4th Annual Budwesier Nationals Crowns to
Parker, Mullen, Christians and Bernier!
By Dave Panske

September 24, 2000; Seymour, WI - Two days of rain forced NEW. DIRT to run their 4th Annual Budweiser Nationals on the Sunday rain date. The day turned out with clear, blue, sunny skies although a bit cool for a hot night of racing action. An excellent field of cars in all four divisions which totaled 133 enteries and they put on a fast paced program.

The Stock Cars kicked off the Budweiser Nationals features with Jeremy Christians starting on the pole and taking charge at the start. There were four cautions during the first 6 laps, but then the field settled down and ran non-stop to the finish. Christians was in front for the final restart followed by Jay Matthias, Jon Wolf, Tim Van De Hei, Jason Czarapata and Benji LaCrosse.

A tight battle for the runner up spot allowed Christians to pull away from the field, and without another caution, Christians was able to build a solid lead and carry it to his first Nationals title. It was also his first career feature win here at the Tri Oval. The battle for second lasted to the finish as well. Matthias, Van De Hei, Wolf, Czarapata and LaCrosse ran together, swapping positions several times before the race ended. On the final lap, Van De Hei was able to hook up on the outside and nipped Matthias for the runner up finish. Wolf, LaCrosse and Czerapata rounded out the top six finishers.

Brad Rohloff slipped into the lead of the Modified feature on the opening lap followed by Brian Mullen, Eddie Muenster, R.M. Van Pay, Jared Siefert and Jerry Muenster. Following the lone caution on lap 2, the rest of the race ran nonstop with Rohloff leading the way until Mullen was able to wrestle the lead away on lap 6. Once in front, Mullen pulled away leaving the race for second. Rohloff, Eddie Muenster, Van Pay and Siefert ran together for several laps before they strung out.

Mullen drove to his 7th division feature of the season here and in doing so, became the first driver to win a division Nationals title twice. Rohloff took the second place finish with Eddie Muenster taking third, Van Pay fourth, Jerry Muenster and Travis Spaulding rounding out the top six.

The Streets Stocks were next and pole sitter, Bob Bemier took charge right away followed by Charlie Van Ooyen, Phil Hiles, Darci Czarapata, Jamie Colwell, and James Tebon. By about lap 7, Bernier was able to pull the field a bit when Van Ooyen and Hiles doubled up behind. Bernier continued to build on his lead when the lone caution of the race appeared on lap 13 for debris, erasing Berniers lead and bunching the field for the restart.

Bernier was still in control followed by Van Ooyen, Hiles, Jesse Colwell, Travis Van Straten and Tebon.

Bernier continued to set the pace but could not shake the pack behind. Hiles took over the runner up spot with Colwell moving into the spot on lap 20.

Colwell, the defending Nationals champ, pressured the leader to the finish, but came up just short of a repeat title, leaving Bernier, to win his second feature of the season and his first Nationals title. Colwell took the runner up finish with Van Straten in third. Hiles took fourth with Van Ooyen in fifth and Tom Daubner rounding out the top six.

With the luck of the draw, Pete Parker started outside pole in the WlSSOTA Late Model feature and beat pole sitter, Doug Klemp into the lead at the start of the nightcap event. On lap 4, the lone caution appeared for spin and after the restart, Parker ran alone at the front with Terry Casey, Tim Buhler, Tom Naeyaert and Klemp behind.

Parker looked like a run away winner until the final 7 laps, when Casey started to challenge on the outside. Mr. Excitement would power alongside of the leader in turn one, but have Parker regain control out of the second turn. Lap after lap Casey tried. With 4 laps left, Casey pulled even and looked like the car would stick to stay even entering the Tri Oval. Howaver, a lapped car ended the challenge and despite attempts again over the final couple ofltaps, Parker drover on to win his 6th feature of the year. Casey took the runner-up finish with Buhler holding off Naeyaert for third place Klemp finished in fifth with Dean Maurer taking the 6th place finish.

The Budweiser Nationals bring to a close the 2000 season here at the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway. Club officers would like to THANK all of the fans, sponsors, drivers and crews for their support during the season. Monthly club meetings will be held the first Monday of every month to set the schedule for 2001.  Meetings are held at the Edgewood Supper Club just south of Seymour at 8:00 p.m.

RACING SUMMARY

WISSOTA Late Models:
25 LAP FEATURE: 1) Pete Parker, Kaukauna; 2.) Terry Casey, New London; 3.) Tim Buhler, Glenbeulah; 4.) Tom Naeyaert, Shawano; 5.) Doug Klemp, Black Creek; 6.) Dean Maurer, Green Bay
FIRST 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Buhler; 2.) Klemp
SECOND 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Parker; 2.) Naeyaert

IMCA Modifieds:
25 LAP FEATURE:  1.) Mullen, Seymour; 2.) Brad Rohloff, Pulaski; 3.) Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; 4.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 5.) Jerry Muenster, Green Bay; 6.) Travis Spaulding, Greenville
FIRST 12 LAP CONSOLATION:  1.) Randie Back, Breen Bay; 2.) Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg; 3.) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski
SECOND 12 LAP CONSOLATION:  1.) Dennis Young, Seymour; 2.) Joel Schmit, Green Bay; 3.) Jeremie Hedrick, Lena
FIRST 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Brian Mullen; 2.) Van Pay
SECOND 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Jared Siefert, Green Bay; 2.) Brian Drexler, Oshkosh
THIRD 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Bill Lemmens, Green Bay; 2.) Eddie Muenster
FOURTH 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Mike Mashl, DePere; 2.) Jerry Muenster, Green Bay
FIFTH 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Rohloff; 2.) Spaulding
WINNER TAKE ALL DASH: 1) Rohloff; 2.) Mullen

IMCA Stock Cars:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1) Jeremy Christians, Horicon; 2.) Tim Van De Hei, DePere; 3.) Jay Matthais, Green Bay; 4.) Jon Wolf, Green Bay; 5.) Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg; 6.) Jason Czarapata, Pulski
FIRST 12 LAP CONSOLATION:  1.) John Heinz, Green Bay; 2.) LaCrosse; 3.) Scott Karcz, Pulaski
SECOND 12 LAP CONSOLATION:  1.) Brad Buckarma, Pulaski; 2.) Bob Vanden Avond, Green Bay; 3.) Tony Bouche, Algoma
FIRST 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Jason Czarapata, 2.) Larry Ingebretson, DePere
SECOND 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Christians; 2.) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski
THIRD 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; 2.) Matthais
FOURTH 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Jerry Wilinski, Seymour; 2.) Wolf
FIFTH 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Van De Hei; 2.) T.J. White, Green Bay

Street Stocks:
25 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Bob Bernier, Sobieski; 2.) Jesse Colwell, Greenleaf; 3.) Travis Van Straten, Hortonville; 4.) Phil Hiles, Appleton; 5.) Charlie Van Ooyen, Appleton; 6.) Tom Daubner, Sturgeon Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Jeff Vlies, Brussels; 2.) Phil Lehl, DePere; 3.) Mike Czarapata, Pulaski; 4.) Daubner
FIRST 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Jesse Colwell; 2.) Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf
SECOND 8 LAP HEAT: 1) Bernier; 2.) Chaz Van Ooyen, Appleton
THIRD 8 LAP HEAT: 1) James Van Rixal, Abrams; 2.) Charlie Van Ooyen
FOURTH 8 LAP HEAT: 1) James Tebon, Algoma; 2.) Hiles