MOTHER NATURE WASHES OUT FEATURES AT THUNDERHILL RACEWAY
Photos by Dan Lewis Photography – www.danlewisphoto.net
By Edward Anschutz
(Sturgeon Bay, WI) June 15, 2013 Results- As the green flag flew for the first feature of the night the skies opened and action was halted. The staff knew once the rain started it wasn’t going to stop and the races were cancelled at Thunderhill Raceway. All qualifying races had been complete which constitutes a complete show per the rule book. All drivers received equal pay and points for the night. Huge thanks to all the drivers who did their best in helping us get the show in.
The Egg Harbor Fun Park go-karts saw their first action as three lucky fans raced their dirt track heroes on the oval go-kart track that lies within the infield of the track. In competition Morgan Serveys upset Dave Bouche in a 4 lap dash, Bradley Skippon bested Kelsy Hayes and Brayden LeMieux made short work of Randy LeMieux Jr. en route to victory.
The go-kart races are something we are hoping to do on a weekly basis, with a maximum of 3 children per night. Right now drivers must be 4’ or taller to register. We are working on ideas to get the shorter children a chance to race as well. We’ve also thrown around ideas to do a raffle for a race at the end of the night, all money raised would be donated to DOOR CANcer. For now you can get a ticket for your children at the ticket booth after the first heat race has started not before as we want to let fans in the stands first so we don’t mess up the ticket line.
Next Saturday June 22 we hope to finally be in Mother Natures good graces as we set to remember long time Thunderhill supporter and race fan Terry Simon. The night will feature driver introduction in the Kelsey Racing IMCA Modifieds and everyone will receive free popcorn.
FEATURE, HEAT & LCQ RESULTS
18 LAP KELSEY RACING IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE: RAINED OUT
HEAT 1: Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Greg Gretz, Kewaunee
18 LAP BULL PEN BAR & GRILL IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE: RAINED OUT
HEAT 1:Tony Bouche, Algoma; Dennis Weidner, Maplewood
HEAT 2: Jeremy Anschutz, Brussels; Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor
18 LAP LAVINE’S ICE IMCA SPORT MOD FEATURE: RAINED OUT
HEAT 1: Cody Rass, Sturgeon Bay; Andy Ratajczak, Frog Station
HEAT 2: Kelsy Hayes, Sturgeon Bay; James Iverson, Luxemburg
18 LAP LACKIE RENTALS IMCA HOBBY STOCK FEATURE: RAINED OUT
HEAT 1: Dave Schmidt, Casco; Derek Moede, Casco
HEAT 2: Eric Micolichek, Luxemburg; Scott Boulanger, Luxemburg
18 LAP SHOWCASE KITCHENS STREET STOCK FEATURE: RAINED OUT
HEAT 1: Kevin Luedtke, Sturgeon Bay; John Sternard, Sturgeon Bay
HEAT 2: Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay; Todd Wagner, Maplewood
Posted under Race Reports on June 15th, 2013
$1 COORS LIGHT NIGHT AT THUNDERHILL RACEWAY / SPECTATOR ELIMINATOR 6-15-13
By Edward Anschutz
Editorial Contributor Mike Kelsey
(Sturgeon Bay, WI) June 12, 2013- Week 4 preview at Thunderhill Raceway which features $1 Coors Light the entire night with a paid admission this Saturday June 15. We are looking for our first entries for the Spectator Eliminator. Rules are very simple…must have helmet, paid pit pass, street-able vehicle no “race cars“, 18yrs or older. Driver doesn’t need valid drivers licenses but must have ID. You race after the final feature of the night. The winner gets a nice trophy for victory! Great chance to get out on the “Circle of Death” and get your adrenaline fix without all the expenses of a race car.
Egg Harbor Fun Park has been gracious enough to lend Thunderhill a few Go-Karts and the plan is to choose 3 kids names, let those kids choose their favorite racer and let them race on the Go-Kart track at intermission. “Were currently working out all the details for ages that will be eligible to race. More importantly our goal is to give the kids a memory of a lifetime in racing their dirt track hero.” stated Woody. We’ve also thought about having race fans pay a small fee to race their favorite driver at the end of the night and all money raised to will go to our DOOR CANcer account and will be used to help local families fighting Cancer.
Eagles Inside Track…
The Stock Cars saw the return of Shawn Olson. Olson raced the #52 machine of Troy Muench. At Luxemburg Speedway Muench debut his brand new Petrie Chassis IMCA Stock Car which features the John Soukup #99. Muench as well as many others have changed their car number to the 99 in memory of Soukup who lost his battle with cancer this off season. Olson is a sponsor on both Muench’s race cars which resulted in some extra seat time for the former Street Stock champ
In the Kelsey Racing IMCA Modifieds Dan Ratajczak picked up his second feature win in a row. James Tebon leads the standings by 6 points over Ratajczak. Billy LeMieux sit’s a bakers dozen behind Tebon. Greg Gretz Mods in only his second start in the Mods has already won a heat race. Gretz is the leading Rookie in the class.
Despite a hard wreck a couple weeks ago Bret Koehler found victory lane in the Bull Pen Bar IMCA Stock Cars. Dave Bouche hasn’t finished outside the top four in this early season which has vaulted him into the point lead. Opening night feature winner Shawn Havel sits second just 3 points back of Bouche. Jeremy Wiitala is third in points just 6 markers back, Luke Lemmens who has one feature to his credit sits fourth 7 points out, John Anschutz & Tom Brumlic tied are for fifth in the standings 9 points behind the leader. Last season the title came down to the final night of the season, this year looks to be the same.
Opening night feature winner Jarred VanLaanen holds the number one spot in the LaVine’s Ice IMCA Sport Mods. It’s a total free for all for the top spot with the top eight in points are only separated by 10 points. Every night for here on out will feel like the final point night for all the title contenders. Defending champ Bernie Reinhardt picked up the win last week and sits second on the standings, Randy LeMieux Jr. third, Josh Massart fourth, Chris Budzban and Dennis Miesler are tied for fifth, Kelsy Hayes seventh and Ryan LeMieux eighth.
Martin Kelsey’s bad luck in the Sport Mods has continued after running in the top five every night Martin has been caught up in late race wrecks, results haven’t matched his performance. In the Rookie battle Cody Rass holds a 3 point edge over Jacob Zellner. Rass sits tenth in the standings.
Despite being disqualified twice at Luxemburg Scott Boulanger has been perfect at Thunderhill in the Lackie Rentals IMCA Hobby Stocks with three feature wins in three nights. He leads last years runner up Derek Moede by 4 points. 2003 Hobby champ Joe Hegnet sits third 13 points out of the lead.
In the Showcase Kitchens Street Stocks Keith Kickbusch holds a slim 3 point edge over Kevin Luedtke. Last weeks winner Brandon Peterson suffered a DNF (did not finish) is back in the title hunt 10 points back. Jeremy Dubois runs fourth 11 markers behind the leader. Kickbusch and Peterson hold titles in the IMCA Hobby Stocks while Dubois holds one in the Feisty Fours. Luedtke is chasing his first title. Former Street Stock champ John Sternard was suspended for a week after having issues with Todd Wagner. This pushes Sternard out of the title contention while Wagner sits fifth.
Five divisions do battle every Saturday night through the summer. IMCA Modified, IMCA Stock Car, IMCA Northern Sport Mod, IMCA Hobby Stock and Street Stocks will compete on the 1/3rd mile clay oval. For more information, please visit the track’s website at www.racethunderhill.com Thunderhill is located at the John Miles Fair Park on Sturgeon Bay’s east side. Track GPS address is 1116 N 15th Pl. Pit gates open at 3:30 P.M. racing starts at 6:00 P.M. For your social media outlet like Thunderhill Raceway on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Posted under News on June 12th, 2013
