Mike Kasperek Wins the Spectator 200 Enduro, While Mark Fogel Captures the Spectator 100 Compact Car Event! By Weyer / Margetta

September 22, 2002; Slinger, WI - Mike Kasperek claimed his third Spectator 200 Enduro at Slinger Super Speedway Sunday afternoon to close out the season.

“Me and Rick both got stuck in that jam early in the event, I got hit hard but we didn’t damage anything major. I know Rick wasn’t that far ahead of me so I kind of kept pace with him and lapped him near the end.”

Dan Casey led the field to the first green flag lap but fell back as Mark Fogel took the lead on lap seventeen. Fogel and Jeff Jeras battled for the top spot until a red flag flew, involving Aaron Wilke, Tim Steinhof, and Lucas Gartman. All three cars became locked together with Gartman racer lodged under Steinhof’s car making the rest of the field scatter.

Fogel took command of the restart and began to pull away from the field with Jeras, and Jeff Meulemans following close behind. Marty Somers and Aaron Wilke traded places for the fourth and fifth positions. On lap 65-race leader Fogel pulled off the track due to mechanical problems on his racer allowing Jeras to take the lead.

Former Enduro winner Rick Creggor made his appearance into the top five on lap seventy. Kasperek followed in pursuit as the pair began to make headway using there past Enduro experience to make time on the field.

On lap 101, the field the filed stopped for a mandatory caution allowing the drivers to fuel up for the second half of the event.

On the restart Jeras assumed the lead looking to push forward over Creggor. On lap 120 Jeras began to slow due to a failing tire allowing Creggor to claim the lead. Creggor stepped up the pace of the race with the cars of Kasperek and Meulemans pushing him hard all the way.

The trio raced their way to be the only ones on the lead lap, dicing past lap traffic nose to tail for the closing laps. On lap 195, Kasperek took the lead over Creggor with the help of lap traffic. Meulemans closed the event in third with Jeras, and Jeff Schmidt rounding out the top five.

Team Cruiser and Slinger Bee’s regular Mark Fogel of won the Compact Special 100 Feature event at the Slinger Speedway.

“I didn’t realize I was the only one on the lead lap, but I knew I had the lead and that is all that mattered” stated Fogel in victory lane.

Chris Beine took an early lead and stayed in front until Fogel passed for the lead on lap four. Fogel dominated the rest of the race being challenged by Jeremy Sauter quarter way through the event. Fogel managed to maneuver through the lap traffic so well he almost managed to lap the field a second time.

The end result was the dominating driver of Fogel bettering his second place finish from 2001 and taking home the win in 2002. Sauter, Caleb Fulcher, Ryan DeStefano, and Chris Bishop rounded out the top five closing the Slinger Speedway season.

Track Promoter Wayne Erickson and his staff would like to personally thank all the race fans, drivers, media and advertisers who were able to come out to the Slinger Super Speedway this past season. The speedway will hold their banquet on Saturday January 4, 2002 at the Washington County Fair Park to honor all of the drivers, crewmembers, and Sponsors from the 2002 racing season. Championship Cars will be displayed in the Fair parks pavilion at the banquet from various divisions.

Remember to mark your calendars for the Slinger Super Speedway Twin 75’s Season Opener on Sunday Afternoon April 27th 2003. For more information on next years events and the banquet, call the track office’s during normal business hours M-F 9-5 at (262) 644-5921 or check out the track website at www.slingersuperspeedway.com