"DANCIN LANCE" SHUFFLING HIS WAY TO THE TOP by Joe Verdegan

The Mexican Hat Dance has become a traditional victory lane celebration for Krakow's "Dancin Lance" Arnenson. The way the 22-year-old has been running all summer it's a good thing he keeps his boogie shoes on when he's behind the wheel. Arnenson has captured eight features wins in the street stock division this season, and currently leads Appleton's Phil Hiles by just seven points heading into the final night of racing at Seymour Tri Oval Raceway this Sunday night. Seven of Arnenson's wins came at Seymour while the other victory came at Luxemburg Speedway.

Arnenson has been able to stay on top of the local street stock ranks despite also getting his feet wet in an IMCA modified. "I started running the mod around mid-season in 2002," recalled Arnenson. "Brad Rohloff kind of got me started. The mod is a lot tougher car to run. There are many more adjustments that can be made. I've got a few heats wins and some top four finishes at Shawano. But I've got a ways to go there." There were three occasions this year where Arnenson pulled double duty on the same night. "It was at Seymour. I ran the mod first and then hopped back into my street stock. The street stock was more like a Sunday afternoon drive. It's slower and you've got more time to think out there. With the mod you've just got to react sometimes."

Arnenson, a graduate of Oconto Falls High School, got his start while in high school yet, wheeling a street stock when he was 16 years old. "Brad Rohloff (IMCA modified driver) bought an old Monte Carlo from Gerard Mastey for me to run. I won a feature at Seymour my second year. I was just 17. I was running an old, bone stock motor loaned from Bob Czarapata. I surprised myself, I think." The connection with Rohloff came through Lance's dad Kim, who built motors and sponsored a number of drivers in the 1980's and into the 1990's. "Dad built motors for guys like Rohloff, Danny Deau, Darrell Massart and Bill Lemmens. I grew up hanging around those guys. In school I didn't have time for any sports. I was too busy working to help pay for the race car."

Double duty could become a thing of the past for Arnenson. Plans call to sell his street stock, build another IMCA modified and go full bore with the fenderless class in 2004. "The first $3,500 in my hand takes the street stock home, minus the motor," said Arnenson. "I plan on running Luxemburg, Shawano and Seymour weekly next season in a modified. I might even run Oshkosh Tuesday nights, too. If the street stock doesn't sell I'll just drag it out for specials once in awhile." Arnenson's racing operation is sponsored by his employer Lusier Well Drilling, Safari Steakhouse and McDermid Transportation.

SEYMOUR FINALE - Sunday's race at Seymour will be the final event there of the season. The traditional Nationals event held there in late September will not be held this year.

POINTS WRAP UP - Most area dirt tracks will wrap up there points races this weekend. At Luxemburg Speedway Friday track titles in the IMCA stock car, IMCA hobby stock and sport four divisions are still up for grabs. Seymour's Brian Mullen, by virtue of starting last week's feature race, captured his fifth IMCA modified track title. Luxemburg's Freddie "Andretti" Davister captured the five race street stock point series championship.

At Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday, three of the five divisions points crowns are still undecided. The IMCA stock car, IMCA hobby stock and four cylinder classes will crown a champion. Last Saturday Algoma's Todd Dart and Green Bay's Troy Muench captured mod and street stock titles, respectively.

SHAWANO, ANTIGO SWAP - This weekend Shawano Speedway and Langlade County Speedway in Antigo will switch nights. Shawano will run their fair night race Friday while Antigo's show will be run Saturday. Last weekend Eddie Muenster and Brandon Czarapata captured mod and stock car titles at Shawano, respectively.

WIR FINALE - The final leg of Thursday night Thunder will take place this evening at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Terry Baldry holds a slim seven point lead over Jeff Van Oudenhoven in the late model point standings. Time trials are slated for 5:30 p.m. with racing getting underway at 7 p.m.

MID-AMS AT THE CREEK - The Yellow Books USA Mid-Am stock car series makes it's final stop of the season at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday night. Super stocks, mini stocks and hobby stocks will also compete on the tight, quarter mile, paved oval. Time trials are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.