Schill and Fransen Split Wins in Twin 50’s & Mueller Takes Overall Coca-Cola Triple Crown Classic Title!

August 10, 2003; Slinger, WI - Al Schill and Eric Fransen split victories in the twin 50-lap late model features that comprised round three of the Coca-Cola Triple Crown Classic presented by McDonald’s and Michael Hartman Well Drilling and Pumps Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway while Brad Mueller used second place finishes in both races to claim the overall Coca-Cola Triple Crown Classic title.

Photo Highlights

Al Schill (#14) captured the first of the twin 50 lap main events in the Coca-Cola Triple Crown Round three this evening at Slinger Super Speedway. Chris Ratajczyk (#21) works hard to fend off the challenges of Al Schill (#14) during the first 50 lap Late Model feature.  Schill was able to make the pass on his way to victory. Eric Fransen (#16) is joined by his wife and their new child after he won the second 50 lap Late Model main event. Mark Bitzan (#28) won his first event of the 2003 season taking top honors in the Super Late Model feature. Current Late Model point leader Brad Mueller (#89) turned in quick time this evening. Dale Prunty (#17) had a very successful evening setting quick time and later returning to win the Modified Modified feature. Nick Schumacher (#4) captured yet another Midwest Sportsman feature race.  It was his fifth victory of the 2003 season. Scott Ascher (#19) was the winner of the Midwest Sportsman dash contest. Rick Bruskiewicz and Frank Verhunce (#17) were victorious in one of the 2-Man Cruiser events. Director of track operations Rodney Erickson give a lucky youngster, whose name was drawn during giveaways this evening, a new bicycle.

Chris Ratajczyk led the first 12 laps of the opening 50-lap feature while Schill had to ward off charges by Dennis Prunty, Scott Schoeni, and Conrad Morgan to claim second place. Once free of traffic, Schill tracked down Ratajczyk and began to close when the first caution flag of the race flew on lap 10 when Schoeni spun in turn two. On the restart, Schill immediately pressured Ratajczyk for the lead and raced the West Bends veteran hard down the backstretch, causing him to miss his line slightly entering turn three. Schill then capitalized on the opportunity and seized the lead when Ratajczyk’s car began to wash up high in the corner. Ratajczyk returned the favor a lap later and was able to pull alongside Schill after a slight nudge in turn one, but couldn’t sustain his effort and Schill claimed the top spot for good on lap 13. While Schill and Ratajczyk raced out front, Conrad Morgan, Fransen, and Brad Mueller moved up into the top five.

A multi-car incident involving Schoeni, Lyle Messinger, Brad Hartman, John Mueller, and Brad Dahmer on the backstretch slowed the race once again on lap 17 with Schill still leading as Fransen sustained heavy front end damage when he tried to avoid the stalled cars and ran into the back of another car. After a short restart, the event was stopped momentarily when a brief rain shower crossed over the track but the delay was minimal and the event resumed with Schill continuing to lead while Ratajczyk and Mueller battled for second. Schill led at the halfway point and claimed bonuses from Michael Hartman Well Drilling & Pumps and Badgerland Motorsports.

Mueller began to advance forward on lap 32 and used the high line to get second place when Ratajczyk’s car became loose in the corners in the inside groove and David Prunty also moved up, taking third place from Ratajczyk a few laps later. Schill skillfully worked his way through lapped traffic and held a comfortable lead when his cruise to victory was paused when a Lyle Messinger spin produced a caution flag and set up a two-lap dash to the finish. Mueller tried hard to get around Schill during the final laps but a slight push out of turn two prevented him from making any pass as Schill drove away to the win, which was worth an extra $200 courtesy of Michael Hartman Well Drilling. Prunty finished in third while Lowell Bennett and Rich Loch rounded out the top five. Bennett was later disqualified after failing the post-race technical inspection.

Fransen began the nightcap from the pole position and shot into the lead at the start over Dennis Prunty, Travis Dassow, and Mike Egan. The front of the field remained stabilized throughout the first half of the race while Loch and Mueller sliced their way forward, entering the top five by lap 23 in fourth and fifth place respectively. Fransen led at the halfway mark, which netted him bonuses from Badgerland Motorsports and Michael Hartman Well Drilling & Pumps. Loch and Mueller worked together on the outside and slowly advanced into second and third place by lap 40 while Fransen continued to lead. Loch’s race ended on lap 46 when he stalled in turn three after cutting a tire which resulted in a caution flag that allowed Mueller to close up to Fransen’s rear bumper for the final four laps. Mueller tried to edge inside of Fransen numerous times but Fransen proved to be too strong and raced to the victory, which was worth an extra $200 from Michael Hartman Well Drilling. Schill worked his way forward from deep in the field to finish third and Dennis Prunty was fifth. Travis Dassow drove his best race of the season and capped it off with an impressive fifth place finish.

Mueller was declared the overall winner of the Coca-Cola Triple Crown Classic as his two-second place finishes gave him a 12-point advantage over Fransen in the final standings. The Coca-Cola Triple Crown Classic was three-race series conducted at the Slinger Speedway, with drivers earning points in each round toward the overall crown. Schill was third in the overall standings ahead of David Prunty and Rich Loch.

In other late model action, Mark Bitzan found victory lane for the first time this season when he took the checkered flag first in the 30-lap semi-feature, which was good for an extra $100 from Michael Hartman Well Drilling. Ed Grober was second and Gregg Haese was third. Fransen won the fast dash and Mueller set fast time at 11.505 seconds.

The Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modified feature had a familiar conclusion as Dale Prunty raced to another win in the 30-lap event.

Wes Biswell took the green flag from the fourth starting spot and used the outside lane to work his way into the lead by passing Steve Schultz on lap five. While Biswell held down the lead, Larry Reighbrandt and Dan Miller began to dispute second place in a side-by-side battle as Prunty, Bryan Holtz, and Schultz ran in formation behind them. Reighbrandt and Miller ended their tussle on lap eight when contact between the two caused Miller to clip the frontstretch wall and spin into turn one. As Miller’s car slid up the track, Holtz had nowhere to go and collected Miller, momentarily blocking the high groove of the speedway and by the time the dust settled, Schultz, Ken Wills, and Ron Schmitt were also involved in the incident. Of the cars involved, only Schmitt was able to continue as the race was halted under the red flag.

Biswell led Prunty on the restart and Prunty wasted little time in using the high side to challenge for the top spot. Prunty remained persistent on the top of the speedway as Biswell’s valiant effort on the inside eventually gave way to Prunty’s charge when the Allenton native took the lead for good on lap ten. Once out front, Prunty began to distance himself from the rest of the field, as Biswell was the only one who could keep within sight of the leader. The action soon shifted to the race for third behind the lead duo as Rick Ottman, Schmitt, and Reighbrandt staged a three-car battle for third place. Prunty remained unchallenged during the later stages and raced to his fifth feature win of the season, collecting an additional $100 from Michael Hartman Well Drilling in the process. Biswell finished second while Ottman held off Schmitt and Reighbrandt for third.

In other Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modified action, Dan Miller took the checkered flag first in the fast dash and Prunty was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 12.379 seconds.

The Midwest Sportsman 25-lap feature also had a familiar face in victory lane as Nick Schumacher captured his fifth win of the season.

Mike Graczkowski led at the start over Pat McIntee while Schumacher fell in line in third place ahead of Jason Taghikhani and Scott Ascher. Schumacher methodically worked his way toward the front and used the inside to grab the lead from Graczkowski on lap ten. Todd Gehring spun in front of the leaders on lap 14 and the ensuing slow-down resulted in an accordion-like effect which caused McIntee to wind up on top of Ascher’s car in turn one. Schumacher led on the restart and maintained the top spot while Dave Thomas, Graczkowski, and Taghikhani raced for second. Graczkowski’s car experienced a mechanical problem on lap 23 to slow the race under caution but Schumacher was up to the challenge and held off Thomas over the final two laps to take the win, collecting an additional $100 from Michael Hartman Well Drilling. Taghikhani finished third while Jay Shambeau and Jimmie Evans rounded out the top five.

In other Midwest Sportsman Series action, Ascher won the dash and Schumacher set fast time with a lap of 12.836 seconds.

The team of Rick Bruskiewicz and Frank Verhunce won the first team cruiser event and Mark Fogel and Erin Schmitz won the second race. Joe DeStefano and Ryan DeStefano each drove to victory in the Slinger Bee races while Mark Ritger won the Figure 8 event. Robert Wagner was the winner of the Port-A-John Speedway Guest Car race and David Kemp won the spectator elimination events in his Ford Mustang.

For Complete results from the RACESTAT computer CLICK HERE

Johnsonville Brats 75 and Rides for Kids in Racecars at Slinger!

Slinger, WI (Spl.) – This Sunday night, Johnsonville Foods presents a 75-lap Late Model feature and a full night of racing at the world’s fastest quarter-mile oval. Johnsonville Foods, the provider of the speedway’s official bratwurst, will offer discount admission to adult guests in honor of their speedway sponsorship. In order to receive $2.00 off the regular admission cost, adults must present a Johnsonville bratwurst label at the door. In addition to the regular track activities, kids will have the opportunity to take a ride in a racecar during intermission.

Sunday night’s event will be highlighted with a special appearance by the semi-tractors, who will be joining speedway competition for the second consecutive year at Slinger.

Sunday night racing action at Slinger Super Speedway continues through September 21st. In 2003, Children 11 & under receive free admission to the track when accompanied by an adult.