Konetski Becomes 10th Different Winner of the Season After Capturing the Camera Case & TV 75 By Dan Margetta

July 18, 2004; Slinger, WI -Austin Konetski found himself in victory lane following a late model feature race for the first time in his career Sunday night after capturing the win in the Camera Case & TV 75 at the Slinger Super Speedway.Lowell Bennett had things go his way Tuesday night in the 25th Annual Miller Lite Nationals at the Slinger Super Speedway as he chalked up his third Nationals title by driving to the win in the 250-lap feature.

Photo Highlights

Austin Konetski (#13) scored his first career Late Model feature victory at the Slinger Super Speedway by taking top honors in the Camera Case & TV 75 lap main event. Austin Konetski (#13) worked the outside line to slip past Dave Teske (#51) for the top spot on lap 25 of the 75 lap Late Model feature race.  Konetski would pace the remaining distance for the victory. A chain reaction accident during the opening laps of the Late Model feature collected several cars including Conrad Morgan (#92) and Mark Bitzan (#28) who would roll onto his roof. Mark Bitzan (#28) would then slid down the track and come to a stop.  He was assisted by safety workers and was uninjured in the accident. Dave Teske (#51) worked past Ryan Mathews (#21) for the lead early in the late model feature. He is shown doing battle with Eric Fransen (#16). David Prunty (#1) gets headed the wrong direction during the Late Model main event.  He is narrowly avoided by Fred Winn (#75). Mike Egan (#89) collected the victory in the Late Model semi-feature race. Current point leader Brad Mueller (#89)scored fast qualifying honors this evening in Late Model qualifying. Josh Bauer (#71) collected the hardware for winning the Midwest Sportsman feature race. Josh Bauer (#71) works past Mike Graczkowski (#2) for the lead in the Midwest Sportsman feature race. Gary LaMonte (#63) was the top qualifier in the Midwest Sportsman class. Dale Prunty (#17) would work past Jason Feyereisen (#90) on his way to winning the Midwest Modified feature race.

Konetski, who led 39 laps and had Dave Feiler breathing down his tailpipe for the final circuits, rebounded from being knocked out of the Miller Lite Nationals earlier in the week to nail down the win.

“I saw Dave (Feiler) behind me with about 30 laps to go and my car felt like it was going away,” an obviously excited Konetski told the crowd. “I just said to myself that if anyone deserves one of these, after the deal on Tuesday (in the Nationals), it’s me. I just tried to stay cool and we made it.”

Ryan Mathews got a great jump at the green flag and led the opening two laps before Dave Teske and Konetski swept by on the inside to take the top two spots. Mike Strupp’s car had a problem exiting turn two on the third lap and when he slowed, the field bunched up behind him, causing a traffic-jam effect resulting in Conrad Morgan colliding with Mark Bitzan. The impact sent Bitzan into the backstretch wall and the momentum turned his car over on its roof as it slid into the third turn banking. Bitzan was not injured in the mishap and the race was halted under the red flag with Teske leading Konetski and Mathews.

Teske maintained the lead as racing resumed while Feiler entered the top five, bringing Lowell Bennett, Eric Fransen, and Brad Mueller along with him as they charged toward the front. Konetski looked to the outside and pulled alongside Teske on lap 25 and the two raced side by side for three laps before Teske prevailed on the inside. The hard racing up front allowed Feiler to close on the lead duo and he also took to the inside, momentarily taking second place from Konetski, who was caught in the high groove.

After a few laps, the outside groove began to come in and Konetski made it pay off by racing around Feiler and Teske to take the lead on lap 36. Travis Dassow and Dennis Prunty tangled in turn three on lap 38, slowing the race under the yellow flag. Konetski kept his lead as the green flag waved but Feiler began to display his strength as he dove inside Teske to grab second on lap 40. Feiler had his car hooked up well to the inside and gained ground on Konetski exiting the corners as Konetski’s car appeared to slide off the turns. Feiler made a serious challenge for the lead, pulling alongside on lap 48 but the move was negated when the caution appeared for a spin in turn four involving Mathews and David Prunty.

Once the field was back under green, Feiler’s car seemed to level off while Konetski’s began to hook up on the outside and the top five ran nose to tail with Konetski leading Feiler, Bennett, Fransen, and Mueller. The final caution flag flew on lap 56 when Mike Strupp spun in turn four after contact with Mathews and during the slowdown, Bennett left the track when his car was found to be leaking fluid. Konetski hit his marks over the final 19 laps and eased ahead to take a four car-length victory at the checkered flag over Feiler. Fransen was close behind in third place and Mueller finished fourth. Al Schill rounded out the top five.

Mike Egan edged Chad Barker in a close finish to win the 30-lap late model semi-feature. James Swan drove Larry Los’ machine to a third place finish ahead of Scott Schoeni and Jerry Eckhardt. Todd Kluever took the win in the fast dash and Mueller continued to be strong in qualifying, turning in a 11.393 second lap for fast time.

Josh Bauer dodged an early incident and then held off James Swan amidst lapped traffic to win the 30-lap Midwest Sportsman feature.

Brad Keith and Mike Graczkowski raced for the early lead in front of Johnny Carrao and Colin Bamke before the yellow appeared on lap four when Jason Taghikhani, Todd Gehring, and Mike Borchardt tangled in turn two. Numerous cars, including Bauer, spun in the aftermath but they were determined to have spun to avoid the incident and did not lose their spots for the restart which lined up with Keith leading Graczkowski, Carrao, Bamke, and Bauer.

Keith held the lead until lap seven when he began to fade on the outside as Graczkowski moved into the top spot and Bauer took over second place. Keith continued to fall back as George Schultz, Gary LaMonte, and Swan all were able to get around him. Bauer tracked down Graczkowski by lap 16 and quickly took to the outside lane to pull alongside. A lap later, Bauer used the outside to take command of the race, leaving Graczkowski to hold off Swan and Schultz for second. By lap 20, Swan and Schultz both were able to pass Graczkowski and soon they were side by side for second place, a battle that Swan eventually won on lap 23. Bauer found himself in heavy lapped traffic for the final seven laps and that allowed Swan to close in dramatically. Bauer worked the traffic magnificently and never allowed Swan to make a challenge as he crossed the finish line for the win. Schultz took the checkered flag in third place followed by Graczkowski and Bamke.

Bauer also took the win in the fast dash and Gary LaMonte was the fastest qualifier at 12.639 seconds.

Dale Prunty continued his winning ways with a victory in the 25-lap Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modified feature.

Jason Feyereisen immediately grabbed the lead at the start over Russ Grade and Ken Wills. Prunty, who started fifth quickly went to work driving towards the front, taking third place on lap five and then second on lap seven. Near the half way mark, Prunty caught Feyereisen while Wills held down third place just ahead of Dan Miller and Grade. Prunty made his move around Feyereisen to take the lead just before lap 20 and was never headed from there, driving to the victory. Feyereisen finished second and Wills crossed the finish line in third. Miller finished in fourth place and Grade was fifth.

Joseph Bentfield and Glenn Weber each won an 8-lap Slinger Bees heat and Mark Fogel appeared to win the Thunderstock feature but was later disqualified after failing post-race technical inspection. Les Weidenhoeft finished second followed by Mark Kissinger, Joe DeStefano Sr., and Josh Fisher. Shane Becker won the Figure 8 race and Kissinger took the win in the Spectator Elimination races in his Chevy Monte Carlo. The Port-A-John Speedway Guest car event was won by Jeremy Fichtner of Camera Case and TV.

For Complete results from the RACESTAT computer CLICK HERE

Ritter/ Parker Store presents the Rides for kids in race cars at the Slinger Super Speedway
By Lanae Weyer

Slinger, WI; Special –  This Sunday night, Ritter/ Parker Store presents the Rides for kids in race cars at the Slinger Super Speedway. The night will be highlighted by a 75-lap Late Model feature, and a full night of racing in all divisions including the Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modifieds, Slinger Bees, Thunderstocks, Figure 8’s, Port A John Speedway Guest Cars, Spectator Eliminators and Midwest Sportsman division.

Ritter Technology, Parker’s largest industrial distributor in the US and your #1 source for all of your hydraulic and pneumatic needs specializing in hose assemblies while you wait, and welcomes Heavy Equipment Specialists as their newest Associate Distributor. Visit them in Slinger on Hwy 60 for all of your hose and fitting needs along with your heavy equipment repairs and heavy-duty truck repairs.

Regular Sunday night racing action at Slinger Super Speedway runs through September 19, 2004. Spectator gates open at 4:45 p.m. with time trials at 5:15 p.m. and racing scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The Slinger Super Speedway is located ¼ mile West of Highway 41 on Highway 144 in Slinger. For availability and other sponsorship opportunities including track signage and billboards contact the Public Relations Department at (262) 628-7929.