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BAMKE
TAKES CAREER WIN #1 IN ENDERS CONSTRUCTION/
DESIGN TO CONSTRUCT 75!!
By
Dan Margetta |
(Slinger,
WI) June 11, 2006 - 19-year old rookie Colin Bamke turned
a lot of heads Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway, putting
on a performance worthy of a veteran to nail down his first career
late model feature victory in the Enders Construction/Design to
Construct 75-lap main event.
“That was incredible!” the understandably excited Bamke told the
crowd after holding off brothers Dennis and David Prunty by running
the outside lane magnificently. “I was shaking the whole time,
especially having to run the outside,” Bamke continued, “but we’ve
had some bad luck this year and we finally got a chance to show what
we can do.”
Bamke began the event from the outside of the front row and managed
to lead the opening lap after clearing pole-sitter Mark Bitzan in
turn three while Nick Schumacher, Mike Strupp, Josh Bauer, and
Dennis Prunty charged for positions behind the lead duo. Bamke held
on to the lead as Strupp and Prunty advanced to second and third
place just before the first caution flag of the race unfurled on lap
ten when Schumacher and Bitzan tangled on the frontstraightaway.
Bamke chose the inside lane on the restart and once again eased
ahead as Prunty dispatched Strupp to take second. Farther back,
Lowell Bennett began to march to the front, taking over third place
by lap 17 while Gary LaMonte and David Prunty also moved up into the
top five. Incidental contact as the result of close racing behind
them, peeled Mike Egan’s front fender away, causing it to flail in
the wind and he began to slow in an effort to leave the speedway.
While Egan slowed approaching turn three, those behind him began to
check up and the accordion-like effect resulted in Tony Strupp
ramping over a slowing Al Schill on lap 20. Strupp’s car continued
on and made hard contact with the turn three wall, momentarily
getting airborne before landing back on all four wheels. Strupp was
not injured in the mishap but the event was stopped under the red
flag to clean up the speedway with Bamke leading Dennis Prunty,
Bennett, LaMonte, and David Prunty.
On the restart, Bamke held the inside while Dennis Prunty took to
the high side and the two raced alongside each other for many laps,
with Prunty edging ahead to lead some laps at the stripe. Prunty
eventually cleared Bamke to claim the lead for himself on lap 29
while Bennett experienced problems as his car appeared to suddenly
get extremely loose and he headed to the pits. While Bamke and
Prunty disputed the lead, LaMonte, Jeremy Lepak, and Schumacher
raced with David Prunty over the third through sixth positions.
LaMonte became trapped on the high lane and began to slide back as
Lepak took third ahead of Schumacher and David Prunty. The race was
slowed a second time on lap 33 after John Mueller and LaMonte
tangled in turn two.
This time as racing resumed, Bamke found himself on the outside
while Dennis Prunty held tough down low. Bamke maintained his
position on the outside and remained side-by-side with Prunty in the
battle for the top spot. Bamke ran the outer groove beautifully and
remained on the gas when rookies would normally back off, eventually
managing to clear Prunty for the lead on lap 35. Behind them, David
Prunty and Lepak fought over third place and on lap 58, aggressively
took the position in turn two. Lepak’s car took off up the track and
as he regained control, Al Schill looked to the inside to pass but
contact between the cars caused both of them to spin to draw the
final caution flag.
Bamke was once again poised to keep his lead as the green flag
reappeared and he turned back any further challenges from Dennis
Prunty as he raced to his first career late model feature victory.
Dennis Prunty settled for a second place finish, holding off his
brother David Prunty, who finished a close third. Nick Schumacher
was fourth and Fred Winn completed a strong run with a fifth place
finish. Ed Grober won the 30-lap late model semi-feature over Tony
Strupp and Randy Schuler. Robert Maynor and Jerry Eckhardt rounded
out the top five. Dennis Prunty won the fast dash and David Prunty
set fast time at 11.298 seconds.
Brad Keith took the lead by lap ten and drove to victory in the
30-lap Midwest Sportsman feature.
Keith started from the inside of row two and fell in line in third
place while Dean Olla and Dave Thomas battled for the early lead.
Thomas took command of the event on lap five ahead of Olla, Keith,
and Rob Braun. Keith began to pressure Thomas for the lead, taking
over the top spot by lap ten. Once out front Keith began to check
out from the field as Thomas had his hands full dealing with
challenges from Braun, Kenny Joosten, and Mike Graczkowski. Jeff
Holtz also entered the mix, entering the top five by lap 20. Braun
was able to pass Thomas for second in the final ten laps as Keith
continued to lead the event. Keith remained unchallenged in the
waning laps and he cruised to the win over Braun and Thomas. Joosted
finished fourth and Holtz crossed the finish line in fifth.
Troy Weich scored his first victory of the season in the Midwest
Sportsman semi-feature, holding off Don Wood and Andy Haver for the
win. Chris Beine was fourth and Tom Elsinger finished fifth. Keith
also won the Midwest Sportsman fast dash and Mike Graczkowski was
the fastest qualifier at 12.528 seconds.
Scott Nottestad won an exciting 30-lap limited late model feature
over Nick Wendt and Jeff Steenbergen.
Wendt and Dave McCardle paced the field to the green flag and Wendt
grabbed the early lead as Nick Schumacher, Nottestad, and Chris
Ratajczyk battled for third. Schumacher became loose on lap six but
saved his car as behind him, drivers started to take evasive action,
resulting in Jason Deppe spinning in turn three to bring out a
caution flag. Wendt led on the restart but wasn’t able to shake
Schumacher and Nottestad who were glued to his rear bumper. Behind
the top three, Ratajczyk sliced his way forward and along with Jeff
Steenbergen, tracked down the top three. Ratajczyk became hooked up
on the outside and gradually moved his way up to challenge Wendt for
the lead on lap 21. Ratajczyk continued on the high side and managed
to snag the lead on lap 24 with Wendt remaining alongside while
Nottestad trailed in their tire tracks. The action heated up with
three laps to go as the lead battle resulted in Ratajczyk drifting
high in turn two and spinning around and into the infield. Wendt and
Nottestad made it by Ratajczyk’s spinning car with minimal damage as
the race remained under green and Nottestad quickly ducked to the
inside as he and Wendt raced for to the white flag. Nottestad was
able to complete the pass for the lead on the final lap and he
charged under the checkered flag to claim the victory. Wendt
finished second while Steenbergen, Schumacher, and Andy Wendt
rounded out the top five.
Tyler James was victorious in the limited late model fast dash and
Kris Kelly paced all qualifiers after circling the speedway in
12.390 seconds.
Ron Schmitt took top honors in the 25-lap Midwest Modified feature.
Dennis Prunty led the beginning laps as he battled side by side with
Schmitt in the early going as Jason Feyereisen and Steve Huelsbeck.
A tangle between John Kruschell and Joey Bentfield in turn three on
lap seven brought out the yellow flag with Dennis Prunty leading
Schmitt and Feyereisen. Schmitt worked his way by Prunty on lap
eight while Huelsbeck also advanced forward, taking second place on
lap ten. With Schmitt and Huelsbeck out front, Wes Biswell worked
his way forward into third place on lap 11 while Dale Prunty joined
the top five. As Huelsbeck and Biswell fought hard for second place,
Schmitt extended his advantage. With Schmitt pulling farther away,
the battle for second expanded to four cars as Dale Prunty and
Feyereisen joined Huelsbeck and Biswell as the laps ticked down.
Schmitt charged to the win while at the line, Dale Prunty nipped
Biswell for second place. Huelsbeck finished in fourth place and
Feyereisen was fifth.
Schmitt also was the winner of the Midwest Modified fast dash and
Huelsbeck was the fastest qualifier at 12.293 seconds.
Shawn Gavin and Matt Schatz split the wins in the Slinger Bees
events and Alex Knable won the Port-A-John Speedway Guest Car event.
Bill Vorpagel drove his BMW to the win in the Spectator Eliminator
race and Donald Van Camp closed the night with a win in the Figure 8
event. Jenna Hejlik was crowned Miss Slinger Speedway for 2006.
For Complete results from the RACESTAT computer
CLICK HERE
NConnect Fathers Day Special and Scout Night Uniform Scouts Admitted
FREE
(Slinger, WI) June 11, 2006 –
Sunday night June 18th - NConnect Fathers Day Special and Scout
Night. All uniformed scouts and leaders will get into the races
FREE! See a 75-lap Late Model feature and our 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 Wisconsin Sport Trucks and Thunderstocks.
Gates open at 4:45, Qualifying at 5:15, and Racing at 7:00. NConnect
the official wireless provider of Slinger Speedway.
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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