July 3, 2003; Seymour, WI - The long July 4th weekend started off with the UBC sponsored IMCA Mod and Stock Car special at the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway Thursday night. Street Stocks and 4 Bangers completed a full night of excellent racing action.
The Streets opened the feature portion of the show with Will Parker leading the 24 car field to the green. Dan Simon, Joe Van Ooyen and Eric Arneson pulled in behind the leader. David Zegers led the charge from the middle of the field with Darci Czarapata, David Hoerning, Phil Hiles and Jeremy Wiitala following through traffic. A spin brought out the first caution of the race on lap 9, with Parker still in command. On the restart, Darci moved into the runner up spot making an outside move on Arneson. Zegers followed into third. Parker pulled out of the race prior to a lap 11 restart for a visit to pit lane, which turned the lead over to Czarapata. Zegers, Arneson, Hoerning, point leader, Lance Arneson and Van Ooyen were lined up behind. A debris caution on lap 16 set up a 5 lap dash to the finish. Zegers and Hoerning were right behind Czarapata and pressured her relentlessly with Lance and Hiles right behind looking for a mistake. Zegers was looking inside and Hoerning outside and they split in a three wide run through the tri oval on lap 18, with Darci holding the lead by inches at the line, before a final caution for a tri oval spin set up a 2 lap sprint to the checker. The trio renewed the battle over the final laps. With Darci able to hold off another 3 wide attempt on the final turn to become the first woman to win a N.E.W. DIRT feature race. Zegers and Horning were right behind at the line with Hiles in fourth. Jamie Van Ooyen took fifth and Lance Arneson rounded out the top six. 24 cars took the green for the Stock Car main with Jason Czarapata leading the way for the first 3 laps before cousin, Brandon Czarapata pulled into the top spot on lap 4. A pair of cautions on the next 2 laps kept the field bunched, but then a long stretch of open racing saw an excellent battle for the lead. Brandon and Jason held to top 2 spots, Rod Snellenberger, Kyle Fredrick, Travis Van Straten, John Heinz and Mike Coel ran together as did most of the rest of the field. After 8 laps, the battle for second was so close, it allowed Brandon a chance to open a lead on the field. It looked like and easy run until a final caution appeared on lap 18 and closed the field on the leader again. The green was out to the finish, with Brandon, Hot Rod and Jason again fighting for the lead. Fredrick, Shawn Kilgore, Brian Bruechert and Shawn Wagner were next in line. With 5 laps remaining, Brandon again took advantage of the run for second place to pull away from the field and collected the winners prize money and his second straight feature win. Snellenberger won the race long battle for second place with Jason Czarapata in third. Fredrick held on for a close fourth place finish with Kilgore taking fifth after starting 19th. Bruechert rounded out the top six places. Eugene Gregorich took control of the Modified feature for the first 4 circuits before Jay Schraufnagel pulled into the top spot. Jay Matthias hooked up in a side by side battle with Gregorich for the next several laps , which allowed Schraufnagel the chance to pull away from the rest of the 24 car field, until a debris caution on lap 14 bunched the pack on the leader. R.M. Van Pay pulled into the runner up spot one lap before the caution with Matthias still in third, Gregorich fourth, Joel Schmidt fifth and point leader, Brian Mullen in sixth. The battle for the lead was tight until a final caution on lap 19. Van Pay hounded Schraufnagel until suddenly pulling out of the race on lap 23. Moving Brian Mullen into second followed by Brad Rohloff, Eric Scribner, Dean Maurer, Matthias, Scott Mullen and Travis Spaulding. Mullen and Rohloff hooked up in a battle for second, which allowed Schraufnagel the chance to again pull away from the field. He cruised to his first win of the season at the tri oval while a great battle for second raged to the finish. Mullen and Rohloff ran neck and neck until Scribner was able to split the pair on lap27, and went on to secure the second place finish. Rohloff continued on to place third after starting 18th, while Mullen dropped off the pace over the final couple laps. Spaulding took fourth with Scott Mullen slipping into fifth at the finish. Dean Maurer started the race 21st and finished sixth. Brain Mullen ended up in seventh place. Marty Vande Hei led flag to flag to win his second 4 Banger feature of the year. Jasper Drengler was right behind the entire race but could not find a way by. Racing continues on Sunday July6, with a full regular 5 division program. Then, N.E.W. DIRT opens this years County Fair with a Street Stock and 4 Banger special on Tuesday night, July 8th. The Mods and Stocks will also be on hand running for track points. Racing on Tuesday will start at 7 PM. SUMMARY IMCA STOCK CAR IMCA STOCK CAR STREET STOCK 4 BANGERS |
