June 5, 2003; Seymour, WI - N.E.W. DIRT presented the first mid-week special in their 20 year history Thursday night at the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway when they hosted the WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series. A full night of racing action was topped off by a big 40 lap late model feature.
A filed of 31 cars checked in and 25 made the grid for the feature. Duane Mahder sat on the pole and took the initial lead, with a 2 car spin bringing out a quick caution only 2 laps in. Mahder took control again after the restart with Steve Isenberg, Jeremie Hedrick, John Kaanta, Troy Springborn and A.J. Diemel behind. Hedrick moved into second by lap 5 and Terry Casey started making a challenge to the front runners as well. Mahder had his hands full by lap 15 with Hedrick, Kaanta, Casey Springborn and Isenberg tight behind. Kaanta slipped into the top spot on lap 16 and Casey moved into second on lap 19. Lap 21 saw a second caution for a spin. Kaanta was holding the lead hugging the inside and Casey started to work the outside line. On lap 25,Casey pulled off the pass for good and started to pull away a bit. Hedrick, Mahder, Springborn and Isenberg were still battling for third with Nick Anvelink joining the battle with Don Shaw, Troy Kuyoth and Jerry Redetzke getting through traffic by lap 30. Lapped cars became an issue over the final 10 laps but Casey was able to clear the way for awhile, but it also allowed Kaanta a chance to close right up on the leader and start a tough challenge. On lap 37, the leaders were working through a tight pack of cars with Kaanta able to sneak by into the lead, just before a debris caution slowed the field for a three lap dash to the finish. Kaanta now was the leader with Casey second. Springborn was running in fifth place, but spun on the restart, bringing out the caution. He had to go to the rear. Anvelink moved into fifth place with Shaw, Isenberg, Kuyoth, Doug Blashe and Redetzke behind. Over the final 3 laps, Casey tried to make the outside line work again,.but he could not hold the lead with Kaanta taking the checker for his first ever feature win at the Tri Oval. Casey, the winner in the opening round at Shawano on Wednesday, took second. With Mahder crossing in third. Just behind the leaders, the caution appeared as three cars tangled in the tri oval coming for the finish. The rest of the field scrambled with Isenberg, Blashe, Redetzke and Randy Markwardt in line. Kuyoth was moved back into fifth place by WISSOTA officials after a review of the incident with track spotters. The win was the first of the Challenge series for Kaanta, He is the defending champion. The regular Street stock and IMCA Stock Car divisions were also part of the program running for track points. The Streets moved out first with David Zegers taking the lead from the point and holding on through three cautions over the first ½ of the race. Joe Wittmann, Shawn Van Ooyen, David Hoerning, Charlie Van Ooyen and Rick Naparalla were next in line. After the restart on lap 10, Phil Hiles started to work into the top five and moved into the runner up spot on lap 13. One lap later, Hiles took over the top spot and despite a late race lap 18 caution, was not challenged as he picked up his first feature win of the season. Zegers held on for the second place finish with Naparalla taking third. Darci Czarapata continues to run strong and took fourth for the third straight time. Shawn and Charlie Van Ooyen round out the top six. Current point leader and winner of four straight features, Lance Arneson, had problems early in the race, but finished 12th in the final tally. David Bouche took charge of the Stock Car main leading the first 3 laps before John Mahlberg took over. Jamie Colwell followed into the second spot bringing Jeremy Christians and Brandon Czarapata along. A lap 14 caution was the first of the race and before the restart, Colwell was out when a huge puddle of oil formed under his car. Christians inherited the top spot with Czarapata, Rick Mahlberg, John Mahlberg, Jason Czarapata and Kyle Fredrick behind. Brandon Czarapata hounded Christians the rest of the way, but the former two time champion would not be denied his first feature win of theyear here. Czarapata was tight behind for second. Rick Mahlberg took third with point leader, Jason Czarapata, taking fourth. John Mahlberg and Fredrick rounded out the top six. Racing resumes this Sunday night, June 8 with a full 5 division program on tap. SUMMARY WISSOTA LATE MODEL STREET STOCK IMCA STOCK CAR |
