Champions Crowned at Thunderhill
By Greg Aregoni

Saturday Night August 25th- 7 Champions were crowned Saturday Night at The Forest County Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway. 127 cars entered the pits including 24 IMCA Modifieds, 24 Stockcars, 24 4 Cylinders, 20 Street Stocks, 17 IMCA Hobby Stocks, 10 Bombers, and 8 Sportmods.

Brian Weslow opened up the Street Stock Feature with a comfy cushion over Dennis Weidner.  Weidner would quickly power up to the bumper and make the pass with Shannon Guilette taking second. A lap 3 incident involving Geno Sternard, James Iverson, and Tim Czarneski stalled the field.  Guilette used the restart to power to the lead using the topside.  Point leader Scott Reinhardt followed second place driver Jeremy Wiitala to the top five.  Wiitala made his way to third but contact on the last lap ended his championship hopes.  Guilette cruised to a ¾ lap win over second place Ryan Brandes.  Weidner finished third followed by James Iverson, and Scott Reinhardt. Reinhardt who was the 2002 Bomber champ is the new 2007 Street Stock Champion.

Charlie Kroll this year has been the man to beat in the IMCA Northern Sportmod Features.  Kroll quickly shot to the inside of the front row cars to grab the early lead.  First time runner this year, Doug Maurer quickly got to Kroll's back bumper.  Maurer tried every lane until halfway through the race found enough momentum to take the lead down low.  Maurer cruised to victory with Mark Christenson second.  Jeff Dubois was third, Aaron Holliday fourth, and Kroll slipping to fifth after spinning out.  Dubois was named the track's first IMCA Northern Sportmod Champion.

Roger Laviolette started fourth in the IMCA Hobby Stock Feature but used a four-wide pass out of turn two to grab the lead.  Laviolette would suffer a flat right rear tire ending his feature win hopes.  Jeff Lautenbach inherited the lead on lap 5 with Marcus Moede right behind.  Moede would try every single line but to no avail.  Lautenbach won his third feature of the season with Moede settling for second.  Jarred Van Lannen finished third followed by Chris Christenson, and Brandon Peterson.  Frank Paul finished third but was later disqualified for refusing a claim from John Hill.  Keith Kickbusch won his fourth career IMCA Hobby Stock Track Championship.  He now has two at Thunderhill and two at Luxemburg.

Tom Stark led the opening laps of the IMCA Modified feature before a caution on lap 5 for debris stalled the field.  Randy Lemieux would snatch the lead away from Stark on the restart with Dan Rataczjak flying to second.  Rataczjak made the pass for the lead halfway through the race.  A lap 15 caution for Stark setup a five lap dash for cash.  Rataczjak would go onto win the race but was later disqualified after post-race tech.  The win was awarded to Shawn Kilgore. Billy Lemieux moved to second with Todd Dart third, and Benji LaCrosse fourth.  Jay Matthias rounded out the top five.  Benji LaCrosse was crowned the IMCA Modified Champion.

Gary Reinhardt led the majority of the IMCA Stockcar feature that went green flag to checker flag.  On lap 14, Scott Pagels climbed to the outside and passed for the lead with Charlie Kroll right on Pagels bumper. Kroll would duck under Pagels at the white flag. Kroll would then gain the advantage off of turn two. At the line Kroll edged Pagels for the win.  Reinhardt finished third followed by Troy Muench and Shawn Havel.  Matt Junio won his first career track championship.

Kip Burlo fended off all challenges in winning the 4 Cylinder feature.  Mike Sargent rolled his machine going into turn one.  Sargent was cleared to get back in the car.  Started the machine, and continued racing. Tony Everard won his second straight 4 Cylinder Track Championship.

A nasty rollover by Bob Voight halted the Bomber feature with 4 laps to go.  Ryan Eichert picked up the win.  Dan Merkle won his third straight Bomber title.

Next Saturday Night the WDLMA are back in town. The regular six classes will be running. THE BOMBERS WILL NOT BE RACING.  The track is located at the John Miles Fair Park in Sturgeon Bay.  The tracks website is www.racethunderhill.com

IMCA Modified Feature- 1. Shawn Kilgore, New Franken 2. Billy Lemieux, Sturgeon Bay 3. Todd Dart, Algoma 4. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 5. Jay Matthias, DePere

Consy- 1. Tim Czarneski, Denmark

Heats-
#1 1. Tom Stark, Egg Harbor 2. Jeremy Jacobs,Algoma
#2 1. Dean Maurer, DePere 2. Kyle Kudick, Mishicot
#3 1. Kilgore 2. Randy Lemieux, Sturgeon Bay

IMCA Stockcar Feature- 1. Charlie Kroll, Forestville 2. Scott Pagels, Egg Harbor 3. Gary Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay 4. Troy Muench, Union 5. Shawn Havel, Brussels

Consy- 1. Dave Bouche, Algoma

Heats-
#1 1. Pagels 2. Muench
#2 1. Kroll  2. Reinhardt
#3 1. Von Eytcheson, Forestville 2. Mark Derenne, Kewaunee

IMCA Hobby Stock Feature- 1. Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay 2. Marcus Moede, Casco 3. Jarred Van Lannen, Green Bay 4. Chris Christenson, Carlsville 5. Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay

Heats-
#1 1. Aaron Zellner, Luxemburg 2. Lautenbach
#2 1. Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg 2. Moede

IMCA Northern Sportmod Feature- 1. Doug Maurer, Green Bay 2. Mark Christenson, Mischicot 3. Jeff Dubois, Luxemburg 4. Aaron Holliday, Green Bay 5. Kroll

Heat- 1. Kroll 2. Maurer

Street Stock Feature- 1. Shannon Guilette, Algoma 2. Ryan Brandes, Brillion 3. Dennis Weidner, Maplewood 4. James Iverson, 5. Scott Reinhardt, Bailey's Harbor

Heats-
#1 1. Weidner 2. John Sternard, Bucktown
#2 1. Brian Weslow, Green Bay 2. Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay
#3 1. Guilette 2. Tim Jandrin, Algoma

4 Cylinder Feature- 1. Kip Burlo, Sturgeon Bay 2. Kasey Gross, Gleason 3. Ken Malcore, Milwaukee 4. Jamie Miller, Suamico 5. Tony Everard, Green Bay

Heats-
#1 1. Burlo 2. Jesse Heise, Green Bay
#2 1. Gross 2. Mike Sargent, Sturgeon Bay
#3 1. Jason Cornelius, Oneida 2. Miller

Bomber Feature- 1. Ryan Eichert, Brillion 2. Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay 3. Dan Merkle, Egg Harbor

Heat- 1. Merkle
           2. Hegnet