A lap later, Don Sorce Jr. of West Allis passed Gilles to take over third. Sorce wasted no time and continued his charge to take over second in lap 10. As Sorce focused on catching leader Heaney, Chad Kistner of New Holstein battled with Gilles to race into fourth. Kistner used the high side of the track to take over fourth in lap 11 and charge after Moore. As lapped traffic appeared in front of the leader, Heaney charged through with Sorce on his bumper. At the line in lap 14, Sorce tucked his car to the inside of leader Heaney as the top two competitors charged down the front stretch with only inches separating first and second. Heaney and Sorce battled through the corners and around the track one more time with Sorce crossing the line in the lead with five laps to the end. As Sorce weaved through more lapped traffic, the checkered flag appeared to end the race. Sorce won his second Grand National A-Main at the Manitowoc track. Holding off a last lap charge, Heaney followed in second with Moore, Kistner and Gilles rounding out the top five.
Following the other main races, the Eastern 8 A-Main only stopped once for an accident as the competitors charged around the Manitowoc track. At the drop of the green flag, Kevin Ruh of Elkhart Lake charged into the early lead with two-time feature winner John Mahlberg of Hilbert moving into second by lap four. Brad Ruh of Elkhart Lake charged in behind Mahlberg just before the solo caution halted the race in lap six. On the restart, Kevin Ruh set the pace in the front with Mahlberg retiring to the pit area with mechanical problems leaving Brad Ruh and Brett Koehler of Newton behind the leader. When the green flag flew again, Kevin Ruh charged out in front with Brad Ruh on his bumper. Adam Krepline of Manitowoc charged from fifth to third with Bob Waechter Jr. of Luxemburg and Kevin Lubach of Elkhart Lake following him through the line. Kevin and Brad Ruh began distancing their cars out in front as the two battled for control of the race. For laps, they raced through lapped traffic weaving inside and outside to hold onto the front spots. Just as it looked that Kevin Ruh would hold him off, Brad Ruh made his move and passed to take the lead in lap 18. Brad Ruh continued his charge through the checkered flag to win his first A-Main of the season. Kevin Ruh followed in second with Waechter, Koehler and Mike Kaufmann of Newton rounding out the top five.
Join Eastern Wisconsin Stock Cars on Saturday, June 2nd for the Manitowoc County Dairy Promotions & Lakeside Foods Night at Manitowoc when the IMCA Modifieds and the INEX Legend Cars will be added to the EWSC program.
Summary: Budweiser / Larry’s Distributing Night at EWSC
360 Sprint:
Fast Qualifier: # 7 Lance Fassbender – Burnett 16.521
A-Main (25 laps): Brian Kristian, Zion, IL; Kurt Davis, Milwaukee; Ben Schmidt, Plymouth; Tim Haddy, Waupun; Lance Fassbender, Burnett; Danny Schlafer, Sussex; Mark Wernes Jr., Mukwonago; TJ Luedke, Pymouth; Scott Semmelmann, Brookfield; Allen Schlafer, Sussex;
B-Main # 1 (12 laps): Earl Possi, Escanaba, MI; A. Schlafer; Shane Wenninger, Kewaskum; Robbie Pribnow, Mayville;
B-Main # 2 (12 laps): Michael Emme, Manitowoc; Kenjay Fiedler, Sheboygan Falls; Doug Wondra, Oakfield; Jack Parrish, Waldo;
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Fassbender; Schmidt; Wernes;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Pete Ostrowski, East Troy; Davis; Semmelmann;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Luedke; Andy Klumb, Grafton; Scott Conger, Eagle;
Heat # 4 (10 laps): Strohs; Paul Pokorski, West Bend; D. Schlafer;
Heat # 5 (10 laps): Brian Portschy, Oostburg; Haddy; Kristian;
Grand National:
Fast Qualifier: # 4 Brett Wenzel – Two Rivers 18.875
A-Main (20 laps): Don Sorce Jr., West Allis; Shane Heaney, Milwaukee; Tommy Moore, Muskego; Chad Kistner, New Holstein; Brian Gilles, Plymouth; Brad Lubach, Elkhart Lake; Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers; Bob Peter, Howards Grove; Dan Schumacher, Milwaukee; Brian Goetsch, Sheboygan;
B-Main (15 laps): Roger Lee, Wind Lake; Lubach; Jestin Danes, New Holstein; Don Bonlander, Chilton; Keith Kellenbenz, Manitowoc; Curt Beek, Waupun; Bob Cullen, Chilton; Mike Damrow, Sheboygan;
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Cullen; Kevin Rank, Ripon; Jerry Brickner, Mishicot;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Lubach; Lee; Bonlaner;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Danes; Gilles; Beek;
Heat # 4 (10 laps): Kistner; Sorce; Moore;
Eastern 8’s:
A-Main # 1 (20 laps): Brad Ruh, Elkhart Lake; Kevin Ruh, Elkhart Lake; Bob Waechter, Luxemburg; Brett Koehler, Two Rivers; Mike Kaufmann, Newton; Mark Vranak, Sheboygan; Kevin Lubach, Elkhart Lake; Pat Wazny, St. Nazianz; Nic Schuette, Plymouth; Adam Krepline, Manitowoc;
Heat # 1 (6 laps): Koehler; Steven Ruh, Chilton; John Mahlberg, Hilbert;
Heat # 2 (6 laps): Lubach; Schuette; Waechter;
After transferring the top nine finishers from the B-Main, the Grand National A-Main featured 20 of the fastest competitors in the division. Only one yellow flag halted the racing action after the first lap, so the fans were treated to 19 uninterrupted laps of hard charging, bumper to bumper racing as EWSC Track Champion Brian Gilles of Plymouth charged into the early lead with Shane Heaney of Milwaukee racing the extreme high side of the track after the re-drop of the green flag to pressure Gilles for control of the race. A lap later, Heaney passed Gilles for the lead as Tommy Moore of Muskego pulled into third. Coming through turns three and four to complete lap five, Moore pulled next to Gilles as the two competitors charged side by side with Moore passing Gilles by inches to take over second. Gilles battled back the next lap and took back the challenge spot but Moore was not through yet as he regrouped and moved into the position on lap seven. By lap eight, Heaney held a healthy lead over the field as Moore focused on catching him. A lap later, Don Sorce Jr. of West Allis passed Gilles to take over third. Sorce wasted no time and continued his charge to take over second in lap 10. As Sorce focused on catching leader Heaney, Chad Kistner of New Holstein battled with Gilles to race into fourth. Kistner used the high side of the track to take over fourth in lap 11 and charge after Moore. As lapped traffic appeared in front of the leader, Heaney charged through with Sorce on his bumper. At the line in lap 14, Sorce tucked his car to the inside of leader Heaney as the top two competitors charged down the front stretch with only inches separating first and second. Heaney and Sorce battled through the corners and around the track one more time with Sorce crossing the line in the lead with five laps to the end. As Sorce weaved through more lapped traffic, the checkered flag appeared to end the race. Sorce won his second Grand National A-Main at the Manitowoc track. Holding off a last lap charge, Heaney followed in second with Moore, Kistner and Gilles rounding out the top five.
Following the other main races, the Eastern 8 A-Main only stopped once for an accident as the competitors charged around the Manitowoc track. At the drop of the green flag, Kevin Ruh of Elkhart Lake charged into the early lead with two-time feature winner John Mahlberg of Hilbert moving into second by lap four. Brad Ruh of Elkhart Lake charged in behind Mahlberg just before the solo caution halted the race in lap six. On the restart, Kevin Ruh set the pace in the front with Mahlberg retiring to the pit area with mechanical problems leaving Brad Ruh and Brett Koehler of Newton behind the leader. When the green flag flew again, Kevin Ruh charged out in front with Brad Ruh on his bumper. Adam Krepline of Manitowoc charged from fifth to third with Bob Waechter Jr. of Luxemburg and Kevin Lubach of Elkhart Lake following him through the line. Kevin and Brad Ruh began distancing their cars out in front as the two battled for control of the race. For laps, they raced through lapped traffic weaving inside and outside to hold onto the front spots. Just as it looked that Kevin Ruh would hold him off, Brad Ruh made his move and passed to take the lead in lap 18. Brad Ruh continued his charge through the checkered flag to win his first A-Main of the season. Kevin Ruh followed in second with Waechter, Koehler and Mike Kaufmann of Newton rounding out the top five.
Join Eastern Wisconsin Stock Cars on Saturday, June 2nd for the Manitowoc County Dairy Promotions & Lakeside Foods Night at Manitowoc when the IMCA Modifieds and the INEX Legend Cars will be added to the EWSC program.
Summary: Budweiser / Larry’s Distributing Night at EWSC
360 Sprint:
Fast Qualifier: # 7 Lance Fassbender – Burnett 16.521
A-Main (25 laps): Brian Kristian, Zion, IL; Kurt Davis, Milwaukee; Ben Schmidt, Plymouth; Tim Haddy, Waupun; Lance Fassbender, Burnett; Danny Schlafer, Sussex; Mark Wernes Jr., Mukwonago; TJ Luedke, Pymouth; Scott Semmelmann, Brookfield; Allen Schlafer, Sussex;
B-Main # 1 (12 laps): Earl Possi, Escanaba, MI; A. Schlafer; Shane Wenninger, Kewaskum; Robbie Pribnow, Mayville;
B-Main # 2 (12 laps): Michael Emme, Manitowoc; Kenjay Fiedler, Sheboygan Falls; Doug Wondra, Oakfield; Jack Parrish, Waldo;
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Fassbender; Schmidt; Wernes;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Pete Ostrowski, East Troy; Davis; Semmelmann;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Luedke; Andy Klumb, Grafton; Scott Conger, Eagle;
Heat # 4 (10 laps): Strohs; Paul Pokorski, West Bend; D. Schlafer;
Heat # 5 (10 laps): Brian Portschy, Oostburg; Haddy; Kristian;
Grand National:
Fast Qualifier: # 4 Brett Wenzel – Two Rivers 18.875
A-Main (20 laps): Don Sorce Jr., West Allis; Shane Heaney, Milwaukee; Tommy Moore, Muskego; Chad Kistner, New Holstein; Brian Gilles, Plymouth; Brad Lubach, Elkhart Lake; Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers; Bob Peter, Howards Grove; Dan Schumacher, Milwaukee; Brian Goetsch, Sheboygan;
B-Main (15 laps): Roger Lee, Wind Lake; Lubach; Jestin Danes, New Holstein; Don Bonlander, Chilton; Keith Kellenbenz, Manitowoc; Curt Beek, Waupun; Bob Cullen, Chilton; Mike Damrow, Sheboygan;
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Cullen; Kevin Rank, Ripon; Jerry Brickner, Mishicot;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Lubach; Lee; Bonlaner;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Danes; Gilles; Beek;
Heat # 4 (10 laps): Kistner; Sorce; Moore;
Eastern 8’s:
A-Main # 1 (20 laps): Brad Ruh, Elkhart Lake; Kevin Ruh, Elkhart Lake; Bob Waechter, Luxemburg; Brett Koehler, Two Rivers; Mike Kaufmann, Newton; Mark Vranak, Sheboygan; Kevin Lubach, Elkhart Lake; Pat Wazny, St. Nazianz; Nic Schuette, Plymouth; Adam Krepline, Manitowoc;
Heat # 1 (6 laps): Koehler; Steven Ruh, Chilton; John Mahlberg, Hilbert;
Heat # 2 (6 laps): Lubach; Schuette; Waechter;
Back