DART TAKES COMMAND AT THUNDERHILL
By Tom Wagner
July 7, 2007; Sturgeon Bay, WI - Todd Dart passed James Tebon in the closing laps, en route to his second IMCA Modified feature win of the season Saturday night at the Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay.
In other action, Dave Bouche escaped a wild melee on the third lap to win his first IMCA Stock Car feature of the year. Feature trophies also went to Dave DeGrave in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, Scott Reinhardt in the Street Stocks, Charlie Kroll in the IMCA Northern Sport Mods, Jeremy DuBois in the 4 Cylinders and John Mahlberg in the Thunderbombs.
The Modified feature was dominated early by a pair of 21 cars, James Tebon and Tim Czarneski. The duo raced side by side by for the event's first half, Tebon working the inside and Czarneski the higher line. By the 12th lap, Dart had worked his way into third, and was closing on the leaders. Caution flew for a crash in three, setting the stage for Dart.
The ensuing restart set Dart up on the outside of the second row, a spot he used to grab second from Czarneski. Once there, he gained an inside edge on Tebon. Tebon was able to hold the lead for several laps from the outside, but with three to go, Dart took command for good.
The win vaulted the five-time champ into a familiar place, first in the point standings. Benji LaCrosse entered the night on top, but finished the feature four laps down after an extended stay on pit lane for repairs.
It was the second straight week that Tebon was forced to settle for second after leading late in the contest. Czarneski's third place run was a career high, marking a solid night for the rookie that also included a heat win.
Cousins Billy and Randy LeMieux carded fourth and sixth place runs respectively, with Shawn Kilgore sandwiched in between with a fifth.
No less than two thirds of the field was involved in one way or another in a wild crash on the third lap of the IMCA Stock Car headliner. Eric Malfroid was spun into the middle of a tight pack, sending cars scattering in all directions, eventually blocking the entire track.
The contact ripped almost half of the body work from Malfroid's car, including the roof, rear quarter panels and trunk. Point leader Matt Junio received damage, but was able to continue. Troy Muench was one of the last to slide into the pile, ending his night on the hook.
From his 14th starting spot, Bouche was able to weave his way through the carnage, restarting in the third row. For the next three laps, he would dice for the lead with Cory Cochart, Charlie Kroll and Shawn Havel, with Jeff Vlies and early leader John Anschutz just behind.
Bouche established the point on the sixth lap, and was hounded to the checker by Kroll, who was never less than a couple car lengths behind. Cochart, Vlies and Havel rounded out the top five, with Darren Otto posting a sixth in his first visit of the year to The Hill.
In the IMCA Hobby Stocks, DeGrave found an open line out of the third row on a restart to pass Aaron Zellner for the lead on the second lap. Marcus Moede took second on the seventh lap, and while close, could never pull even with the eventual winner.
DeGrave went on to his second win in three weeks, followed by Moede, Jeff Lautenbach, Frank Paul, Ed Anschutz and Keith Kickbusch.
The script was the same for Reinhardt, as he shot from a third row starting spot on a lap seven restart to take over the reigns in the Street Stock headliner. Czarneski saw a big lead evaporate at that point, as second place James Iverson's spin dropped the caution flag.
It all added up to a huge turn of events for Reinhardt, as it not only allowed him to take the lead, but to pass title rival Jeremy Wiitala in the process. Wiitala had his hands full trying to wrestle second from David Hoerning, allowing Reinhardt to cruise to his first win of the season.
Hoerning was able to grab second by inches, giving Reinhardt a two point lead over Wiitala in the division point standings. Todd Everard, John Sternard and Scott Iverson rounded out the top six.
Kroll made it five straight in the IMCA Northern Sport Mods, leading all 15 laps. Jeff DuBois was able to keep Kroll in his sites, but could never mount a serious challenge.
Commencing this Saturday, the track has posted a $200 bounty, payable to anyone who can beat the undefeated Kroll in the division.
Green to checker finishes were the rule in the Raceway's final two divisions as well. Jeremy DuBois turned the trick in the four cylinder class for his first win of the year.
In the Thunderbombs, Chilton Challenger driver John Mahlberg's first visit to Sturgeon Bay paid off as he took his first ever track feature. Both DuBois and Mahlberg scored clean sweeps, winning their respective heats.
Saturday night, the IMCA Stock Cars will be in the spotlight with out-of-car dirver introductions. The vintage modifieds will also be on hand. The group, based out of Milwaukee, were forced to cancel last week.
Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway is located at the John Miles Fair Park in Sturgeon Bay. For more information, visit the track's website at www.racethunderhill.com.
RACE SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED 20 LAP FEATURE - Todd Dart, Algoma: James Tebon, Algoma: Tim Czarneski, Denmark: Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay: Shawn Kilgore, New Franken: Randy LeMieux, Jr, Sturgeon Bay
Semi-Feature - Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg: Scott Boyea, Abrams: Evan Madden, Algoma: Rick Johnson, Gills Rock
Heat 1 - Rick LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay: Tebon
Heat 2 - Tom Stark, Egg Harbor: Randy LeMieux
Heat 3 - Czarneski: Kevin Sternard, Sturgeon Bay
IMCA STOCK CAR 18 LAP FEATURE - Dave Bouche, Algoma: Charlie Kroll, Forestville: Cory Cochart, Kewaunee: Jeff Vlies, Kewaunee: Shawn Havel, Algoma: Darren Otto, Pulaski
Semi-feature - Troy Muench, Brussels: Von Eytcheson, Forestville: Mike King, LIttle Chute: Pat Davister, Luxemburg
Heat 1 - Kroll: Eric Malfroid, Luxemburg
Heat 2 - Matt Junio, Casco: Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 3 - Don Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay: John Anschutz, Brussels
IMCA HOBBY STOCK 15 LAP FEATURE - Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg: Marcus Moede, Casco: Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay: Frank Paul, Kewaunee: Ed Anschutz, Algoma: Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee
Heat 1 - Anschutz: Jarred VanLaanen, Green Bay
Heat 2 - Jason LaViolette, Little Sturgeon: Moede
STREET STOCK 15 LAP FEATURE - Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor: David Hoerning, Appleton: Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay: Todd Everard, DePere: John Sternard, Green Bay: Scott Iverson, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1 - Tim Czarneski, Denmark: Sternard
Heat 2 - Everard: Dennis Weidner, East Maplewood
IMCA NORTHERN SPORT MOD 15 LAP FEATURE - Charlie Kroll, Forestville: Jeff DuBois, Luxemburg: Dave Davister, Luxemburg: Dennis Miesler, Luxemburg: Duane Mertens, Luxemburg
Heat - Kroll: DuBois
4 CYLINDER 15 LAP FEATURE - Jeremy DuBois, Algoma: Jason Cornelius, Oneida: Patrick King, Appleton: Kip Burlo, Sturgeon Bay: Jeff Lautenbach, New Franken: James Bosman, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1 - DuBois: Burlo
Heat 2 - Bosman: Jared Smith, Luxemburg
THUNDERBOMB 12 LAP FEATURE - John Mahlberg, Hilbert: Troy Bartel, Chilton: Dan Merkle, Baileys Harbor: Jesse Kroll, Algoma: Kody LaViolette, Forestville: Amber Weidner, East Maplewood
Heat - Mahlberg: Bartel