Rookie Diemel Scores Second Tri-Oval Late Model Feature Win! By Dave Panske

August 4, 2002; Seymour, WI - A better night than the past month, cloudy and a bit cooler for both fans and drivers. Two first time feature winners and three repeaters topped the evenings racing action.

Photo Highlights

Defending IMCA Mod champ, Scott Mullen (#1), won his first Tri-Oval feature since September 3, 2000 this Sunday night. Tom Schmidt (#142) won his first 4 Banger feature victory here at the Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway.

The Mods started things off with Mike Broekman taking the lead for the first 3 laps before Scott Mullen powered into the top spot before two cautions for debris on laps 6 and 7. Jared Siefert, Jamie Schmidt and Mike Cole moved in to challenge for the lead, but Mullen started to pull away over the last half of the race to pick up his first feature win at his hometown track since September 3, 2000. The battle for the runner up spot was close with Brian Mullen and Jay Schraufnagel joining the leaders over the last 6 laps. Siefert held off Mullen to take second with Schraufnagel tight behind Mullen in fourth. Mike Cole finished fifth and Sean Jerovetz came through to place sixth.

The WISSOTA Late Models were next up and clicked off a non-stop feature event. Ron Bomber set the pace for the opening lap before A.J. Diemel stormed by on the outside down the back chute on the second lap.

Once in front, Diemel never looked back and cruised to the second feature win in his rookie season. A good battle for second for several laps between Bomber, Terry Casey and point leader, Troy Springborn. Casey took over second on lap 7 and started to close the gap on the leader until a flat tire dropped him off the pace and out of the race on the final lap. Springborn took the runner up finish with Greg Dhein making a strong run from the back of the field to take third. Tim Buhler, Bomber and Randy Markwardt rounded out the top six positions.

Dean Wilcox set the pace early in the IMCA Stock Car main followed by Barry Van Straten, Jesse Cullen, Jerry Wilinski and Greg Gretz. Benji LaCrosse brought out the lone caution of the race after help sent him into the front wall out of the tri oval on lap 4. On the restart, Brandon Czarapata took the outside line into the lead by Wilcox. Jeremy Christians was right behind and ducked to the inside on the next lap to take the lead from Czarapata. Once in front, Christians drove off with his second feature win of the season. Czarapata had his hands full but managed to take the runner up finish, Gretz was a close third and Shawn Wagner took the fourth place finish. Larry Karcz, Jr and Shawn Kilgore rounded out the top six.

Brian Koch led the opening lap of the Street Stock feature before Darren Otto took control on lap 2. Several cautions slowed the race on laps 4 and 7. Lance Arneson was into second with Darci Czarapata, Shawn Van Ooyen and Chris Lange behind. The cars behind challenge Otto for the top spot for a few laps, before Otto would be able to build a lead. A final caution on lap 13 bunched the field for one last time on lap 15. Otto survived a late race charge to win his third feature of the season. Point leader, Mike Coel, ended up in second followed Chris Lange Shawn Van Ooyen, Dean Kellner and Jeremy Wiitala. Kellner was DQ’d after refusing a claim after the race, This put Lance Arneson into the top six.

Tom Schmidt closed the night by winning his first 4 Banger feature of the year. He took the lead from Troy Wilcox with four laps left and wove through some lapped traffic for his first ever win here. Troy and Todd Wilcox rounded out the top six.

SUMMARY

IMCA MODIFIED
20 Lap Feature l. Scott Mullen, Seymour 2. Jared Siefert, Green Bay 3. Brian Mullen, Seymour 4. Jay Schraufnagel, Beaver Dam 5. Mike Cole, Baileys’ Harbor 6. Sean Jerovetz, Little Suamico
10 Lap Heats First l. Dennis Young, Seymour 2. Mike Klenz, Green Bay
Second l. Siefert 2. R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay

WISSOTA LATE MODEL
20 Lap Feature l. A.J. Diemel, Bonduel 2. Troy Springborn, Shawano 3. Greg Dhein, Waupaca 4. Tim Buhler, Glenbulah 5, Ron Bomber, New Franken 6. Randy Markwardt, Sheboygan
8 Lap Heats First l. Diemel 2. Tom Naeyaert, Shawano
Second l. Dhein 2. Terry Casey, New London

STREET STOCK
20 Lap Feature l. Darren Otto, Pulaski 2. Mike Coel, Green Bay 3. Chris Lange, Appleton 4, Shawn Van Ooyen, Appleton 5. Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay 6. Lance Arneson, Oconto
10 Lap Consy 1. Rick Naparalla, Pulaski 2. Tom White, Green Bay 3. Troy Wilson, Shiocton 4. David Hoerning, Appleton
8 Lap heats First l. Otto 2. Coel
Second l. Keith Kickbush, Kewaunee 2, Darci Czarapata, Pulaski
Third l. Phil Hiles, Appleton 2. Lange

IMCA STOCK CAR
20 Lap feature l. Jeremy Christians, Horicon 2. Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski 3. Greg Gretz, Kewaunee 4. Shawn Wagner, Pulaski 5. Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski 6. Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee
10 Lap Consy l. Jason Czarapata, Pulaski 2. Travis Van Straten, Hortonville 3. Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf
8 Lap Heats First l. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 2. Barry Van Straten, Shiocton
Second l. Christians 2. Dean Wilcox, Pulaski
Third l. Jesse Cullen. Chilton 2. Gretz