May 19, 2002; Seymour, WI - Three time track champion Troy Springborn of Shawano squeezed inside Tom Naeyaert for the lead on lap 10 and opened up a full straightaway lead en route to posting the 20 lap WISSOTA late model feature win at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway Sunday night. The contest went green-to-checkered without a caution. A total of 115 cars took part in the program, which was wrapped up promptly at 9:20 p.m. The field included 29 street stocks, 28 IMCA stock cars, 23 IMCA modifieds, 12 WISSOTA late models and 14 four-bangers.
Naeyaert outraced fellow front row driver Randy Markwardt into the lead on the start and marched to the front of the 20 lap WISSOTA late model main. Springborn tailed Naeyaert for the next several laps, sizing up the fellow hometown driver. Terry Casey shot from his fifth starting spot into third on lap five, making it a three car battle for the lead. As the lead duo came across the starting line at the halfway point of the contest Springborn muscled his way inside of Naeyaert to take the lead. Springborn proceeded to build up a comfortable five car length cushion over the pack in just four short laps. In the meantime Casey had wrestled second away from Naeyaert and had attempted to reel in Springborn, but to no avail. Springborn stretched his margin to a full straightaway at the checkers. Casey took home second place money. Naeyaert hung on to third, followed by Nick Anvelink and Markwardt rounding out the top five finishers. Beaver Dam's Jay Schraufnagel survived heavy pressure from former champion Brian Mullen to hang on and win the 20 lap IMCA modified feature, his first of the year at the track. Baileys Harbor's Mike Coel grabbed an early lead in the 20 lap IMCA modified main, with Schraufnagel slicing through the field from his ninth starting spot into second in just two short laps. Schraufnagel grabbed the lead from Coel on lap four and immediately went to work distancing himself from the pack. While Schraufnagel was enjoying a comfortable lead RM Van Pay and Coel waged a torrid battle for second, with Van Pay getting the upper hand on Coel on lap six. Van Pay tried keeping Schraufnagel in his sights as the leader began weaving his way through lapped cars by lap 10. Brian Mullen had moved into third from his twelfth starting spot on the grid and closed in on Van Pay on lap 12, passing him one round later. Mullen caught a break two laps later when a Sean Jerovetz spin on lap 15 erased Schraufnagel's full straightaway lead. The Beaver Dam ace had Mullen glued to his rear bumper on the restart. With a five lap dash to the finish remaining, Mullen opted for the high side, with Schraufnagel protecting the bottom line. The Beaver Dam driver was up for the fight, scoring the victory. Mullen settled for runnerup money. Van Pay took third, followed by Brad Rohloff and Mike Wedelstadt, respectively. Tim Van De Hei snagged the lead with just three laps remaining and fought off Brandon Czarapata and John Heinz to post a tough, 20 lap IMCA stock car feature win, his first of the year at the track. Kewaunee's Greg Gretz held the top spot in the early going with fellow front row starter Benji LaCrosse dogging him for the first several laps. Gretz kept his racer clung to the low groove while LaCrosse let his racer hang out on the high side. The pair traded the lead for several laps with LaCrosse forging ahead for good on lap eight. Czarapata and Van De Hei hooked up with LaCrosse by lap nine, setting up a three car scrap for the lead. John Heinz joined the fray one circuit later making a quartet all fighting for the lead. All bets were off on lap eleven when a Greg Gutt spin in turn one drew a yellow. When racing resumed Van De Hei hooked up on the high side and sailed around LaCrosse with three laps to go, and scoring the victory. Placing second through fifth were Czarapata, Heinz, LaCrosse and Christians. Appleton's Phil Hiles took the lead on lap 11 and went on to win his first 20 lap street stock feature of the season. After an aborted start Darci Czarapata took the lead from her pole position at the drop of the green. Otto had slipped from his third starting spot into second on the opening circuit. Otto drove around Czarapata to take the lead on lap three. Otto began to pull away from the field when his racer suffered mechanical woes, forcing him to pit on lap eight. Hoerning inherited the lead with Czarapata and Phil Hiles glued to his rear bumper. Hiles slipped inside of Hoerning to take the lead on lap 11. The duo pulled away from the pack to settle the score in the final nine laps, with Hoerning spinning on lap 14 on the fronstretch. Hoerning refired his racer and stayed on the lead lap. A Lance Arnenson spin one circuit later tightened up the field, setting up a five lap dash to the checkers. Hiles checked out in the final five laps and cruised to his first feature flag of the season. Trailing Hiles at the checkers were Shawn Van Ooyen, Jamie Van Ooyen, Mike Coel and Keith Kickbush. Black Creek's Jamie Schmidt bested the other 13 competitors to win the 15 lap four-banger feature. Racing in all five divisions will resume next week, May 26 beginning at 6:30 p.m. IMCA MODIFIED 20 Lap Feature l. Jay Schraufnagel, Beaver Dam 2., Brian Mullen, Seymour 3. R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay 4. Brad Rohloff, Pulaski 5. Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville 6. Jamie Schmidt, Seymour 12 Lap Consy l. Jared Siefert, Green Bay 2. Dean Maurer, DePere 3. Mike Broekman, Green Bay 4. Scott Boyea, Green Bay 10 Lap heats First l. Mullen 2. Jeremy Jacobs, Algoma Second 1. Travis Spaulding, Greenville 2. Wedelstadt Third l. Rohloff 2. Sean Jerovetz, Suamico WISSOTA LATE MODEL 20 Lap Feature l. Troy Springborn, Shawano 2. Terry Casey, New London 3. Tom Naeyaert, Shawano 4. Nick Anvelink, Navarino 5. Randy Markwardt, Sheboygan 6. Tim Buhler, Glenbulah 8 Lap Heats First l. Buhler 2. Markwardt Second l. Casey 2. Springborn STREET STOCK 20 Lap feature l. Phil Hiles, Appleton 2. Shawn Van Ooyen, Green Bay 3, Joe Van Ooyen, Appleton 4. Mike Coel, Green Bay 5. Keith Kickbush, Kewaunee 6. Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay 12 Lap Consy l. Joe Van Ooyen, Appleton 2. Lance Arenson, Oconto Falls 3. Charlie Van Ooyen, Appleton 4. Chris Lange, Appleton 8 Lap Heats First l. David Hoerning, Appleton 2. Hiles Second l. Darren Otto, Pulaski 2. Darci Czarapata, Pulaski Third l. Mike Coel, Green Bay 2. Wiitala IMCA STOCK CAR 20 Lap Feature l. Tim Van De Hei, Green Bay 2. Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski 3. John Heinz, Green Bay 4. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 5. Jeremy Christians, Horicon 6. Greg Gretz, Kewaunee 12 Lap Consy l. Shawn Wagner, Pulaski 2. Travis Van Straten, Green Bay 3. Chaz Van Ooyen, Appleton 4. Barry Van Straten, Pulaski 8 Lap Heats First l. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 2. Heinz Second l. Kyle Fredrick, Gillette 2. Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski Third l. Brandon Shawano 2. Buhler 4 Bangers 15 Lap Feature l. Jamie Schmidt, Green Bay |
