Jerovetz Masters Mods.    Dart and Muench Secure Titles!
By Joe Verdegan

August 23, 2003; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - Former IMCA stock car champ Sean Jerovetz made a triumphant return to the Door Peninsula, capturing his first IMCA modified feature win of the year Saturday night at the Thunderhill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. 

IMCA stock car racer Shawn Olson proved to be a first time winner in his new class, while Troy Muench in the Street Stocks, Joe Hegnet in the IMCA hobby stocks and Ken Malcore in the 4 cylinder class scored repeat victories.

Early season problems provided Jerovetz with a low point average, positioning him on the pole for the modified headliner.  That meant the race was his to win or lose, and by making no mistakes he was able to pace all 20 laps.  Early challenges came from Tom Stark and Jerry Wenzel.  Defending champ Jared Siefert moved into second on lap 8, but any possible chance he had at a win was wiped away as front suspension failure ended his night one lap later, resulting in a caution.

Mike Cole won a match-up with Dan Ratajczk and Wenzel on the restart as Jerovetz cut loose.  Cole was able to close within two car lengths with three laps to go, but that was as close as he could get. 

Just behind the leaders, Todd Dart and Jay Matthias were in the spotlight as the two title contenders worked their way steadily through traffic.  By finishing a spot ahead of Matthias, Dart was able to mathematically eliminate the second year driver from contention heading into the final night of point racing on Saturday.  The title will be a record tying fourth, matching Eugene Gregorich.

Heads up driving by the entire IMCA stock car field prevented what could have been a major incident on the first lap of that division's feature.  Dave Davister moved from the front row to lead the pack into the third turn when his car broke loose and slid broadside into the middle of the track.  Remarkably, no contact was made and all 20 cars were present for the restart.

Davister resumed the point on the restart, with a steady stream of two and three wide racing behind him.  The second year driver looked to be headed toward a career first checker, until Olson caught a groove on the middle line and began edging forward.   Olson used the line to pass front runners Don Aregoni and Tony Bouche, and eventually Davister on lap 12.  Brett Wenzel moved up into Olson's line and followed into second with five to go, but without the benefit of any late cautions, he wasn't able to mount a serious challenge.    

A 13th place finish isn't generally something to get that excited about, but 13th on Saturday might have been enough to open the door to a championship for Shawn Kilgore.   Kilgore entered the night trailing two-time defending champ Craig Paque by two points.  Both ended up in the semi-feature.  Kilgore was able to transfer to the main, but Paque was caught up in an incident just two laps from the checker while in a transfer spot.  He ended up missing the feature, putting Kilgore ahead by 12 in the championship standings heading into the final night.

Muench took no chances in the street stock feature.  In a mere five laps, he was able to advance from the fifth row to take the lead from Thom Terrien.  His purser in the point standings, James Tebon, had a little more trouble advancing as he ended up locked in a battle for second with Kevin Jandrin.  By the time he secured the spot, there was no hope of catching Muench.

The win was Muench's eighth of the year, and the 40 points he earned secured the championship.

Despite winning the IMCA hobby stock feature, point leader Hegnet can't rest going into the final night.  By finishing two spots ahead of Ed Anschutz, "Joe Bear" will carry a six point edge into the season finale.

The highlight moment of the race came on a restart with six laps to go.  Jeff Lautenbach had paced most of the race until that point.  Hegnet lined up on the inside of the second row with Anschutz outside.  As the green flew, Hegnet dove inside of Lautenbach while Anschutz circled outside.  The two swarmed by down the back stretch, with Hegnet securing the lead.

Wayne Moore engaged Anschutz, and that allowed Hegnet to pull away to his third win of the season.  With Moore slipping into the second spot, Hegnet's win added two points to his lead over Anschutz, extending it to six.

Malcore held off a mid-race challenge from Chad Williams to win his third feature of the year in the 4 cylinder division.

Saturday night, Top Shelf Trophies will host the season ending five division show.   Racing gets underway at 6 p.m. For more information call 920 743 7052. The track's website is www.racethunderhill.com.


IMCA MODIFIED
20 LAP FEATURE:  Sean Jerovetz, Little Suamico - Mike Cole, Baileys Harbor - Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station - Jerry Wenzel, Two Rivers - Todd Dart, Algoma - Jay Matthias, Green Bay
SEMI-FEATURE:  Darrell Massart, Brussels - Art Siefert, Green Bay - Rick LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay - Chris Derenne, Luxemburg
HEAT 1:  Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg - Tom Stark, Egg Harbor
HEAT2:  Jerovetz - Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg
HEAT3:  Wenzel - Cole

IMCA STOCK CAR
18  LAP FEATURE:  Shawn Olson, Algoma, Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers - Dave Davister, Luxemburg - Tony Bouche, Algoma - Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek - Don Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay
SEMI-FEATURE:  Jeff Vlies, Brussels - Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee - Dave Bouche, Algoma - Joe LeBotte, Kewaunee
HEAT 1:  Mike Wietor, Green Bay - Tony Bouche
HEAT2:  Pat Davister, Luxemburg - Reinhardt
HEAT3:  Larry Ingebretsen, Luxemburg - B.J. Soquet, Luxemburg

STREET STOCK CAR
15  LAP FEATURE:  Troy Muench, Green Bay - James Tebon, Algoma - Kevin Jandrin, Forestville - Dave Baenen, New Frankin - Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor - Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay
HEAT 1:  Scott Iverson, Sturgeon Bay - Jandrin
HEAT2:  James Iverson, Dykesville - Tebon

IMCA HOBBY STOCK
15  LAP FEATURE:  Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay - Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay - Ed Anschutz, Algoma - Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay - Tony Schlei, Zion, Il - Duane Mertens, Algoma
HEAT 1:  Greg Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay - Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay
HEAT2:  Marcus Moede, Casco - Anschutz

4 CYLINDER
FEATURE:  Ken Malcore, Algoma - Chad Williams, Brussels - John Beilfuss, Sturgeon Bay - Bob Skippon, Sturgeon Bay
HEAT:  Williams - Malcore