LaCrosse Dominates at Thunderhill
By Greg Aregoni
Saturday Night July 28th- Benji LaCrosse dominated the IMCA Modified feature event to win his fourth feature of the season at Thunderhill.
96 cars entered the pits including 23 IMCA Modifieds, 22 IMCA Stockars, 14 IMCA Hobby Stocks, 14 4 Cylinders, 13 Street Stocks, 6 IMCA Northern Sportmods, and 4 Bombers.
Tim Jandrin and Dennis Weidner exchanged the lead in the opening laps of the Street Stock feature. Weidner would take command but suffered a flat tire early in the third lap. Tim Czarneski would quickly grab the lead and start to pull away from the rest of the field. Jeremy Wiitala made his way to second around James Iverson and set his sight on Czarneski. Wiitala and Czarneski played cat and mouse for the rest of the feature event. Czarneski was able to maintain his three car length lead to pick up his second straight feature win. Wiitala was second followed by point leader Scott Reinhardt, Iverson, and John Sternard. The feature went green to checker
Jay Matthias cruised out front in the IMCA Stockcar feature event. With Matthias solidly out front, Matt Junio shot his way through the field like a cannon. Junio got to second and started reeling in Matthias. A series of cautions midway through the feature kept the field tight. Junio shot to the inside on the restart and made quick work of Matthias. Jeff Vlies made his way to second and stayed right on the back bumper of Junio. A caution with two laps to go set up a two lap dash for cash. Junio was able to hold off Vlies for his fourth feature win of the season, and more importantly increased his point lead. Matthias was third, Charlie Kroll fourth, and Dave Bouche rounded out the top 5.
Willy DeGrave, fresh off of his first career IMCA Modified heat win, lead the opening laps of the feature event. DeGrave set the pace until Dave Zeitler grabbed the lead using the topside on lap 3. Benji LaCrosse made his way to second on lap 7 and passed for the lead on lap 8. LaCrosse was never challenged and pulled away by 1/2 lap for his fourth feature win of the season. Rookie contender Kyle Kudick finished second followed by Randy Lemieux Jr, DeGrave, and Zeitler. With Todd Dart having problems for a second straight week, LaCrosse now has a strangle hold on the point lead.
Jason Laviolette led the opening few laps of the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Jeff Lautenbach used a three-wide pass on both Laviolette and Frank Paul to grab the lead. Frank Paul took the topspot at the halfway through the race with Keith Kickbusch following right behind. Kickbusch used the low-line to make the pass and cruise to his sixth win of the season. Paul settled for second, Lautenbach third followed by Jarred VanLaanen, and Marcus Moede.
Charlie Kroll scored his eighth IMCA Northern Sportmod feature win over Aaron Holliday.
Kasey Gross cruised to his fourth feature win of the season after a race long battle with Jason Cornelius in the 4 Cylinder feature event.
Jesse Kroll won the Bomber feature over point leader Dan Merkle.
Next Saturday Night at the Forest County Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway, Jim Olson Motors will be bringing the racing action. The Street Stocks will be introduced. The track's website is www.racethunderhill.com. For more info call Woody at 743-7052.
IMCA Modified Feature- 1. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 2. Kyle Kudick, Mishicot 3. Randy Lemieux Jr, Sturgeon Bay 4. Willy DeGrave, Luxemburg 5. Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg
Consy- 1. James Lee Tebon, Algoma
Heats- #1 1. DeGrave 2. Evan Madden, Algoma #2 1. Tim Czarneski, Denmark 2. LaCrosse #3 1. Tom Stark, Egg Harbor 2. Jeremy Jacobs, Luxemburg
IMCA Stockcar Feature- 1. Matt Junio, Casco 2. Jeff Vlies, Kewaunee 3. Jay Matthias, DePere 4. Charlie Kroll, Forestville 5. Dave Bouche, Algoma
Heats - #1 1. Cory Cochart, Kewaunee 2. Shawn Havel, Brussels #2 1. Kroll 2. Scott Pagels, Little Sturgeon #3 1. Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay 2. Mark Derenne, Kewaunee
IMCA Hobby Stock Feature- 1. Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee 2. Frank Paul, Kewaunee 3. Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay 4. Jarred VanLaanen, Green Bay 5. Marcus Moede, Luxemburg
Heats- #1 1. Lautenbach 2. Paul #2 1. Jason Laviolette, Brussels 2. Moede
IMCA Northern Sportmod Feature- 1. Charlie Kroll, Forestville 2. Aaron Holliday, Green Bay 3. Jeff Dubois, Luxemburg
Heat- 1. Dave Davister, Luxemburg 2. Kroll
Street Stock Feature- 1. Tim Czarneski, Denmark 2. Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay 3. Scott Reinhardt, Baileyâ?Ts Harbor 4. James Iverson, Green Bay 5. John Sternard, Green Bay
Heats- #1 1. Czarneski 2. Reinhardt #2 1. Sternard 2. Iverson
4Cylinder Feature 1. Kasey Gross, Gleason 2. Jason Cornelius, Oneida 3. Tony Everard, Green Bay 4. Patrick King, Little Chute 5. Tyler Derenne, Kewaunee
Heats- #1 1. Kip Burlo, Sturgeon Bay 2. Everard #2 1. Jody Cornelius, Oneida 2. Gross
Bomber Feature- 1. Jesse Kroll, Algoma 2. Dan Merkle, Egg Harbor 3. Kody Laviolette, Forestville
Heat- 1. Laviolette 2. Amber Weidner, Maplewood