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Seegert Charges To Victory
July 14, 2002
Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway
Beaver Dam, WI
By Craig Seaver
Sunday night saw the first ever Wissota Late Model race at the Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway. A good crowd was on hand to catch a total of 228 laps of green flag racing. 83 of the fastest cars in their class were present to race on the fastest half-mile in the state. In the late model feature Scott Cramer used his front row starting spot to take the lead just ahead of Gordie Seegert. Seegert, starting in the second row quickly shot around a couple cars and into second. As the front two slowly built a lead on the pack, Troy Springborn, Terry Casey and Nick Anvelink each chose a different line to battle for third. Although there was lap leader bonus money available, it appeared that Seegert was content to follow Cramer for awhile. For 20 laps the two tore around the track a blistering speeds before Seegert made his move underneath for the lead. Nose to tail the two ran until they encountered lap traffic on lap 24. In traffic, Cramer made a few moves to retake the lead when he and Seegert made contact sending him into the wall. This would bring out the only caution of the race and although Cramer drove off under his own power his hopes for winning the $2,000 purse were dashed. On the restart Seegert tore into the lead while Nick Anvelink and Springborn ran side by side for the remaining 4 laps. Seegert went on to win ahead of Anvelink, Springborn, Casey and John Kaanta. Along with the $2,000 win came $300 in lap leader bonus cash. All of this taking place on his birthday. Happy birthday Gordie.
In the IMCA Modified feature with the phrase "I want this win" plastered on his car, Rob Olson blasted out into the lead. Chad Hummelmeier tried to stay with Olson but soon faded back into the clutches of Sammy Strasser and Mike Wedelstadt. The lone caution of the race came out on lap 8 a negated Olson's lead. The restart allowed Jay Schraufnagel to jump past several cars and into second. Lap 14 saw Schraufnagel move underneath Olson and into the lead where he would remain. Olson held onto second for a few more laps but soon retired with mechanical problems. Strasser inherited second but would have his hands full with Jared Siefert and Eric Scribner. With about 6 laps remaining, Hummelmeier made a late race charge to get back to the front. With a large lead over the field, Schraufnagel cruised to the win as Hummelmeier swept around Strasser for second.
In the IMCA Stock finale, Benji LaCrosse and Tim Van De Hei immediately took off and away from the field. With Jeremy Christians in tow, John Stanton went from his ninth place starting spot into third on lap 8. Slowly the two gained on the leaders who were content to run nose to tail on the outside line. Lap 11 saw Stanton nearly spin and lose several positions with a trip through the infield. A caution a lap later allowed the field to close onto the rear of the leaders. On the restart Jamie Colwell made a bid for the lead but instead wound up losing spots to Christians and Van De Hei. Lap 18 saw the first lead change when Christians went underneath LaCrosse. A few laps later Stanton, with composure regained, moved into fourth and onto the bumper of Van De Hei. With Christians' lead insurmountable and LaCrosse secure in second, Van De Hei and Stanton ran door to door for the final 4 laps with each gaining and losing ground. At the stripe it would be Van De Hei just edging out Stanton for third.
Photos courtesy of Rich Photos - Beaver Dam (Click on photo for bigger, better
quality picture)
RACE SUMMARY
Late Model
Feature: 1) Gordie Seegert, Oostburg; 2) Nick Anvelink, Navarino; 3) Troy Springborn, Shawano; 4) Terry Casey, New London; 5) John Kaanta, Eau Claire; 6) Terry Anvelink, Navarino; 7) Randy Markwardt, Sheboygan; 8) Tim Buhler, Green Bush; 9) Tom Naeyert, Shawano; 10) Greg Dhein, Waupaca
First Heat: 1) Terry Casey; 2) Randy Markwardt; 3) Troy Springborn
Second Heat: 1) Scott Cramer, Random Lake; 2) Pete Parker, Kaukauna; 3) Tom Naeyert
IMCA Modified
Feature: 1) Jay Schraufnagel, Beaver Dam; 2) Chad Hummelmeier, Beaver Dam; 3) Sammy Strasser, Beaver Dam; 4) Jared Siefert, Green Bay; 5) Eric Scribner, Kiel; 6) Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville; 7) Dennis Haldemann, Janesville; 8) Kelly Brown, Randolph; 9) Joe White, Oconto; 10) Todd Ascherien, Beaver Dam
First Heat: 1) Eric Scribner; 2) Dennis Haldemann; 3) Chad Hummelmeier
Second Heat: 1) Mike Wedelstadt; 2) Jay Schraufnagel; 3) Scott Lewis, Waukau
Third Heat: 1) Jared Siefert; 2) Dan Musbach, Grafton; 3) Todd Ascherien
Fourth Heat: 1) Rob Olson, Lake Villa, Ill; 2) Joe White; 3) Sammy Strasser
B-Main: 1) Kelly Brown; 2) Ed Devall, Waukegan, Ill; 3) Jamie Schmidt, Seymour
C-Main: 1) Julie McDermid, Oconto; 2) Craig Wheeler, Montello; 3) Kevin Ferfecki, Krakow
IMCA Stock
Feature: 1) Jeremy Christians, Horicon; 2) Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg; 3) Tim Van De Hei, Green Bay; 4) John Stanton, Reeseville; 5) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski; 6) Jamie Colwell Greenleaf; 7) Jeff Owens, Randolph; 8) Kyle Frederick, Gillet; 9) Kerry Douglas, Sister Bay; 10) Scott Erdmann, Juneau
First Heat: 1) Brian Breuchert, Kewaunee; 2) Greg Gretz, Kewaunee; 3) Jeff Vlies, Brussels
Second Heat: 1) Jamie Colwell; 2) Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; 3) Rob Schmid, Burnett
Third Heat: 1) Jeremy Christians; 2) Tim Van De Hei; 3) Scott Erdmann
Fourth Heat: 1) John Stanton; 2) Benji LaCrosse; 3) Jeff Owens
B-Main: 1) Brett Piontek, Green Bay; 2) Kerry Douglas; 3) Travis Van Straten, Shiocton
C-Main: 1) Brandon Czarapata; 2) Kyle Frederick; 3) Roger Johnson, Saukville
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