GROELLE MASTERS 141 MID-AMS

(Francis Creek, WI - August 15, 2009) - Travis Groelle held off a hard-charging Brett Piontek to capture his first Mid-American feature win of the season Saturday night at the 141 Speedway in Francis Creek.

Sharing the winner’s spotlight with Groelle were Tim Conard in the Super Stocks, Jesse VanRoy in the IMCA Northern Sport Mods, Allen Dillon in the Mini-Stocks, Kris Conard in the IMCA Hobby Stocks and in a special 50 lap affair, Jerry Duggan in the Sport 4s.

35 straight laps under green proved to be the perfect scenario for Groelle en route to his Mid-American victory.  He used the outside line to sweep past Crystal Wood into the lead on the 8th lap, then built what appeared to be a comfortable margin as the laps ticked by.

But the outside line also proved to work well for Piontek, the defending division champ.  Subbing again for Daryl Gerke, Piontek steadily marched forward, grabbing 3rd with 15 laps to go.  He caught and passed Wood for second on the 29th circuit; setting sail for Groelle.

Piontek closed to within a few car lengths, but without the aid of a caution, he ran out of time before he could mount a serious challenge for the win.

Wood, running regularly this season with the Mid-American traveling series, finished a solid third on her home track with Monte Strouf and Adam White also in the top five.

Tim Conard sped outside of Nathan Wegner on the 8th lap, then switched to cruise control as he pocketed his second Super Stock feature win of the season in convincing fashion.

Josh Sand would also pass Wegner, but would settle for the second spot with no late cautions to bunch the field and give him a shot at Conard.  A race long battle for fourth went to Denny Crass, holding off Eric Turner, Jo Gauger, Lee Kielpikowski and Kraig Koehler who were all in contention for the position.

Matt Rowe wasn’t quite as fortunate as Groelle and Conard before him as a late caution probably cost him his first IMCA Northern Sport Mod win of the season.

Rowe had taken the lead from Marty Van De Hei on the 7th lap, then steadily pulled away from the field.  VanRoy took second on the 20th lap, needing a caution to catch the leader.  She got it with two laps to go as Chuck Grall and Kurt Waush spun together bringing out the yellow.

On the restart, she powered away from Rowe from the outside, pulling away to her third feature win of the season.

Dillon kept his Mini-Stock title hopes alive with a dominating win in the division’s headliner.  Racing for the lead on the fourth lap, Kevin Naidl and Austin McKeever tangled, with third place running Kyle Pieschek cutting a tire in melee.

That moved  Kurt Naidl and Dillon from fourth and fifth to the front row for the restart.  Dillon won the race to the lead, then benefited from a spirited battle for second between Kurt Naidl, Jason Novak and Todd Hebel that allowed him to pull away to the checker.

Naidl edged Novak for the second spot by a bumper at the line.

George Paul out-dueled Mike Mueller and Matt Rowe for second in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature.  He was able to catch leader Kris Conard but could never quite get enough momentum up to pull alongside.

Leading from green to checker, Conard was able to post his third feature win of the season.

In the Sport 4 class, Duggan proved to be the surprise winner of the final feature in the Cretton Enterprises Sport 4 Triple Crown series. 

Ian Fogeltanz was in command of the event for the first half, building a solid advantage over the pack.  As Fogeltanz sliced through lapped traffic, Duggan, Brandon Tegen, and Brad Laurent emerged as the contenders for what looked to be second place at best.

But Fogeltanz dropped from the event, pulling to the infield, handing the lead to Duggan.  Tegen chased Duggan to the checker, although he wasn’t being scored after receiving a mechanical black flag.  It all added up to the first career win for Duggan. 

Second spot actually went to Laurent, who flashed across the line just behind Tegen.  Dave Gauger, Sr took third, and with a fourth place finish, Bruce Sand locked up the Triple Crown title.

The Radandt Super Stock Triple Crown finale will highlight action in the six division show at the Speedway this Saturday night.  The team of Dave and Jo Gauger lead the standings heading into the third event, with Turner 18 points back in second.

Qualifying is set for 5:30, with the first race at 7:00.  For more information, visit the track’s website at www.141speedway.com.



141 Speedway Results - 8/15/2009

Mid-American 35 Lap Feature:  Travis Groelle, Two Rivers - Brett Piontek, Green Bay - Crystal Wood, Denmark - Monte Strouf, Menchalville - Adam White, Suamico - Jimbo Schleis, Francis Creek

Dash:  Tyler Bauknecht, Reedsville - White

Heat: Norm Bonenfant, Manitowoc - Mark VanRite, DePere

Fast Qualifier: Piontek (12.177)

Super Stock 25 Lap Feature: Tim Conard, Manitowoc - Josh Sand, Manitowoc - Nathan Wegner, Maribel - Denny Crass, Maribel - Eric Turner, Mishicot - Jo Gauger, Two Rivers

Dash: Turner - Conard

Heat: Crass - Wegner

Fast Qualifier: Gauger (12.678)

IMCA Northern Sport Mod 20 Lap Feature:  Jesse VanRoy, Kaukauna - Matt Rowe, Maribel - Marty Van De Hei, Seymour - Robby Thiel, Appleton - Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee - Chuck Grall, Pulaski

Heat: Van De Hei - Rowe

Mini-Stock 25 Lap Feature: Allen Dillon, Two Rivers - Kurt Naidl, Maribel - Jason Novak, Cato - Todd Hebel, Green Bay - Kevin Naidl, Reedsville - Paul Ray, Kewaunee

Heat 1: Novak - Dillon
Heat 2: Kurt Naidl - Austin McKeever, Hortonville

Fast Qualifier: Hebel (13.321)

IMCA Hobby Stock 20 Lap Feature: Kris Conard, Manitowoc - George Paul, Kewaunee - Matt Rowe, Maribel - Ray Fuller, Manitowoc - Mike Wilde, Manitowoc

Heat: Conard - Rowe

Sport 4 50 Lap Feature: Jerry Duggan, Whitelaw - Brad Laurent, Manitowoc - Dave Gauger, Sr, Two Rivers - Bruce Sand, Mishicot, Nick Wacek, Green Bay - Matt Cherney, Mishicot

Dash: Gauger, Duggan

Heat 1: Cody Huven, Green Bay - Mark Steinfeldt, Green Bay
Heat 2: Mike Blashka, Reedsville - Cherney

Fast Qualifier: Sand (14.310)