Mullen Captures Thunder Hill IMCA
Modified Headliner!
By Joe Verdegan
May 3, 2003; Sturgeon Bay, WI. -
Seymour's Brian Mullen made a rare visit to the new Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay
pay off quite nicely. The IMCA modified veteran squeezed past Dan Ratajczak on lap eight
to win the opening night feature at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday. The
feature victory was also accompanied by a heat win, giving Mullen a clean sweep for the
night. The win was Mullen's second in as many days, as he won the feature race the night
before at Luxemburg Speedway as well.
A total of 94 cars took part in the opening night program, sponsored
by Forest County Potawatomi Community. The field included 31 IMCA modifieds, 28 IMCA stock
cars, 21 street stocks, 11 IMCA hobby stocks and three 4 cylinder cars.
Dan Ratajczak paced the opening circuit of the 20 lap contest with Julie McDermid, Jay
Matthias and Brian Mullen trailing. Mullen whisked past Matthias on lap two and slipped
underneath McDermid for second one circuit later. A lap four yellow flew when Tim
McCormick's racer stalled on the frontstretch. When racing resumed Mullen and Ratajczak
pulled away from the pack to settle the score. Mullen made several attempts to pass
Ratajczak on the inside, but the "Frog Station Flash" was up for the challenge.
However, Mullen found the bite he needed on the third-mile, clay oval heading into turn
three. Mullen pulled ahead of Ratajczak coming out of the corner on lap eight to take the
lead.
The race's second yellow flew when Ratajczak's mount stalled in corner three. With six
laps remaining Matthias and Mike Mashl stayed within striking distance of the leader.
However Mullen was too tough to tame on this night, forcing Matthias and Mashl to settle
for second and third, respectively. Eric Van Iten placed fourth while Mike Coel rounded
out the top five finishers.
Two time IMCA stock car champion Craig Paque came out swinging, by winning the 20 lap
feature.
Paque drew the number one pill and took the lead at the drop of the green of the 20 lap
contest. JJ Heinz, Shawn Olson and Tim Van De Hei ran second third and fourth,
respectively. The quartet pulled away from the rest of the field. But their margin was
erased when Charlie Kroll looped his Ford Thunderbird on lap nine, drawing a yellow.
On the restart Heinz powered past Paque to take the lead with Van De Hei glued to his rear
bumper. A lap eleven amber for a Tracy Koontz-Rick Mahlberg tangle reshuffled the field
again. Paque and Heinz traded the lead during the next few laps with Heinz finally getting
the lead for good on lap 13. Van De Hei caught up with Heinz on lap 13. On lap 14 Heinz
and Van De Hei made contact on the frontstretch, with Heinz's racer spinning into the
infield. Both were sent to the tail of the field.
With six laps remaining Paque was handed the lead. Shawn Kilgore and Shawn Olson put the
pressure on Paque in the late going but Paque hung on for the win. Olson, Kilgore, Joe
Lebotte and Bernie Reinhardt placed second through fifth, respectively.
Green Bay's Troy Muench dodged two caution periods and went on to win the 15 lap street
stock feature. Muench's heat win netted him a clean sweep for the night.
The race got off to a rocky start when the car driven by James Iverson burst into flames
just three laps in. Iverson escaped unhurt. On the restart Muench blasted from his eighth
starting spot into the lead. Muench checked out, leaving his foes in his dust when a lap
six yellow flew for a Tom Frea spin in turn three.
Muench picked up where he left off before the yellow and cruised to an easy victory. Kevin
Jandrin took second, followed by Jeremy Wiitala,
Kevin Brungraber and Darren Otto.
Eddie "The Eagle" Anschutz scored his second career feature win in as many days,
holding off Joe Hegnet on the final circuit to win the 15 lap IMCA hobby stock feature.
Anschutz's racer went up in a plume of smoke as he took the white flag, but Anschutz'
racer held together long enough to score the win. The Algoma driver also won the night
prior at Luxemburg Speedway. Hegnet, Ryan LeMieux, Evan Madden and Gregg Aregoni rounded
out the top five finishers.
Denmark's Todd Welsing bested the other two opponents to win the first feature in the new
four cylinder class.
Next Saturday night's program is sponsored by the band After Dark. It will also be fan
photo night as well. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m. For more information call 920 743
7052. The track's website is www.racethunderhill.com.
THUNDER HILL RACEWAY RACE RESULTS 5-3-03
IMCA Modified
20 lap feature - Brian Mullen, Seymour; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; Mike
Mashl, De Pere; Eric Van Iten, Green Bay; Mike Coel, Baileys Harbor; Julie McDermid,
Oconto Falls
12 lap semi-feature - Todd Dart, Algoma; Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg; Art
Siefert, Green Bay; Rick Johnson, Gills Rock
10 lap heats 1) Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; Jared Siefert, Green Bay 2)
Mullen; McDermid 3) Mashl; Darrell Massart, Brussels
IMCA stock car
20 lap feature - Craig Paque, Algoma; Shawn Olson, Algoma; Shawn Kilgore,
Kewaunee; Joe Lebotte, Kewaunee; Bernie Reinhardt, Fish Creek; Charlie Kroll, Algoma
12 lap semi-feature - Pat Davister, Luxemburg; Greg Gretz, Kewaunee;
Tracy Koontz, Brussels; Rick Mahlberg, Denmark
10 lap heats 1) Kroll; Kilgore 2) Jeff Vlies, Brussels;
Don Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay 3) Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf; Lebotte
Street Stock
15 lap feature - Troy Muench, Green Bay; Kevin Jandrin, Forestville;
Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay; Kevin Brungraber, Sturgeon Bay; Darren Otto, Pulaski; Tom
Terrien, Green Bay
10 lap heats 1) Jandrin; James Iverson, Sturgeon Bay 2)
Muench; Chris Konitzer, Forestville 3) James Tebon, Algoma; Brungraber
IMCA hobby stock
15 Lap feature -Ed Anschutz, Algoma; Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay; Ryan
LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Evan Madden, Algoma; Gregg Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay; Brandon Peterson,
Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heat 1) Anschutz; Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay
4 cylinders
10 lap heat - Todd Welsing, Denmark; Kenny Malcore, Algoma; Bob Skappett |
