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Emotional Win For Gnatzig In INEX Qualifier
Two In A Row For Allen
By Dale R. Erdmann
Lake Geneva, WI. July 9th. It was a perfect night for a special and
that’s what Lake Geneva Raceway, Speedway Auto Mall of Machesney Park,
Illinois and Avoco Oil of Rockford, Illinois, presented. The
raceway was hosting an INEX regional qualifier event, as defending LGR
Champion Curt Gnatzig of Hartford won his first major race, by topping the
field in the 30 lap feature for the legends cars and took home $1000 for his
efforts. Branden Allen of Yorkville, IL. won the 20 lap bandolero feature, his
second in a row. The super late model feature for 40 laps went to Rick Corso
of McHenry, IL. The Performance unlimited 25 lap feature went to Kenny Joosten
of Wonder Lake, IL. the current points leader. The McHenry Limousine super
stocks feature went to Adam Regnier of Twin Lakes, his fifth for the
season.
Visiting Danny Jackson sprinted out front of the legends feature with Don
Schaal, Eric Lokemoen, Curt Gnatzig, Jason Coleman and Mark Whitley in hot
pursuit. In just two laps Whitley was up to second, with Lokemoen and Gnatzig
right there. For some unknown reason Lokemoen retired to the pits on lap six.
Fast time qualifier Michael Bilderback was now fourth by lap eight, as Jackson
was just in front of Whitley and Gnatzig. Ernie Schaal joined the top five on
lap ten, with a very close field from front to back at the midway point, with
Gnatzig now second, Bilderback third and Whitley fourth. On lap eighteen
Bilderback was on the move, taking over the lead after a two lap battle with
Jackson. Jackson wasn’t going to settle for anything but the front spot,
retaking the lead, with Gnatzig now second, as the top three were three deep
for the lead. Somehow Gnatzig pulled off the move that sent him into the lead
on lap twenty four. One lap later Jackson and Bilderback made contact sending
both off the track in turn one and the first of only two Yellow Book USA
caution periods were going to happen. On the restart it was everyone trying to
win the big one, as Whitley moved in on the leader, with Don Schaal, Ernie
Schaal, Kyle LaPier and Ross Kenseth were looking at the top. Two laps later
Bilderback and Kenseth made contact and out came the final caution of this
event. On the last green LaPier jumped the start before the green was
displayed, but then pulled back behind the car he passed. The finale was
excellent as Gnatzig, won the race just in front of Whitley, Ernie Schaal,
LaPier and Don Schaal. Because of the jump start LaPier was dropped to
thirteenth according to the regional qualifying rules. This moved
Bilerback into sixth and the remainder moved up as well. After the event
Gnatzig told the crowd that he really appreciated Kevin Dawson, Speedway Auto
Mall and great drivers like Eric (Lokemoen), Michael Bilderback and all the
rest he gets to race with each week.
Kyle Justis slipped in front of the bandolero feature, with Branden Allen,
points leader Kyle Palma. and Steve Erickson around the leader. Allen took
over the lead on lap three, with Erickson and Michael Cooter who had fast time
in a dead heat for third. From near rear of the field Collin Laursen was now
challenging Erickson for his spot entering lap six. Midway second through the
remainder of the field were close. The only caution came on lap thirteen when
Erickson spun. The final laps were all Allen to win, in which he did, Cooter
was second, new points leader Laursen third, Justis fourth and rookie Hope
Bidlack, who earlier won her first career heat, finished fifth.
The super late model feature wasn’t even one lap old when Chuck Duncan and
Fran Prestay got together causing a complete restart. With the green out, Ron
Stoehr looped his mount, but no one getting into him. From the opening green
Rick Corso would dart in out of field, then another caution came on lap ten
and fourteen, before some all out racing ensued. Terry Patnode, moved by first
nighter Earl Counter who raced here last season. Four more caution flags came
out one on lap twenty eight, thirty six, thirty nine and forty, each time
Corso marched out front to come home the winner. Jamie Wallace who had fast
time settled for second after numerous challenges throughout the final ten
laps. Jeff Holmgren Jr. was third, Patnode fourth and Counter
fifth.
The super stock feature saw Craig Mertes take the lead with first Tom Roney,
then Dave Edwards in second, before Adam Regnier took over the runner up spot.
Mertes ran a consistence line, with much of the race behind him. By lap twenty
Regnier caught the leader and with five laps to go, there was a new
leader, who won the event, over Mertes, Edwards, Roney and John Maki Jr.
in a great non stop race that had only one car out of the event and another
one lapped.
Gary Norton came in front of the sportsman feature with first Kenny Smart,
then Erik Pierce second the first fifteen laps. Adam Mass was third, with
Kenny Joosten next. This was an extremely close pack, with only one caution
during it’s running, when John Fischer got tagged by Jeremy Bloomberg.
Norton ran a high line and on lap seventeen Pierce finally moved in front,
before Joosten came up and took the lead with three laps to go. With just one
lap to go, Pierce came back in front coming for the checkered, but then spun,
as Joosten, Bloomberg, Norton, Mass and John Janssen crossed the line in that
order, for a Joosten win.
The rascal outlaws join the other divisions this Saturday night with races at
7pm.
7/9/2005 - Lake Geneva Raceway Results
INEX Bandoleros
A-Main 01 -- 1. Branden Allen (y), Yorkville, Ill.; 2. Michael
Cooter (y);; 3. Collin Laursen, Nelson, Wis; 4. Kyle Jusits (y),
Kenosha, Wis; 5. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 6. Steve Erickson, Roscoe,
Ill.; 7. Dave Cooter Sr., Loves Park, Ill.; 8. Brian Milligan, Salem, Wis; 9.
Andy Luebke, Paris, Wis; 10. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis; 11. Brandon Heisler,
Aurora, Ill..
Heat 01 -- 1. Hope Bidlack, Genoa City, Wis; 2. Kyle Palma, Delavan, Wis;
3. Andy Luebke, Paris, Wis; 4. Brian Milligan, Salem, Wis; 5. Dave Cooter Sr.,
Loves Park, Ill.; 6. Kyle Jusits (y), Kenosha, Wis; 7. Brandon Heisler,
Aurora, Ill..
Time Trial -- 1. Michael Cooter (y);; 2. Branden Allen (y),
Yorkville, Ill.; 3. Steve Erickson, Roscoe, Ill.; 4. Collin Laursen, Nelson,
Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Branden Allen (y), Yorkville, Ill.; 2. Steve
Erickson, Roscoe, Ill.; 3. Collin Laursen, Nelson, Wis; 4. Michael Cooter
(y);;
INEX Legends
A-Main 01 -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Mark Whitley,
Charlotte, N.C.; 3. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 4. Don Schaal, Wauconda,
Ill.; 5. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 6. Danny Jackson, Loveland,
Ohio; 7. Jason Coleman, Maple Park, Ill.; 8. Chris Helgerson, Burlington, Wis;
9. Dave Cooter Sr., Loves Park, Ill.; 10. Michael Wankowski, Oak Creek, Wis;
11. Kyle La Pier (y), Belvidere, Ill.; 12. Ross Kenseth,
Heat 01 -- 1. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 2. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake,
Ill.; 3. Jason Coleman, Maple Park, Ill.; 4. Ross Kenseth, Lake Barrington,
Ill.; 5. Michael Wankowski, Oak Creek, Wis; 6. Kyle La Pier (y), Belvidere,
Ill.; 7. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill..
Time Trial -- 1. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Curt
Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 3. Mark Whitley, Charlotte, N.C.; 4. Eric Lokemoen,
Merrill, Wis; 5. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 6. Danny Jackson, Loveland,
Ohio; 7. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 8. Kyle La Pier (y), Belvidere,
Ill.; 9. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 10. Jason Coleman, Maple Park, Ill.;
11. Don Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 12. Chris Helgerson, Burlington, Wis; 13. Ross
Kenseth, Lake Barrington, Ill.; 14. Dave Cooter Sr., Loves Park, Ill.; 15.
Michael
Trophy Dash 1. Eric Lokemoen,Merrill,Wis. 2.Curt Gnatzig,Hartford,Wis. 3.Danny
Jackson, Loveland, Ohio 4. Ernie Schaal ,Waconda,Ill. 5.Michael
Bilderback,South Beloit,Ill.6.Mark Whitley ,Charlotte,N.C.
Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder Lake, Ill.; 2. Jeremy
Bloomberg, Hampshire, Ill.; 3. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 4. Adam Mass (t),
Woodstock, Ill.; 5. John Janssen, Burlington, Wis; 6. Ken Smart, Oconomowoc,
Wis; 7. Dennis Norton Jr, McHenry, Ill.; 8. Rick Rowlett, Marengo, Ill.; 9.
Erik Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 10. John Fischer, Burlington, Wis.
Heat 01 -- 1. Rick Rowlett, Marengo, Ill.; 2. John Fischer, Burlington,
Wis; 3. Ken Smart, Oconomowoc, Wis; 4. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 5. Erik
Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 6. Dennis Norton Jr, McHenry, Ill..
Time Trial -- 1. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder Lake, Ill.; 2. Jeremy
Bloomberg, Hampshire, Ill.; 3. Adam Mass (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 4. John
Janssen, Burlington, Wis; 5. Erik Pierce, Lake In The Hills, Ill.; 6. John
Fischer, Burlington, Wis; 7. Gary Norton, Hebron, Ill.; 8. Ken Smart,
Oconomowoc, Wis; 9. Rick Rowlett, Marengo, Ill.; 10. Dennis Norton Jr,
McHenry, Ill..
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. John Janssen, Burlington, Wis; 2. Jeremy Bloomberg,
Hampshire, Ill.; 3. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder Lake, Ill.; 4. Adam Mass (t),
Woodstock, Ill..
Super Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Rick Corso, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Jamie Wallace, Pell
Lake, Wis; 3. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 4. Terry Patnode, South
Milwaukee, Wis; 5. Earl Counter, Geneva, Ill.; 6. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva,
Wis; 7. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis; 8. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington,
Wis; 9. Mike Simon Sr (t), Grayslake, Ill.; 10. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis;
11. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 12. Mike Simon Jr, Ingleside, Ill.; 13.
Kent Burkoth (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 14. Ron Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 15. Jeff
Lorenz, Waukesha, Wis; 16. Jerry Cowan, Burlington, Wis; 17. Fran Prestay,
Burlington, Wis; 18. Eddie May (t),
Heat 01 -- 1. Jeff Lorenz, Waukesha, Wis; 2. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva,
Wis; 3. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 4. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 5.
Mike Simon Sr (t), Grayslake, Ill.; 6. Mike Simon Jr, Ingleside, Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Rick Corso, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington,
Wis; 3. Ron Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 4. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis; 5.
Jerry Cowan, Burlington, Wis; 6. Earl Counter, Geneva, Ill.; 7. Chuck Duncan,
Milwaukee, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Jamie Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Jeff Holmgren, Jr.,
East Troy, Wis; 3. Kent Burkoth (t), Pell Lake, Wis; 4. Fran Prestay,
Burlington, Wis; 5. Terry Patnode, South Milwaukee, Wis; 6. Eddie May (t),
Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 8. Earl Counter, Geneva,
Ill.; 9. Jerry Cowan, Burlington, Wis; 10. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis;
11. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington, Wis; 12. Rick Corso, McHenry, Ill.; 13. Ron
Stoehr, Dousman, Wis; 14. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 15. Jeff Lorenz,
Waukesha, Wis; 16. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 17. Brad Norgard, Pell
Lake, Wis; 18. Mike Simon Sr (t), Grayslake, Ill.; 19. Mike Simon Jr,
Ingleside, Ill.; 20. Greg Garnette, Racine, Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Fran Prestay, Burlington, Wis; 2. Kent Burkoth (t),
Pell Lake, Wis; 3. Eddie May (t), Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Jeff Holmgren, Jr.,
East Troy, Wis; 5. Terry Patnode, South Milwaukee, Wis; 6. Jamie
Super Stocks
A-Main 01 -- 1. Adam Regnier (t), Twin Lakes, Wis; 2. Craig Mertes
(t), Antioch, Ill.; 3. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 4. Tom Roney, Ridgefield,
Ill.; 5. John Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.; 6. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis; 7. Mike
Gunderson, Wind Lake, Wis; 8. Joe DeCubellis, Burlington, Wis; 9. Scott
Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 10. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis; 11. Darryl
Traber,Waterford, Wis; 12. Tom Jastrab, Genoa City, Wis; 13. Willy Peterson,
Woodstock, Ill.; 14. Jamie Starks, Waukesha, Wis; 15. Bill Reese, Hebron,
Ill.; 16. Ken "farmer" Calhoun, Johnsburg, Ill.; 17. Mike Olson,
Wonder Lake, Ill.; 18. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 19.
Heat 01 -- 1. Jamie Starks, Waukesha, Wis; 2. Mike Olson, Wonder Lake,
Ill.; 3. Willy Peterson, Woodstock, Ill.; 4. Ken "farmer" Calhoun,
Johnsburg, Ill.; 5. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 6. Dustin Holland, Genoa
City, Wis; 7. Bill Reese, Hebron, Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Tom Roney, Ridgefield, Ill.; 2. Darryl Traber,Waterford,
Wis; 3. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 4. Adam Regnier (t), Twin Lakes, Wis; 5.
Craig Mertes (t), Antioch, Ill.; 6. Mike Gunderson, Wind Lake, Wis; 7. Randy
Schneider, Burlington, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Joe DeCubellis, Burlington, Wis; 2. Josh Wallace (T),
Pell Lake, Wis; 3. John Maki Jr, Antioch, Ill.; 4. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake,
Ill.; 5. Tom Jastrab, Genoa City, Wis; 6. Ken Eisbrenner, Racine, Wis; 7. Adam
Regnier (t), Twin Lakes, Wis; 8. Darryl Traber,Waterford, Wis; 9. Dave
Edwards, Salem, Wis; 10. Mike Gunderson, Union Grove, Wis; 11. Craig Mertes
(t), Antioch, Ill.; 12. Tom Roney, Ridgefield, Ill.; 13. Randy Schneider,
Burlington, Wis; 14. Bill Reese, Hebron, Ill.; 15. Willy Peterson, Woodstock,
Ill.; 16. Ken "farmer" Calhoun, Johnsburg, Ill.; 17. Dustin Holland,
Genoa City, Wis; 18. Mike Olson, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 19. Jamie Starks,
Waukesha, Wis; 20. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Scott Norton, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 2. John Maki Jr,
Antioch, Ill.; 3. Joe DeCubellis, Burlington, Wis; 4. Josh Wallace (T), Pell
Lake, Wis; 5. Tom Jastrab, Genoa City, Wis; 6. Ken Eisbrenner,Racine,Wis.
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