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Small Car Spring Opener A Huge Success At LGR
By Dale R. Erdmann
Lake Geneva, WI. May 6th. It was a warm beautiful night at Lake Geneva
Raceway for the first to be annual World class small car spring opener,
despite rain and tornados all around us. The most exciting feature of the
evening was the INEX legends event for 15 laps. Eric Lokemoen of Merrill made
the long haul down to win the three deep across the line feature. The INEX
bandolero cars were out in force with the third most per division here, as 15
year old Michael Cooter of Loves Park, Illinois won the feature race for 15
laps. The Double D towing Basic International cars had Bob Koch take his
second clean sweep in six days. The McHenry, IL. driver took fast time, won
the dash and finished just in front of a gaggle of cars in the 20 lap feature.
Mike Van Houten of Cary, IL. won the first 15 lap Lusia’s pizzeria
mini modifieds feature. Chris Bedore of Cary, IL. had a great night in
the open wheel Rascal Outlaws. Bedore taking fast time and then running away
with the feature race for 15 laps and the 4 cylinder trucks and cars class saw
rookie driver Jason Bragg of Rockford, IL. take fast time and win
the 10 lap feature in a car. The show was sponsored by Bilderback Auto Parts
from South Beloit, IL. who we thank for their support.
Kyle LaPier moved in front of the field as the legends feature began and held
onto the front spot until lap three when Eric Lokemoen inched ahead. Kyle
Palma moved into second on lap four with LaPier not contend with third, moving
back into second one lap later. The only Yellow Book USA caution period came
on lap seven when twelve year old Ross Kenseth in his first night out, spun in
turn four.
This tightened up the field as Lokemoen’s lead was gone. On the restart
LaPier held onto second until turn three, then fast qualifier and defending
champion Curt Gnatzig crept by. Then 2004 rookie of the year, thirteen year
old Michael Bilderback followed, setting up a six lap dash that would have the
large crowd on the edge of their seat until the conclusion. With the white
flag shown, Lokemoen felt Gnatzig at his left side, racing into turn two, both
cars got high, giving Bilderback room to get underneath the room two some.
Coming into three it was a dead heat, off of four three cars came across the
line side by side, with Lokemoen the winner, Gnatzig was second with
Bilderback third. The crowd gave the drivers a standing ovation. LaPier was
fourth right behind them, Ernie Schaal was fifth and Joe Scala sixth.
The mini modified feature wasn’t even one lap old when fast timer Glen
Vernezze night ended quickly after getting squeezed into the wall, bending up
his front end, creating a complete restart, minus Vernezze, who was not
injuried in the melee. With the green back out, Chris Thomazin snuck in front
for four laps before Mike VanHouten grabbed the top spot and never looked
back, winning the event over Thomazin, Curt Thomazin, Bill Trusky and Jerry
Giuliano in the former championship car of Ken Johnson.
The bandolero feature brought Michael Cooter from the second row starting spot
into the lead before the first lap could be completed. Collin Laursen didn’t
let the leader out of his sight moving into second after starting midpack.
Jimmy Uteg III was next and Kyle Palma along side him. On lap eight Uteg,
Bobby Yonkee and quick quaifier Kyle Justis got together slowing down the
race. On the restart it was a dead heat with Cooter and Laursen out front.
Palma had Dwight Dunlap all over him. First nighter Vince Haywood in the
championship car of Michael Bilderback’s dropped out with five laps to
go.
Two laps later Dunlap dropped out, one more lap in, Laursen and Cooter got
hooked together, causing Laursen to back into the wall backwards, breaking up
the fiberglass body. Laursen wasn’t hurt, but his night was over. With the
final green displayed Cooter stayed just ahead of Palma and Bobby Yonkee for a
close finish. Uteg was fourth with Justis recovering for fifth and a rookie
fourteen year old Hope Bidlack sixth. Earlier in the evening during the heat,
Yonkee crashed head on into the wall and it looked like his night was over.
But with lots of help, he made it back for the feature start.
The BIC feature was very close during the twenty lap event, as it took Bob
Koch eight laps to move through the field of nine teen other cars. But unlike
the last two features of the season Koch didn’t run away with the race,
finishing just in front of Lenny Adams, Todd Miller, Jason Conrad, Jack Rabey
and Andy Portzen.
Chris Bedore started on the pole after taking fast time and finished far ahead
of second place Keith Christopherson, Bill Gundlach, Mark Findley who started
in the second last row and fifth place went to Roger Aronson who started near
last.
Weekly Friday night racing begins on May 20th. The Lions Club will use
next Friday May 13th. for their raindate of their May 12th. show.
Time trials begin at 6pm. Racing is at 7. Tickets are available at the gate or
from local clubs until the show.
5/6/2005 - Lake Geneva Raceway Results
INEX Bandoleros
A-Main 01 -- 1. Michael Cooter, Loves Park, Ill. (y);; 2. Kyle
Palma, Delavan, Wis; 3. Bobby Yonkee (b), Willowbrook, Ill.; 4. Jimmy Uteg
III, Manhatta, Ill.; 5. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 6. Hope Bidlack, Genoa
City, Wis; 7. Jim Uteg Jr, Manhattan, Ill.; 8. Collin Laursen, Nelson, Wis; 9.
Dwight Dunlap (o), Machesney Park, Ill.; 10. Vince
Heat 01 -- 1. Michael Cooter (y);; 2. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 3.
Dwight Dunlap (o), Machesney Park, Ill.; 4. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 5.
Collin Laursen, Nelson, Wis; 6. Jim Uteg Jr, Manhattan, Ill.; 7. Vince
Haywood, Antioch, Ill.; 8. Bobby Yonkee (b), Willowbrook, Ill.; 9. Kyle Jusits
(y), Kenosha, Wis; 10. Jimmy
Time Trial -- 1. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 2. Kyle Palma, Delavan,
Wis; 3. Collin Laursen, Nelson, Wis; 4. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 5.
Dwight Dunlap (o), Machesney Park, Ill.; 6. Michael Cooter (y);; 7.
Jimmy Uteg III, Manhatta, Ill.; 8. Bobby Yonkee (b), Willowbrook, Ill.; 9.
Vince Haywood, Antioch, Ill.; 10.
Basic Int'l Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake,
Ill.; 3. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 4. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 5.
Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 6. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 7. Matt
Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 8. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 9. Tony Prietzel,
Racine, Wis; 10. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 11. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis;
12. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 13. Steve Bayer, Burlington, Wis; 14.
Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 15. Ashleigh Kitterman, Burlington, Wis; 16.
Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 17. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 18. Richard
Rendino, McHenry, Ill.; 19. Tim
B-Main 01 -- 1. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis; 2. Robert Palka, Pell Lake,
Wis; 3. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 4. Frank Murray Sr, Richmond, Ill.; 5.
Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 6. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 7.
Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis; 8. Mike Hudson;; 9. Deric Blanken, Crystal Lake,
Ill.; 10. David
Heat 01 -- 1. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 2. David Bole,
Sharon, Wis; 3. Frank Murray Sr, Richmond, Ill.; 4. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake,
Ill.; 5. Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis; 6. Mike Hudson;; 7. Deric
Heat 02 -- 1. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city, Wis;
3. David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 4. Steve Bayer, Burlington, Wis; 5. Tim
Hansen, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 7. Bill Urban,
Heat 03 -- 1. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 2. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove,
Ill.; 3. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 4. Tony Prietzel, Racine, Wis; 5. Matt
Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 6. Ashleigh Kitterman, Burlington, Wis; 7. Ryan
Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.; 8. Richard Rendino, McHenry, Ill..
Time Trial -- 1. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis;
3. Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 4. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Andy
Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 6. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Leo Bujak,
Spring Grove, Ill.; 8. Richard Rendino, McHenry, Ill.; 9. Pete Koenig,
Richmond, Ill.; 10. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 11. Matt Booker, Wonder
Lake, Ill.; 12. Tony Prietzel, Racine, Wis; 13. Ryan Andrews, Woodstock, Ill.;
14. Ashleigh Kitterman, Burlington, Wis; 15. Ken Causey, Elkhorn, Wis; 16.
David Rex Jr, Burlington, Wis; 17. Tim Hansen, Elkhorn, Wis; 18. Steve Bayer,
Burlington, Wis; 19. Bill Urban, Twin Lakes, Wis; 20. Kevin Lynn, Genoa city,
Wis; 21. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 22. David Bole, Sharon, Wis; 23. Frank
Murray Sr, Richmond, Ill.; 24. Wes Schultz, Wonderlake, Ill.; 25. Roger
Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 26. Rodger Emery, Delavan, Wis; 27. Deric
Blanken, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 28. Mike
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Todd Miller, Oak Creek,
Wis; 3. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Nick Kasten, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5.
Jason Conrad, Burlington, Wis; 6. Andy Portzen, Burlington,
INEX Legends
A-Main 01 -- 1. Eric Lokemoen, Merrill, Wis; 2. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford,
Wis; 3. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 4. Kyle La Pier (y),
Belvidere, Ill.; 5. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 6. Tom Palma, Delavan, Wis;
7. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 8. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 9. Ross
Kenseth;Cambridge,Wis. 10. Jason Halbrader
Heat 01 -- 1. Tom Palma, Delavan, Wis; 2. Kyle La Pier (y), Belvidere,
Ill.; 3. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 4. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 5.
Ross Kenseth;; 6. Jason Halbrader (o), Machesney Park, Ill.; 7. Vince
Time Trial -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Michael Bilderback (y),
S. Beloit, Ill.; 3. Eric Lokemoen, Merrill, Wis; 4. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda,
Ill.; 5. Kyle La Pier (y), Belvidere, Ill.; 6. Tom Palma, Delavan, Wis; 7. Joe
Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 8. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 9. Ross Kenseth;;
10. Jason Halbrader (o), Machesney Park, Ill.; 11. Vince Haywood, Antioch,
Ill..
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Eric Lokemoen, Merrill, Wis; 2. Michael Bilderback
(y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 3. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 4. Curt Gnatzig,
Hartford, Wis.
Mini-Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 2. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn,
Wis; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis; 5. Jerry
Giuliano, Schaumburg, Ill.; 6. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 7. Glen
Vernezze, Salem, Wis.
Heat 01 -- 1. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 2. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis;
3. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 4. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis; 5. Chris
Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Jerry Giuliano, Schaumburg Ill.; 7. Hermie Schultz,
Silver Lake, Wis; 8. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill..
Time Trial -- 1. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 2. Mike Van Houten, Cary,
Ill.; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Jerry Giuliano,Schaumburg, Ill.; 5.
Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 6. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. John
DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 8. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis.
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