 |
Fransen Takes Home Ritter
Parker 75! |
June
22, 2003; Slinger, WI - Eric Fransen
outlasted defending track champion Lowell Bennett in a thrilling finish to win the Ritter
Parker Store 75-lap late model feature Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway.
Fransen took command of the event just prior to the halfway mark and took the
checkered flag with Bennett square in his tire tracks to nail down the victory and collect
an extra $5,000 courtesy of the Enders Corporation and Design 2 Construct.
“I saw him (Bennett) back there,” exclaimed an excited Fransen following the
race. “Lowell is always a gentleman and we’ve run countless laps side by side
around this place. I just tried to outrun him at the end.”
The field, paced by Randy Schuler and Ryan Mathews, barely got a lap completed when the
caution flag flew for a Florian Wisinski spin on the frontstretch. On the restart, Schuler
advanced to the lead and began to pull away, leaving Mathews, Mike Egan, and Conrad Morgan
to contest the second through fourth places. Egan and Morgan tangled on lap eight while
entering turn one, causing Morgan to bounce off the wall and Egan to spin to draw another
caution flag.
Schuler led Mathews, Al Schill, Dave Teske, and Fransen as racing resumed and once again
moved ahead of the field as Schill challenged Mathews for second. Using the outer groove,
Schill took over second place, bringing Teske, Fransen, and Dennis Prunty with him as
Mathews faded back. Schill remained on the outside and raced by Schuler for the lead on
lap 19 while Fransen moved into third place. Meanwhile, Brad Mueller and Lowell Bennett
sliced their way forward and found themselves just outside of the top five by lap 25.
Trouble began to brew once again as the leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap 29 when
Mueller and Schuler made slight contact while attempted to pass a slower car in turn four.
Schuler was forced to slow exiting turn four and was nudged from behind, turning him into
the wall and collecting the cars of David Prunty and Teske.
Schill led Fransen, Dennis Prunty, and Bennett on the restart and immediately began to
feel pressure from Fransen who worked the outer groove. Fransen looked to the outside
numerous times before finally completing the pass for the lead on lap 36. Once edged out
of the lead, Schill began to slip back as Prunty and Bennett both worked their way around
to claim the second and third positions while Fransen pulled away at the halfway point to
claim the Badgerland Motorsports Halfway Bonus.
Despite right side damage from an earlier altercation, Bennett’s car handled well in
the race’s second half and he tracked down Fransen, moving within a car length by lap
68. Bennett tried to turn under Fransen exiting the corners numerous times but each time,
Fransen proved to be too strong and was able to maintain the lead. On the final lap,
Bennett made one last attempt to grab the top spot but was unable to as Fransen crossed
the finish line with Bennett right on his rear bumper. Prunty survived a torrid battle
with Schill to claim third place while Mueller rebounded from his earlier incident to
round out the top five.
In other late model action, Scott Schoeni held off Florian Wisinski to win the 30-lap
semi-feature and Dan Jung claimed the win in the consolation race over Erik Darnell. Teske
won the fast dash and David Prunty was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 11.450 seconds.
Ken Wills drove to his first feature victory of the season in the 30-lap Eldorado Trailer
Sales Midwest Modified main event.
Steve Schultz charged ahead of Jason Feyereisen at the start to lead the opening laps
before Gregg Pawelski used the outside lane to challenge for the lead on lap four.
Pawelski’s move to the front was short-lived however as on the following lap, engine
troubles forced him to retire from the event with the yellow flag flying. Feyereisen led
as racing resumed with Schultz and Wills close behind while Larry Reihbrandt and Dale
Prunty closed in on the top three.
Paul Wagner spun in turn one on lap ten and was unable to re-fire his car before the field
caught up to him, resulting in Schultz getting tangled up in the incident and producing
another caution flag. Wills raced ahead to a sizeable advantage when racing was underway
as Prunty and Reihbrandt began to weave their way forward. By lap 15, Wills enjoyed a
comfortable lead with Prunty holding down second place and Reihbrandt running in third.
Wills advantage was erased on lap 28 when a spin by Rick Ottman and Roger Schmid slowed
the field under the yellow flag, setting up a two lap dash for the finish. Wills was up to
the challenge and he held off Prunty and Reighbrandt for the victory, which was worth an
extra $1,000 courtesy of Enders Corp. and Design 2 Construct. Wes Biswell was fourth and
Jeff Holtz finished fifth.
In other Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modified action, Dale Prunty won the dash and Rick
Ottman was the fastest qualifier at 12.239 seconds.
Scott Ascher dominated the Midwest Sportsman Challenge Series 40-lap feature as he led
every lap en route to the victory.
Starting from the outside of the front row, Ascher powered by Michael Anderson to grab the
lead at the outset and immediately opened up a large advantage on the field. With Ascher
well out in front, Anderson raced hard with Bobby Hacker, Bobby Gutknecht, and Pat McIntee
for second. Gutknecht and McIntee were able to dispatch Hacker from second a few laps
later while Josh Bauer and James Swan began to advance forward into the top five.
Gutknecht broke away from the pack and tried to close the gap on Ascher while Bauer
challenged McIntee for third. Todd Gehring spun on lap 25 to close the field up under
caution and erase Ascher’s advantage. On the restart, Ascher resumed his spot well in
front of the pack as Bauer pressured Gutknecht for second. Ascher was never headed and
raced to a commanding win while Gutknecht held off Bauer for second. McIntee finished
fourth and James Swan was fifth.
John Senercia won the semi-feature and Jason Taghikhani finished second as both drivers
advanced to the main event. Bobby Hacker was the winner of the fast dash and Bauer set
fast time at 12.650 seconds.
The team of Tonya Krueger and Pat McComb won the Team Cruiser race and the Slinger Bee
event was won by Aaron Cain over Colin Bamke and Gary Stewart. Mark Ritger won the Figure
8 race and the Spectator Eliminator event winner was Tom Garza in his Dodge Stealth. Jesse
Seltrecht was the winner of the Speedway Guest Car race. Jennifer Sanden of Jackson was
crowned the 2003 Miss Slinger Super Speedway Queen.
For Complete results
from the RACESTAT computer CLICK
HERE
Keith’s Marina presents the 2003
Firework Extravaganza at the Slinger Super Speedway!
Slinger, WI (Spl.) – This Sunday night, new track
sponsor Keith’s Marina will present the 2003 Fireworks Extravaganza at the Slinger
Super Speedway. The night will be highlighted by a 85-lap Late Model feature and a full
night of racing in all divisions including the Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modifieds,
Slinger Bees, Team Cruisers, Figure 8’s, Port A John Speedway Guest Cars, Spectator
Eliminators at the new Midwest Sportsman division. In addition to the on track action, the
night will feature the areas largest ground and aerial firework display.
Keith's Marina, located in West Bend, has daily inventory changes and offers a large array
of new boats. With over 500 new and used boats in stock, Keith’s Marina also sells
motors, parts & service. Call 262.334.9389 for special prices.
Regular Sunday night racing action runs through September 21, 2003. In addition, Slinger
Super Speedway will host the 24th Annual Miller Lite Nationals on Tuesday night, July
22nd. The show will feature NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch.
Advance tickets are available for purchase by calling the speedway’s box office at
262.644.5921. |
