Kendall Starts '99 where he finished '98!
By Daryl Schultz

May 2, 1999; Slinger, WI -  Jeff Kendall (Montello) held off a hard charging Conrad Morgan (Wales) on his way to victory in the Pour House and Hammerin’ Hank’s Regular Season Opener Sunday night, May 2nd, at the Slinger Super Speedway. Fans were on their feet as Morgan made a final run on Kendall coming off the fourth turn to the checkered flag. Morgan had his ride sideways exiting the last corner before he gathered it up to narrowly miss a last lap pass in the 60 lap late model feature, much to the delight of Kendall. Kendall, the ‘98 Rookie-of-the-Year, won the last feature the track hosted last season and would open up the points night of racing with recording his second feature win of his young Slinger career.

Kendall would keep Morgan behind him as the pair worked lap traffic over the final 10 laps of the event. The side by side action would not clear until only 3 circuits remained, allowing Morgan to make his move on the second year driver. Kendall was able to keep the defending track champion, Morgan, behind him and claim the checkered flag. Rounding out the top five were Brad Mueller (Random Lake) in third, Al Schill (Franklin) and Lowell Bennett (Neenah).

Kendall would make his way around another Morgan and into the lead while working lap 47. Donavan Morgan (Oconomowoc), the son of Conrad Morgan, was cruising with a 2 second lead until the only caution flag flew on lap 37. The younger Morgan went back to green with only a lap car between him and second place Kendall. Kendall moved by the lap car and would begin his battle with the younger Morgan five laps after the field went back to racing. Racing door to door, the two would make contact exiting turn two on lap 46, with Morgan having to let off and give up the lead as a result.

Conrad Morgan, who started outside row 6, quickly moved his way into the top five by lap 10 and battled Mueller and Schill prior to the caution. The three rode together until the caution when the elder Morgan moved into third and started running the top two down. Donavan Morgan, who dominated the early part of race, would lead from the pole until his mishap. He would claim the $100.00 bonus of the Mac Tools Half-Way Challenge.

Jamie Wallace (Pell Lake) took advantage of his pole position to take the checkered in the semi feature race. Wallace drove to a comfortable win and was never in danger of losing the top spot during the 30 lap event. Rounding out the top five were Jeff Holtz (Franklin), Scott Lindsay (Dousman), Russ Peterson (Hartland), and Dan Mills (Menomonee Falls). The one-two finish by Wallace and Holtz moved both competitors into the feature event. In other late model action, Larry Richards (Montello) won the consi race, Jeff Kendall (Montello) won the Mac Tools Trophy Dash and Conrad Morgan clocked fast time with a lap of 11.500 seconds.

Florian Wisinski (Greenfield) started out his 1999 season with a victory in the Midwest Modified division. Wisinksi made the pass for the win with just two circuits remaining, taking the point from Dennis Prunty (Allenton). Wisinski, who started outside row seven, positioned himself in the top five by the midway point of the 30 lap event on his way to victory. Rounding out the top five were Prunty, Chris Harman (East Troy), Steve Lurvey (Dousman), and John Kruschel (Sussex). Wisinski was the fast qualifier with a lap of 12.416 seconds and Kruschel won the Eldorado Trailer Sales Trophy Dash.

Mike Wutschel won the first Slinger Stinger feature event of the 1999 racing season. The race experienced its one and only caution on lap nine, during the 16 lap main. The following lap, Wutschel made his way around early race leader Lyle Messenger (Milwaukee) and would never look back. Messenger would hold onto the second position, Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls) took third, Dean Olla (Milwaukee) fourth, and Roger Schmid (Oconomowoc) fifth. Eight lap Slinger Stinger heat races went to Michael King (Appleton) and Bitzan and Dan Miller (Sussex) set fast time with a lap of 13.472 seconds.

Randy Theimer started the ‘99 season off with a bang by winning the 10 lap feature in the Figure 8 division.

In other racing action, Dan and Mark Jung won the Team Cruiser division, Mark Winter (Madison) won the Spectator Elimination Races, and Rich Golembiewski won the Speedway Guest Cars feature.

Results Summary

LATE MODEL FEATURE FINISH - 60 LAPS

1. Jeff Kendall (Montello) 13. Donavan Morgan (Oconomowoc)
2. Conrad Morgan (Wales) 14. Jeff Holtz (Franklin)
3. Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 15. Mike Egan (Slinger)
4. Al Schill (Franklin) 16. Chad Barker (Caladonia)
5. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 17. Jerry Eckhardt (Watertown)
6. John Zimmerman (Markesan) 18. Mike Strupp (Theresa)
7. Cindy Peterson (Butler) 19. Chris Ratajczyk (Meno Falls)
8. David Prunty (Lomira) 20. Mark Schroeder (Green Bay)
9. Rich Loch (Muskego) 21. Tom Hromadka (Brookfield)
10. Todd Thelen (Oconomowoc) 22. Toby Rott (Slinger)
11. Eric Fransen (Slinger) 23. Tony Strupp (West Bend)
12. Jamie Wallace (Pell Lake) 24. Wayne Freimund (West Allis)

FAST QUALIFIER - Conrad Morgan (Wales) - 11.500 seconds
FAST DASH - Jeff Kendall (Montello) - 8 laps

SEMI FEATURE FINISH 30 LAPS

1. Jamie Wallace (Pell Lake) 4. Russ Peterson (Hartland)
2. Jeff Holtz (Franklin) 5. Dan Mills (Menomonee Falls)
3. Scott Lindsay (Dousman)

CONSI FEATURE FINISH 15 LAPS

1.Larry Richards (Montello) 4. Joe Gross (Milwaukee)
2. Vern Hilker (Mayville) 5. Ron Malec (Wadsworth)
3.Scott Weston (Germantown)

MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH - 30 LAPS

1. Florian Wisinski (Greenfield) 4. Steve Lurvey (Dousman)
2. Dennis Prunty (Allenton) 5. John Kruschel (Sussex)
3. Chris Harman (East Troy)

FAST QUALIFIER -Florian Wisinski (Greenfield) - 12.416 seconds
FAST DASH - John Kruschel (Sussex) - 8 laps

SLINGER STINGER FEATURE FINISH 16 LAPS

1. Mike Wutschel 4. Dean Olla (Milwaukee)
2. Lyle Messenger (Milwaukee) 5. Roger Schmid (Oconomowoc)
3. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls)

FAST QUALIFIER -Dan Miller (Sussex) - 13.472 seconds
HEAT 1 - Michael King (Appleton) - 8 laps
HEAT 2 - Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls) - 8 laps

FIGURE 8 WINNER -Randy Theimer - 10 laps

TEAM CRUISERS -Mark Jung / Dan Jung - 10 laps

SPEEDWAY GUEST CARS - Rich Golembiewski - 6 laps

SPECTATOR RACE - Mark Winter (Madison)