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Springborn Captures Seymour Late Model Season
Finale,
Wedelstadt Specatcular in Mod Action!
By Dave Panske |
August
31, 2003; Seymour, WI - The final night of racing ended the
2003 season on a strong note with an very competitive night before the largest crowd of
the season Sunday at the Seymour Tri Ovals Raceway. The final three track champions were
officially crowned..
The IMCA cars completed their point season last week. But, you would never know
by the feature events tonight.
The Stock Cars started out with Jerry Wilinski taking the point for the opening 2 laps
before Larry Karcz, Jr powered into the top spot. Jerry Schaalma, Dave Bouche, Rod
Snellenberger and Joe LeBotte were bunched right behind. By lap 6, Kyle Fredrick and Shawn
Kilgore were moving to the front and the leaders were running three wide for the lead. A
couple of cautions on laps 7 and 8 slowed the pace for a brief period, and Karcz continued
at the point. Following the restart, Karcz, Snellenberger and Kilgore put on a great show
for the lead with Kilgore hooking up on the outside and on lap 12, swept into the top spot
with Snellenberger following into second 1 lap later.
A couple late race cautions on laps 15 and 17 set up a 3 lap dash with Kilgore speeding
away to win his first feature of the season with Snellenberger right behind. Fredrick
moved into third with Karcz taking 4th. Wilinski was 5th and Schaalma rounded out the top
six.
The Streets were next with the title still on the line. Lance Arneson held a 7 point
margin over Phil Hiles in the title chase.
Dan Simon took the lead at the start with Joe Johnson, Dave Drawenek, Troy Wilson, Joe Van
Ooyen and Charlie Van Ooyen behind. After a restart on lap 4, Jeremy Wiitala powered to
the outside and took the lead at the line, Simon was not going to give up without a fight
and for the next 8 laps, the pair ran side by side, swapping the lead.. Arneson and Hiles
were working their way to the front and moved into third and fourth by lap 6 and were side
by side behind the battle for the lead.
A final caution on lap 12 left the stage set for a shoot out to the finish. Wiitala held
the lead with Hiles moving into second and Arneson in third. The trio swapped positions a
couple times before Hiles took over the lead on lap 15. Wiitala was able to hold Arneson
at bay until lap 18, but Arneson ran out of laps for a serious challenge on the leader
with Hiles collecting his second feature win of the year. Arneson was right behind in the
runner up spot, but held onto the point lead to become the 15th different division
champion in the 16 years the division has run here. The Margin was 6 points, 533 –
527.
Wiitala was third with Drawenek taking fourth. Joe Van Ooyen and Darren Otto rounded out
the top six.
The WISSOTA Late Model title was also up for grabs with Nick Anvelink and Terry Casey in
the hunt. The drama started with Anvelink dropping to the back of the lineup for the main
with a bent rear end tube and then dropping out of the race after 4 laps.
T.J. White led the opening lap with M.J. Hintz taking over the second lap before spinning
out, out of the tri oval on the next lap, giving the lead back to White. Troy Springborn
moved to the front on lap 4 and Terry Casey moved into the runner up spot 1 lap later.
Following a debris caution on lap 5. Springborn and Casey pulled away from the field and
by lap 10, Springborn was pulling away by himself and drove off with his second feature
win of the year. Casey was second in the finish. The battle was for third through sixth
with Luke Roffers, A.J. Diemel, Randy Markwardt and Tom Naeyaert running under a blanket.
Roffers ended up taking third place with Diemel in fourth. Naeyaert and Markwardt rounded
out the top six.
Despite Caseys strong run in second. Anvelink earned enough points to win his first career
late model title by 11 marks, 587 – 576 over Casey. Nick’s dad, Terry, won his
N.E.W. DIRT late model title 10 years ago, in 1993. The pair is the second father/ son duo
to claim track titles here. Jerry and Eddie Muenster share IMCA mod titles in 1991 and
1993.
The Modified main was another race that would not be decided until the final lap. Julie
McDermid took the lead on the opening lap with Jeremy Jacobs, Joel Schmit, Danny Deau,
Russ Huxford and Jerry Wilinski behind. Deau pulled low and took the lead on lap 6, but
McDermid stayed outside and retook the lead on lap 9. Scott Mullen was now in the thick of
the battle with Mike Wedelstadt moving into the top 4 by lap 10. From lap 10 to 14,
McDermid and Mullen swapped the lead in a side by side battle of the #1’s. Mullen
finally secured the top spot on lap 15, when Wedelstadt started working on McDermid for
second.
A caution on lap 16 bunched the field and Mullen continued as the lead on the restart with
Wedelstadt taking over second. Wedelstadt powered to the outside and took the lead from
Mullen, only to have a final caution on lap 18 erase the move and set up a three lap dash.
Wedelstadt again took the high line and the lead after the restart, but Mullen was strong
inside and was inches ahead at the white flag. Wedelstadt was still hooked high and on the
final lap was even into the tri oval and at the line, Wedelstadt was a bumper ahead, for
his first feature win here since August 5 of 2001. Mullen was second with McDermid right
behind the pair in third. Jacobs ended up in fourth with Deau taking fifth. Jerry
Wilinski, his first time in a mod finished a strong sixth.
Greg Banker took the lead on lap 8 of the 4 Banger main from Jeff Kropp and drove off with
his first feature win of the year. Kropp finished second with track champion, Marty Vande
Hei closing in the final laps to finish third. Rick Cleven was fourth, Tom Schmidt 5th and
Justin Sobieck 6th.
The top 10 in the Street Stock and Stock Car features were pitted against each other in a
special Challenge race following the program. The race was tight the entire way with Rod
Snellenberger besting the field for the win. Kyle Fredrick took second and Jerry Wilinski
third for a stock car sweep of the top 3. Phil Hiles was the top street stock finisher,
strong run in fourth.
The program brought to a close the 2003 racing season at the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway.
N.E.W. DIRT would like to THANK all of the fans, drivers, crews and sponsors for their
support throughout the year, and look forward to the 2004 season which will start on April
25th.
SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED
20 Lap feature 1. Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville 2. Scott Mullen, Seymour 3. Julie McDermid,
Oconto 4. Jeremy Jacobs, Algoma 5. Danny Deau, Little Suamico 6. Jerry Wilinski, Seymour
10 Lap Heats First l.Joel Schmit, Green Bay 2. Deau
Second l. Scott Mullen 2. Chad Wilcox. Pulaski
WISSOTA LATE MODEL
20 Lap Feature l. Troy Springborn, Shawano 2. Terry Casey, New London 3. Luke Roffers,
Oneida 4. A.J. Diemel, Navarino 5. Tom Naeyaert, Shawano 6. Randy Markwardt, Sheboygan
8 Lap Heats First l. Casey 2. Springborn
Second l. Pete Parker, Kaukauna 2. Greg Dhein, Waupaca
STREET STOCK
20 Lap Feature l. Phil Hiles, Appleton 2. Lance Arneson, Oconto 3. Jeremy Wiitala, Green
Bay 4. Dave Drawenek, Kaukauna 5. Joe Van Ooyen, Appleton 6. Darren Otto, Pulaski
8 Lap Heats First l. Joe Johnson, Seymour 2. Troy Wilson, Shiocton
Second l. Joe Van Ooyen 2. Drawenek
IMCA STOCK CAR
20 Lap Feature l. Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee 2. Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski 3. Kyle Fredrick,
Gillett 4. Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski 5. Jerry Wilinski, Seymour 6. Jerry Schaalma, Juneau
12 Lap Consy l. Brian Karcz, Pulaski 2. Mike Franzke, Appleton 3. George Gerbers
8 Lap Heats First l. Snellenberger 2. Larry Ingebretson, Luxemburg
Second l. Larry Karcz, Jr 2. Wilinski
Third l. Kilgore 2. Schaalma
4 BANGER
15 Lap Feature l. Greg Banker 2. Jeff Kropp 3. Marty Vanden Hei 4. Rick Cleven 5. Tom
Schmidt 6. Justin Sobieck |
