Seymour, May 22 – After a one week delay, the 2016 season kicked off on Sunday night at Seymour Raceway Park. The track presented three weekly divisions, Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods and Coors light IMCA Stock Cars along with the INEX Legends on the 1/3 mile clay oval. The new track surface became a handful, but crews kept after it all night long and the complete program ended with a fantastic Stock Car finale.
Jeff Jungwirth started on the pole in the Street Stock division by luck of the draw and pulled away at the start of the race with Harley Diedrick, Lexii Ashcraft, Dylan Stedjee and Gary Kasperek behind. Kasperek moved into the runner up spot on lap[ 5, but Jungwirth had checked out and had a last lap caution end the event shy of the first flag to flag feature bonus, and became the first SRP feature winner. Kasperek took second with a group running for third. Ashcraft won the battle with Paul Ambrosius and defending champion, Allan Schlueter in a photo finish with Ambrosius getting the nod. Diedrick rounded out the top six.
The IMCA Sport Mod main was up next with a series of 4 cautions over the first 10 laps, keeping the field packed. Jordan Bartz led the opening lap before Chris Budzban set pace to a restart on lap 10. Lucas Lamberies was able to work into the lead and slowly opened a gap on the field racing hard behind. Budzban, was joined by Kevin Bethke, Kelsy Hayes, Travis Arenz, J.J. Andersen and Brian Bruechert, with positions swapping back and forth. Lameries had his easy run to the win slowed with a final caution on lap 22. Over the final 3 laps, Lamberies was able to fend off the challenges and picked up his first SRP feature of the season. Bethke took second with Budzban in third. Andersen edged his way to the top four with Arenz and Bruechert rounding out the top 6.
The INEX Legends had 14 cars on the grid for their feature event with Vince Bartolotta grabbing the lead with Cody Apfelbeck, Ryan Mech, Ethan Ross and Dave Eberle packed behind. Bartolotta led to the first caution on lap 10 and continued at the point to lap 15 when Austin Wiese took over the top spot with Meck, Ross and Justin Pearson creeping by. A final caution on lap 17 set up a three lap dash. Mech was able to move into the lead on the restart and held on to win his first every Seymour Raceway Park feature. Ross claimed the runner up spot with Bartolotta holding third. Wiese was fourth with Frankie Hock taking fifth and Pearson sixth.
Eric Arneson sat on the pole for the 30 lap Coors Light IMCA Stock Car headliner and led the first 4 laps before defending champion, Travis Van Straten was able to slip by. A couple laps later, Kyle Frederick moved into the runner up spot and set chase for the leader. With 10 complete, Van Straten and Frederick were pulling away from the battle for third. Arneson was running with Barry Van Straten, Travis Springstroh, Jeremy Wiitala and Aaron Stolp
After the mid point, Van Straten was holding a length or two lead with Frederick attacking from the outside line. As lapped cars entered the picture, the pair had to work traffic as well as watching each other. The final 10 laps were a dog fight with the pair side by side much of the time, each holding their preferred line. With three laps left Frederick was finally able to get ahead to be scored as the leader. As they picked up the white flag a pair of slower cars were in the path in turn 2. In a scramble to get by, Van Straten was somehow able to squeeze through the pack to retake the lead and hold off Frederick at the line for the opening night feature win. Barry Van Straten won the battle for third over Springstoh, Arenson and Wiitala rounded out the top six. The race went flag to flag, so the track paid out its first bonus of the season to the feature drivers.
Racing will continue at Seymour Raceway Park every Sunday night through Labor Day. Next week, the track hosts the opening round of the 2016 Budweiser Summer Holiday Classic series, which will feature the IMCA Modifieds, WDLMA Late Models and Street Stocks. The series headlines the Modifieds in a format the carries over $90,000 in purse and bonuses. The first round will see a 30 lap feature with $1500 to the winner. The WDLMA Late Models make the first of 2 appearances this season with a scheduled 40 lap main event with a $1200 payday. The Street Stocks will have an added bonus for their feature run as well.
The Modifieds and Late Models will draw/redraw and the Street Stock will use averages.
Seymour Raceway Park officials would like to THANK everyone for attending their inaugural event, and for your patience during the evening.
SUMMARY
COORS LIGHT IMCA STOCK CARS
30 Lap Feature l. Travis Van Straten, Hortonville 2. Kyle Frederick, Oconto 3. Barry Van Straten, Shiocton 4. Travis Springstroh, Freedom 5. Eric Arneson, Oconto 6. Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay
8 Lap Consy l. Chase Parker 2. Kurt Olson 3. Joe Johnson 4. Kevin Heebe
8 Lap Heats First l. Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski 2. Bill Kelsey, Luxemburg
Second l. Frederick 2. Travis Van Straten
Third l. Barry Van Straten 2. Chas Van Ooyen, Jr, Freedom
IMCA SPORT MODS
25 Lap Feature l. Lucas Lamberies, Shawano 2. Kevin Bethke Neenah 3. Chris Budzban, Luxemburg 4. J.J. Andersen Green Bay 5. Travis Arenz, Sheboygan 6. Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee
12 Lap Consy l. Bruechert 2. Jason Vandenberg 3. Tom Stark 4. Mark Schuenemann
8 Lap Heats First l. Arenz 2. Budzban
Second l. Andersen 2. Russell Franks
Third l. Bethke 2. Lamberies
STREET STOCKS
20 Lap Feature 1. Jeff Jungwirth, Oshkosh 2. Gary Kasperek, Tigerton 3. Lexii Ashcraft, Oshkosh 4. Paul Ambrosius, Seymour 5. Allan Schlueter, Oconto 6. Harley Diedrick, Freedom
8 Lap Heats First l. Ambrosius 2. Jungwirth
Second l. Schlueter 2. Diedrick
INEX WISCONSIN DIRT LEGENDS
20 Lap Feature l. Ryan Mech, Greenfield 2. Ethan Ross, Reeseville 3. Vince Bartolotta, Muskego 4. Austim Wiese, Plymouth 5. Frankie Hock, Columbus 6. Justin Pearson, Burnett
8 Lasp Heats First l. Cody Apfelbeck, Burnett 2. Wiese
Second l. Bartolotta 2. Ross