 |
Loch Locks in Victory in Coca-Cola
Triple Crown Classic Round Two!
By Weyer / Margetta |
June 2,
2002; Slinger, WI - Rich Loch led from start to finish to score a dominating
win in the 60-lap late model feature that made up the second round of the Coca-Cola Triple
Crown Classic presented by Mobil Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway.
Loch took the green flag from the pole position and used the inside
lane to grab the led with fellow front row starter Larry Los racing alongside in second.
With the field still racing in a tight two-by-two formation, incidental contact between
the cars in the inside line caused them to slow momentarily on lap six and the
chain-reaction accordion-like effect resulted in Conrad Morgan spinning into the infield.
The race remained under green with Loch continuing to lead over Los as David Prunty moved
into third by lap ten with Lowell Bennett, Dave Teske, Al Schill, and Eric Peterson
following.
Loch began to stretch out his lead while Los worked the outside lane to hold off Prunty
and Bennett for second. Los held his ground on the outside until lap 22 when Prunty was
able to push by on the inside and bring Bennett with him into third. Loch maintained his
comfortable lead by lap 25 when Bennett passed Prunty for second place and his sizeable
lead was nearly erased when Peterson spun in turn one after racing hard for position with
Eric Fransen.
Loch led at the halfway mark to claim the $100 Mac Tools Bonus while Bennett and Prunty
tried to cut into his lead that had grown to nearly a full straightaway. Schill passed
Teske to take over fourth on lap 43 as the rest of the front running cars remained in
single-file formation. Loch was untouchable over the final laps and cruised to the easy
win a full straightaway ahead of Bennett and Prunty. Schill finished fourth ahead of
Fransen and Donavan Morgan. Teske, Chris Ratajczyk, Jamie Wallace and Dan Mills rounded
out the top ten.
“We’ve been getting better and better the last couple of weeks and I’m not
going to apologize for winning off the front row, but we had a good car” stated Loch
from Victory Lane.
The race was the second of three rounds of the Coca-Cola Triple Crown Classic presented by
Mobil and Bennett holds a 31 point lead over Conrad Morgan in the series overall points.
Eric Fransen is third while Donavan Morgan and Rich Loch round out the top five in the
standings.
In other late model action, Cindy Peterson held off Dennis Prunty and John Zimmerman to
win the 30-lap semi-feature and Rick Saegert won the 12-lap consi. Teske won the dash and
Bennett was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 11.698 seconds.
Dan Jung took the lead on lap 13 and raced to the win in the 30-lap Midwest modified
feature.
Andy Evraets and Lenny Gallenberg started on the front row and battled side-by-side for
the lead over the first ten laps. Gallenberg held the inside line and Evraets eventually
faded on the outside as Jung and Wes Biswell began to make their way toward the front of
the field.
Jung was able to race to the inside of Gallenberg to take the lead on lap
13 and Biswell also made his way around Gallenberg to take second. Jeff Holtz and Dale
Prunty made their way into the top five by lap twenty after starting deep in the field.
Jung held onto the lead with ten laps to go and Biswell remained in his
tire tracks with Holtz closing fast in third. Holtz was able to catch the lead duo and
when he challenged Biswell for second on the final lap, Jung’s victory was secured.
Jung took the win as Holtz edged Biswell for second. Prunty finished fourth and Gallenberg
was fifth.
Jung also won the dash and Holtz was the fastest qualifier at 12.519 seconds.
Scott Shambeau won the 20-lap Slinger Stinger feature over Paul Wagner and Pat McIntee.
Shambeau started the event from the outside of the second row and quickly moved into third
behind Jimmy Littrell and Jimmie Evans. Evans slide wide exiting turn two causing the
inside line to check up which allowed Shambeau to move up and challenge Littrell for the
lead. Shambeau took the lead on lap ten as Wagner and McIntee began to slice their way
through traffic and move their way toward the front.
Shambeau maintained his lead over the final laps and took the win with
Wagner and McIntee closing in second and third. Littrell finished fourth and Jay Shambeau
was fifth after Roger Schmid and Nathan Fick tangled on the final lap while racing among
the lead cars.
In other Slinger Stinger action, Dave Obermeyer captured his first checkered flag with a
win in the dash and Schmid was the fastest qualifier at 13.822 seconds.
Mark and Ken Fogel won the Team Cruiser event and Jeff Schmidt won the Speedway Guest Car
race. The spectator eliminator races and the Figure 8 event were cancelled after a steady
rain shower soaked the track and halted the night’s events.
For
Complete results from the RACESTAT computer CLICK
HERE |
