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Champions
crowned at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway!
By Dave Panske |
August
26, 2001; Seymour, WI - The final point night of the season
brought out a field of 112 cars and an excellent crowd to the Seymour Tri Oval Raceway
Sunday night. Racing action brought two first time feature winners and two repeaters who
received special trophies from Wisconsin Fans for Auto Racing for their efforts.
Dave Ninneman took the lead for the first 3 laps of the street stock feature with
Darren Otto pulling off the pass for the top spot on lap 4. Three cars tangled on lap 7
for the first caution of the race. On the restart, Ninneman spun in turn two while running
fourth. The rest of the field scrambled but point leader, Jamie Colwell had no where to go
and hit the drivers side of the stalled car. The race was red flagged and Ninneman was
taken to the hospital complaining of a shoulder injury.
When the race resumed, Otto continued to set the pace with Bob White slipping into the
runner up spot and right up on the leader. White pressured the leader and was working
tight to the inside of the track. On lap 14, White was inching ahead and led the next 3
laps before Otto powered back on the outside. Otto was able to hang on and hold off White
on the final lap to record his second feature win of the season.
White took the runner up spot followed by Rich Kyllonen, Charlie Van Ooyen, Sr, Lance
Arneson and Josh Wirtz. Even though Colwell was knocked out the race early, he earned
enough points to earn the 2001 track championship. It was his first career track title and
gave the Colwell team their second championship of the weekend with brother, Jesse, taking
his first track title at Luxemburg on Friday night.
Rod Snellenberger started the Stock Car main on the front row and pulled into the lead at
the start. Shawn Kilgore moved into the runner up on lap 3 and stayed with the leader as
they pulled away from the rest of the field. Snellenberger continued at the front despite
the heavy pressure from Kilgore. Point leader, Jeremy Christians moved from third place
after a long run to catch the leaders and took to the outside of the leaders.
Christians used the outside line to make the passes over the final two laps and
recorded his sixth feature win of the season here and 18 for the season. Snellenberger
took second with Kilgore in third. Travis Van Straten was next in line with Brandon and
Brandon Czarapata making up the top six spots, It was the first career track title for
Christians.
The Wissota Late Models were next with Doug Klemp leading the opening lap before Mike
Babino, Jr took control. While the field bunched up behind, Babino was able to pull away.
Tom Naeyaert was in second with Klemp, Pete Parker, point leader, Troy Springborn and Doug
Blashe behind.
Springborn was hooked and quickly moved from fifth into the runner up spot by lap 9.
Babino had built a large lead and Springborn was looking for a way to close the gap the
quickest.
Over the final laps, the battle was heating up as Springborn was closing fast on the
leader. Babino kept his line intact and collected his 1st feature win of the season and
his first career win, The second place finish for Springborn earns the Shawano pilot a
third straight division title. He joins M.J. McBride and Tom Naeyaert as the only drivers
to win three straight titles. Pete Parker took third place followed by Terry Anvelink,
Terry Casey and Naeyaert.
After an opening lap mix up that put point leader, R.M. Van Pay in the pit, all Scott
Mullen had to do was stay out of trouble to win the track title.
When the race was restarted, it went non stop with Bob Zegers leading the first lap before
Mike Klenz moved into the top spot. Klenz pulled away from the pack early but Jared
Siefert and Scott Mullen made their way from the middle of the field and quickly closed
the gap. Klenz, Siefert, Mullen and Jamie Schmidt made a race for the final 8 laps.
It looked like Klenz had the race in had until the action heated up quickly over the final
four laps. Mullen working the inside line took over the top spot on lap 18 and Siefert
continued on the outside line to make a three way battle for the win. Siefert was able to
make the outside line stick on the final lap and took the win inches ahead of Mullen, who
was crowned as the 2001 track champion. It was the first track title for Mullen
The feature win by Siefert was his first of the season at the Tri Oval. Klenz took the
third place finish followed by Dennis Young, Brian Mullen, and Bill Lemmens.
Next Sunday night, September 2nd, the track will host the Potawatomi National Shootout.
There will be 25 lap features in each of the four division that run the weekly shows. They
will all race for their share of a total purse of over $25,000.
The season will close with a final program to be run on Sunday night September 9. Hope to
see you all out the next couple weeks.
SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED
20 Lap feature l. Jared Siefert, Green Bay 2. Scott Mullen, Seymour 3.
Mike Klenz, Sobieski 4. Dennis Young, Seymour 5. Brian Mullen, Seymour 6. Bill Lemmens,
Green Bay
12 Lap Consy First l. Doug Mahlik, New Franken 2. Chad Nelson, Green Bay
3. Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville 4. Dean Wilcox, Pulaski
Second l. Dan Deau, Little Suamico 2. Darren Otto, Pulaski 3/Chris
Derenne, Luxemburg 4. Eddie Muenster, Green Bay
10 Lap heats First l. Brian Mullen 2., Klenz
Second l. Young 2. Jamie Schmidt, Black Creek
Third l. Siefert 2. Dave Fisher, Green Bay
Fourth l Scott Mullen 2, Brad Rohloff, Pulaski
WISSOTA LATE MODEL
20 Lap feature l. Mike Babino, Jr, Shawano 2. Troy Springborn, Shawano 3.
Pete Parker, Kaukauna 4. Terry Anvelink, Navarino 5. Terry Casey, New London 6. Tom
Naeyaert, Shawano
8 Lap Heats First l. Doug Blashe, Marion 2., Babino, Jr
Second l. Casey 2. Naeyaert
STREET STOCK
20 Lap feature l. Darren Otto, Pulaski 2. Bob White, Jr, Green Bay 3.
Rich Kyllonen, Green Bay 4. Charlie Van Ooyen, Appleton 5. Lance Arneson, Oconto 6, Josh
Wirtz, Pulaski
12 Lap Consy l. Arneson 2. Rick Naparalla, Pulaski 3. Kevin Jandrin,
Forestville 4. Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf
8 Lap Heats First l. Tim Cayemberg, DePere 2. Joe Van Ooyen, Appleton
Second l. White 2. Steve Drawenek
Third l. Marc Marcille, Shiocton 2. Kyllonen
IMCA STOCK CAR
20 Lap Feature l. Jeremy Christians, Horicon 2. Rod Snellenberger,
Pulaski 3. Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee 4. Travis Van Straten, Hortonville 5.Jason Czarapata,
Pulaski 6. Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski
12 Lap Consy l. Larry Karcz, Jr Pulaski 2. Dean Wilcox, Pulaski
8 Lap Hearts First l. Dylan Heilmann, Green Bay 2. Christians
Second l. Brandon Czarapata 2. Snellenberger
Third l. Kilgore 2. Jason Czarapata |
