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SCHILL TAKES THE TROPHY IN THE BOB FISH PONTIAC BUICK GMC
ALAN KULWICKI MEMORIAL!!!
By Dan
Margetta |
(Slinger,
WI) May 21, 2006 - It seemed only fitting that the
hardware from the 14th edition of the Bob Fish Pontiac-Buick-GMC
Alan Kulwicki Memorial was taken home by the popular veteran Al
Schill, as he held off David Prunty to win the 70-lap late model
feature event Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway.
“I didn’t realize this was the 14th year, “ exclaimed Schill, whose
race cars have carried the number 14 throughout most of his
thirty-plus career which included many laps against the late NASCAR
champion for whom the race is named. “I’ve never won this one
before. I’ve won just about everything else here, except the
Nationals, but now we’ve got one out of the way.”
“Someone gave me a newspaper clipping in the pits from 1977,” Schill
continued. “And it showed me passing Alan Kulwicki for the win
here.”
Fred Winn and Conrad Morgan led the field to the green flag and
Morgan timed the start perfectly to shoot into the lead ahead of
Winn, Nick Schumacher, and Ken Wills. Schill fell into line in
fourth place while Dennis Prunty and Gary LaMonte battled for fifth
as the event quickly fell under the caution flag on lap three when
Dave Teske spun in turn three. Morgan once again maintained the lead
on the restart as Schumacher battled Winn for second with Schill
staying in line right behind them. The yellow flag appeared again a
few laps later as LaMonte spun and tagged the wall between the first
and second turns.
With Morgan continuing to lead, Schill began to move forward,
maneuvering his way into second by lap 20 while Dennis Prunty fought
off Wills, Schumacher, and David Prunty for the third spot. Schill
had his car turning well off the corners and he was able to work his
way to the inside of Morgan to take the lead on lap 23. Schill and
Morgan contested the lead over the next several laps before the race
was slowed once again under the yellow as the result of a Colin
Bamke and Tony Strupp tangle in turn two. As racing resumed, Morgan
made an attempt to take the lead using the outside groove but his
car suddenly twitched to the right and he faded through the field,
allowing David and Dennis Prunty to move into second and third
respectively.
Morgan retired from the event shortly thereafter as the cause to his
problems was found to be a cut tire. Once out front, Schill threaded
his way through traffic and kept a steady lead as the Prunty
brothers contested second place before David prevailed just before
lap 40. The top five stabilized over the final laps and no one was
able to touch Schill as he drove to the victory over David Prunty
and Dennis Prunty. Nick Schumacher finished in fourth and Ken Wills
crossed the stripe for an impressive fifth place finish. Lowell
Bennett took the checkered flag in sixth place ahead of Josh Bauer
who started last and raced his way to a seventh place finish. John
Mueller, Brad Mueller, and Fred Winn rounded out the top ten.
Josh Bauer won the 30-lap late model semi-feature over Mike Egan and
Mark Bitzan. Travis Dassow finished in fourth place and Rich Loch
was fifth. Brad Mueller took the win in the late model fast dash and
David Prunty was the fastest qualifier at 11.369 seconds.
James Swan sliced his way through the field to take the lead late in
the Midwest Sportsman feature en route to victory in the 30-lap
event.
Mike Borchardt and Rob Braun occupied the front row at the start and
Braun hooked up in the outside lane to snag the early lead.
Borchardt lined up into second place as behind him, Kenny Joosten,
Swan, and Brad Keith jockeyed for position. Swan steadily worked his
way forward, taking over second place from Borchardt by lap ten as
Joosten, Keith, Jeff Holtz, Mike Graczkowski, and Pat McIntee
battled behind them. Once into second place, Swan gradually closed
the gap between himself and Braun, catching the leader by lap 16 and
then taking the top spot with a nice inside move on lap 18. As Swan
and Braun fought for the lead, Holtz and Graczkowski advanced into
third and fourth place respectively while Borchardt held the fifth
spot just ahead of Keith and McIntee who were aggressively
contesting the sixth position. In the final laps, Braun was unable
to find a way around Swan and the defending track champion charged
to the win, leaving Braun to settle for second place. Holtz held off
Graczkowski for third while Keith edged Borchardt for the fifth spot
at the line.
Jay Shambeau took top honors in the Midwest Sportsman fast dash
while Dave Thomas returned to the speedway with a rebuilt car and
set fast time at 12.637 seconds.
Steve Huelsbeck edged Ron Schmitt to pick up the victory in the
20-lap Midwest Modified feature.
Matt Pate led the opening laps as Eddie Bentfield battled alongside
while Dale Prunty and Jason Feyereisen pressured the lead duo. By
lap five, Prunty was able to work the outside to grab the lead as
Huelsbeck weaved his way forward to take over second place just
ahead of Feyereisen and Pate. Three laps later, Huelsbeck took to
the outside and raced wheel-to-wheel with Prunty for the lead.
Huelsbeck and Prunty battled side-by-side during the middle stages
with Huelsbeck able to barely snag the lead on lap 11. Eddie
Bentfield experienced mechanical problems on lap 12 just in front of
the leaders and Prunty found himself caught up in Bentfield’s
misfortune, cutting down and tire and spinning as the caution flag
flew.
Huelsbeck led Ron Schmitt on the restart and Schmitt immediately
began to look to the high side, pulling alongside momentarily before
getting loose in the fourth turn and allowing Hueslbeck to skate out
front. Schmitt regained his composure and once again tracked down
Huelsbeck in the waning laps, moving alongside with three laps to
go. Huelsbeck and Schmitt staged a classic side by side duel for the
win with Huelsbeck taking the victory by inches over Schmitt. Joe
Houpt finished a strong third while Joey Bentfield and Prunty
rounded out the top five finishers.
Prunty took the checkered flag in the Midwest Modified fast dash and
Schmitt set fast time after touring the speedway in 12.425 seconds.
Aaron Cain held off Jamie Vetter to win the 16-lap Thunderstock main
event. Shawn Hoeffler finished in third followed by Troy Martingilio
and Ryan DeStefano in fourth and fifth place respectively. Bob
Losiniecki and Travis Buchholtz each brought home victories in the
Slinger Bees events while Ben Dolnick won the Spectator Eliminator
races in his Subaru. Willie Van Camp scored the win in the Figure 8
race to close out the evening.
For Complete results from the RACESTAT computer
CLICK HERE
EH Wolf and Sons Memorial Day
Special
(Slinger, WI) Special; – Sunday
Night May 28th 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
adult general admission Coupons! Fireworks and an 80-lap Late Model
feature will highlight the evening’s events. Also on tap will be the
regular Sunday program that includes Midwest Modified, Midwest
Sportsman, Complete Car Care Slinger Bees, Figure Eights, Port A
John Speedway Guest Cars and the Spectator Eliminators plus Limited
Late Models. Gates open at 4:45, Qualifying at 5:15, and Racing at
7:00. Rain date is Monday, May 29.
There are select advertising and sponsorship opportunities as well
as company and group outings available for the 2006 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.
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