Thunderhill Raceway Race Reports |
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Dart
Takes Command at Thunderhill
By
Tom Wagner |
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July 7, 2007; Sturgeon Bay, WI. -
Todd Dart passed James Tebon in the closing laps, en
route to his second IMCA Modified feature win of the season
Saturday night at the Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway in
Sturgeon Bay.
In other action, Dave Bouche escaped a wild melee on the
third lap to win his first IMCA Stock Car feature of the
year. Feature trophies also went to Dave DeGrave in the IMCA
Hobby Stocks, Scott Reinhardt in the Street Stocks, Charlie
Kroll in the IMCA Northern Sport Mods, Jeremy DuBois in the
4 Cylinders and John Mahlberg in the Thunderbombs.
The Modified feature was dominated early by a pair of 21
cars, James Tebon and Tim Czarneski. The duo raced side by
side by for the event's first half, Tebon working the inside
and Czarneski the higher line. By the 12th lap, Dart had
worked his way into third, and was closing on the leaders.
Caution flew for a crash in three, setting the stage for
Dart.
The ensuing restart set Dart up on the outside of the second
row, a spot he used to grab second from Czarneski. Once
there, he gained an inside edge on Tebon. Tebon was able to
hold the lead for several laps from the outside, but with
three to go, Dart took command for good.
The win vaulted the five-time champ into a familiar place,
first in the point standings. Benji LaCrosse entered the
night on top, but finished the feature four laps down after
an extended stay on pit lane for repairs.
It was the second straight week that Tebon was forced to
settle for second after leading late in the contest.
Czarneski's third place run was a career high, marking a
solid night for the rookie that also included a heat win.
Cousins Billy and Randy LeMieux carded fourth and sixth
place runs respectively, with Shawn Kilgore sandwiched in
between with a fifth.
No less than two thirds of the field was involved in one way
or another in a wild crash on the third lap of the IMCA
Stock Car headliner. Eric Malfroid was spun into the middle
of a tight pack, sending cars scattering in all directions,
eventually blocking the entire track.
The contact ripped almost half of the body work from
Malfroid's car, including the roof, rear quarter panels and
trunk. Point leader Matt Junio received damage, but was able
to continue. Troy Muench was one of the last to slide into
the pile, ending his night on the hook.
From his 14th starting spot, Bouche was able to weave his
way through the carnage, restarting in the third row. For
the next three laps, he would dice for the lead with Cory
Cochart, Charlie Kroll and Shawn Havel, with Jeff Vlies and
early leader John Anschutz just behind.
Bouche established the point on the sixth lap, and was
hounded to the checker by Kroll, who was never less than a
couple car lengths behind. Cochart, Vlies and Havel rounded
out the top five, with Darren Otto posting a sixth in his
first visit of the year to The Hill.
In the IMCA Hobby Stocks, DeGrave found an open line out of
the third row on a restart to pass Aaron Zellner for the
lead on the second lap. Marcus Moede took second on the
seventh lap, and while close, could never pull even with the
eventual winner.
DeGrave went on to his second win in three weeks, followed
by Moede, Jeff Lautenbach, Frank Paul, Ed Anschutz and Keith
Kickbusch.
The script was the same for Reinhardt, as he shot from a
third row starting spot on a lap seven restart to take over
the reigns in the Street Stock headliner. Czarneski saw a
big lead evaporate at that point, as second place James
Iverson's spin dropped the caution flag.
It all added up to a huge turn of events for Reinhardt, as
it not only allowed him to take the lead, but to pass title
rival Jeremy Wiitala in the process. Wiitala had his hands
full trying to wrestle second from David Hoerning, allowing
Reinhardt to cruise to his first win of the season.
Hoerning was able to grab second by inches, giving Reinhardt
a two point lead over Wiitala in the division point
standings. Todd Everard, John Sternard and Scott Iverson
rounded out the top six.
Kroll made it five straight in the IMCA Northern Sport Mods,
leading all 15 laps. Jeff DuBois was able to keep Kroll in
his sites, but could never mount a serious challenge.
Commencing this Saturday, the track has posted a $200
bounty, payable to anyone who can beat the undefeated Kroll
in the division.
Green to checker finishes were the rule in the Raceway's
final two divisions as well. Jeremy DuBois turned the trick
in the four cylinder class for his first win of the year.
In the Thunderbombs, Chilton Challenger driver John
Mahlberg's first visit to Sturgeon Bay paid off as he took
his first ever track feature. Both DuBois and Mahlberg
scored clean sweeps, winning their respective heats.
Saturday night, the IMCA Stock Cars will be in the spotlight
with out-of-car dirver introductions. The vintage modifieds
will also be on hand. The group, based out of Milwaukee,
were forced to cancel last week.
Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway is located at the John Miles
Fair Park in Sturgeon Bay. For more information, visit the
track's website at www.racethunderhill.com.
RACE SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED 20 LAP FEATURE - Todd Dart, Algoma:
James Tebon, Algoma: Tim Czarneski, Denmark: Billy LeMieux,
Sturgeon Bay: Shawn Kilgore, New Franken: Randy LeMieux, Jr,
Sturgeon Bay
Semi-Feature - Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg: Scott Boyea,
Abrams: Evan Madden, Algoma: Rick Johnson, Gills Rock
Heat 1 - Rick LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay: Tebon
Heat 2 - Tom Stark, Egg Harbor: Randy LeMieux
Heat 3 - Czarneski: Kevin Sternard, Sturgeon Bay
IMCA STOCK CAR 18 LAP FEATURE - Dave Bouche,
Algoma: Charlie Kroll, Forestville: Cory Cochart, Kewaunee:
Jeff Vlies, Kewaunee: Shawn Havel, Algoma: Darren Otto,
Pulaski
Semi-feature - Troy Muench, Brussels: Von Eytcheson,
Forestville: Mike King, LIttle Chute: Pat Davister,
Luxemburg
Heat 1 - Kroll: Eric Malfroid, Luxemburg
Heat 2 - Matt Junio, Casco: Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 3 - Don Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay: John Anschutz, Brussels
IMCA HOBBY STOCK 15 LAP FEATURE - Dave DeGrave,
Luxemburg: Marcus Moede, Casco: Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon
Bay: Frank Paul, Kewaunee: Ed Anschutz, Algoma: Keith
Kickbusch, Kewaunee
Heat 1 - Anschutz: Jarred VanLaanen, Green Bay
Heat 2 - Jason LaViolette, Little Sturgeon: Moede
STREET STOCK 15 LAP FEATURE - Scott Reinhardt,
Baileys Harbor: David Hoerning, Appleton: Jeremy Wiitala,
Green Bay: Todd Everard, DePere: John Sternard, Green Bay:
Scott Iverson, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1 - Tim Czarneski, Denmark: Sternard
Heat 2 - Everard: Dennis Weidner, East Maplewood
IMCA NORTHERN SPORT MOD 15 LAP FEATURE - Charlie
Kroll, Forestville: Jeff DuBois, Luxemburg: Dave Davister,
Luxemburg: Dennis Miesler, Luxemburg: Duane Mertens,
Luxemburg
Heat - Kroll: DuBois
4 CYLINDER 15 LAP FEATURE - Jeremy DuBois,
Algoma: Jason Cornelius, Oneida: Patrick King, Appleton: Kip
Burlo, Sturgeon Bay: Jeff Lautenbach, New Franken: James
Bosman, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1 - DuBois: Burlo
Heat 2 - Bosman: Jared Smith, Luxemburg
THUNDERBOMB 12 LAP FEATURE - John Mahlberg,
Hilbert: Troy Bartel, Chilton: Dan Merkle, Baileys Harbor:
Jesse Kroll, Algoma: Kody LaViolette, Forestville: Amber
Weidner, East Maplewood
Heat - Mahlberg: Bartel
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