Miller Wins MSCS Feature; Humphrey Chalks Up First SLM Win
By Dale R. Erdmann

Lake Geneva, WI. May 1st. It was a cold clear night as temperatures hovered in the mid 30’s but the crowd that came out to Lake Geneva Raceway Saturday saw a great race program. Jeremy Miller of Rockton, Illinois the 2003 Midwest sportsman champion started off where he ended last season, winning the 40 lap feature race for the two year old series. ”I hope to win this series again” Miller told track announcer Dave Kamholtz, after his impressive win. The next series event is at Slinger Speedway on May 23rd. In other action 17 year old Jacob Humphrey of Lake Geneva, the 2003 millennium champion won his first career 35 lap feature in the Jim Olson Collision centers super late model division.  Humphrey in only his fourth start in this division has amazed even the veteran drivers with his great finishes so far this season. This bright young star is a junior at Badger high school less than one mile up the street from the raceway. John Janssen out of Burlington, another former champion won the non stop McHenry Limousine super stock feature and Kip Novotny from Johnsburg, IL.  won the Novotny Sales and Service 20 lap Rascal Outlaw feature and took fast time. 

      Jamie Dorsey came off the outside pole and moved to a comfortable lead quickly at the drop of the green, with Erik Pierce, Bobby Hacker and Josh Nelms in a cluster behind him. By the end of the tenth lap Nelms was second but the leader was still some distance ahead of the field, that still remained very tight. 

     By lap twelve Jeremy Miller had worked his way up to third and Nelms was starting to challenge the leader. Then on lap eighteen contact was made between Nelms and the leader. Around went Dorsey and out came the only Yellow pages USA caution period. Both drivers were sent to the back and Miller was the new leader. First Josh Bauer stayed with the leader, with Hacker getting his second wind on the inside. 

     With just ten laps to go fast qualifier James Swan and John Senerchia were moving around Hacker. The top ten were close,as Ken Smart put the pressure on Hacker with just eight laps to go. Swan suddenly slowed and dropped to the infield on lap thirty four with unknown problems. It was Miller taking the win with Senerchia at his tail, Bauer was along side for third, with Hacker was fourth and Bill Prietzel nipping Smart at the wire, as the top eleven were under a blanket. 

     The super late model feature was another fast and furious contest as the veteran Don Collins and former millennium late model driver,only in his second year of racing Earl Counter dueled for the lead. Vincent Merry,Jeff Lorenz, rookie Dave Thomas a former sportsman driver and Shane Bishop were all trying to advance. Merry slipped around Counter on lap six. The intense pace was slowed on lap thirteen when Jeff Menolascino and Steve Vaughn tangled bringing out the 
Yellow Pages USA caution period. 

      On the restart Collins again walked away from the field after a brief tussle with Merry and Thomas. Bishop and Jacob Humphrey picked the right lane with both all over Thomas within one lap. The next caution came on lap nineteen, again on as the green flew Collins marched in front with now Bishop, Humphrey and Merry searching for a way to move up. 

      Somehow Bishop crept inside of the leader on lap twenty one and there was a new leader. Humphrey briefly followed but Collins came right back only to have his move taken away one lap later. Fast timer Rick Corso was now in the fray as Merry could feel the pressure with Randy Rodgers next. With just six laps to go Humphrey was looking for a way around Bishop. This twosome raced together for the next three laps before Humphrey moved in front for good and went on to win the feature in fine fashion.  Bishop was second with Rodgers staying in front of Corso,Collins and Merry in a close finish.            

     The super stock feature brought Dave Melahn in the Adam Regnier mount out front with Zac Deeringer in the Tom Fay ride and Darryl Traber in the Al Kuphal race car, John Janssen and Ken Eisbrenner following the leader. Deeringer had problems drifting forwards the wall before recovering. Scott Norton moved along side Matz and the race still looked like a parade lap on lap eight. 

     Traber and Janssen were able to move up with Melahn just a few feet ahead of both of them on lap ten. From laps eleven to sixteen the lead changed three times as Traber put on a show with the leader, before the top spot changed hands. Moving in for the challenge Jack Rubach diced with Janssen for four laps. Then Bob Moeller joined the group at the top and it was too close to call. 

     Janssen moved along side Traber a few times but the Midwest Enduro promoter would not give up and either would Janssen. With the white flag out Janssen inched ahead for good and went on to win the race. Rubach nipped Traber at the line, with Moeller,Mike Gunderson and fast qualifier Norm Paulsen completing the top six for another barn burner race. 

     The Rascal outlaws feature started off with Rob Pollack out front with Steve Kreft, John LeSage, Jeff LeSage and Kip Novotny all over the leader. Butch Torkelson somehow moved up and into the lead on lap seven, but Pollack and Novotny were not going to let the new leader out of their sights. On Lap twelve Pollack slowed and then stopped in turn one on the edge of the surface. This brought out the only caution of the event. 

     On the restart everyone got out of quack as the green reappeared and Mark Findley spun but did not cause a caution, as he fell in at the tail. Quickly Novotny overhauled Torkelson and went on to easily win the event over Dale Olson, Jeff LeSage John LeSage who was upset by his brother’s move to finish in front of him. Kreft and rookie Keith Christopherson in his first race. 

     The stadium course moto cross racing weekly Friday night show begins this weekend at 8pm. On Saturday night on the oval the Luisa’s Pizzeria mini modifieds are here for the first ever appearance along with the super late models, super stocks and sportsman.