May 2, 2004; Seymour, WI - The calendar say spring, but, snowflakes in the very cold air could not delay the 2004 N.E.W. DIRT season opener at the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway Sunday night. A total of 119 cars completed a very competitive program on a very smooth fast track.
Naparalla was running the inside line and Otto hooked up outside. They ran side by side for the lead with Van Ooyen, Brian Koch, Wiitila and Jamie Van Ooyen right behind. The leaders swapped the lead to the finish with Otto gaining the edge on the final lap to pick up his first feature win of the year with Naparalla tight behind in second. Koch was third with Wiitila, Joe Van Ooyen and Jamie Jan Ooyen making up the top six. The IMCA Stock cars were up next with Rod Snellenberger grabbing the early lead followed by Tyler Rassmussen, Jeremy Christians, George Gerbers, Shawn Wagner and Travis Van Straten. By lap three the lead trio was pulling away from the pack in a tight battle for the first. Another battle in the next group for 4th was also intense. with Wagner, Gerbers, Brian Karcz and Van Straten. A blown motor on lap 15 was the only caution of the race and set up a five lap dash to the finish. Christians was able to sneak by Rassmussen for second and pulled right up on the leader. But, Snellenberger is tough to beat in front and held off the challenge for his first win of the season here. Christians was the runner up with Rassmussen taking third. Brian Karcz settled the battled for fourth with Kyle Fredrick in fifth and Van Straten edging Wagner for sixth. Joel Schmit took the lead for the first three laps of the IMCA Mod main with Scott Mullen pulling into the top spot on lap 4. Defending Street Stock champ and now modified rookie, Lance Arneson moved into the runner up spot and was all over Mullen as the pair pulled away from the pack. Schmit, Mike Klenz, Benji LaCrosse, Jerry Wilinski and Jared Siefert were battling for third. On lap 15, the lone caution of the race appeared and bunched the field for a tough run to the finish. LaCrosse pulled alongside Arneson on the restart and the pair chased Mullen. Mullen held off the challenges and picked up his first win of the year. Arneson earned the tough second place finish with LaCrosse settling for third. Klenz was forth, with Wilinski in fifth and Siefert rounding out the top six. The WISSOTA Late Models put a strong field of 20 cars on the grid for their feature which clicked off a non-stop event. Terry Casey drew the pole and quickly pulled into the top spot. Randy Markwardt took second and chased Casey for the first half of the race before dropping back a bit. Tim Buhler, M.J. McBride, Pete Parker and Terry Anvelink were bunched up in a battle for third. Over the final 5 laps, lapped traffic spread the field a bit, but, Casey never let up and captured the checked. Markwardt was the runner up with Buhler taking third. Parker was able to secure fourth with Troy Springborn edging McBride for fifth. A pair of rollovers, one on the opening lap and one on the final lap, spiced the 4 cylinder event of the night. Jasper Drengler took the lead at the start and despite several cautions in the race that kept the field bunched, was able to hold off all challenges at the front for his first feature win of the year. James Vanden Bogart, Greg Banker, R.J Vande Hei, Tom Schmit and Ben Daoust rounded out the top six. Weekly Sunday night racing action continues at the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway through Labor Day, September 5th. This next week is Mothers Day, with N.E.W. DIRT and five area florists teaming up to present the first 500 mothers with a carnation entering the track next Sunday night. SUMMARY IMCA MODIFIED 20 Lap Feature l. Scott Mullen, Seymour 2. Lance Arneson, Oconto 3, Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 4. Mike Klenz, Sobieski 5. Jerry Wilinski, Seymour 6. Jared Siefert, Green Bay 8 Lap Heats First . Arneson 2. Mullen Second l. Siefert 2. Wilinski 6 Lap Dash l. R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay 2. Siefert WISSOTA LATE MODELS 20 Lap Feature l. Terry Casey, new London 2. Randy Markwardt, Sheboygan Falls 3. Tim Buhler, Glenbulah 4,.Pete Parker, Kaukauna 5, Troy, Springborn, Shawano 6. M.J. McBride, Shawano 8 Lap Heats First l. Travis Spaulding, Greenville 2. Tom Naeyaert, Shawano Second l. Parker 2. McBride Third l. Casey 2. Markwardt STREET STOCK 20 Lap Feature l. Darren Otto, Pulaski 2. Rick Naparalla, Pulaski 3. Brian Koch 4. Jeremy Wiitila, Green Bay 5. Joe Van Ooyen. Appleton 6. Jamie Van Ooyen, Appleton 8 Lap Heats First l. Koch 2. Otto Second l. Naparalla 2. Jamie Van Ooyen Third l. Troy Wilson, Green Bay 2. Shawn Van Ooyen, Appleton IMCA STOCK CAR 20 Lap Feature 1. Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski 2. Jeremy Christians, Horicon 3. Tyler Rassmussen. Kaukauna 4. Brian Karcz, Pulaski 4. Kyle Fredrick, Gillett 6. Travis Van Straten,. Hortonville 10 Lap Consy l. Jerry Schaalma, Juneau 2. Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf 8 Lap Heats First l. Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski 2. Fredrick Second l. Rassmussen 2. Brian Karcz Third l. Snellenberger 2. Christians Fourth 1. Brandon Czarapata, Horicon 2. Shawn Wagner, Pulaski 4 CYLINDER 15 Lap Feature l. Jasper Drengler, Shawano 2. James Vanden Bogart 3. Gregg Banker 4. R.J. Vande Hei 5. Tom Schmidt 6. Tony Everard |
