Jerovetz Leads Wire-to-Wire In Thunder Hill Mod Go!
By Joe Verdegan

August 30, 2003; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - Suamico's Sean Jerovetz took the lead at the drop of the green and sweated out several caution periods to collect his second straight 20 lap IMCA modified feature at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday night. Jerovetz also won his heat scoring a clean sweep for the evening.

Defending track champion Craig Paque of Algoma only led one lap, but it was the one that counted as he won the 18 lap IMCA stock car feature in a wild finish, one which saw the lead change hands three times in the final eight laps.


Kewaunee's Shawn Kilgore used his sixth place feature finish to propel him to the season championship in the IMCA stock car division. Last week Algoma's Todd Dart and Green Bay's Troy Muench were crowned champions in the IMCA modified and street stock divisions, respectively. Hometown driver Joe Hegnet etched his name in the record books as the track's first ever IMCA hobby stock champion, and Algoma's Kenny Malcore did the same in the 4 cylinder division.

In the IMCA modified feature Jerovetz blasted into the lead from outside, front row starting spot and quickly built up a sizeable lead in just five laps. It was that fifth lap when a caution flew for debris, wiping out Jerovetz' advantage. On the restart Benji LaCrosse and Randy LeMieux filled Jerovetz' rear view mirror, and gave the Suamico driver fits until a caution flew on lap nine when Mike Cole tangled with another car in turn four. Cole's racer ran over a tire and nearly flipped on the frontstretch, coming to a rest on the frontstretch. When racing resumed Jerovetz maintained the lead when lap 13 proved to be unlucky for Jeremy Jacobs, who spun drawing another amber. With a seven lap sprint to the finish LeMieux moved into second with Jared Siefert in third.

Jerovetz was able to hold off the field to record his second straight victory. Trailing at the checkers were Siefert, LaCrosse, LeMieux and Todd Dart.

Carlsville's Corey Haen fought door-to-door with Mark Derenne in the first six laps of the IMCA stock car main when a caution flew for a Josh Massart spin after Massart made contact with another car. When racing resumed Massart looped his mount again, drawing a yellow one circuit later. On the restart Derenne slipped underneath Haen for the lead. By mid-race Derenne began to fade, and Haen regained the lead on lap 10. Paque, Joe Lebotte and Shawn Olson caught up with Haen and were stuck to him for the next several laps. Haen and Lebotte traded the lead from laps 12 to 16. On the final circuit Paque stuck his nose inside of Haen on the backstretch and muscled his way to his third feature win of the season. Tim Van De Hei mounted a solid last lap charge to net second, followed by Lebotte, Haen and Olson.

Muench passed Dave Hoerning with two laps to go to record his 10th 15 lap street stock feature.

The contest got off to a wild start when Darren Otto's racer lost a tire, sending his car into a spin on the backstretch and sending several mid-pack cars scattering. On the second attempt Hoerning jumped into the lead from his pole position. Muench quickly shuffled through the field from his sixth starting spot into second by lap three. Muench went to work reeling in Hoerning until Marvin Denny's car snapped an axle, drawing a caution on lap four.

When racing resumed Hoerning kept his lead, with Muench, Scott Reinhardt and Fred Davister trailing. With just two laps remaining Muench ducked underneath Hoerning to collect the feature win. Hoerning, Reinhardt, Davister and Kevin Jandrin rounded out the top five.

Algoma's Eddie Anschutz captured his fourth, 15 lap IMCA hobby stock feature, sweeping the division with a heat win to boot. Brussels Chad Williams won his third, 10 lap 4 cylinder feature.

Next Saturday night the traditional "street stock slam" will take place. The event will pay $600 to win for the street stocks with $20 per lap leader money doled out in the 30 lap contest. Modifieds, stock cars, street stocks and hobby stocks will also compete in the final race of the 2003 season. For more information call 920 743 7052. The track's website is www.racethunderhill.com.

RACE SUMMARY

IMCA Modified
20 lap feature - Sean Jerovetz, Suamico; Jared Siefert, Green Bay; Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg; Randy LeMieux Jr. Sturgeon Bay; Todd Dart, Algoma; Robert Waechter, Ellisville
12 lap semi feature - Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station; George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay; Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Art Siefert, Green Bay
10 lap heats 1) Jerovetz; LaCrosse 2) Darrell Massart, Brussels; Chris Derenne, Luxemburg 3) LeMieux Jr; Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg

IMCA Stock Car
20 lap feature - Craig Paque, Algoma; Tim Van De Hei, Green Bay; Joe Lebotte, Kewaunee; Corey Haen, Carlsville; Shawn Olson, Algoma; Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee
10 lap heats 1) Mike Weitor, Green Bay; Haen 2) Mark Derenne, Kewaunee; Lebotte

Street Stock
15 lap feature - Troy Muench, Green Bay; Dave Hoerning, Appleton; Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor; Kevin Jandrin, Forestville; Jeremy Wittala, Green Bay; Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap semi-feature - Scott Reinhardt; Jandrin; LeMieux; Faron Beilke, Oneida
10 lap heats 1) Hoerning; Rick Sternard, Sturgeon Bay 2) Von Echenson, Forestville; Dennis Weidner, Sturgeon Bay 3) Darren Otto, Pulaski; Don Polceen, Sturgeon Bay

IMCA Hobby Stock
15 lap feature - Ed Anschutz, Algoma; Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay; Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay; Marcus Moede, Casco; Gregg Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay; Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay
8 lap heats 1) Anschutz; Duane Mertens, Luxemburg 2) Roger LaViolette, Sturgeon Bay; Moore

4 Banger
10 lap feature - Chad Williams, Brussels; Kenny Malcore, Algoma; Tom Zastrow, Sturgeon Bay; Bob Abbet, Maribel; John Beilfuss, Sturgeon Bay; Matt Beyer, Green Bay
8 lap heat 1) Malcore; Zastrow