Springborn, Mashl and Czarapata take Tri-Oval titles on final point night of 1999 season at Seymour!
By Dave Panske

September 5, 1999; Seymour, WI - The Labor Day weekend brought the final regular racing program of the season Sunday night at the Seymour tri Oval Raceway. Three point races remained to be settled, and all three leaders held on to win their respective divisions and their first career Tri-Oval track championships.

Brad Rohloff (#03) held off the challenges of defending IMCA Modified track champion R.M. Van Pay and newly crowned 1999 title winner Mike Mashl to score his third feature win of the season.

The IMCA Modifieds took the track first with Ron Bomber leading the opening lap before Brad Rohloff took over on lap 2. R.M Van Pay, point leader Mike Mashl, Dennis Young and Brian Mullan were right behind. Several cautions slowed the pace with Rohloff holding the lead on each restart despite continued pressure from behind. Rohloff held on to win his 3rd feature of the season with Van Pay ending a race long battle with Mashl for the runner up spot. Mullen took fourth with Luke Roffers and Travis Spaulding rounding out the top six.

Mashl won his first career Tri-Oval track championship with a 557 - 544 margin over Mullen. Defending 2 time champion, Van Pay, finished the season in 3rd place followed by Spaulding and Scott Mullen in the top five.

Justin Stuck set the pace for the first four laps of the Street Stock feature before point leader, Jason Czarapata took command on lap 5 and started to pull away. Darren Otto took until the mid way point in the race to wrestle the runner-up spot from Stuck and was helped by a caution to close in on the leader.

Jason Czarapata (#56) wrapped up his first career Street Stock title in grand style Sunday evening at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway.   Czarapata blasted into the lead of the feature event early and then held off Darren Otto and second place points finisher Jared Siefert to earn his third victory of 1999.

Brandon Czarapata lined up in third place followed by Stuck, Jamie Colwell, and Jared Siefert. The rest of the race stayed green, and the battle was tight at the front between the top five. Jason Czarapata held off all challenges to record his 3rd division feature win of the year and in doing so clinched the 1999 division title, his first ever at the Tri-Oval. Otto, Siefert, Brandon Czarapata, James Tebon and Mike Czarapata rounded out the top six. Jason entered the night with a 40 point lead and added 2 more to take a 580 - 538 margin over Siefert for the title Brandon Czarapata took third place with 532. Chas Van Ooyen, Jr. and Otto rounded out the top five with 497 and 495 respectively.

A season high 14 Wissota Late Models were on hand and all started the feature, but a turn one crash on the start took a couple out and was a sign of the way the race would go. Tom Naeyaert grabbed the lead early and despite the numerous cautions and eventually, became a time limited race, as Naeyaert held the lead throughout.

Naeyaert drove to his division leading 5th feature flag of the season having to out duel Pete Perker for the win over the last half of the race. Point drivers Troy Springborn and Tim Buhler battled throughout the race as well and it was Buhler almost pulling off the win after a late race restart, but settled for the third place spot. Tim Bennett edged Springbom for the fourth place finish with Jim Rychtik making his first appearance of the season and ending up in sixth place.

Springbom entered the night 8 points ahead of Buhler and ended up 6 marks ahead to claim his first career Tri-Oval track title, 725 to 719 over Buhler. Naeyaert was third with 701 followed by T.M. Miller end Parker with 661 and 638.

The IMCA Stock cars ended their point season last week and it was 1999 champion, Rod Snellenberger, taking the lead on the opening lap of tonight's feature with Sean Jerovetz, Alan Spoehr, Shawn Wagner and Larry Karcz, Jr. behind. Numerous cautions over the first half of the race threatened to force a curfew limit, but after a lap 12 restart, the rest went non-stop. Wagner moved into second and gave Snellenberger fits trying to get by. Wagner was running the outside line and Snellenberger was hugging the inside. Jerry Wilinski joined the leaders and the trio put on quite a show. Spoehr, in his first race of the year and Benji LaCrosse battled right behind the leaders.

Wagner would gain the lead through the first turns but Hot Rod would regain on the straights to hold the lead. On the final lap, Wagner let it all out as he held the top slick track and stayed even on the back chute heading to the final turn. Snellenberger went high entering the tri-oval and Wagner ducked inside. His car slid out and clipped the front of Snellenbergers mount, cutting the tire and drawing the black flag, which gave the win to Snellenberger, his seventh this season. Wilinski took the runner-up finish with Spoehr taking third and LaCrosse fourth. Larry Karcz, Jr took fifth with Jon Wolf rounding out the top six.

This was the final regular racing program of the season at the Seymour Tri Oval. One event remains on the schedule, that being the Third Annual, Budweiser Nationals to be run here on Saturday night, September 25th. All four divisions will compete for a season high purse. The record of 143 cars competed in the first event and 133 competed in a rain date event last year. Pit gates open at 2 pm

Special; Seymour, WI -  The final race of the mellinium will be held at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway later this month as the Third Annual, Budweiser Nationals, which will end the racing season on Saturday night, September 25th

This event has brought in the largest fields of cars in Northeastern Wisconsin the past two years. The record of 143 set in 1997. Last year, 133 cars competed with the race run on the rain date on Sunday. The big four division event is headlined by the IMCA Modifieds with Pete Parker winning the inaugural event in 97 with track champion, R.M. Van Pay taking the top honors last year. The Wissota Late Models make this run a final point race of the season with Brad Rohloff capturing the checker in 97 and Tim Buhler taking the win last year. The Street Stock division has always been tough here with Brian Drexler taking the win in 97 and Tom Coel adding his name to the Nationals win list last season. The IMCA Stock Cars also have two different winners with Tim Lemirande winning the first year and Danny Heinritz running to the win last year.

Each division runs a 25-lap feature after qualifying through heat and consolation events. All races for the Nationals are lined up by the draw.

The pit gates open at 2 PM on the 25th with the grandstand opening at 3 PM. Racing sets underway at 5 PM. All cars must be signed by 4 P.M. Entry for car and driver is $30. With pit passes $15. Mods and Late Models run for $1000 to win their features with $100 to start. Streets run for $400 to win and $40. To start and Stock Cars $500 to win and $50 to start. There is a guarantee of $40 in all divisions against winnings.

All Wissota, IMCA, and NEW. Dirt rules apply, but NO claim rules are in effect for the special.

Further information may be obtained by calling the track on race days at (920) 833-7726 or by calling (920) 983-7963 or (920) 231-1157.

RESULTS

WISSOTA LATE MODEL:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Tom Naeyaert, Shawano; 2.) Pete Parker, Kaukauna; 3.) Tim Buhler, Glenbeulah; 4.) Tim Bennett, Greenville; 5.) Troy Springborn, Shawano; 6.) Jim Rychtik, Sheboygan
FIRST HEAT: 1.) Naeyaert; 2.) Springborn
SECOND HEAT: 1.) Terry Casey, New London; 2.) Buhler

IMCA MODIFIED
20 LAP FEATURE: 1) Brad Rohloff, Pulaski; 2.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 3.) Mike Mashl, DePere; 4.) Brian Mullen, Seymour; 5.) Luke Roffers, Oneida; 6.) Travis Spaulding, Greenville
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Clint Neshak, Oneida; 2.) Bob Zegers, Green Bay; 3.) Art Siefert, Green Bay; 4.) Joel Schmit, Green Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Brian Mullen; 2.) Jamie Schmidt, Seymour
SECOND HEAT: 1) Dennis Young, Seymour; 2.) Mashl
THIRD HEAT: 1.) Van Pay; 2.) Rohloff

IMCA STOCK CARS:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Rod Snellenberger, Paulski; 2.) Jerry Wilinski, Seymour; 3.) Alan Spoehr, Seymour; 4.) Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay; 5.) Larry Karcz Jr., Pulaksi; 6.) Jon Wolf, Green Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Wolf; 2.) Jerry Delebreau; 3.) Bob Czarapata, Krakow; 4.) Troy Wilcox, Pulaski
FIRST HEAT: 1) Bob VandenAvond, Green Bay; 2.) Karcz Jr.
SECOND HEAT: 1) Shawn Wagner, Pulaski; 2.) LaCrosse
THIRD HEAT: 1) Snellenberger; 2.) Wilinski

STREET STOCKS
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; 2.) Darren Otto, Pulaski; 3.) Jared Siefert, Green Bay; 4.) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski; 5.) James Tebon, Algoma; 6.) Mike Czarapata, Green Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Siefert; 2.) Charlie Van Ooyen, Appleton; 3.) Josh Massart, Brussels; 4.) Mike King, Kaukauna
FIRST HEAT: 1) Otto; 2.) Brandon Czarapata
SECOND HEAT: 1) Jason Czarapata; 2.) Travis Van Straten, Hortonville
THIRD HEAT: 1) Justin Stuck, Neenah; 2.) Jesse Colwell, Greenleaf