Strupp and Morgan Capture wins for
Slinger Speedway Opener!

By Daryl Schultz

April 26, 1998; Slinger, WI -  Veteran racers Tony Strupp (West Bend) and Conrad Morgan (Wales) each claimed feature victories during the 19th Annual Miller Genuine Draft Twin 75's Spring Opener Sunday afternoon at the Slinger Super Speedway. Cool and wind drenched fans waited patiently as track officials corrected a water leakage problem in the first and second turns resulting in a 90 minute delay to the start of racing action. With the problem solved fans were treated to some hot action for both of the finishes of the 75 lap late model twin bill.

Taking top honors in the first feature was three time track champion Tony Strupp. Strupp would edge out Scott Wimmer (Whitefish Bay) at the line after the two battled for the top spot over the last two thirds of the race. Contact was made over the last several laps as Strupp appeared to be getting off the corners faster, while Wimmer would gain on him heading in. The 25 year Slinger Speedway veteran proved too strong claiming the win as the two crossed the line nose to tail. Strupp made his way around Wimmer on lap 46 after the second of 4 cautions came out three laps earlier for Brad Mueller’s (Random Lake) blown engine.

The two drivers battled each other much of the race as Wimmer would show Strupp the way around early race leader Donavan Morgan (Oconomowoc) on lap 21. Earlier Strupp had lead the tandem into second and third on lap 5. ASA regular, Scott Hansen (Concord, NC), moved into third on lap 47 but would never seriously challenge for the top two spots. He would finish third after moving up from his 15th place starting spot, with John Zimmerman (Markesan) and Conrad Morgan rounding out the top five. In the night cap of the doubleheader, Morgan was dogged by Wimmer over the last five laps as the only caution flew on lap 70 to bunch the field. Morgan looked like he was on his way to an easy win until the break Wimmer was hoping for materialized.

Wimmer, who had made the largest gain in the field starting 14th, again would fight for the win but was unable to get around four time track champion Morgan, and would settle for second on the tail of the winner. Morgan made his way around eventual third place finisher Rich Loch (Muskego) on lap 44, after Loch assumed the lead on lap 6. Loch looked strong for the first half of the race making Morgan work for 17 laps until he was able to make the winning pass. Strupp moved up from his 12th starting spot to finish fourth and David Prunty (Lomira) rounded out the top five. In other action that made up the Miller Genuine Draft Twin 75's Spring Opener, the late model semi-feature was won by Jeff Holtz (Franklin).

Holtz, who moved into the late model division after winning the Midwest Modified Division in ‘97, cruised to a big lead from his front starting spot and was never challenged. He was followed in the top three by Jeff Kendall (Montello) and Dan Mills (Menomonee Falls), who also moved up from the modified ranks. Wimmer claimed the Miller Genuine Draft Dash for Cash and Cindy Peterson (Butler) set fast time with a 11.597 second circuit around the World’s Fastest 1/4 Mile Oval.

A side by side finish across the line opened the Midwest Modified season as Fran Prestay (Twin Lakes) claimed the win. Prestay moved into second place on lap 7 of the 20 lap main and followed Florian Wisinski (Greenfield) until pulling along side and then ahead of him all on the last lap. Wisinski, who had lead the whole way until the end, finished second with Mike Bidlack (Elkhorn), Brian Holtz (Franklin) and Larry Reihbrandt (Wauwatosa) rounding out the top five. P

restay was also credited with the fast lap in qualifying as he turned a 12.426 second lap. The Slinger Stinger Street Stock Division feature was paced by Roger Schmid (Oconomowoc) as he held off Paul Wagner (West Bend) John Wandrey (Allenton) in the 20 lap shootout.

Results Summary

LATE MODEL FEATURE #1 FINISH - 75 LAPS

1. Tony Strupp (West Bend) 12. Cindy Peterson (Butler)
2. Scott Wimmer (Whitefish Bay) 13. Mike Loesche (Pewaukee)
3. Scott Hanson (Concord, N.C.) 14. Randy Schuler (Mequon)
4. John Zimmerman (Markesan) 15. Race McComb (Jackson)
5. Conrad Morgan (Wales) 16. Jamie Wallace (Pell Lake)
6. Todd Thelen (Oconomowoc) 17. Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee)
7. Scott Schoeni (Slinger) 18. Brad Mueller (Random Lake)
8. Mark Schroeder (Green Bay) 19. David Prunty (Lomira)
9. Brady Bennett (Winchester) 20. Mike Strupp (Theresa)
10. Donavan Morgan (Oconomowoc) 21. Chad Barker (Caladonia)
11. Rich Loch (Muskego) 22. Lowell Bennett (Neenah)

LATE MODEL FEATURE #2 FINISH - 75 LAPS

1. Conrad Morgan (Wales)                         12. Mike Strupp (Theresa)
2. Scott Wimmer (Whitefish Bay)             13. Race McComb (Jackson)
3. Rich Loch (Muskego)                             14. Mark Schroeder (Green Bay)
4. Tony Strupp (West Bend)                      15. Todd Thelen (Oconomowoc)
5. David Prunty (Lomira)                             16. Brady Bennett (Winchester)
6. Scott Schoeni (Slinger)                           17. Cindy Peterson (Butler)
7. John Zimmerman (Markesan)
8. Scott Hanson (Concord, N.C.)
9. Mike Loesche (Pewaukee)
10. Donavan Morgan (Oconomowoc)
11. Randy Schuler (Mequon)
FAST QUALIFIER - Cindy Peterson (Butler) - 11.597 sec
FAST DASH- Scott Wimmer (Whitefish Bay)

LATE MODEL SEMI FEATURE FINISH 25 LAPS

1. Jeff Holtz (Franklin) 3. Dan Mills (Menomonee Falls)
2. Jeff Kendall (Montello)

MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH - 20 LAPS

1. Fran Prestay (Twin Lakes) 4. Brian Holtz (Franklin)
2. Florian Wisinski (Greenfield) 5. Larry Reihbrandt (Wauwatosa)
3. Mike Bidlack (Elkhorn)

FAST QUALIFIER - Fran Prestay (Twin Lakes) - 12.426 sec

SLINGER STINGER STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH 20 LAPS

1. Roger Schmid (Oconomowoc)
2. Paul Wagner (West Bend)
3. John Wandrey (Allenton)