Oshkosh, July 15- The Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway presented the Christmas in July event sponsored by Hobbytown USA Friday night. Santa attended the program and had special presents for the kids while the drivers earned their rewards ranging from three first time winners up to 5 wins for the year.
The Gold Star Racing Products Grand Nations took the track first with Terry Van Roy leading the first pair of laps before suddenly pulling out of the contest, turning the top spot over to Larry Richards. Derek Schrauth pulled into the runner up spot on lap 5 with Don Schumacher, Jeff Richards, and Brian Vinney,Jr in order behind. Schrauth closed in on the leader by lap 10 and for the next 5 laps ran side by side in a great battle for the lead. Schrauth was finally able to secure the top spot and held off a late Richards charge to secure not only his first career feature win, but, in over 20 years of racing in various divisions, his first win period. Larry and Jeff Richards finished second and third and are tied for the division point lead following the nights action. Vinney scored fourth with Rich Garb and Schumacher rounding out the top six.
Brandon Ross led the opening circuit of the Outlaw Chassis Street Stock main event with Jeff Wicinsky taking over the top spot on lap 2. Keremy Kemnetz, Lexii Ashcraft, Clint Evans and Steve Gawaresky were in line by lap 5. One lap later, the first caution appeared when Ashcrafts mount erupted in flames in turn three and four and stopped on the front chute. There were no injuries but she was parked for the rest of the race.
On the restart, Gawaresky pulled into the runner up spot and 3 laps later was able to take over the lead and start to open a lead. After and 8 hr trip from Ohio, got him to the track too late for the heats, and then starting the race in 22nd spot, Jesse Krahn made his way into third on lap 12 and second on lap 14, facing a several car length gap to catch the leader. A spin on the next lap gave Krahn a special Christmas gift, putting him right behind Gawaresky for the final 5 lap dash to the finish. Gawaresky was able to open a slight lead after the restart, but Krahn continued his quest, and attempted a run to the inside as the white flag appeared, only to be fought off. Entering turn one on the final lap, Krahn was able to get inside, dropping back again entering turn three. But a final push off the final corner gave him enough momentum to steal the victory from Gawaresky at the line, for his first feature win of the season. Gawaresky, the current pint leader, settled for second with Frank Knaus making a final push to take third. Kemnetz, Alex Crapser and Wicinski rounded out the top six.
After an opening lap caution, Mike Mueller grabbed the lead in the Automotive Supply Company IMCA Modified feature and proceeded to open a lead on the field until a final caution on lap 8 bunched the field. T.J. Smith Ed Lemay, Tim Lemirande, Sean Jerovetz and Benji LaCrosse were in line for the restart.
Mueller continued to set the pace with LaCrosse continuing to run the outside line and move into the runner up spot on lap 14, after starting the race in 23rd. A pair of laps later, LaCrosse took control and ran off to collect his second feature win of the season and also become the first repeat division feature winner this season. Mueller completed his best run of the season taking second with Lemirande taking third and Smith fourth. Lemay took fifth with Brain Drexler rounding out the top six.
A field of 24 cars started the Jim’s Auto Repair IMCA Stock Car main event with Jerry Kope setting the pace through a couple cautions during the first 7 laps. Karly Stadler, Travis Van Straten, Aaron Stolp and Jerry Winkler were behind for the lap 8 restart. Van Straten was able to find his way to the lead after the restart and opened a bit of a lead as Joe White moved in the runner up spot. For the last half of the race, Van Straten was able to hold the lead after repeated charges fy White. With 5 laps left, White was setting up for a final dash , running the outside line to perfection and pulling event with Van Straten several times. As the pair exited turn 4 for the white flag, White was again dead even, but Van Straten was still scored as the leader. The final lap showdown would not decide the race, however, as a spin brought out a caution just after the white flag ending the contest and preserving Van Stratens 5th feature win of the season. White settled for the runner up finish with Winkler taking third. John Heinz made his trip pay off with a strong fourth place run with Kope taking fifth and Barry Van Straten, making his first run of the season, finishing 6th.
Current Nolte’s Auto Repair and Towing IMCA Sport Mod point leader, Tom Schneider, started the feature event 10th on the grid and the green flag saw him take to the far outside line and the route took him to the lead on the opening lap. A couple early race cautions kept Tim Sheppard, Scott Besaw, Bernie Miller, Dennis Schultz and Jason Ebert tight behind. After a final restart on lap 8, Schneider was able to open a lead and despite Sheppard making a couple runs at him, was able to drive off with his 4th feature win of the season. Sheppard and Besaw were spaced out behind. T good battle mid pack saw Jeff Schmuhl take the fourth place finish with Lucas Lamberies and Ebert round out the top six.
The Ellington Mutual Insurance Company Dirt Devils saw Taylor Becher take the lead for the first 2 laps before Mitchell Fairbank took control. Kasey Gross moved into second on lap 6 and Chris Maas followed into third. The top three started to open a gap on the rest of the field. Gross tried several attempts to shake Fairbank lose from the inside line, but would not succeed. Maas tried several time to pass both on the outside, but could not make that line work enough o pay off. Fairbank outlasted the dual threat and collected his first ever SpeedZone feature win. Gross and Mass were right behind. Becher took fourth with Wes Lungwitz and Seth Hickman rounding out the top six.
This next week, July 22, will see Bergstrom Automotive sponsor the IRA Outlaw Sprint Cars in what will be their only SpeedZone appearance in 2016. The second round of the IMCA Modified King of the Ring series will also be on track. The IMCA Sport Mods and IMCA Stock Cars are also part of the big night.
SUMMARY
AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY COMPANY IMCA MODIFIEDS
20 Lap Feature l. Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay 2. Mike Mueller, Rosendale 3. Tim Lemirande, Middleton 4. T.J. Smith, Menasha 5. Ed Lemay, Beaver Dam 6. Brian Drexler, Oshkosh
8 Lap Consy First l. Brian Mullen, Seymour 2. LaCrosse 3. Dan Roedl, Beaver Dam
Second l. Jeremy Christians, Horicon 2. Steve Schneider, Chilton 3. Kevin Baldry, Omro
8 Lap Heats First l. Mueller 2. Mike Wedelstadt, Fremont
Second l. Marcus Yarie, Wausau 2. Lemirande
Third l. Drexler 2. Jay Matthias, Green Bay
Fourth l. Sean Jerovetz, Suamico 2. Lemay
` JIM’S AUTO REPAIR IMCA STOC CARS
20 Lap Feature l. Travis Van Straten, Hortonville 2. Joe White, Oconto 3. Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh 4. John Heinz, Green Bay 5. Jerry Kope, Oshkosh 6. Barry Van Straten, Shiocton
8 Lap Heats First l. Travis Van Straten 2. Steve Hiles, Hortonville
Second l. Aaron, Stolp, Milwaukee 2. Greg Wichman, Bonduel
Third l. Winkler 2. Harley Simon, Seymour
NOLTE’S AUTO REPAIR AND TOWING IMCA SPORT MODS
20 Lap Feature l. Tom Schneider, Chilton 2. Tim Sheppard, Beaver Dam 3. Scott Besaw, Omro 4. Jeff Schmuhl, Fall River 5. Lucan Lamberies, Clintonville 6. Jason Ebert,
8 Lap Heats First l. Schneider 2. Schmuhl
Second l. Colten Van Hierden, Beaver Dam 2,. J.J. Andersen, Green Bay
Third l. Kevin Bethke, Neenah 2. Dennis Schultz, Oshkosh
OUTLAW CHASSIS STREET STOCKS
20 Lap Feature l. Jesse Krahn, Beaver Dam 2. Steve Gawaresky, Oshkosh 3. Frank Knaus, Menasha 4. Jeremy Kemnetz, Hancock 5. Alex Crapser, Brookfield 6. Jeff Wicinsky, Winneconne
8 Lap Heats First l. Wicinsky 2. Kemnetz
Second l. Jeff Jungwirth, Oshkosh 2. Dan Knaus, Menasha
Third l. Frank Knaus 2. Lexii Ashcraft, Oshkosh
GOLD STAR RACING SUPPLIES GRAND NATIONALS
20 Lap Feature l. Derek Schrauth, Winneconne 2. Larry Richards, Montello 3. Jeff Richards, Montello 4. Brian Vinney, Jr, Oshkosh 5. Rich Garb, Eldorado 6. Don Schumacher, Oconomowoc
8 Lap Heats First l. Larry Richards 2. Schrauth
Second l. Garb 2. Vinney, Jr
ELLINGTON MUTUAL IINSURANCE DIRT DEVILS
20 Lap Feature 1; Mitchell, Fairbank, Van Dyne 2. Kasey Gross, Gleason 3. Chris Maasm Oakfield 4. Taylor Becher, Hortonville 5. Wes Lungwitz, Oshkosh 6. Seth Hickman, Oshkosh
8 Lap Heats First 1. Maas 2. Fairbank
Second l. Gross 2. Hickman