BIG MONEY MATTHIAS CAHSES IN, TAKING THE THUNDERHILL MODIFIED MAIN
By Edward Anschutz
(Sturgeon Bay, WI) July 17 - Jay Matthias capture his first checker of season in the IMCA Modifieds after passing Dave Zeitler on lap 3 at Prestige Yacht Coatings ThunderHill Raceway. Other feature winners were Scott Reinhardt (stockcar), Jeff Vlies (sport mod), Luke Lemmens (hobby Stock), Ryan Brandes (street stock) and Jeremy DuBois (four-cylinders)
Dave Zeitler set the early paces in the IMCA Modified feature, before second place points runner Jay Matthias took over the top spot. A series of cautions mid race would keep the field bunched. Point leader Todd Dart would visit pit lane twice during the event for damage on his car. Dart would salvage a ninth place finish. With the win Matthias sits second a single point behind Dart. Shawn Kilgore made a late race charge for the win but would come home second, third for Kevin Sternard, fourth for Kyle Kudick and Dan Ratajzcak placed fifth after starting nineteenth.
Rookie Tony Wedelstadt used a provisional starting spot to win the 2nd Annual King of the Hill Modified Tournament.
Wedelstadt defeated, last weeks winner feature Chris Derenne, former track Champion Jeremy Jacobs and defending track champion Shawn Kilgore to take home $500 courtesy Packerland Whey.
Scott Reinhardt scores first career IMCA Stockcar feature win with a borrowed engine.
Reinhardt a former Bomber and Street Stock Champion took the lead away from Tony Bouche in the early going and looked to have the race well in hand until Charlie Kroll broke threw the field and began to reel in Reinhardt. Kroll would get to Reinhardt’s rear bumper but could never complete pass. Kroll would settle for second as Reinhardt crossed the checkers first. Reinhardt who blew up his engine the week before had to borrow an engine from his brother Gary just to go racing this weekend. Brett Koehler third, Shawn Havel fourth and points leader Greg Gretz fifth.
After the feature per IMCA rules any driver in the top four of the running order can have their engines claimed by anyone outside the top four that’s on the lead lap. The #2 of Mike Gilson would claim the engine of Brett Koehler. The #42 of Ben Kroll would claim the engine of Charlie Kroll. #60 of Kyle Wanner would claim the engine of Shawn Havel and the #57 John Heinz would claim the engine of Scott Reinhardt. All claims were accepted.
Former Champion Jeff “Pepe” Vlies passed rookie Scott Boulanger with one lap to go to pick up his third feature win of the season in the IMCA Sport Mods. Boulanger second, Ryan LeMieux third, Jesse Brey and Steve Jorgenson rounded out the top five,
Ryan Brandes would pass James Bosman to score his first win of season in the Street Stocks.
Point leader Andy Paluch would suffer damage and spend most the night on pit lane, Handing the point lead over to Bosman who placed second to Brandes. Third for Matt Reinke in his first night at the track. Fourth Dennis Weidner and Tony Everard fifth.
IMCA Hobby Stock point leader Luke Lemmens won his second feature of the season passing last weeks winner Travis Hackett by mere inches at the checker. Third was Marcus Moede, fourth Brandon Peterson and fifth for Roger LaViolette.
Four-Cylinder point leader Jeremy DuBois picked up his fourth feature win of the season.
Next week, July 24 Miller Lite will be the sponsor for Saturday night, which will include Christmas in July special themed race trailers.
Thunderhill is located at the John Miles Fair Park on Sturgeon Bay’s east side with racing in the six divisions beginning every Saturday night through the summer at 6:00 PM. For more information, visit the track’s website at