Siefert Leads Wire-to-Wire in
Thunder Hill IMCA Mod Main!
By Joe Verdegan
May 24, 2003; Sturgeon Bay, WI. -
Defending track champion Jared Seifert of Green Bay took the lead at the drop of
the green and dodged a pair of caution periods to collect his first 20 lap IMCA modified
feature win of the season at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday. Seifert also
won his heat, scoring a clean sweep for the evening.
104 cars took part in the program. The field included a season high 35 IMCA modifieds, 28
IMCA stock cars, 25 street stocks, 14 IMCA hobby stocks and two 4 cylinders.
Siefert outdueled Lucas Engels into the lead at the drop of the
green. Jerry Wenzel tailed Siefert into the second spot when a lap two yellow flew for a
Jeremy Jacobs spin. On the restart Engels got crossed up in turn two, scattering several
mid-pack cars. Mike Cole and Engels both needed wreckers to remove their cars from the
track, along with Julie McDermid.
When racing resumed Dave Zeitler found the high line to his liking, motoring past Wenzel
for second. Zeitler went to work reeling in Seifert.
Seifert protected the bottom line, while Zeitler committed to the top side. With five laps
remaining Zeitler shuffled down to the lower groove, while Benji LaCrosse slipped inside
Zeitler for second with two laps remaining. LaCrosse got a solid head of steam on the
final circuit but Seifert fought off the rookie driver to pocket the victory. LaCrosse
took second, followed by Zeitler, Jay Matthias, and Todd Dart, who charged through the
back of the pack after having to qualify into the main event from one of two semi
features.
John Heinz slipped past Mark Derenne on a restart with four laps to go to win the 18 lap
IMCA stock car feature, his first of the season. Heinz won his heat also scoring a sweep
of the division.
Mark Derenne shot into the lead at the drop of the green and quickly built up a full
straightaway advantage over the rest of the field. An eight car scrap ensued for the next
several laps with Heinz wrestling second away from Brett Wenzel on lap seven. Heinz began
chiseling away at Derenne's margin, but could not gain any ground. Heinz and company
caught a break on lap 14 when Tim Van De Hei and Derrick Bruechert locked horns on the
fronstretch, drawing a yellow.
With four laps remaining Heinz muscled his way inside of Derenne into the lead. Heinz kept
the top spot and cruised to victory with Derenne glued to his rear bumper. Wenzel settled
for third, followed by Craig Paque and Joe Lebotte.
James Tebon swept action in the street stock class, winning his heat and the 15 lap
feature. The victory was Tebon's first this year.
Rick Sternard paced the first three rounds of the contest when Tebon passed Sternard for
the lead on lap four. Tebon, Sternard and Scott Reinhardt went three wide for the next
five laps, with Tebon hanging onto the lead. An Aaron Thornton spin on lap nine tightened
the field. With six laps to go Tebon fought off a late race charge from Reinhardt and
Darren Otto, who placed second and third, respectively. Troy Muench and Kevin Brungraber
rounded out the top five finishers.
Zion, Illinois' Tony Schlei passed Wayne Moore for the lead on lap four and won the 15 lap
IMCA hobby stock feature, his first of the year. Moore, Joe Hegnet, Eddie Anschutz and
Evan Madden rounded out the top five finishers.
Kenny Malcore of Algoma won the 6 lap 4 cylinder feature.
Next Saturday night's racing action will be sponsored by Coca Cola. An autograph session
will take place. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m. For more information call 920 743 7052.
THUNDER HILL RACEWAY RACE RESULTS 5-24-03
IMCA Modified
20 lap feature -Jared Siefert, Green Bay; Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg; Dave Zeitler,
Luxemburg; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; Todd Dart, Algoma; Randy Back, Green Bay
12 lap semi-features - 1) Todd Dart, Algoma; Randy LeMieux Jr., Sturgeon
Bay; George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay; Rick Johnson, Gills Rock 2) Scooter
Boyea, Green Bay; Mike Cole, Baileys Harbor; Darrell Massart, Brussels; Art Siefert, Green
Bay
10 lap heats 1) LaCrosse; Matthias 2) Julie McDermid,
Oconto Falls; Jerry Wenzel, Two Rivers 3) Jared Siefert; Dan Ratajczak,
Frog Station 4) Zeitler; Back
IMCA Stock Car
18 lap feature - John Heinz, Green Bay; Mark Derenne, Kewaunee; Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers;
Craig Paque, Algoma; Joe Lebotte, Kewaunee; Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee
12 lap semi-feature - Jeff Vlies, Brussels; Dave Bouche, Algoma; Kilgore; Tony Bouche,
Algoma; Larry Ingebretsen, Luxemburg
10 lap heats 1) Derenne; Wenzel 2) Heinz; Bernie
Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay 3) Charlie Kroll, Algoma; Pat Davister, Luxemburg
Street Stock
15 lap feature - James Tebon, Algoma; Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor;
Darren Otto, Pulaski; Troy Muench, Green Bay; Kevin Brungraber, Sturgeon Bay; Kevin
Jandrin, Forestville
10 lap semi feature - Von Eytchenson, Forestville; Todd Wagner, Sturgeon Bay; Tom
Therrien, Green Bay; Don Polcen, Sturgeon Bay;
10 lap heats 1) Jandrin; James Anderson, Sturgeon Bay 2)
Otto; Brungraber 3) Tebon; Muench
IMCA hobby stock
15 lap feature - Tony Schlei, Zion, IL; Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay; Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon
Bay; Eddie Anschutz, Algoma; Evan Madden, Algoma; Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heats 1) Hegnet; Moore 2) Anschutz; LeMieux
4 Cylinders
6 lap feature - Kenny Malcore, Algoma; Bob Skippon, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heat - Skippon; Malcore |
