Clean Sweep is The Name of the Game at Thunderhill
By Greg Aregoni
Saturday Night, May 5th- Three Drivers including Dan Rataczjak, Troy Muench, and Aaron Thornton all recorded clean sweeps at "The Hill" Saturday night.
Keith Kickbusch won his first feature of the season in the IMCA Hobbystocks.
The IMCA Northern Sportmods did two hot lap sessions as they will be added to the weekly program next week.
Frank Paul used his outside starting spot in the IMCA Hobby headliner to grab the lead over Jeff Lautenbach. Paul and Lautenbach pulled away from the rest of the field with Keith Kickbusch all alone in third. A lap 9 caution for a Kevin Bauer fire under the hood meant a 6 lap dash for cash. Kickbusch used the caution to make his move to the inside of Paul. Kickbusch made the pass for good on lap 11 and cruised to victory. The win was Kickbusch's second of the year as he won the season opener at Luxemburg. Following at the checkers were Paul, Eddie Anschutz, Brandon Peterson, and Dave DeGrave. Kickbusch also left with the point lead after two nights of racing.
Next to the track were the IMCA Stockcars with Willie DeGrave leading the early charge. DeGrave lead until blowing a motor on lap 2. Troy Muench inherited the lead and never looked back. A Mike King Jr. spin on lap 16 set up a green, white, checker finish. Muench was able to hold off all comers in winning his first
feature of the season. Dave Bouche, Charlie Kroll, Matt Junio, and Shawn Havel chased Muench to the finish line.
In the first no caution feature in quite sometime for the IMCA Modifieds, Dan Rataczjak led all 20 laps in winning the feature event. Rataczjak led from the drop of the green but was stalked by Shawn Kilgore for most of the race. Kilgore was able to move into about four car lengths but that was all. Rataczjak cruised
to victory in his modified ride followed by Kilgore, Benji LaCrosse, Jay Matthias, and Randy Lemieux Jr. Benji LaCrosse leads the points after two nights. In
heat race action, Rick Johnson Flipped his brand new 2007 Race Tech Modified. He was fine.
Jimmy "Windows" Anderson grabbed the lead in the Street Stock feature with James Iverson to his outside. The pair took turns swapping the lead until Iverson used the momentum from the outside to take the top spot. With the battle for the lead so tight, Aaron Thornton used it to his advantage. Thornton caught to pair and made quick work of the two. Thornton made the pass on both cars on the top side on lap 9 and walked away with his second feature win of the season and a bigger point lead. Iverson Anderson and Wiitala followed. In heat race action, Chris Konitzer clipped a tire and did a barrel role with his car. Konitzer was a little dizzy but otherwise felt good.
Tony Everard won the 4 cylinder feature by about 5 car lengths over Jason Cornelius.
Brian Belleau won his first feature of the season and
took over the point lead in the Bomber division.
Next Saturday night at the Forest County Potawatomi Thunderhill Raceway Wulf Bros. will be sponsoring the races. Admission into the grandstands will be ONLY $5.00. The tracks website is www.racethunderhill.com. For more info call 743-7052.
IMCA Modified Feature- 1.Dan Rataczjak, Frog Station 2. Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee 3. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 4. Jay Matthias, De Pere 5. Randy Lemieux Jr, Sturgeon Bay
Heats- 1. Rataczjak 2. Kilgore 2. Todd Dart, Algoma 2. Billy Lemieux, Sturgeon Bay
IMCA Stockcar Feature- 1. Troy Muench, Brussels 2. Dave Bouche, Algoma 3. Charlie Kroll, Forestville 4. Matt Junio, Casco 5. Shawn Havel, Brussels
Consy- 1. Tony Schlei, Zion, IL
Heats- 1. 1.Bouche 2. Tony Bouche, Algoma 2. 1.Muench 2. Cory Cochart, Kewaunee 3. 1. Mike Wietor, Green Bay 2. J.J. Heinz, Green Bay
IMCA Hobby Stock Feature- 1. Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee 2. Frank Paul, Kewaunee 3. Eddie Anschutz, Algoma 4. Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay 5. Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg
Heats-1. 1. Anschutz 2. Peterson 2. Chad Kaminski, Green Bay 2. Roger Laviolette, Sturgeon Bay
Street Stock Feature- 1. Aaron Thornton, Forestville 2. James Iverson, Sturgeon Bay 3. Jimmy Anderson, Forestville 4. Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay
Heats- 1. 1.Thornton 2. Wiitala 2. 1. Scott Reinhardt, Bailey's Harbor 2. Dennis Weidner, Maplewood
4 Cylinder Feature-1. Tony Everard, Green Bay 2. Jason Cornelius, Oneida 3. Jody Cornelius, Oneida 4. Nick Everard, Green Bay 5. Brad Lautenbach, Champion
Heat- 1. Nick Everard 2. Kip Burlo, Sturgeon Bay
Bomber Feature- 1. Brian Belleau, Algoma 2. Jesse Kroll, Forestville 3. Dan Merkle, Egg Harbor
Heat-1. Merkle