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SCHUMACHER GRABS FIRST EVER LATE MODEL FEATURE WIN IN BOB
FISH PONTIAC/BUICK/GMC ALAN KULWICKI MEMORIAL!
By Dan Margetta
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(Slinger,
WI) May 22, 2005 - Rookie Nick Schumacher out-dueled cagey veteran Dave Feiler
to nail down his first ever late model feature victory in the 65-lap Bob Fish
Pontiac/Buick/GMC Alan Kulwicki Memorial Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway.
“I remember Alan
(Kulwicki) back when I was racing go-carts and this is a dream come true,” Schumacher
explained from victory lane after completing a Polish Victory Lap in honor of the late
1992 NASCAR champion. “I’ve got such a great crew and this car has now won three
Alan Kulwicki Memorials and I can’t even describe how good it feels,” Schumacher
continued after becoming the 11th different winner in the event’s 13 years of
existence.
Schumacher took the lead at the start from the pole position as Rich Loch, Andrew
Morrissey, and Dennis Prunty slid into the second through fourth positions as cars in the
outside lane played a game of bumper tag which slowed them down momentarily. Behind them,
Feiler, Conrad Morgan, and John Mueller battled while Brad Mueller and Ryan Mathews closed
in. John Mueller and Morgan tangled on lap 18 in turn four and collected Brad Mueller,
Mathews, and Travis Dassow to bring out the first caution flag. The incident severely
damaged the cars of Brad Mueller and Dassow as they were forced to retire from the race.
Schumacher was quick on the button at the restart and he jumped out to a three car length
lead over Loch and Dennis Prunty. With Schumacher beginning to pull away, Prunty was able
to get to the inside of Loch on lap 23 but Loch powered his way off the corner to maintain
the spot. Contact between the two one lap later in turn four sent Loch spinning across the
track and into the frontstretch wall as the caution flag waved for a second time.
Morrissey and Feiler exhibited some precision driving during the incident and were able to
make their way through to line up second and third behind Schumacher for the restart.
Schumacher again moved out away from the field as racing resumed while Feiler went to work
on Morrissey for second. Behind them, Al Schill, David Prunty, Austin Konetski, and Lowell
Bennett were involved in their own race over the fourth spot. Feiler was able to root his
way around Morrissey by lap 30 as Schill held off Prunty and Bennett while Schumacher
continued to pace the event. Once by Morrissey, Feiler slowly began to reel in Schumacher
and by lap 43 found himself within a car length of the leader while further back, Bennett
and Prunty were able to ease by Schill using the inside lane.
Lapped traffic momentarily
hampered Feiler’s effort but he soon closed in on Schumacher’s bumper with ten
laps to go. While Feiler could catch Schumacher, the rookie’s car handled beautifully
off the corners and the veteran was unable to muster up a charge as Schumacher crossed the
finish line first to take the win. Feiler settled for second place ahead of Morrissey who
came home third. Bennett finished in the fourth spot while Prunty edged Schill in a close
battle for fifth at the stripe.
Scott Schoeni held off Mike Egan to win the 30-lap late model semi-feature and both
drivers were able to advance to the main event. Randy Schuler finished third while Chad
Barker and Jerry Eckhardt completed the top five finishers. Dennis Prunty used a final lap
pass to edge Conrad Morgan to win the dash and Austin Konetski set fast time again with a
lap 11.384 seconds.
John Senerchia drove to victory in the 40-lap feature which comprised the first round of
the Midwest Sportsman Championship Series.
Senerchia led at the outset while Dave Thomas and Mike Graczkowski raced for position with
Pat McIntee and Brad Keith. The inside lane proved to be quicker in the early going as
McIntee and James Swan became caught up top and fell back into a battle for fifth with
Collin Bamke. Thomas also got hung out on the high side a few laps later and Graczkowski
and Keith went around him for second and third respectively. Gary LaMonte also used the
inside line to work his way around Bamke and McIntee and into fifth place bringing Swan
along with him. Bamke and McIntee tangled in turn four a lap later to bring out the
caution flag with Senerchia leading Graczkowski, Keith, Thomas, and LaMonte.
Senerchia maintained the lead on the restart as Swan experimented with the outside in an
attempt to get around LaMonte for fifth. Before he could complete the pass, LaMonte was
able to work inside of Thomas which dampened Swan’s bid for fifth place. LaMonte used
the inside lane to move forward as Thomas and Swan fell back on the outside, allowing
Scott Ascher to move into fifth. With a clear track in front of him, LaMonte began to pick
off positions, taking third place on lap 24 and then using the outside to pull even with
Graczkowski for second on lap 28. LaMonte and Graczkowski ran side by side for six laps
before LaMonte was able to complete the pass on lap 34.
Senerchia encountered lapped cars during the final circuits as LaMonte began to close in
but he handled the traffic beautifully to take the win. LaMonte took the checkered flag in
second place and Graczkowsi completed his strong run with a third place finish. Brad Keith
crossed the line with a solid fourth place finish and Kenny Joosten came on strong in the
closing laps to grab fifth at the finish. Ascher was sixth and Thomas was seventh while
Swan spun across the stripe to finish eighth. Jeff Steenbergen and Jay Schambeau rounded
out the top ten.
Jimmie Evans won the 18-lap Midwest Sportsman Series semi-feature over Jan Kantner and
Corey Funk. LaMonte won the fast dash and Collin Bamke blistered the speedway in 12.583
seconds and was the fastest qualifier.
Steve Huelsbeck walked away from the field to take home a convincing win in the 25-lap
Midwest Modified feature.
Huelsbeck immediately used the outside groove to take the lead at the start while Russ
Moberly, Ron Schmitt, and Wes Biswell battled for second. The side by side racing for
second allowed Huelsbeck to check out on the rest of the competitors and he built up a
lead of nearly a straightaway by lap 10. Biswell finally got the outside lane to work and
was able to pass Moberly for second as Steve Schulz and Dale Prunty entered the picture,
setting up a four-car battle for third.
Prunty’s car handled
well on the high side and he soon advanced to third place while Schulz began to slide
around up top and fell back into a race for the fourth spot with Schmitt and Jason
Feyereisen. As the laps wound down, the only difficulty Huelsbeck encountered was having
to avoid Bill Tandetzke’s spun car on the final lap as he drove to his first feature
victory of the season. Biswell finished a strong second and Prunty crossed the line in
third. Schmitt and Schulz rounded out the top five.
Earlier in the evening, Schmitt took top honors in the fast dash and Feyereisen set fast
time with a lap of 12.231 seconds.
Jim Bentzler won the Thunderstocks event while Slinger Bees races were won by Jamie Vetter
and Justin Okruchlica. Ryan DeStefano was the winner of the Spectator Eliminator race and
Donald Van Camp scored the victory in the Figure 8 event.
For Complete results from the RACESTAT computer CLICK HERE
E.H.
WOLF AND SONS MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL
(Slinger, WI) Sunday Night
May 29th long-time track sponsor E.H. Wolf & Sons partners up with participating BP
dealers to present the Slinger Super Speedway Memorial Day Special. Check your local BP
Gas Station for $1.00 off Coupons for General Admission Seating! The night will feature an
80-lap Late Model feature and will join the regular Sunday program that includes Midwest
Modified, Midwest Sportsman, Thunderstocks, Slinger Bees, Figure Eights, Port A John
Speedway Guest Cars and the Spectator Eliminators. The Limited Late Models will return to
Slinger June 12th, July 10th, August 7th, and September 11th. Gates open at 4:45,
Qualifying at 5:15, and Racing at 7:00. Rain date Monday, May 30.
There are select advertising and sponsorship opportunities as well as company and group
outings available for the 2005 season. For more information, contact the speedway’s
public relations department at: 262-370-0440, the track office at: 262-644-5921 or visit
our web site at: www.slingersuperspeedway.com. |
