SIEFERT LEADS WIRE-TO-WIRE IN THUNDER HILL IMCA MOD MAIN by Joe Verdegan
(Sturgeon Bay ,WI) May 24 - Defending track champion Jared
Seifert of Green Bay took the lead at the drop of the green and dodged a pair
of caution periods to collect his first 20 lap IMCA modified feature win of
the season at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday. Seifert also
won his heat, scoring a clean sweep for the evening.
104 cars took part in the program. The field included a season high 35 IMCA
modifieds, 28 IMCA stock cars, 25 street stocks, 14 IMCA hobby stocks and
two 4 cylinders.
Siefert outdueled Lucas Engels into the lead at the drop of the green. Jerry
Wenzel tailed Siefert into the second spot when a lap two yellow flew for
a Jeremy Jacobs spin. On the restart Engels got crossed up in turn two, scattering
several mid-pack cars. Mike Cole and Engels both needed wreckers to remove
their cars from the track, along with Julie McDermid.
When racing resumed Dave Zeitler found the high line to his liking, motoring
past Wenzel for second. Zeitler went to work reeling in Seifert.
Seifert protected the bottom line, while Zeitler committed to the top side.
With five laps remaining Zeitler shuffled down to the lower groove, while
Benji LaCrosse slipped inside Zeitler for second with two laps remaining.
LaCrosse got a solid head of steam on the final circuit but Seifert fought
off the rookie driver to pocket the victory. LaCrosse took second, followed
by Zeitler, Jay Matthias, and Todd Dart, who charged through the back of the
pack after having to qualify into the main event from one of two semi features.
John Heinz slipped past Mark Derenne on a restart with four laps to go to
win the 18 lap IMCA stock car feature, his first of the season. Heinz won
his heat also scoring a sweep of the division.
Mark Derenne shot into the lead at the drop of the green and quickly built
up a full straightaway advantage over the rest of the field. An eight car
scrap ensued for the next several laps with Heinz wrestling second away from
Brett Wenzel on lap seven. Heinz began chiseling away at Derenne's margin,
but could not gain any ground. Heinz and company caught a break on lap 14
when Tim Van De Hei and Derrick Bruechert locked horns on the fronstretch,
drawing a yellow.
With four laps remaining Heinz muscled his way inside of Derenne into the
lead. Heinz kept the top spot and cruised to victory with Derenne glued to
his rear bumper. Wenzel settled for third, followed by Craig Paque and Joe
Lebotte.
James Tebon swept action in the street stock class, winning his heat and the
15 lap feature. The victory was Tebon's first this year.
Rick Sternard paced the first three rounds of the contest when Tebon passed
Sternard for the lead on lap four. Tebon, Sternard and Scott Reinhardt went
three wide for the next five laps, with Tebon hanging onto the lead. An Aaron
Thornton spin on lap nine tightened the field. With six laps to go Tebon fought
off a late race charge from Reinhardt and Darren Otto, who placed second and
third, respectively. Troy Muench and Kevin Brungraber rounded out the top
five finishers.
Zion, Illinois' Tony Schlei passed Wayne Moore for the lead on lap four and
won the 15 lap IMCA hobby stock feature, his first of the year. Moore, Joe
Hegnet, Eddie Anschutz and Evan Madden rounded out the top five finishers.
Kenny Malcore of Algoma won the 6 lap 4 cylinder feature.
Next Saturday night's racing action will be sponsored by Coca Cola. An autograph
session will take place. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m. For more information
call 920 743 7052.
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THUNDER HILL RACEWAY RACE RESULTS 5-24-03
20 lap IMCA modified feature -Jared Siefert, Green Bay; Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg;
Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; Todd Dart, Algoma; Randy
Back, Green Bay
12 lap semi-features - 1) Todd Dart, Algoma; Randy LeMieux Jr., Sturgeon Bay;
George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay; Rick Johnson, Gills Rock 2) Scooter Boyea, Green
Bay; Mike Cole, Baileys Harbor; Darrell Massart, Brussels; Art Siefert, Green
Bay
10 lap heats 1) LaCrosse; Matthias 2) Julie McDermid, Oconto Falls; Jerry
Wenzel, Two Rivers 3) Jared Siefert; Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station 4) Zeitler;
Back
18 lap IMCA stock car feature - John Heinz, Green Bay; Mark Derenne, Kewaunee;
Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers; Craig Paque, Algoma; Joe Lebotte, Kewaunee; Shawn
Kilgore, Kewaunee
12 lap semi-feature - 1) Jeff Vlies, Brussels; Dave Bouche, Algoma; Kilgore;
Tony Bouche, Algoma; Larry Ingebretsen, Luxemburg
10 lap heats 1) Derenne; Wenzel 2) Heinz; Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay 3)
Charlie Kroll, Algoma; Pat Davister, Luxemburg
15 lap street stock feature - James Tebon, Algoma; Scott Reinhardt, Baileys
Harbor; Darren Otto, Pulaski; Troy Muench, Green Bay; Kevin Brungraber, Sturgeon
Bay; Kevin Jandrin, Forestville
10 lap semi feature - Von Eytchenson, Forestville; Todd Wagner, Sturgeon Bay;
Tom Therrien, Green Bay; Don Polcen, Sturgeon Bay;
10 lap heats 1) Jandrin; James Anderson, Sturgeon Bay 2) Otto; Brungraber
3) Tebon; Muench
15 lap IMCA hobby stock feature - Tony Schlei, Zion, IL; Wayne Moore, Sturgeon
Bay; Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay; Eddie Anschutz, Algoma;
Evan Madden, Algoma; Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heats 1) Hegnet; Moore 2) Anschutz; LeMieux
6 lap feature - Kenny Malcore, Algoma; Bob Skippon, Sturgeon Bay
10 lap heat - Skippon; Malcore