September 24-25, 2004- Over 281 cars in eight divisions showed up to run the 2004 Chilton Fall Invitational at the fairgrounds in Chilton. On Friday night, fans were treated to 31 heat races which qualified the competitors into the Saturday night main races. On tap for Saturday night was A-Mains in all 8 divisions, 7 B-Mains, 4 C-Mains, 3 D-Mains and 1 E-Main race for a total scheduled lap count of 381 laps. Green Bay’s # 5 Eddie Muenster grabbed the early lead of the IMCA Modified A-Main event until the first yellow flag in lap two relined up the field. When the green flag flew again, # 90 Jeremy Jacobs of Algoma charged passed the front row to take over control of the 25-lap race. As Jacobs distanced his car out in front of the field, Muenster regrouped and charged after him while holding off heat winner # 55 P Michael Plate of Manitowoc. By lap five, # 8d Brian Drexler of Oshkosh passed Plate for third behind Muenster and # 03v Andy Voigt of Beaver Dam maneuvered into the top five to join the chase for the lead. Two laps later, Voigt moved in behind Muenster and focused on second. As Jacobs continued to hold a strong lead over the IMCA Mod field, Voigt passed Muenster for second in lap 11. A lap later, Drexler’s charge paid off as he jumped into third behind Voigt. As Voigt and Drexler attempted to catch leader Jacobs, a second yellow flag appeared in lap 15 and pulled Jacobs back to within striking distance. When the green flag restarted the race, # 66j Jared Siefert of Green Bay, who won both the D- and C-Mains and transferred through the B-Main to start the A-Main in the back, charged from his third row restart position to move into second behind again-charging leader Jacobs. Only one lap was completed before the final yellow flag appeared in lap 16. On this restart, Siefert joined leader Jacobs in the front row and lead the 9-lap dash to the checkered flag. Jacobs jumped to the top again as Siefert secured second. By lap 20, Voigt was on the charge again and moved back into third. At the checkered, Jacobs won the IMCA Mod A-Main event. Siefert completed his long-fought battle on Saturday through all the IMCA Main races run to finish second. Voigt followed in third with Muenster and Drexler rounding out the top five.
Heat winner # 11 Aaron Wickersheim of White Lake dove passed the front row on the first lap to take the lead of the Limited Late Model A-Main with # 67 Melissa Singer of Waldo on his bumper. By lap four, Wickersheim charged to a half-track lead over Singer and the field and approached the back of the field. Four laps later, leader Wickersheim began lapping cars as # 38 Scott Haugstad of Plymouth and # 11w Howie Weiss of Glenbeulah moved in behind Singer. By lap 13, Wickersheim put four lapped cars between his car and second place Singer as # 8 Steve Hoffman of Plymouth entered the top five. Hoffman threw his car to the high side of the track to take over third from Haugstad a lap later. For the next four laps, Hoffman charged on the high side as Singer hugged the inside while leader Wickersheim passed four more cars. Hoffman passed Singer by a bumper in lap 18 just before a final yellow flag appeared. With the lapped cars staying in the restart lineup, Hoffman had six cars to deal with before challenging leader Wickersheim. By lap 20, Hoffman charged passed all but one of the lapped cars in his way. A lap later, with Wickersheim, the sole lapped car and Hoffman charging around the track within bumpers length of each other, Hoffman made a final charge for the lead but Wickersheim stayed focused and took the checkered flag to win the Limited Late Model A-Main. Hoffman followed in second with Weiss and Singer, the only remaining lead lap cars finishing third and fourth respectively.
Heat winner # 09 Terry Van Roy of Appleton jumped into the early lead of the Grand National A-Main feature with heat winner Randy Rahn of Chilton on his bumper. The final heat race winner # 40 Scott Sohrweide also of Chilton began his charge to join the others in the front of the field and pulled into third by the fourth lap. By this time, Van Roy built a healthy lead over the field and was charging out in front alone. A lap later, Sohrweide used the high side of the track to charge passed Rahn to take over the challenge spot. For the next seven laps, Van Roy tucked his car down low and Sohrweide continued to charge the high side to catch the leader. By lap 12, Van Roy and Sohrweide charged up to the back of the field. Three laps later, Van Roy lapped the first car as Sohrweide dodged around the cars Van Roy sent back. Just five laps from the end, in lap 20, Van Roy and Sohrweide were racing out in front together again with seven lapped cars behind them. A lap later, leader Van Roy was again approaching lapped traffic and Sohrweide was getting closer. Two laps from the checkered flag, Van Roy and Sohrweide crossed the line side-by-side with only a bumper designating the lead to Van Roy. As the white flag flew, Sohrweide took over the lead by only a bumper. Van Roy stayed steady on the low side of the track and charged back for the final lap. At the checkered, the only lap recorded in the record books, Van Roy took back the lead and won the Grand National A-Main. Sohrweide followed in second with Rahn, # 3 Dean Horneck of Kiel and # 99s Don Sorce of Milwaukee rounding out the top five.
In the IMCA Stock A-Main event, # 76 Mike Wietor of Green Bay grabbed the top spot for the first two laps until # 5 Brian Bruechert of Kewaunee took over in lap three. Bruechert, on the inside groove, and Wietor on the high side of the track, charged out in front alone for the next couple laps. Heat winner # 10 Rod Snellenberger of Pulaski maneuvered into third in lap six and began to reel in Bruechert and Wietor. As leader Bruechert broke free and charged out in front alone, Snellenberger passed Wietor to take over second in lap 12. By this lap, Bruechert held a half-track lead over the field and was approaching lapped traffic. As the laps clicked off, leader Bruechert passed five lapped cars to charge through the checkered flag and win the IMCA Stock main event. Snellenberger picked through the lapped traffic to finish second with Wietor following in third.
Polesitter # 4 Kevin Zimbal of Sheboygan Falls grabbed the lead in the first lap with # 22 Jamie Gauger also of Sheboygan Falls on his bumper. # 45 Joe Schmidt of Plymouth charged on the high side of the track to take over third in lap three. A lap later, just before a yellow flag halted racing action, Schmidt passed Gauger to take over second. When the green flag flew to restart the race, Schmidt was lined up outside Zimbal in the front row. Schmidt stayed with the high side of the track and took over the race lead in lap five. Two laps later, heat winner # 55 Tony Miller of Random Lake also used the high groove to charge passed the competition as he took second from Zimbal just before a second yellow again halted the action. As the green flag flew again, Schmidt maintained his lead with Miller, Zimbal and # 85 Dave Haag of Plymouth on his bumper. Two laps later, Haag took over third and began applying pressure to Miller for second. As Miller and Haag battled for the challenge spot, Schmidt began distancing his car out in front. Through a couple more accidents, Schmidt maintained his lead with now Haag behind him. When the one-minute-per-lap time limit expired, Haag made his move and dove to the inside of Schmidt and the two crossed the white flag side by side with Schmidt in the lead by a bumper. As the leaders charged through the turns, Schmidt remained focused and in control of the race to win the Super Stock A-Main. Haag followed in second with Zimbal, Miller and # 95 Donny Kulow of Plymouth rounding out the top five.
In the largest of the eight divisions, # 11r Scott Reinhardt of Baileys Harbor grabbed the early lead in the Street Stock 20-lap A-Main. Only one yellow flag incident in lap three held up the racing action. After the green flag restarted the race, Reinhardt jumped into the lead again with heat winner # 4k Jerry Kope of Oshkosh on his bumper while # 15 Jesse Colwell of Wrightstown and # 94 Jason Dyer of New Holstein pulled into third and fourth. Two laps later, Reinhardt and Kope charged across the line side by side with the lead changing to Kope by a bumper. As Kope secured his lead, Colwell battled with Reinhardt for second. A lap later, Colwell took over second behind leader Kope and began his charge for the lead. Colwell dove to the inside of the track and pulled up alongside Kope in lap 12. By lap 14, Kope only held the lead by a slight bumpers length over Colwell. A lap later, just 5 laps from the end of the race, Colwell took over the top spot with Kope close behind. In lap 16, Kope charged back and was just a bumper behind Colwell but Colwell maneuvered on the inside groove to jumped out to a clear lead. At the checkered, Colwell took home the trophy with Kope in second, # 90f Fred Davister of Luxemberg and heat winner # 28a Dave Averkamp of Oshkosh in the top four.
In the Challenge car A-Main feature race, front row starters # 44 Kelly Brown of Friesland and # 56 Jeff Lautenbach of Sturgeon Bay battled for the lead with Brown taking it for the first lap and Lautenbach capturing it in lap two before the first yellow flag appeared in lap three. When the green flag restarted the race, Brown dove back into the lead with # 39 Patrick Wazny of Chilton on his bumper. A lap later, # 40d David Degrave of Luxemburg charged passed two cars to take over second place with # 8 Derek Moede of Casco just behind his car in third. Leader Brown held on through a second yellow flag with # 71a Ed Anschultz of Algoma throwing his car to the outside to take over second place. When another yellow flag appeared in lap 13 and relined up the field with Brown and Anschultz in the front row, Anschultz charged to the lead and passed Brown going across the scoring line. When the one-minute-per-lap time limit expired, Anschultz charged through the checkered flag to win the Challenge A-Main. Brown followed in second. # 5h Joe Hegnet of Sturgeon Bay, Moede and B-Main winner # 53 Duwayne Mertens of Luxemburg rounded out the top five.
Without any yellow flags to slow the racing action, the 20-lap Mighty 4 A-Main ran from the initial green flag straight to the checkered flag. # 73 Kyle Arneson of Oconto Falls grabbed the early lead in lap two with first # 91 Jay Riemer of Kohler and then # 42j Jason Juech of West Bend on his bumper. In lap five, Juech made his move and took over the top spot in the race. At the same time, # 8 Tyler Smith of Luxemburg climbs into third behind Arneson. A lap later, heat winner # 17 Greg Banker of Bonduel passes Smith for third but Smith battles back. On the next trip across the line, Smith charged passed both Banker and Arneson to take over second behind Juech. For the next six laps, Smith charged after leader Juech to take over control of the race but Juech held onto the lead as Banker applied pressure to Smith for second. In lap 14, Banker took over second and chased after Juech. By lap 18, heat winner # 15 DJ Jorgenson of DePere charged passed Smith putting Smith back in fourth just two laps from the end of the race. Juech hugged the inside of the track to hold off the competition and win the Mighty 4 A-Main. In a last lap charge, Smith passed the two cars in front of him and finished second. Jorgenson followed in third with Banker and heat winner # 42 Marty VandeHei of Seymour rounding out the top five.
As the 4th annual Chilton Fall Invitational drew to a close, plans were starting for the 5th annual show at the Chilton Fairgrounds in Fall of 2005.
Summary: 2004 Chilton Fall Invitational
IMCA Mods: 49 Competitors
Saturday Top 5 Transfer from D-Main to C-Main to B-Main
Top 5 Transfer from B-Main to A-Main
A-Main (25 laps): Jeremy Jacobs, Algoma; Jared Siefert, Green Bay; Andy Voigt, Beaver Dam; Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; Brian Dexler, Oshkosh; Michael Plate, Manitowoc; Jerry Muenster, Green Bay; Jay Matthias, DePere; Paul Pamkon, Kaukauna; James Tebon, Algoma;
B-Main (7 laps-timed out): Don Manurer, DePere; Siefert; Matthias; Kyle Meyers, Oconto Falls; Dave Fisher, Green Bay;
C-Main (12 laps): Siefert; Matthias; Kyle Odekirk, Waldo; Mark Kowaleski, Green Bay; David Andrews, Green Bay;
D-Main (12 laps): Siefert; Eddie Lemay, Milwaukee; Jeremy Hodkiewicz, Green Bay; Billy Lemay, Lannoa; Odekirk;
Friday Top 3 transfer directly to A-Main and redraw for position.
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Randy Lemieux, Jr., Sturgeon Bay; Drexler; Jacobs;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Jeremie Hedrick, Shawano; Eric Seridiver, Kiel; Eddie Muenster;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Jerry Muenster; Voigt; Dan Gracyacny, Little Chute;
Heat # 4 (10 laps): Dan Rutajczak, Luxemburg; MJ Hintz, DePere; Scott Lewis, Waukau;
Heat # 5 (10 laps): Plate; Tebon; Pamkon;
Limited Late Model: 15 Competitors
A-Main (25 laps): Jeff Curton, Shawano; Steve Hoffman, Plymouth;
Howie Weiss, Glenbeulah; Melissa Singer, Waldo; Todd Jensema, Gibbsville; Matt
Buckman, Plymouth; Dave Schaetzer, Sheboygan; Nathan Yonker, Kaukauna; Keith
Borth, Sheboygan;
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Curton; Hoffman; Cliff Hohn, Appleton;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Aaron Wickersheim, White Lake; Weiss; Borth;
Grand Nationals: 29 Competitors
Saturday Top 5 Transfer from B-Main to A-Main
A-Main (25 laps): Terry Van Roy, Appleton; Scott Sohrweide,
Chilton; Randy Rahn, Brillion; Dean Horneck, Kiel; Don Sorce, Jr., Milwaukee;
Brad Lubach, Elkhart Lake; Aaron Thurwachter, New Holstein; Brett Wenzel, Two
Rivers; Jerry Krebsbach, Elkhart Lake; Jason Winkler, New Holstein;
B-Main (12 laps): Winkler; Bernie Schommer, Chilton; Frank Formiller, Oshkosh; Nate Ruh, Chilton; Lubach;
Friday Top 3 transfer directly to A-Main and redraw for position.
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Rahn; Krebsbach; KJ Flemming, Chilton;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Sohrweide; Wenzel; Matt Yancey, Sheboygan Falls;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Van Roy; Sorce; Andy Fuhrmann, Brillion;
IMCA Stock: 28 Competitors
Saturday Top 5 Transfer from B-Main to A-Main
A-Main (25 laps): Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee; Rod Snellenberger,
Pulaski; Mike Wietor, Green Bay; Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; David Bouche, Algoma;
Kyle Fredrick, Gillett; Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf; Craig Paque, Algoma; Shawn
Havel, Brussels; Jon Wolf, Green Bay;
B-Main (15 laps): Wolf; Fredrick; Rick Malberg, Denmark; Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee; Jamie Suchoski, Kewaunee;
Friday Top 5 transfer directly to A-Main and redraw for position.
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Shawn Anderson, Haverhill; Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay; Paque;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Colwell; Muenster; Eugene Gregorich, Kewaunee;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Snellenberger; Bruechert; Bouche;
Super Stock: 21 Competitors
Saturday Top 5 Transfer from B-Main to A-Main
A-Main (16 laps-time shortened): Joe Schmidt, Plymouth; Dave
Haag, Plymouth; Kevin Zimbal, Sheboygan Falls; Tony Miller, Random Lake; Donny
Kulow, Plymouth; Brian Goetsch, Sheboygan; Brian Genske, Sheboygan Falls; Troy
Theobald, Sheboygan Falls; Bradley Ruh, Elkhart Lake; Dennis Brede, Kiel;
B-Main (12 laps) : Theobald; Jeremy Sauter, Plymouth; Dave Hansen, Plymouth; Jamie Theobald, Sheboygan;
Friday Top 5 transfer directly to A-Main and redraw for position.
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Ben Schmidt, Plymouth; Ruh; Joe Schmidt;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): Miller; Jamie Gauger, Sheboygan Falls; Zimbal;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Mark Scholten, Oostburg; Bob Peter, Howards Grove; Kulow;
Street Stock: 55 Competitors
Saturday Top 4 Transfer from E-Main to D-Main to C-Main to B-Main
Top 9 Transfer from B-Main to A-Main
A-Main (20 laps): Jesse Colwell, Wrightstown; Jerry Kope, Oshkosh; Fred Davister, Luxemburg; Dave Averkamp, Oshkosh; Kevin Damrow, Manitowoc; Jason Dyer, New Holstein; Mike King, Little Chute; Tim Reichenberger, Neenah; Nathan Krepline, Brillion; Shawn Haydon, Greenville;
B-Main (15 laps): King; Haydon; Damrow; Tom Hanke, Chilton; Jason Ludwig, Chilton; Todd Polster, Baileys Harbor;
C-Main (12 laps): King; Reed Beyer, New Holstein; Damrow; Joe Johnson, Oneida;
D-Main ( 6 laps-time shortened ): Dereck Lecker Sr., Black Creek; Harley Simon, Seymour; Dan Averkamp, Oshkosh; Jason Parrish, Waldo;
E-Main (8 laps): Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh; Kevin Charles, Green Bay; Lance Arneson, Oconto Falls; Jeff Allen, Chilton;
Friday Top 2 transfer directly to A-Main and redraw for position.
Heat # 1 (10 laps): Averkamp; David Baenen, New Franken;
Heat # 2 (10 laps): JR Madell, Poy Sippi; Faron Beilke, Oneida;
Heat # 3 (10 laps): Reichenberger; Colwell;
Heat # 4 (10 laps): Tomm Terrien, New Franken; Davister;
Heat # 5 (10 laps): Steve Summers, Kaukauna; Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor;
Heat # 6 (10 laps): Kope; Dyer;
Challenge Car: 39 Competitors
Saturday Top 4 Transfer from C-Main to B-Main
Top 4 Transfer from B-Main to A-Main
A-Main (17 laps-time shortened): Ed Anschultz, Algoma; Kelly Brown, Friesland; Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay; Derek Moede, Casco; Duwayne Mertens, Luxemburg; Dan Davister, Luxemburg; Gary Van Ean Houten, Chilton; Mike Bastian, Manitowoc; Greg Thompson, Maribel; Mike Reinke, Reedsville;
B-Main (15 laps): Mertens; Jarred Van Laaden, Green Bay; Greg Steffens, Appleton; Bastian;
C-Main (12 laps): Bastian; Loren Lubach, Sheboygan; Jesse Behnke, Brillion;
Friday Top 4 transfer directly to A-Main and redraw for position.
Heat # 1 (8 laps): Anschultz; Thompson;
Heat # 2 (8 laps): David Degrave, Luxemburg; Hegnet;
Heat # 3 (8 laps): Jason Behnke, Brillion; Jared Baufman, Kaukauna;
Heat # 4 (8 laps): Davister; Marcus Moede, Casco;
All American Mighty 4’s: 45 Competitors
Saturday Top 5 Transfer from D-Main to C-Main to B-Main
Top 5 Transfer from B-Main to A-Main
A-Main (20 laps): Jason Juech, West Bend; Tyler Smith, Luxemburg;
DJ Jorgenson, DePere; Greg Banker, Bonduel; Marty VandeHei, Seymour; Kyle Arneson,
Oconto Falls; Matt Oreskouich, Clintonville; Tim Jorgenson, DePere; Roffers,
DePere; Don Wahlberg, Green Bay;
B-Main (15 laps): Wahlberg; Amy LaPine, Fond du Lac; Jacob Wilcox,
Seymour; Butch Beyers, Green Bay; Steve Voss, Waldo;
C-Main (12 laps): Keith Peter, Elkhart Lake; Wilcox; Jasper Drengler, Shawano; Beyers; Wes Baumann, Elkhart Lake;
D-Main (12 laps): Drengler; Baumann; Geno Sternard, New Franken; Beckie Goetsch, Sheboygan; Brian Welch, Shawano;
Friday Top 3 transfer directly to A-Main and redraw for position.
Heat # 1 (8 laps): Patrick Klawitter, Berlin; Juech;
Heat # 2 (8 laps): Ryan Johnson, Denmark; Kip Klawitter, Berlin;
Heat # 3 (8 laps): Banker; Smith;
Heat # 4 (8 laps): DJ Jorgenson; Roffers;
Heat # 5 (8 laps): VandeHei; Oreskouich;