Strupp
Makes Late Charge for Win! July 5, 1998; Slinger, WI - Twenty five year Slinger Speedway veteran driver, Tony Strupp (West Bend), made a late surge in the 65 lap late model feature to claim the Tombstone Pizza Mid-Season Championship Sunday night, July 5th, at the Slinger Super Speedway. Strupp would make his way around Lowell Bennett (Neenah) on lap 62 after he cleared a battle for fourth with Conrad Morgan (Wales) after the 50 lap mark. With no time to waste Strupp, quickly pulled around Rich Loch (Muskego) on lap 54 to assume second and started to reel in the leader Bennett. With the laps winding down and Bennett out to an 8 car length advantage, Strupp muscled his way to the leader and around him with just 3 circuits remaining. Strupp would win by one car length after starting inside row 5, with the top five rounded out by Bennett, Morgan, Loch and Brad Mueller (Random Lake). Bennett and Loch battled for the top spot, most of it door to door, as the duo took over the top two spots before 15 green flag laps were completed. Bennett would use the high groove as Loch tried edging ahead on the bottom. The young Muskego driver would only lead one lap on this night, but continued with his strong showings after notching his first ever feature win three weeks prior. The two proved to be no match for Strupp as he found his needed speed nearing the end of the race. Bennett would hold off Loch for the Mac Tools Half-Way Challenge and earn the $450.00 for leading at the mid point of the contest. The Challenge had carried over for the third week, with prior half way leaders not meeting minimum requirements to earn the award. Strupp celebrated his victory on the same night as track owner/promoter Wayne Erickson recognized his 25th year of running the high banked speed plant. In honor of the occasion, Mr. Erickson gave every 25th paid adult $25.00 for his 25th anniversary that was in attendance for the evening. Al Schill (Franklin) lead a tight knit group across the line to win the late model semi feature. Next to Schill in the final transfer position was Jamie Wallace (Pell Lake) as the pair would earn their way into the feature. The second row of Cindy Peterson (Butler) and Jerry Eckhardt (Watertown) were on the bumpers of the leaders waiting for an opportunity but would have to settle to third and fourth respectively. Rookie contender Jeff Holtz (Franklin) finished fifth. In other late model action, Russ Peterson (Hartland) took home the checkered in the consi race, Bennett won the Bumper to Bumper Trophy Dash and David Prunty (Lomira) was fast qualifier with a lap of 11.723 seconds. Fran Prestay (Twin Lakes) was the winner of the Midwest Modified Mid-Season Championship Feature. Prestay was the man on the move as he worked from his fifth row starting position into the top five on lap 10 and would take the lead on lap 28 of the 35 lap event. Rounding out the top five was Florian Wisinski, who closed the gap on the final lap to under a car length, (Greenfield), Dennis Prunty (Allenton), Larry Reihbrandt (Wauwatosa), and John Kruschel (Butler). Wisinski tried in vain to keep Prestay from winning his 7th feature as he closed the gap on the last lap. He would use lap traffic much the way he used it to gain his victory from last week but would ultimately settle for second. The two put on a great show as they patiently worked thru traffic until catching Prunty after he had taken the point on lap 12. Prunty was the winner of the Eldorado Trailer Sales Trophy Dash and Prestay turned a lap of 12.421 seconds to set fast time. Roger Schmid (Oconomowoc) took the checkered in the Slinger Stinger feature event for his second win of the year. Schmid and Ron Schmitt (Jackson) exchanged the top position throughout the race with Schmid taking the spot on lap 12 and holding on until the finish of the 16 lap main. Following Schmid and Schmitt across the line were Mike Pascavis (Sheboygan), Peter Wiedmeyer (West Bend), and Dave Berndt (West Bend). Pascavis and John Wandrey (Allenton) each won their respective Stinger heat races and Bill Shavlik (West Bend) set fast time with a lap of 13.452 seconds. A spin with the top two cars on the final lap of the Figure 8 race sent both cars to the rear of the field leaving no winner to be determined. In other racing action, Mark and Ken Fogel won their second Team Cruiser race in as many weeks. Rick Bruskiewicz won the Speedway Guest Car race and Tim McQuiston (Allenton) won the Spectator Elimination race. Results Summary LATE MODEL FEATURE FINISH - 65 LAPS
FAST QUALIFIER - David Prunty (Lomira) - 11.723 seconds SEMI FEATURE FINISH 30 LAPS
CONSI FINISH 20 LAPS
MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH - 30 LAPS
FAST QUALIFIER - Fran Prestay (Twin Lakes) - 12.421 seconds SLINGER STINGER FEATURE FINISH 18 LAPS
FAST QUALIFIER - Bill Shavlik (West Bend) - 13.452 seconds FIGURE 8 WINNER -no winner determined - 10 laps TEAM CRUISERS - Mark Fogel/Ken Fogel - 10 laps SPEEDWAY GUEST CARS - Rick Bruskiewicz - 6 laps SPECTATOR RACE - Tim McQuiston (Allenton) |