Zeitler Shades Stark in Thunder Hill IMCA Mod Headliner!
By Joe Verdegan

May 31, 2003; Sturgeon Bay, WI. -   Luxemburg's Dave Zeitler took the lead away from Tom Stark on the final lap and went on to claim his first time-shortened 20 lap IMCA modified feature at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday night.

A field of 108 cars took part in the program, which included 33 IMCA modifieds, 32 IMCA stock cars, 25 street stocks, 14 IMCA hobby stocks and four 4 cylinders. 

Stark shot out from his front row starting spot into the lead at the drop of the green. Stark built up a  five car length lead over the field when Julie McDermid's car stalled on lap six, drawing a yellow. On the restart Stark maintained his lead while Zeitler began threading his way through the field from his 10th starting spot. Zeitler grabbed third on lap nine and took second away from Billy LeMieux on lap 10. Zeitler began reeling in Stark when Wenzel spun on the frontstretch, triggering a three car melee which took out McDermid.

On the next attempted restart Robert Waechter and Tim McCormick tangled, with the left tire of McCormick's car wedged into Waechter's driver's window. Both drivers were all right. When racing resumed Zeitler continued to stalk Stark, eventually passing him for the lead on lap 16. On the following circuit Billy LeMieux slapped the frontstretch wall, halting the race and handing the lead back to Stark. Time expired in the contest, setting up a two lap dash to the checkers. Zeitler motored past Stark on the final lap and hung on to win the feature. Stark settled for second in his best performance of the year, followed by Todd Dart, who charged through the field from 13th, Randy Back and visiting Eric Scribner from Kiel.

Green Bay's Tim Van De Hei sweated out a late race charge from Rod Snellenberger and Craig Paque to win the 20 lap IMCA stock car feature, his first of the season here. Van De Hei passed early leader BJ Soquet for the top spot on lap three. The Green Bay driver went to work building a sizeable cushion over the field. Snellenberger, who started deep in the
pack in row seven, methodically whittled his way through the field into fifth by lap eight and grabbing third by lap 12. The yellow Snellenberger needed flew on lap 14 for debris, which erased Van De Hei's huge margin.

On the restart Snellenberger snatched the second spot away from Soquet and began pressuring Van De Hei, using both the high and low grooves. On the final lap Paque caught the leaders and joined the battle for the lead. Van De Hei fought both challengers off for the win. Snellenberger, Paque, rookie Corey Haen and Dave Bouche rounded out the top five finishers.

Green Bay's Troy Muench survived a pair of caution periods and passed Von Eychenson for the lead with two laps to go to win his third 15 lap street stock feature. Trailing Muench at the checkers were Eychenson, James Tebon, Jerry Denil and Rick Sternard.

Sturgeon Bay's Joe Hegnet fought off a fast closing Tony Schlei to win the caution free 15 lap IMCA hobby stock feature while Kenny Malcore won the 8 lap 4 cylinder feature.

Next Saturday night June 7 Northland Steel will sponsor a Police/Fireman Challenge Night. All five classes will be in action beginning at 6 p.m. For more information call 920 743 7052. The track website is www.racethunderhill.com.

THUNDER HILL RACEWAY RESULTS 5-31-03

IMCA Modified
18 Lap feature - Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg; Tom Stark, Egg Harbor; Todd Dart, Algoma; Randy Back, Green Bay; Eric Scribner, Kiel; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg
12 lap semi-features 1) Randy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Julie McDermid, Oconto Falls; Jason LaViolette, Sturgeon Bay; Rick Johnson, Gills Rock 2nd) Robert Waechter, Ellisville; Eugene Gregorich, Kewaunee; Matt McDermid, Oconto Falls; Kevin Sternard, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heats 1) Stark; Sean Jerovetz, Suamico 2) Tim McCormick, Sturgeon Bay; Back 3) Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Jerry Wenzel, Two Rivers 4) Scribner; Tony Herbst, Sturgeon Bay

IMCA Stock Car
20 Lap feature - Tim Van De Hei, Green Bay; Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; Craig Paque, Algoma; Corey Haen, Carlsville; Dave Bouche, Algoma; Jeff Vlies, Brussels
12 lap semi features 1) Vlies; Matt Junio, Casco; Tracy Koontz, Brussels; Rick Mahlberg, Hilbert 2) Pat Davister, Luxemburg; Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay; Travis Annoye, Casco; Chris Hendricks, Green Bay
10 lap heats 1) Charlie Kroll, Algoma; Shawn Olson, Algoma 2) Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers; Haen 3) Larry Ingebretsen, Luxemburg; Van De Hei 4) BJ Soquet, Luxemburg; Mike Weitor, Green Bay

Street Stock
15 Lap feature - Troy Muench, Green Bay; Von Eychenson, Forestville; James Tebon, Algoma; Jerry Denil, Brussels; Rick Sternard, Sturgeon Bay; Tom Therrien, Green Bay
8 lap semi-feature - Jeremy Witala, Green Bay; Dennis Weidner, Sturgeon Bay; Jame Anderson, Sturgeon Bay; Don Polcen, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heats 1) Faron Beilke, Oneida; Darren Otto, Pulaski 2) Eychenson; Sternard 3) Muench; Denil

IMCA Hobby Stock
15 Lap feature - Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay; Tony Schlei, Zion, IL; Ed Anschutz, Algoma; Gregg Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay; Dave Lane, Green Bay; Keith Kickbush, Kewaunee
10 lap heats 1) Lane; Anschutz 2) Hegnet; Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay

Sport Four
10 lap feature - Kenny Malcore, Algoma; Bob Skippon, Sturgeon Bay; Don Mahlberg,Green Bay; Bob Abbet, Maribel
6 lap heat - Malcore; Mahlberg