DART KING OF THE HILL'S FALL CLASSIC
By Tom Wagner

September 22, 2007;  Sturgeon Bay, WI - - A series of late cautions couldn't stop Todd Dart from pocketing the $1,000 Modified top prize at Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway's Fall Classic Saturday night.

Eight divisions took part in the two day show, with Greg Gretz in the Stock Cars, Brad Lubach in the Grand Nationals, Eugene Gregorich in the Northern Sport Mods, Brian Drexler in the Street Stocks, Marcus Moede in the Hobby Stocks, J.J. Anderson in the 4 Cylinders and Brett Koehler in the Bombers all joining Dart as Classic champions.

Dart took the lead from Shawn Kilgore early in the Modified main, but could never shake free from Mike Wedelstadt, Kilgore and, for a time, Tim VanDeHei and Randy LeMieux, Jr.  A string of cautions between the 26th and 29th laps, one that sidelined VanDeHei, kept the field bunched, with Dart fighting off high-line challenges from Wedelstadt each time.

Brian Mullen steadily worked his way from the sixth row to finish third, with Eric Scibner advancing from the 8th row to place fourth.  Jared Siefert's fifth place finish culminated a march through both the "C" and "B" mains.

Gretz won out in a wild four car battle for the lead midway through the Stock Car headliner.  Dicing with Shawn Havel, Matt Junio and Rod Snellenberger, Gretz slipped through on the inside, then pulled away from Snellenberger, who took second with 12 laps to go.

Havel passed Snellenberger, who had raced from the 7th row,  in the closing stages to reclaim second.  Rick Mahlberg finished in a flurry to place fourth with a late pass on Junio, the early leader.

In the Grand National feature, Lubach jumped from the second row to take the lead on the first lap.  Brett Wenzel kept the pressure on until the final lap when he slipped to the infield, handing second to Dan Schumacher.  Tim Thompson pulled off a three-wide pass with a lap to go for a dramatic third.  

The seas parted for Drexler in the Street Stock feature, with an open alley on the low line affording him all he needed to take the point in just half a lap.  A crash that knocked front-runners Todd Everard and James Iverson from the scene with nine to go was the only thing that slowed Drexler on his march to the win.

John Sternard was unchallenged in his run to second, with David Hoerning charging from the 7th row to take third.

Veteran IMCA Stocker Bernie Reinhardt made his debut in the Northern Sport Mods a memorable one, leading nearly half the feature.  He enjoyed a slight cushion after taking the lead on the 3rd lap.  Gregorich pulled into second three laps later, catching Reinhardt on the 10th circuit.

The two traded first, back and forth, for the next three laps.  Gregorich finally took control, then pulled away slightly with four to go.  Reinhardt held off another Modified vet, Doug Maurer to take second in his first open-wheel feature.

In the Hobby Stocks, Moede passed Jarred VanLaanen for the lead on the fouth lap, and was able to pull away thanks in part to a race-long battle for second between VanLaanen, Brandon Peterson, Chris Christensen and Frank Paul.  Moede took ownership of Keith Kickbusch's two-time Thunderhill championship car, racing it to a feature win the first time out.

Anderson used a restart on lap three to shoot to the outside of Jesse Heise en route to the win in the 4 Cylinders.  Thunderhill champ Tony Everard returned to the feature in a borrowed car after a vicious roll-over in the qualifying feature earlier in the day.

In the Bombers, Koehler held off Kevin Lubach to score a clean sweep in the weekend's events.


Race Summary - Saturday Events

Modified 35 Lap Feature - Todd Dart, Algoma:  Mike Wedelstadt, Fremont:  Brian Mullen, Seymour:  Eric Scribner, Forest Junction:  Jared Siefert, Green Bay:  Shawn Kilgore, New Franken

"B" Main - David Werbelow, Shawano:  Kevin Sternard, Sturgeon Bay:  Scribner:  Siefert

"C" Main - Siefert:  Sternard:  Brian Drexler, Oshkosh:  Randy Marquardt, Jr, Sheboygan Falls

Stock Car 30 Lap Feature - Greg Gretz, Kewaunee:  Shawn Havel, Algoma:  Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski:  Rick Mahlberg, Denmark:  Matt Junio, Casco:  Dave Bouche, Algoma

"B" Main - Snellenberger:  Doug Kropp, Green Bay:  Dave Budzban, Luxemburg:  Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski

Grand National 20 Lap Feature - Brad Lubach, Elkhart Lake:  Dan Schumacher, Milwaukee:  Tim Thompson, Cambellsport:  Bob Cullen, Chilton:  Justin Danes, New Holstein:  Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers

Northern Sport Mod 18 Lap Feature - Eugene Gregorich, Kewaunee:  Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay:  Doug Maurer, DePere:  Adam White, Oconto Falls:  Jeremy Hodkiewicz, Lena:  Aaron Holiday, Green Bay

Street Stock 20 Lap Feature - Brian Drexler, Oshkosh:  John Sternard, Green Bay:  David Hoerning, Appleton:  Harley Simon, Seymour:  Fred Davister, Sugerbush:  Jimmy Anderson, Sturgeon Bay

"B" Main - Hoerning:  James Iverson, Dykesville:  Davister:  Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh

Hobby Stock 18 Lap Feature - Marcus Moede, Casco:  Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay:  Jarred VanLaanen, Green Bay:  Chris Christensen, Carlsville:  Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee:  C.J. Weckler, Sturgeon Bay

4 Cylinder 20 Lap Feature - J.J. Anderson, Pulaski:  Jesse Heise, Suamico:  Jaime Miller, Suamico:  Jeff Harder, Howards Grove:  Jason Cornelius, Oneida: Jake Wilcox, Seymour

"B" Main - Miller:  Luke Lemmens, Kewaunee:  Jody Cornelius, Oneida:  Kenny Malcore, Milwaukee

Bomber 10 Lap Feature - Brett Koehler, Two Rivers: Kevin Lubach, Elkhart Lake:  Kevin Laughlin, Sturgeon Bay:  Adam Rex, Baileys Harbor

Friday Events

Modified 20 Lap Qualifier -  Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg:  Tim VanDeHei, Green Bay:  Sean Jerovetz, Suamico:  Randy LeMieux, Jr, Sturgeon Bay: Wedelstadt:  Dart

Heat 1 - Wedelstadt:  Jerovetz
Heat 2 - Tim Czarneski, Denmark:  Dart
Heat 3 - Tom Stark, Egg Harbor:  Julie McDermid, Oconto Falls
Heat 4 - VanDeHei:  Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station

Stock Car 20 Lap Qualifier - Junio:  Troy Muench, Brussels:  Havel:  Tony Bouche, Algoma:  Kraig Gretz, Kewaunee: Greg Gretz

Heat 1 - Mike Gilson, Greenleaf:  Muench
Heat 2 - Greg Gutt, Clintonville:  Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 3 - Havel:  Tony Bouche

Street Stock 20 Lap Qualifier - Drexler:  Todd Everard, Green Bay:  Simon:  Sternard:  Ryan Brandes, Brillion:  Thom Terrien, Green Bay

Heat 1 - Terrien:  Everard
Heat 2 - Brandes:  Simon

Grand National 15 Lap Qualifier - Lubach:  Wenzel:  Schumacher:  Cullen:  Danes:  Tim Warner, Malone

Heat - Wenzel:  Cullen

Northern Sport Mod 15 Lap Qualifier - Gregorich:  White:  Hodkewicz:  Reinhardt:  Maurer:  Duane Mertens, Luxemburg

Heat - Maurer:  Marcus Yarie, Wausau

Hobby Stock 15 Lap Qualifier - Christensen:  Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg:  Peterson:  Frank Paul, Kewaunee:  Moede:  VanLaanen

Heat 1 - DeGrave:  Peterson
Heat 2 - Paul:  Christensen

4 Cylinder 15 Lap Qualifier - Wilcox:  Harder:  Jason Cornelius:  Anderson:  Mark Kuhfuss, Howards Grove:  Heise

Heat 1 - Kuhfuss:  Heise
Heat 2 - Anderson:  Tony Everard, Green Bay

Bomber 10 Lap Qualifier - Koehler:  Lubach:  Laughlin:  Rex

Heat - Koehler:  Lubach