AUSTIN KONETSKI WINS SUBWAY 60 AT SLINGER SUPER SPEEDWAY

By Dean Strom

 

Slinger, WI-July 10, 2005—Austin Konetski, of Janesville, led every lap to win the Subway 60 presented by Coca-Cola, late model main event, Sunday night at Slinger (Wis) Super Speedway.

 

The win was his second in three weeks at the high-banked .25-mile oval.

 

Two-time defending track champion Dale Prunty took the lead on lap 10 and cruised to victory in the 25-lap Midwest Modified feature.

 

James Swan took the win in the Midwest Sportsman feature in a photo finish over Dave Thomas.

 

Chris Ratajczyk prevailed in a 10-lap side-by-side battle with Jeff Steenbergen to take the win in the limited late model feature event.

 

Konetski started the 60-lap Subway main event from the outside of row one and jumped ahead of pole sitter Ken Wills at the drop of the green.  Dennis Prunty, Nick Schumacher and Brad Mueller gave chase.

 

Wills quickly had mechanical problems, which caused a three-wide situation on the front stretch.  The melee shuffled Mueller all the way back to 12^th.

 

Brad Dahmer brought out the events first caution with a harmless spin in turn four while Nathan Haseleu put the field under the yellow again when his mount slowed exiting turn two just 12 laps later.

 

By the half-way mark Dennis Prunty ran second with Schumacher in third.  Travis Dassow brought out the next caution when his machine came to rest in turn one.

 

As the field raced into turn one on lap 34, Schumacher worked under Prunty for the runner-up spot, pinning Prunty on the outside.  Lowell Bennett stuck his nose under Prunty as the pair raced off of turn four.  They touched; both spun, and set off a wild, smoky melee.

 

When the dust settled, Schumacher ran second with Dave Feiler, John Mueller and David Prunty the top five.

 

Konetski ran the final 20 laps uncontested, but the rash of cautions obviously took their toll on the youngster.

 

“After all those cautions, I kept looking in my mirror,” said a relieved Konetski.  “That was the longest 60-laps ever.”

 

Dave Feiler got by Schumacher for the runner-up spot late in the event.  John Mueller and David Prunty rounded out the top five with Brad Mueller rallying for sixth.

 

In the Midwest Modified feature, Russ Grade led the field with Wes Biswell, Prunty and Steven Schulz in tow.  Prunty wasted no time in working to the front, taking the runner-up position from Biswell on lap five before working around Grade five laps later.

 

Once out front, Prunty motored to the checkered ahead of Grade, Biswell, fast qualifier Jason Feyereisen and Schulz.  With his win, Prunty took over the divisions championship point lead.

 

James Swan started the Midwest Sportsman main event from the 12^th position.  He quickly worked his way to the front to challenge leader Thomas.  The pair thrilled the crowd, swapping the lead nearly every lap over the final dozen circuits.

 

Swan nipped Thomas by inches at the checkered flag with Rob Braun, Gary Lamonte and Jay Shambeau rounding out the top five.

 

Jeff Steenbergen started the limited late model 30-lap feature from the pole and quickly jumped to the lead over front row mate Nick Wendt.

 

Jason Schuler started from the fourth spot but quickly worked his way to the runner-up position and began to pressure the leader.  Steenbergen held Schuler at bay.  Meanwhile Ratajczyk moved up to join the battle.

 

Ratajczyk took over the runner-up spot from Schuler and quickly moved under Steenbergen in a bid for the lead.  The pair spent the final ten circuits racing side-by-side.  Ratajczyk nipped Steenbergen at the line with Schuler, Dylan Schuyler and Ryan Carlson rounding out the top five.    

 

Marty Holden won the Port-A-John guest car race while Donald VanCamp, Jr won the figure 8 night cap.

 

The 26^th annual Miller Lite Nationals comes to the Slinger Super Speedway, Tuesday night, July 12.  The event features a 250-lap main event and includes racing appearances by Dick Trickle, and current NASCAR drivers Kerry Earnhardt, Todd Kluever, Ron Hornaday and Kenny Wallace.

 

 

Late Model Division: 1. Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 598; 2. David Prunty (Brownsville) 531; 3. Austin Konetski (South Beloit, IL) 527; 4. Dave Feiler (Sun Prairie) 496; 5. Dennis Prunty (Lomira) 490; 6. John Mueller (Hubertus) 483; 7. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 479; 8. Nick Schumacher (Germantown) 436. 9. Rich Loch (Franklin) 377; 10. Travis Dassow (West Bend) 344; 11. Andrew Morrissey (De Forest) 325; 12. Scott Schoeni (Slinger) 306; 13. Fred Winn (Sussex) 298; 14. Mike Egan (Slinger) 282; 15. Randy Schuler (Mequon) 279; 16. Al Schill (Franklin) 264 17. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls) 263; 18. Ken Wills (Milwaukee) 249; 19. Dave Teske (Sussex) 243; 20. Conrad Morgan (Waukesha) 230.

Midwest Modified Division:  1. Dale Prunty (Allenton) 987; 2. Ron Schmitt (Jackson) 941; 3. Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee) 864; 4. Steven Schulz (Menomonee Falls) 854; 5. Wes Biswell (Sussex) 785; 6. Jason Feyereisen (Randon Lake) 777; 7. Russ Grade (Hartland) 686; 8. David McCardle (Menomonee Falls) 624; 9. Joe Houpt (Mequon) 484; 10. Russ Moberly (West Bend) 452.

Midwest Sportsman Division: 1. James Swan (Lake Geneva) 659; 2. Gary LaMonte (West Allis) 547; 3. Brad Keith (West Bend) 506; 4. Collin Bamke (Slinger) 484; 5. Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 414; 6. Pat McIntee (West Bend) 405; 7. Dave Thomas (Franklin) 379; 8. Jay Schambeau (Hubertus) 359; 9. Scott Schambeau (Milwaukee) 296; 10. Gary Tisler (Reedsville) 279.

Figure 8:  1. Donald Van Camp Jr. (Seymour) 695; 2. Scott Goetzke (Iron Ridge) 560; 3. Shane Becker (Iron Ridge) 555; 4. Chris Price (Anchorage) 495; 5. Paul Williams (Hartford) 420.