Billy Lemieux Wins at Thunderhill
By Greg Aregoni
Saturday Night June 23- Billy Lemieux of Sturgeon Bay grabbed the lead from James Lee Tebon on lap 4 and cruised to victory lane at The Forest County
Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway. A total of 93 cars entered the pits on Northland Steel Night.
Roger Laviolette set the pace early on in the IMCA Hobby Stock Feature with Terry Therrien right in tow. Dave DeGrave quickly made his way to second on lap
three and tried to catch the Laviolette machine. DeGrave was able to get to the back bumper but never any farther than that for ¾ of the race. Laviolette was out front when the only caution flew on the track for a Jason Laviolette spin. On the restart, DeGrave used a bobble by Laviolette in turn two to grab the lead and cruise to his first feature win of the season. Laviolette was second followed by Jarred Van Lannen, Ed Anschutz, and Keith Kickbusch.
The IMCA Stockcar feature was next with Mike King Jr and Von Eytcheson taking command of the race. The duo used the topside of the track to put just a few car lengths between them and the rest of the field. The only caution of the race was on lap 4 when Willie DeGrave and Ryan Lemieux got together coming out of
turn 2. King continued to lead after the green flew but on lap 12 Eytcheson got the opening he needed. Eytcheson shot to the inside and used a slide job on King for the lead. Eytcheson was now the leader but Matt Junio had other plans. Junio who was running fifth with five laps to go switched to the low line and started passing cars. By the white flag, Junio had pulled even with Eytcheson. Off of turn two Junio grabbed the lead for good to pick up his third feature win of the season. Eytcheson was second followed by Scott Pagels, Dave Bouche, and King.
James Lee Tebon led the opening three laps of the IMCA Modified feature before Billy Lemieux took the top spot on lap 4. Lemieux continued to lead through a
series of cautions. The final caution was on lap 10 when Tom Stark who was running fourth broke his tie-rod. When the green flag flew again Lemieux checked out. The battle was left for second between Tebon and Shawn Kilgore. Lemieux cruised to his first win of the season followed by Tebon, Kilgore, Dan Rataczjak, and Jay Matthias.
Jimmy Anderson led the opening few laps of the Street Stock feature until Tim Czarneski grabbed the lead down low. Czarneski would continue to lead until
point leader Jeremy Wiitala made the pass up top halfway through the race. Wiitala would go on to dominate the rest of the field for his third straight feature win followed by Czarneski, Scott Reinhardt, Anderson, and John Sternard.
Charlie Kroll won his third straight IMCA Northern Sportmod Feature win in convincing fashion.
Kasey Gross picked up the feature win in the 4 Cylinders after a race long battle with Kenny Malcore. Patrick King rolled his 4 Cylinder in turn two but was fine.
Anthony Herbst picked up the Bomber feature win.
Next Saturday Night, Olson Fabrication will be sponsoring the night at The Forest County Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m.
The track is located at the John Miles Fair Park in Sturgeon Bay. The track's website is www.racethunderhill.com
IMCA Modified Feature- 1. Bill Lemieux, Sturgeon Bay 2. James Tebon, Algoma 3. Shawn Kilgore, New Franken 4. Dan Rataczjak, Frog Station 5. Jay Matthias, De Pere
Heats- #1 1. Mark Berglund, Green Bay 2. Lemieux #2 1. Tom Stark, Egg Harbor 2. Rick Johnson, Gills Rock
IMCA Stockcar Feature- 1. Matt Junio, Casco 2. Von Eytcheson, Forestville 3. Scott Pagels, Little Sturgeon 4. Dave Bouche, Algoma 5. Mike King JR,
Little Chute
Consy- 1. Cory Cochart, Kewaunee
Heats- #1 1. Mark Derenne, Kewaunee 2. Pagels #2 1. Don Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay 2. Junio #3 1. Eytcheson 2. King
IMCA Hobby Stock Feature- 1. Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg 2. Roger Laviolette, Sturgeon Bay 3. Jarred Van Lannen, Green Bay 4. Ed Anschutz, Algoma 5. Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee
Heats- #1 1. Van Lannen 2. Terry Therrien, Sturgeon Bay #2 1. Laviolette 2. Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay
IMCA Northern Sportmod Feature- 1. Charlie Kroll, Forestville 2. Jeff Dubois, Luxemburg 3. Aaron Holliday, Green Bay 4. Dave Davister, Luxemburg 5.
Dave Budzban
Heat- 1. Dennis Meisler, Luxemburg 2. Kroll
Street Stock Feature- 1. Jeremy Wiitala 2. Tim Czarneski, Denmark 3. Scott Reinhardt, Bailey's Harbor 4. Jimmy Anderson, Forestville 5. John Sternard, Green
Bay
Heats- #1 1. Wiitala 2. Anderson #2 1. Czarneski 2. Sternard
4 Cylinder Feature- 1. Kasey Grosse, Gleason 2. Ken Malcore, Milwaukee 3. Jason Cornelius, Oneida 4. Rick Lemmons, Kewaunee 5. Nick Everard, Green Bay
Heats- #1 1. Jody Cornelius, Oneida 2. Chad Dubois, Algoma #2 1. Cornelius 2. T.J. Schleis, Sturgeon Bay
Bomber Feature- 1. Anthony Herbst, Sturgeon Bay 2. Dan Merkle, Egg Harbor 3. Jesse Kroll, Algoma
Heat- 1. Brian Belleau, Algoma 2. Herbst