Van Pay on a tear, wins second straight Mod feature at Tri-Oval and takes fourth feature win this week!
By Dave Panske

August 1, 1999; Seymour, WI - After a week of pressure cooker type weather, the break came Saturday night and brought a perfect summer day and evening for racing action at the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway.

Fast learner!  Benji LaCrosse (#54) scored his first career checkered when he won the IMCA Stock Car consolation race Sunday night at Seymour Tri-Oval.  It was just his fourth week of racing.

An opening lap caution realigned the Street Stock feature lineup and Jon LeMere took the lead for the first green lap before Josh Massart took control on lap 2. Jesse Colwell moved right behind Massart and on lap 4, slipped to the inside and took over the top spot. Once in front, Colwell had to fend off point leaders, Jason Czarapata and Jared Siefert along with Massart for much of the rest of the race. Over the final few laps, Colwell was able to open a slight lead when the battle for second heated up, Colwell took the checker for his third feature win of the season with point leader, Czarapata holding on for the runner up finish. Massert edged Siefert for third place with Chas Van Ooyen holding off John Belschner for fifth place.

Tim Bennett survived a first lap caution to lead the late model feature for the first 2 laps before Tom Naeyaert stormed by on the outside and started to pull the field. Troy Spdngborn and Terry Casey followed by with Pete Parker joining the leaders. Casey dropped out of the contest on lap 7 when a flat tire forced a spin in the tri oval. Naeyaert retained the lead with Parker taking the runner up spot from Springborn for three laps before Springborn again took second.

On lap 12, the race was red flagged when rookie contender, Greg Dhein, slammed the front wall under the flag stand. The car rode the wall bending several post before barrel rolling to a stop entering turn one. The car looked like it was almost flattened, but Dhein emerged and was not injured. Naeyaert restarted in front and was able to drive away from the field to win his fourth division feature this season. Springbom held off Parker for the runner up spot with Doug Blashe, Tim Buhler and Doug Klemp rounding out the top six.

Former IMCA Modified track champion, Doug Mahlik, pulled from his second row starting slot into the lead of the Modified feature on the first lap and held on while the field sorted out behind until the first caution appeared on lap 7.

On the restart, new dad, Travis Spaulding, and Joel Schmit were running behind the leader, but R.M. Van Pay pulled into second and by the mid point of the race had worked by Mahlik for the lead. Despite one more caution, Van Pay was able to pull the field to win his second straight feature and 4th of the week since winning his 100th last Sunday. Mahlik remained in second despite pressure from Dean Maurer with point leader, Bnan Mullen nipping Spaulding at the line for the fourth place finish. Mike Mashl rounded out the top six finishers.

He earned it!  Mike Weitor (#56) has raced for many years and picked up his first career checkered when he won his heat race in IMCA Stock Car action on Sunday night at Seymour.

The IMCA Stock Car main was a caution plagued and time limit shorted event, but several questions were raised as the claim happy division finished the race. Troy Wilcox and Jon Wolf shared the lead for the first 2 laps, with John Heinz taking control after a lap 3 caution. Heinz continued to lead and run strong up front despite the numerous cautions that continuously bunched the field behind. Heinz was able to maintain the lead even after point leaders, Jerry Wilinski, and Joe White were joined by Tim Van De Hei and Rod Snellenberger at the front.

A final caution period on lap 11 set the stage for a curfew shortened race, Heinz continued to pull the leader after the restart, with Van De Hei holding second with White, Snellenberger and Wilinski behind. The curfew brought out the white flag on lap 14, and just after the leaders took the flag, another caution was displayed which would call the race complete on the final lap which would have Heinz win his first feature here this season.

However, he pulled directly into the pit instead of the claim area, which is a drive off and a claim refusal under IMCA rules. Van De Hei was given the checker, but IMCA does not move people up in the finish because of the claim rule for the top four leaving Van De Hei second, White third and Snellenberger fourth. Wilinski and Larry Karcz, Jr. rounded out the top six. Added to the mix was a claim on Snellenberger, who was elgible by finishing fourth. There were also a couple of protests filed with the rep. The finish and claim were then put on hold pending rules verification by IMCA on Monday morning. No further information was available at this writing.

RESULTS

WISSOTA LATE MODEL:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Tom Naeyaert, Shawano; 2.) Troy Springborn, Shawano; 3.) Pete Parker, Kaukauna; 4.) Doug Blashe, Marion; 5.) Tim Buhler, Glenbeulah; 6.) Doug Klemp, Black Creek
FIRST HEAT: 1.) Springborn; 2.) T.M. Miller, Black Creek
SECOND HEAT: 1.) Terry Casey, New London; 2.) Parker

IMCA MODIFIED
20 LAP FEATURE: 1) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 2.) Doug Mahlik, Green Bay; 3.) Dean Maurer, DePere; 4.) Brian Mullen, Seymour; 5.) Travis Spaulding, Greenville; 6.) Mike Mashl, DePere
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Brian Mullen; 2.) Nick Anvelink, Navarino; 3.) Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville; 4.) Clint Neshak, Oneida
FIRST HEAT: 1) Scott Mullen, Seymour; 2.) Mashl
SECOND HEAT: 1) Dan Deau, Little Suamico; 2.) Mahlik
THIRD HEAT: 1) Joel Schmit, Green Bay; 2.) Kurt Jordan, DePere

IMCA STOCK CARS:
14 LAP FEATURE: (curfew- official finish pending) 1) John Heinz, Green Bay; 2.) Tim Van Dei Hei, DePere; 3.) Joe White, Oconto Falls; 4.) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; 5.) Jerry Wilinski, Seymour; 6.) Larry Karcz Jr., Pulaski
FIRST 12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay; 2.) Snellenberger; 3.) T.J. Wgite, Green Bay; 4.) Tim Martzahl, Hortonville
FIRST HEAT: 1) Karcz Jr; 2.) Troy Wilcox, Pulaski
SECOND HEAT: 1) Mike Weitor, Green Bay; 2.) Tom Coel, Green Bay
THIRD HEAT: 1) Heinz; 2.) Dave Peitersen, Green Bay

STREET STOCKS
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Jesse Colwell, Greenleaf; 2.) Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; 3.) Josh Massart, Brussels; 4.) Jared Siefert, Green Bay; 5.) Chas Van Ooyen Jr., Appleton; 6.) John Belschner, Green Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Steve Baker, Seymour; 2.) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski; 3.) Charlie Van Ooyen, Appleton; 4.) Josh Wirtz, Green Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Siefert; 2.) Joe Kerkhoff, DePere
SECOND HEAT: 1) Jason Czarapata; 2.) Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf
THIRD HEAT: 1) Belschner; 2.) Darren Otto, Pulaski