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Clean Sweep For Allen, Novotny And Koch At LGR
By Dale R. Erdmann
Lake Geneva, WI. July 1st. It was another great weather night for stock car
racing at Lake Geneva Raceway Friday night and nearly 80 race cars were in the
pit area, ready to put on the family fun night show. 16 year old Branden Allen
of Yorkville, Illinois has had fast time on quite a few occasions this season,
even won some heats, but tonight the INEX bandolero driver finally won his
first career 15 lap feature race, giving the second year driver a clean sweep
of his class. Kip Novotny of Johnsburg, IL. has had his share of
problems until last week when he took a clean sweep. This week it was a carbon
copy of the last show, as the veteran driver took fast time, won his heat and
the non stop 20 lap feature. in the Double R towing Basic International cars,
Bob Koch a former champion took fast time, won the dash event and the non stop
20 lap feature race, giving an impressive record for these three drivers and
something very rare in racing here with the close competition each week. In
other divisions, Keith Tolf of Union Grove broke the 6 week winning steak of
Josh Wallace, by taking the 25 lap feature race in the late model cars. 13
year old Michael Bilderback of South Beloit, IL. the 2004 rookie of the year
in the INEX legends cars, won his second 15 lap feature in the Perfection Auto
Body sponsored legends group and Steven Johnson won his first career feature
race for 12 laps in the Midwest sport truck division.
Collin Laursen shot in front of the bandolero feature, with Kyle Palma at his
right side, Kyle Justis and Hope Bidlack were next. Before lap two was
completed Branden Allen moved through a three deep situation grabbing second.
The next two laps it was a see/saw for the lead, with each driver leading one
of those two laps. Allen inched in the lead, with Laursen along side him.
Coming into turn two it was a dead heat, into three Laursen crept ahead, but
then coming into turn four, the new leader was going too hard moving from low
on the track to hitting the grass and driving into the retaining wall barrels
coming to rest backwards after bouncing off the barrels. The crowd went
silent, but then Laursen signaled he was ok. The crowd cheered when told the
young driver was fine. Oddly enough only an $87 spindle was trashed in what
looked like an awful incident. After a lengthy clean up, the race resumed with
Allen trying to maintain the lead, but now Palma was along side him. Allen won
the event, with Palma second, Bidlack in her best finish for the rookie driver
was third, Justis was fourth and first night driver Brian Milligan was
fifth.
Lee Halverson climbed from the second row of the rascal outlaw feature in
front as the green flag came out. Jeff LeSage, Dale Olson, Jim Thiel and Chris
Bedore were next. Somehow Bedore moved from fifth, to second then into the
lead all within five laps. Once in front it was all Bedore moving to a eight
car advantage by lap ten. Marc Adams and Rob Pollack moved into third and
fourth respectively on lap ten. Fast qualifier Kip Novotny joined the top five
one lap later and by lap thirteen was running second, far behind the leader.
With the white flag out Novotny caught the leader and motored by for the win.
Bedore was second, Adams nipped Halverson for third, with Roger Aronson
fifth.
The BIC feature saw Rob Schiebel jump in front of the field with Josh Heide
taking over the top spot one lap later. Lap four Kevin Hill who dogged Hiede
slipped in front. Jack Rabey moved into second on lap six, but Heide wasn’t
going away without a fight, moving back into second two laps later before
Rabey advanced again. Soon Lenny Adams who started in the eighth row was up to
second, then in front on lap thirteen. Bob Koch who started next to Rabey was
now on the move, taking third, then second and challenging for the front spot
before cruising by on lap seventeen, going on to win. Adams was second, Hill
third, with Rabey fourth and Leo Bujak fifth.
The legends feature brought Michael Bilderback in front after starting second
row inside. Eric Lokemoen was second but Curt Gnatzig followed the point
leader until a slight bobble gave Gnatzig the opportunity to move by. Rookie
Ryan Miles who started on the pole was running right with the field. The top
three were glued together with Ernie Schaal in his Father’s race car after
developing problems with his own car during the heat in a side by side battle
with Miles and Joe Scala. Lokemoen watched Gnatzig’s every move and
with just two laps to go, the wait was worth it, as Lokemoen made his move,
securing second. With the white flag out Bilderback held his line for the win.
Lokemoen was right behind him for second, with Gnatzig right along side by
third. Schaal was fourth and Miles fifth in a good feature finish.
Carrie Dygon who was celebrating her 25th. birthday today and Paul Edmindson
raced side by side for the lead the first three laps before Carrie decisively
gained the front spot with no one along side her. Ralph Gentile moved along
side the leader and the lead changed on lap four. This was short lived as
Keith Tolf scooted by with Josh Wallace, Gentile, quick timer Sonny Schoffen
and Brian Ulrich in a tight cluster. on lap fourteen Jeff Graf spun,
causing the first Yellow Book USA caution period in any feature. On the
restart Edmundson got pushed up , slamming the wall stopping the race one more
time. Edmundson drove into the pits with noticeable sheet metal damage, but
never returned for the next restart. Tolf marched right back in front each
time there was a slowdown, as another one came three laps later when Gentile
spun. One lap later the second year driver spun again and this would be the
final caution for this race. Tolf would go on to win the event in fine
fashion, as Schoffen chased the winner until the final lap, as Wallace got by
at the wire, Ulrich was fourth and Dygon fifth.
The sport truck feature saw Dale Gustum charge out front before the first
caution came on lap six for a Chad Ross spin. On the restart the race wasn’t
even one more lap older when there was another slowdown. Steven Johnson was
now the new leader as he drove to the win after numerous competition from Tom
Ross who was second. Gustum was third, Chad Ross fourth and Gary Johnson
fifth.
Racing continues this Friday night with time trials at 6pm. racing at
7:30 sharp.
Bandoleros (INEX) Lake Geneva Raceway
As of 7/2/2005 Year to Date Total Points
Rank Car # Name Hometown Points
1.17P Kyle Palma Delavan, WI 1,230
2.25 Collin Laursen Nelson, WI 1,195
3.12A Branden Allen (y) Yorkville, IL 1,140
4.0 Michael Cooter
(y) 1,120
5.91 Hope Bidlack Genoa City, WI 1,055
6.14 Kyle Jusits (y) Kenosha, WI 870
7.97 Vince Heywood Antioch, IL 665
8.21 Steve Erickson Roscoe, Il 435
9.28 Bobby Yonkee (b) Willowbrook, IL 370
10.94 Tyler Blume (b) Oregon, IL 165
11.33 Brian Milligan Salem, WI 165
12.5 Jimmy Uteg III Manhatta, IL 165
13.20 Dwight Dunlap (o) Machesney Park, IL 165
14.4 Jim Uteg Jr Manhattan, IL 145
15.99 Kyle Heywood Antioch, IL 130
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