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Fransen Back in Victory
Lane After The Miller High Life 60!
By Dan Margetta |
August
8, 2004; Slinger, WI - A persistent
Eric Fransen ran the outside groove Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway and used it
to turn back the challenges of Lowell Bennett en route to his second victory of the season
in the Miller High Life 60-lap late model feature.
After seemingly being caught in the
high groove numerous times, Fransen held his ground in the lane and it paid off with a
four car-length victory over Bennett.
“That was a heck of a battle,” Fransen exclaimed from victory lane. “The
outside worked better than I thought it would, “ Fransen continued. “I really
thought he (Bennett) was going to get me but our car was better on the outside. It was a
great show for the fans.”
Conrad Morgan and David Prunty led the field to the green and disputed the lead for the
first few laps before Morgan was able to outgun Prunty and claim the top spot for himself
on lap five. Prunty slid into place in second while Fransen, Bennett, and Travis Dassow
raced for third. Prunty’s time at the front came to an abrupt end on lap 14 when he
spun entering turn one, slowing the field under caution with Morgan leading Fransen,
Bennett, Dassow, and Brad Mueller. After a few laps of green flag racing, the yellow
appeared again on lap 17 when Mike Egan experienced engine problems and spun in turn
three.
Fransen was able to get a run on Morgan for the restart and he edged to the inside, taking
the lead on lap 19. Bennett and Mueller also used the inside to grab second and third as
Morgan finally settled back on the inside in fourth. Dave Feiler began to hook up also on
the inside and by the halfway mark, he had worked his way into the top five. Ten laps
later, Feiler got around Morgan to take fourth place as Bennett dove to the inside of
Fransen for the lead. Bennett and Fransen raced side-by-side for nearly ten laps as
Bennett was stronger entering the turns but was unable to clear Fransen on the exit,
resulting in them being nearly even at the stripe. While Fransen and Bennett duked it out
for the lead, Mueller and Feiler staged their own battle for third with Feiler literally
glued to Mueller’s back bumper, trying to unseat him from the inside lane. A spin by
Ed Grober in turn one produced the final caution flag on lap 46 with Fransen leading
slightly over Bennett, Mueller, and Feiler.
As racing resumed, Bennett once again challenged Fransen on the inside as Mueller and
Feiler renewed their fight for third. Fransen remained tough on the outside and fended off
Bennett’s charge while Feiler squeezed by Mueller for third on lap 55. A lap later,
Mueller loosened Feiler up entering turn one to aggressively retake the spot as Feiler
slipped back to fifth, as Al Schill was there to fill the gap and take fourth. Fransen was
able to ease out to a four car-length advantage over the final three laps and captured his
second late model feature win of the season. Bennett solidly finished in second place and
Mueller crossed the stripe in third place. Schill ran a consistent race and finished in
fourth place while a disappointed Feiler had to settle for fifth. Morgan took the
checkered flag in sixth place ahead of Austin Konetski and Andrew Morrissey while John
Mueller and Dave Teske rounded out the top ten finishers.
Scott Schoeni won the 30-lap late model semi-feature over Mike Egan and Randy Schuler.
Mike Strupp and Toby Rott completed the top five. Mike McCabe captured the checkered flag
in the 12-lap late model consi and Fransen began the night with a win in the fast dash.
Feiler was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 11.356 seconds.
Josh Bauer brought a new car to the Slinger Super Speedway and he promptly christened it
by driving to the win in the 30-lap Midwest Sportsman feature.
Mike Borchardt jumped into the early lead over Jay Shambeau and Jimmy Evans while Colin
Bamke and Pat McIntee raced for the fourth spot. Bauer started from the outside of the
fourth row and quickly made his way forward, entering the top five by lap ten with
Borchardt maintaining his lead over Shambeau and Bamke. The field continued to race in a
tightly bunched formation as Gary LaMonte and James Swan joined the lead pack. At the
halfway mark, Borchardt led over Bamke, LaMonte, and Bauer, who was making progress
working the high side of the speedway. Bauer used the high groove to first drive around
Bamke for second and then quickly dispatched Borchardt for the lead on lap 21. Bauer drove
smoothly for the remaining nine laps and scored the win while Bamke held off LaMonte for
second. Borchardt wrapped up his best run of the season with an impressive fourth place
finish and Swan took the checkered flag in fifth.
Bamke took home top honors in the fast dash and LaMonte turned in a 12.552 second
qualifying lap to lead time trials.
Dan Miller drove off to victory in the 25-lap Eldorado Trailer Sales Midwest Modified
feature, taking the checkered flag nearly a half lap ahead of the field.
Miller started fifth and charged by Roger Schmid and Jason Feyereisen to take second place
by lap two as Steven Schulz led. Schulz paced the event for seven laps before Miller drove
around to take the point on lap eight. As Miller and Schulz raced for the lead, the best
battle on the speedway was between Jeff Holtz, Dale Prunty, Wes Biswell, and Feyereisen as
they all raced hard for third. Using the outside lane, Prunty and Biswell were able to
pass Holtz on lap 15 as Miller began to stretch out his advantage over Schulz. The gap
continued to grow as the handling went away on Schulz’s car and over the final five
laps, Prunty, Biswell, and Holtz closed in and pressured him for second. With Miller
comfortably in front, Prunty and Biswell upended Schulz for second on lap 21 and Holtz
followed soon thereafter, dropping Schulz to fifth. Miller was not to be denied and he
took the convincing win nearly a half lap ahead of Prunty and Biswell. Holtz finished
fourth and Schulz hung on to finish fifth.
Earlier in the evening, Schulz won the fast dash and Miller turned in another impressive
qualifying lap at 12.212 seconds to nail down fast time honors.
Jason Warner and Joseph Bentfield each won their respective Slinger Bees heat races and
Jim Robinson debuted his Thunderstock in grand fashion by winning the 12-lap feature. Race
McComb was the winner of the Spectator Elimination event and Scott Goetzke took home the
win in the Figure 8 race. The night was capped off by a demolition derby in which Scott
Bundy took top honors.
For Complete results from the RACESTAT computer CLICK HERE
Johnsonville Foods Night at the Slinger Super Speedway
By Lanae Weyer
Special; Slinger, WI - This Sunday Night
August 15th it’s Johnsonville Foods Night at the Slinger Super Speedway with a 65 lap
Late Model feature. The evening will be highlighted by 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,
Midwest Sportsman. As a special addition the Limited Late Models will be in competition.
The cars compete at Jefferson and Columbus on a weekly basis, and will race at Slinger in
a special one-time program for the 2004 season.
Due to the addition of the Limited Late Models the pit gates will open at 2:30 and
practice will begin at 3:30 for this Sunday’s events.
Adults can receive $2 off one adult admission by bringing a Johnsonville Brat label to the
speedway and redeem it at the ticket window. One coupon per adult and it is not valid with
any other offer.
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
discounted track billboards contact the Public Relations Department at (262) 628-7929.
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