 |
Prunty Scores First Win of
the Season in Mid-Season Championships! |
July 6,
2003; Slinger, WI - Dennis Prunty
survived battles with three different drivers, including his own brother, to chalk up his
first feature victory of the season in the 65-lap Pioneer Plaza Mid-Season Championships
presented by More Than Millwork.
Prunty took the green flag from the outside of the front row and used the outside
groove to pull ahead of early leader Scott Schoeni to take the top spot on lap three.
While Prunty and Schoeni ran nose-to-tail at the front, Lowell Bennett, David Prunty, and
Jamie Wallace lined up behind them and began to track down the lead duo. Schoeni remained
glued to Dennis Prunty’s rear bumper and many times tried to peek the nose of his car
to the inside entering the corners, but each time he was unsuccessful, allowing the rest
of the top five drivers to catch them by lap 25.
David Prunty was the man on the move in the middle stages, as he dove to the inside of
Bennett to snag third place on lap 30 and then a few laps later, used a similar move on
Schoeni to take second. Wallace followed David Prunty’s progress and also passed
Bennett and Schoeni for third place as Dennis Prunty led at the crossed flags to claim the
Badgerland Motorsports Half-Way Challenge.
Once clear of the traffic, David Prunty closed in on Dennis for the lead and the two
brothers raced each other as hard as possible without taking each other out as they fought
for the top spot. David appeared to have the advantage entering the corners, as he was
able to dive in deeper than Dennis, who had more power exiting the turns and was able to
maintain the lead by less than a car length at the stripe. The Prunty “family
feud” ended on lap 55, when David drove hard into turn one and spun to produce the
only caution of the event.
“I never touched him,” said Dennis about the battle with his brother afterwards.
“I think he came in too hard, trying to beat me and I don’t know what happened
there. I was giving him a line.”
The restart for the final ten-lap dash to the finish, found Wallace, Bennett, Al Schill,
and Rich Loch all poised to challenge Prunty for the win as racing resumed. Prunty was up
to the task on the restart and continued to lead as Wallace began to pressure him from
behind. Schill looked very strong in the final laps and raced hard with Bennett for third
before experiencing mechanical problems on lap 59. Wallace made one final charge on Prunty
on the final lap but came up a half car-length short as Prunty nailed down his first
feature win of the season. Bennett finished third followed by Loch and Eric Fransen.
John Mueller won the Late Model Semi Feature over Race McComb as those two transferred
into the feature. Lowell Bennett won the eight-lap fast dash while Rich Loch turned the
fastest lap in qualifying with an 11.473 second lap.
The Prunty family theme continued with the Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modified 30-lap
feature as Dale Prunty scored the win over Jeff Holtz.
Steve Schultz led the opening laps over Paul Wagner as Prunty fell into line in third at
the start ahead of Holtz and Larry Reighbrandt. Prunty quickly took over the top spot on
lap four as he went from third place to the lead by using the inside to get around both
Wagner and Schultz. Prunty’s lead continued to grow throughout the race while Holtz
and Reighbrandt worked their way into second and third. Prunty’s advantage grew to
nearly a half lap on lap 20 when a slight rain shower began to fall, eventually delaying
the race with a caution flag on lap 22.
The shower was brief and the track dried quickly, allowing the event to continue a
short time later with Prunty in the lead over Holtz, Reighbrandt, Rick Ottman, and Ken
Wills. Holtz and Reighbrandt immediately started to battle for second on the restart,
allowing Prunty to move resume his advantage. On the final lap, Wills and Ottman tangled
in turn three and collected Dan Miller in the incident as the yellow and checkered flags
were displayed signaling the even to the race with Prunty taking the win over Holtz and
Reighbrandt. Wills recovered from the incident to finish fourth and Wes Biswell was fifth.
In other Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modified action, Ken Wills set fast time with a
12.265 second lap, while Dale Prunty won the fast dash.
Nick Schumacher raced to another win in the Midwest Sportsman 25-lap feature over Scott
Ascher and Pat McIntee.
Todd Gehring and Brad Keith led the field to the green flag, with Gehring leading the
first four laps before Ascher worked his way to the front on lap five. Schumacher followed
right behind Ascher to move into second place before using the inside to muscle his way
into the lead on the following circuit. Colin Bamke spun in turn three to bring out the
first caution flag soon thereafter and Schumacher maintained his lead on the restart as
Ascher had his hands full with Pat McIntee for second. Jason Taghikhani and Brad Keith
moved into the top five while Ascher and McIntee kept Schumacher in their sights with the
laps winding down. A spin on the frontstretch by Dave Obermeyer brought out the yellow
flag again, setting up a green, white, checkered two-lap finish. Schumacher pulled away on
the restart and held on to take the win while Ascher and McIntee banged doors on the final
lap with Ascher edging ahead at the stripe to finish second. Taghikhani finished fourth
and Keith was fifth.
Josh Bauer was the fastest qualifier with a 12.777 second lap, as Todd Gehring won the
fast dash.
P.J. and Aaron Cain raced to the win in the Team Cruiser race and Dave Berndt was the
winner of the Slinger Bees event. Mike Szopinski won the Port A John Speedway guest car
race and Mark Ritger bested a field of six cars to win the Figure 8 Race.
For Complete results from the
RACESTAT computer CLICK
HERE
McDonalds Presents Round Two of the Coca Cola Triple
Crown Classic at Slinger!
Slinger, WI (Spl.) – This Sunday night, long time track sponsor Coca Cola partners up
with participating McDonalds restaurants to host the second round of the Triple Crown
Classic. The night will be highlighted by a 50-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 and the new Midwest Sportsman division. In addition to the on track
activities, Kids 11 and under will have the chance to win a free bike in the Coca Cola
Kids Club drawing.
Fans may visit McDonald’s locations in West Bend, Hartford, Jackson, Fredonia,
Mayville, Grafton, Kewaskum & Belgium for special speedway discounts. Kids 11 &
under should also stop by participating locations to register to win a private party with
Ronald McDonald at Slinger Super Speedway. One hundred winners will be honed at the party
on August 10th.
Regular Sunday night racing action at Slinger Super Speedway runs through September 21,
2003. In addition, the track 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. The track announced this week that NASCAR Busch Series driver and Wausau
native, Scott Wimmer, will also be on hand for Slinger Nationals activities. Advance
tickets are available for purchase by calling the speedway’s box office at
262.644.5921. |
