Dart Posts Back-to-Back Thunder Hall
IMCA Mod Feature Win!
By Joe Verdegan
June 21, 2003; Sturgeon Bay, WI. -
Algoma's Todd Dart took the lead on lap 10 and kept the lead through a pair of lengthly
caution periods to win his second straight 12 lap time-shortened IMCA modified feature at
Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday night. It was also Dart's second feature win
in as many days as he won the main event on Friday night at Luxemburg Speedway.
A total of 92 cars took part in the program, which included 27 IMCA
modifieds, 22 IMCA stock cars, 24 street stocks, 13 IMCA hobby stocks and six sport fours.
Yellows slowed the action in the first two laps, but polesitter Buck Schmelzer held the
top spot through it all until surrendering the lead to Darrell Massart on lap five. Jeremy
Jacobs inherited the lead on lap six when Massart dropped out with mechanical woes. Dart
blasted his way through the pack, charging from his row eight starting spot into third by
lap seven. Dart passed Billy LeMieux for second on lap eight when Schmelzer spun on the
next circuit, drawing a caution.
Back under the green Jacobs maintained the lead, with Dart hot on his heels. Dart flew to
the high side and drove around Jacobs to take the lead. Another caution flew on lap 12
when Mike Cole spun in turn three. Time expired in the contest, setting up a two lap dash
to the checkers.
However, the race only wound up being 12 laps as an eight car pileup on the restart
involving several mid-pack cars forced the flagman to call the race complete, giving Dart
his second win of the season. Jacobs took second, followed by Randy LeMieux Jr., Jay
Matthias and Dave Zeitler.
Kewaunee's Shawn Kilgore slipped inside of Matt Junio and Pat Davister as the pair
collided on the final lap, giving Kilgore his first 20 lap IMCA stock car feature win of
the season here.
Dave Davister sprinted from his pole position into the lead during the first few circuits
when Brett Wenzel snapped an axle, sending his tire sailing onto the backstretch, drawing
a yellow. When racing resumed Kroll ducked underneath Davister to take the lead on lap
four. "Chargin Charlie" proceeded to build a comfortable margin while Junio and
Davister scrapped for second. Junio wrestled second away from Davister on lap seven and
began whittling away at Kroll's advantage. Junio caught a break on lap nine when Chris
Christensen lost a wheel on his mount, drawing the contest's second amber. At the same
time Kroll's machine began overheating, forcing him to pit under yellow.
Junio inherited the lead with eleven laps remaining. Davister and Tim Van De Hei battled
for second, with Davister taking the spot and challenging Junio for the lead. As the white
flag was displayed Davister took the lead down the frontstretch, only to have Junio repass
Davister coming out of turn two. The leaders collided in turn four while coming down for
the checkers, and Kilgore ducked underneath the leaders to take the win. Junio hung on for
second, followed by Van De Hei, Jeff Vlies and Craig Paque.
Sturgeon Bay's Rick Sternard fought off a fast closing Troy Muench and went on to claim
his first 15 lap street stock feature of the season. Rounding out the top five finishers
were Muench, James Iverson, Todd Wagner and James Tebon.
Next Saturday night June 28 will be Budweiser Flanigan Distributing at the races. A full
program featuring IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars, street stocks, IMCA hobby stocks and 4
cylinders will be in action, beginning at 6 p.m. For more information call 920 743 7052.
The track website is racethunderhill.com.
THUNDER HILL RACEWAY RACE RESULTS 6-21-03
IMCA modified
12 lap feature - Todd Dart, Algoma; Jeremy Jacobs, Kewaunee; Randy LeMieux Jr.,
Sturgeon Bay; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg; Jared Seifert, Green Bay
6 lap semi-feature - George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay; Matthias; Jason LaViolette, Sturgeon
Bay; Dennis Frea, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heats 1) Jacobs; Bill LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay 2) Tom Stark, Egg Harbor; Eugene
Gregorich, Kewaunee 3) Buck Schmelzer, Casco; Darrell Massart, Brussels
IMCA stock car
20 lap feature - Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee; Matt Junio, Casco; Tim Van De Hei, Green Bay;
Jeff Vlies, Brussels; Craig Paque, Algoma; Joe Lebotte, Kewaunee
10 lap heats 1) Don Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay; Lebotte 2) Corey Haen, Carlsville; Dave
Davister, Luxemburg 3) BJ Soquet, Luxemburg; Charlie Kroll, Algoma
Street Stock
15 lap feature - Rick Sternard, Sturgeon Bay; Troy Muench, Green Bay; Scott Iverson,
Sturgeon Bay; Todd Wagner, Sturgeon Bay; James Tebon, Algoma; Jeremy Witala, Green Bay
10 lap heats 1) Muench; Davister 2) Von Eychenson, Forestville; Jerry Denil, Brussels 3)
Iverson; Marvin Denny, Sturgeon Bay
IMCA Hobby Stock
15 lap feature -Evan Madden, Algoma; Gregg Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay; Dave Lane, Green Bay; Ed
Anschutz, Algoma; Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Tony Schlei, Zion, IL
10 lap heats 1) Madden; Mike Mueller, Green Bay 2) LeMieux
Sport Four
5 lap feature - Bob Skippon, Sturgeon Bay; Chad Williams, Sturgeon Bay; Dave Schlise,
Shawano; Kenny Malcore, Algoma; Tyler Smith, Luxemburg; Tom Zastrow, Sturgeon Bay |
