Weekly Race Reports
THUNDERHILL RACEWAY KICKS OFF '08 CAMPAIGN
By Chris Budzban
May 1, 2008 - Sturgeon Bay, WI - After rain canceled opening night last weekend, the Forest County Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway will try again this Saturday, May 3 at 6 p.m. The night of racing is s ponsored by Wulf Brothers and WDOR 93.9 featuring the IMCA modifieds, stock cars, hobby stocks, sport mods, street stocks and 4 cylinders.
The IMCA modifieds will feature fierce challengers including defending track champion Benji LaCrosse. Past champions Todd Dart and Jeremy Jacobs along with last year's runner-up Shawn Kilgore are among the top challengers for the 2008 crown.
Kyle Kudick was impressive in his rookie season in the modifieds, finishing 6th in points last year. Jay Matthias also finished strong taking 4th in points.
Matt Junio took home his 1st Thunderhill Raceway track championship in 2007, and is also shooting for a repeat performance this season. He will be joined by the other top competitors of '07, Charlie Kroll, Troy Muench, Shawn Havel and Pat Davister.
In the IMCA hobby stocks, track champion Keith Kickbusch has left the door open for a new champion having departed to the sport mods. State point champion Dave DeGrave heads the contenders with Jarred VanLaanen, the tandem tied for 2nd in points last season.
Marcus Moede now pilots the Keith Kickbusch machine, and dominated 2007's Fall Classic. Brandon Peterson, Jeff Lautenbach and the LaViolettes also look to match last year's success.
Charlie Kroll dominated the IMCA sport mod division in 2007, but his late start to the season only netted a 3rd place points finish. Jeff DuBois is the reigning champion, and he is back to defend his crown as well. The car count is expected to improve, with veteran drivers Jeff Vlies, Bernie Reinhardt and Keith Kickbusch making the switch to the division.
Scott Reinhardt followed his brother Bernie's footsteps by taking the street stock title in 2007, and is now vacating for the IMCA stock cars. Jeremy Wiitala, John Sternard, James Iverson and Jimmy Anderson are some of the top contenders, and one of them could take their first track title.
Returning to the 4 cylinders in 2008 will be two-time defending champion Tony Everard, along with Jason Cornelius and Kipp Burlo. Cornelius and Burlo finished second and fourth respectively in 2007.
For more information, call Woody at (920) 743-7052. The track is located at the John Miles Fair Park in Sturgeon Bay. The website is www.racethunderhilll.com.
