Charter Raceway Park 5-03-07
Dennis Thompson
The excitement level couldn’t be any higher at Charter Raceway Park. The schedule for the season offers a variety of racing from the regular race divisions to the outside organizations coming in to put on shows, including the World of Outlaw Late Models and the World of Outlaw Sprints. With the track championships in all five regular divisions coming down to the final A-Mains of the season in 2006, the competition is expected to be even stronger this season. Charter Raceway Park also has a good line up of activities for the fans, children and adults alike, in addition to other special events and promotions.
The five regular divisions in action are the Johnsonville Brats Modifieds, Grand Nationals, Dodge Central Credit Union Stocks, Gibbsville Cheese INEX Legends/Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series and Wally’s Auto Dirt Devils.
Craig Priewe of Beaver Dam claimed the 2006 track championship in the Johnsonville Brats Modified Division by 14 points over Frank Firari of Lowell. Russ Reinwald of Iron Ridge finished third in the standings followed by the 2004 & 2005 track champion, Jay Schraufnagel of Beaver Dam. Larry Zirbel of Iron Ridge rounded out the top five. With the uncertainty going into the season of Priewe returning on a regular basis, the other four drivers in the top five are sure to be contenders for the championship this season as well. Eddie Lemay Jr. of Milwaukee, who finished sixth in points, is always a force to watch. 2006 Rookie of the Year, Aaron Rake of Beaver Dam, finished seventh in points and is expected to be a strong runner. Also returning to action and sure to be a factor is the 2002 and 2003 track champion, Tim Lemirande of Verona.
In the Grand National Division, Roger Lee of Wind Lake captured the final A-Main of the 2006 season. The win enabled Lee to edge out 2005 Champ Don Sorce Jr. of West Allis by 3 points for the track championship. Tommy Moore of Muskego finished third in the final standings ahead of Steve Seitz of Beaver Dam and Brian Gerber of Waupun. With all five drivers returning, the battle for the championship should be just as intense this season. Finishing in the top ten last season and looking to move up are Nick Schumacher of Eagle, Andy Bolstad of Montello, Will Schumacher of Hartford, Curt Beek of Waupun and Eric Grunst of Beaver Dam.
The 2006 championship in the Dodge Central Credit Union Stocks Division was settled on the final lap of the 20-lap A-Main. Chuck Hummelmeier of Friesland beat Don Vander Galien of Wautoma to the line to record his sixth win of the season and earn the championship by a mere one point over Vander Galien. Matt Bedker of Beaver Dam had a strong season picking up two A-Main wins along the way to finish third. 2005 Dirt Devil Champion, Jon Schultz of Waunakee, finished an impressive fourth in his rookie season in the stocks. Dan Troyan of Menomonie Falls rounded out the top five. Hummelmeier is not returning for the 2006 season assuring that there will be a new champion. Among the newcomers to the division that could be strong runners are 2006 Dirt Devils Champion Roger Frank of Beaver Dam and Andrew Araco of New Berlin, who finished ninth in points in the dirt devils division in 2006.
The competition in the Gibbsville Cheese INEX Legends/Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series in 2006 was intense all season long. When it was all said and done, it was Eric Barth of Sauk City claiming his third track championship. His other titles came in 2000 and 2004. Joel Wyttenbach of Sauk City, track champion in 2005, finished a close second in the title chase at only 5 points back. Brad Weber of Rolling Prairie, an experienced midget driver, quickly adapted to the legend cars and finished a strong third in the final standings. Joey Johnson of Hartford ran consistently well all season long to finish fourth. Phil Van Tatenhove of Gibbsville was fifth. The top five finishers of 2006 will have a strong contingent of drivers ready to challenge for the top spots. Greg Hartlaub of Sheboygan Falls and 2002 champ Kevin Brill of Oostburg are always tough competitors. Other challenges could come from Bethany Wyttenbach of Plain who captured a Pro Division Regional Qualifier event last August in Wheatland, MO and 2006 Rookie of the Year Mike Mueller of Waupun. Loren Zuhlke Jr. of Beaver Dam finished tenth in points and is a consistent runner.
In the action-packed Wally’s Auto Dirt Devils Division, Roger Frank of Beaver Dam captured his first track championship on the final night of the 2006 season. Frank has moved to the stocks division. Aaron Stolp of West Allis was in the running for the championship right to the end. Jeremy Schwoch of Horicon, who finished third in points, is also moving to the stocks division. Eddie Lemay III of Milwaukee finished fourth in the standings and will be a strong contender for the championship this season. Tim Shepard of Beaver Dam wound up fifth in the standings last season and should be in the thick of the battle all season long. The division is sure to have plenty excitement this season with the mix of some of the more experienced drivers and the addition of several newcomers.
The schedule for the 2007 season at Charter Raceway Park is spiced with a number of special events.
The World of Outlaw late models are slated for May 12 in a show that will also feature the Johnsonville Brats Modifieds.
A special three race High-Speed Holiday Series featuring the MSA Sprints, Grand Nationals and Illinois Mini-Sprints will take place on May 28, July 3 and September 3. Al Schlafer won the only MSA event held last season. Kirk Boers took the win in the mini-sprints. In addition to their regular payout, the Grand National drivers will be competing for a $1000.00 Contingency Payout for the top ten in this Holiday Series Point Fund.
The IRA Outlaw Sprints and the Badger Midgets will team up for events scheduled on June 2 and July 14. Todd Hepfner drove to victory in two of the three IRA events in 2006. Mike Reinke took the other win. The IRA Outlaw Sprints will also run on September 1 along with the Johnsonville Brats Modifieds. Brad Kuhn of Avon, IN claimed two of the four Badger Midget events last season. Kuhn is the 2006 Badger Midget Champion and has won the National Midget Driver of the Year title the last two years. The other two Badger Midget events were won by Aaron Fiscus of Sun Prairie and Danny Stratton of Riverside, CA.
The World of Outlaw Sprints will return for a big two-day show slated for Friday August 3 and Saturday August 4. The Gibbsville Cheese INEX Legends will also be in action for both days. Jac Haudenschild charged to the win in the WOO event last season. The front runners in the WOO standings so far this year are Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Craig Dollansky and Danny Lasoski. The IRA Outlaw Sprints are expected to have a contingent of drivers participating as well in the two-day event.
Other events on the schedule include the Slam at the Dam program set for Sunday afternoon June 3. The program plans to have five divisions competing in the contact required races. Divisions are divided into compacts, mid-size cars, full size cars, trucks/vans full size and mini-trucks/vans. The Midwest Enduro and Small Car Series will close out the season on September 23.
For more information on the 2007 season at Charter Raceway Park, details on special events, Charter High-Speed Card Membership information and more, log onto www.wismotorsports.net.