Morgan Holds Off Zimmerman for His Third Win!
By Daryl Schultz

June 28, 1998; Slinger, WI -  Defending track champion, Conrad Morgan (Wales), claimed his third feature win of the year during the Firecracker 80, Sunday night June 28th, at the Slinger Super Speedway. Morgan, along with his crew, would have to earn the win the hard way as he had to pull off the track early in the contest.

Morgan and John Zimmerman (Markesan) would swap the lead over the final 16 circuits after the final of four cautions flew. The two raced door to door as the lead changed 3 times until Morgan would pull ahead on lap 76 after the Zimmerman car would slip up the track exiting turn 2. That was the advantage the four time track champion needed as he pulled to a 1 car length victory. Visiting driver, Brian Hoppe (Madison) patiently followed the top duo waiting for a mistake which never arose. Hoppe would finish in third place and the 80 lap main event was rounded out in the top five by Cindy Peterson (Butler) and Al Schill (Franklin).

Zimmerman took over the point on lap 29 and would pull to a sizeable lead after he benefitted from a caution that put him on the rear deck of Jeff Holtz (Franklin). Holtz would lead the opening 27 laps from the pole until giving the top spot shortly after the second caution. The red flag came out on lap two as 8 cars were involved in a melee in the first and second corners. One of which was Morgan who went to the pits and was able to get back on the track before going back to the green. He would start at end of the field and worked his way into the top five just one lap short of the mid point of the race.

In victory lane Morgan acknowledged his crew and praised Zimmerman, saying “John (Zimmerman) did a super job. Very clean, he give me all the race track I wanted and I left him all the race track he needed.

For the second straight week, the Mac Tools Half-Way challenge will be carried over and will be worth $450.00 to the leader of the half way point of the late model feature.

Jerry Eckhardt (Watertown) took the lead on lap two en route to his victory of the 30 lap late model semi feature. Eckhart was followed by Donavan Morgan (Oconomowoc) who took the final transfer position from Jamie Wallace (Pell Lake) on lap 18. Wallace tried to battle back but was fighting a very loose race car and would have to settle for third. Rounding out the top five was Scott Schoeni (Slinger) in fourth and John Mueller (Hubertus) in fifth. In other late model action, Dan Tapel (Lake Mills) took the checkered in the consi race, Zimmerman was the winner of the Bumper to Bumper Trophy Dash and Brad Mueller (Random Lake) set fast time with a lap of 11.770 seconds.

Florian Wisinski (Greenfield) took advantage of lap traffic on the final lap to take the checkered in the Midwest Modified feature event. John Kruschel (Butler) was the man to beat but would have his lead diminish when the field was bunched on lap 17 for the second caution of the race. Wisinski was in fourth position on the restart and would move into second two laps later. He continued to attempt to pass Kruschel on the outside but was never able to complete the pass. When the white flag flew, it appeared that Kruschel would hang on for the win but when the leaders caught a lap car on the backstretch the completion of the race changed. Wisinski was in the right place at the right time and was able to edge ahead at the line. Kruschel had lead every lap his outside front row start until the final corner. Following Wisinski and Kruschel were Brian Holtz (Franklin), Chris Harman (East Troy), and Roger Wittal (East Troy). Midwest Modified fast time was set by Wisinski who turned a lap of 12.563 seconds. Jeff Holmgren Jr. (East Troy) was the winner of the Eldorado Trailer Sales Trophy Dash.

The 18 lap Slinger Stinger Street Stock main was won by Bill Shavlik (West Bend) who earned his second feature win of the season. He puled to a commanding win, with the top five rounded out by Paul Wagner (West Bend), Scott Ascher (Sussex), Jim Spring (Grafton) and Mike Pascavis (Sheboygan).

Dale Prunty (Allenton) and Shavlik each won their respective heat races.

Dan Gracyalny (Little Chute) outlasted the 12 car field as he claimed the 10 lap Figure 8 feature.

In other racing action, Mark and Ken Fogel won the Team Cruiser division, Troy Crass won the Speedway Guest Car division, and Alan Worzalla (Hartford) won the Spectator Elimination division.

Results Summary

LATE MODEL FEATURE FINISH - 80 LAPS

SEMI FEATURE FINISH 30 LAPS

CONSI FINISH 20 LAPS

MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH - 30 LAPS

SLINGER STINGER FEATURE FINISH 18 LAPS

SPECTATOR RACE - Alan Worzalla (Hartford)