Muelemans Masters Seymour Tri-Oval Enduro For Top Honors! By Dave Panske and Bill Schlei

April 27, 2003; Seymour, WI - N.E.W. DIRT kicked off their 2003 season with an open practice session and a 200 lap 4 cylinder Enduro on a beautiful sunny, Sunday afternoon. The only problem for the day was keeping the track wet..

Photo Highlights

N.E.W. DIRT President, Vern Doxtater, (left), presents Jeff Meulemans with his trophy following the Enduro event Sunday afternoon.

Over 30 teams used the practice session to tune their cars and test the track for the regular season open this coming Sunday May 4.

Following the practice session, a field of 26 cars took to the track for the first Enduro run in Seymour since 1988. It was the Spring Opener 200 4 cylinder Enduro.

A field of thirty started the race under blue skies and blustery wind conditions that would play a major factor in later parts of the race. Brian Drexler of Oshkosh powered to the front early, driving his Pontiac through the field without a scratch and leading the field by a large margin until the red flew on lap 25 when it was discovered that the car driven by Frank Calabrese of Shiocton was leaking fuel. Calabrese was able to fix the leak quickly and rejoined the race.

At the thirty lap point in the race Mother Nature had dried out the track to the point that dust from the track was being carried by the wind into the city and obstructing the view of drivers on the street. So, at lap thirty-five all the cars were sent to the pit lane and the track crew brought out the water trucks to relieve the situation. However, when the race resumed no one was ready for the slippery conditions on the track as drivers struggled to keep their cars out of the fences and off of the walls.

The biggest trouble spot was at the end of the tri-oval where car after car would try to steer onto the front stretch only to have the front wheel lose traction and crash into the concrete barrier. The scariest of these incidents was when the car driven by Jay Czarapata of Krakow struck the wall became airborne and spun around exposing the driver's side to the concrete. Fortunately the car landed before striking the second time and Jay was actually able to continue racing, albeit with damaged steering components.

At the halfway break Drexler continued to lead with Jeff Meuelemans in second and Brian Diener third. During the break the track was watered again in attempt to reduce the dust levels re-creating the slick conditions experienced earlier. This time however the drivers seemed more prepared as nearly everyone stayed in the low groove and away from the wall. Everyone, that is, except Jay Czarapata.

Jay discovered a dry strip at the very top of the cushion and ran that line passing every car on the track, some of them twice and making up for some of the laps lost earlier. After about ten laps the track conditions improved Czarapata moved back to the regular racing groove.

A the race wound down to the final ten minutes Meuelemans had caught Drexler and began setting up a pass for the lead. Jeff managed to take the lead passing in the tri-oval but only held on for one lap before Brian used the same move to retake the top spot.

Drexler held on for two more laps before Meuelmans finally passed him for good just five minutes from the end of the race. At that point blue smoke started pouring out of Drexler's car and he was forced to retire from the race.

Meuelmans drove to the victory followed by Brian Diener of Kaukauna, and Brad Bahr of Appleton.

Special THANKS to all the fans that enjoyed to day and start our 2003 season.

The regular season kicks off this Sunday May 4, with a full five division program. Racing time has been moved up and the first green flag will now drop at 6 PM every week.