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Cox Shakes The Lake In Geneva HOSS Action
Tim Cox of Park City, Illinois, muscled past polesitter Todd Lehr on the fifth
lap of the thirty lap green to checker Ultimate Racing Spectacular at Lake
Geneva Raceway Thursday night. Cox classed the field by over three
seconds at he finish, with Lehr retaining second over David Gough, Greg
Wheeler, and Jeff Bloom in fifth.
It was Thursday night racing in Wisconsin with the Hoosier Outlaw Sprint
Series under picture perfect racing weather conditions. A bright blue
sky, comfortable temps and a smooth breeze brought fans to the Raceway in
droves to see the only visit by winged sprint cars to the Lake Geneva
facility. A large group of Wisconsin dirt sprint cars bolted up the
slick biscuits to join the action. Many drivers had a history with the
speedway or lived nearby and wanted to give the fans the best show before the
speedway closes in October.
Hot laps saw the drivers and teams learning quickly that Lake Geneva was a two
for one track with opposite ends not nearly equal in handling. Turns one
and two brought cars smoothly to the backstretch where the entry to turn three
proved to be the key. A wrong line there sent the cars toward to top of
turn four, and a undesired view of the fast approaching front stretch
wall. Crews twisted, turned and replaced setup pieces on many racecars
before returning to the track for qualifying.
Qualifying brought many fans to the track early as the Ultimate Lap Challenge
bonus swelled to $750. The Challenge bonus goes to the driver who holds
the track record at the end of the final night of racing. Going into the
event, Tim Cox had the record at 14.356 seconds, but track conditions
weren’t yielding much hope for betterment this night. Cox’s best
number came to be 14.525, and then Jeff Bloom of Bangor, Michigan, took the
track in the Accurate Engines/AJ’s Chicken Chalet/Lane Automotive/AllstarPerformance/Swanson
Racing Engines number 26. Bloom’s first lap blew the dust through the
doorway at 14.297 seconds, and then Bloom swept the record out of town 14.208
seconds later to become to Challenge record holder to date.
Heat race action saw the 7l of Jim Lukey line up with the 25 of Danny Schlafer
after the Frank Moser’s 99 was damaged in a freak push start incident.
2001-2002 HOSS champ Ron Koehler and fast qualifier Jeff Bloom shared the
second row with Tim Cox and Tom Paterson in row three. At the green
Schlafer charged into turn and escaped with the lead over Koehler, Cox and
Bloom. Lap four saw Cox make a go at Koehler but lose traction and spin
in turn two. On the restart Schlafer again led the field as Cox returned
to fourth spot as the checkers flew for Schlafer, Koehler and Bloom.
The second heat brought the 49 of Ryan Irwin to the point with the 7v of Tim
Vandervere alongside. Chad Delagrange in the 10 and Darrell Dodd’s 11d
in row two ahead of number 5 Brian Kristan and the 82 of David Gough.
The 30 of Jim Moulis was alone in the fourth row. Irwin brought the
field to the start but Vandervere took the lead and held the point until David
Gough swept by on the fifth lap. Dodd went through for second position
as Vandervere held third as the checkered flag flew.
The third heat lined Johnny Fahl’s O machine with the 26s of Al Schlafer
with Jim Payne and Richey Jacobs in row two. Todd Lehr’s 9 car and the
7 of Greg Wheeler trailed in row three as Schlafer took control of the early
laps. By lap four Todd Lehr challenged and took over the top spot as
Schlafer would fall to fourth position. Jacobs wold hold second until
lap six when Wheeler’s 7 rounded the 35 of Jacobs for the runner up spot.
The feature rolled to the front stretch just after ten pm, and after
promoter/announcer/pr maestro Mike Babicz introductions a euphoric wave lap by
Babicz and the Lake Geneva masses, front row battery mates Todd Lehr and Brian
Kristan paced the field ahead of Tim Cox and Greg Wheeler. David Gough
and fast qualifier Jeff Bloom were in row three, and at the green Lehr lept to
the lead over Kristan. Wheeler gained second but was overtaken by Cox on
lap two. David Gough, scored sixth on the first lap, was up to fourht on
lap four when Cox began to make the move on Todd Lehr. Cox swept past
Lehr but with lap traffic was unable to get away from the Twin Lakes
driver. The race wound through lapped traffic in a one hundred mph tap
dance. Cox led, but one false move and Lehr would pounce for the
lead. Intense racing coursed around the speedway as lapped cars
continued to fight for positions. Up and down the stands fans dizzied at
the breakneck pace of the event. In the closing laps Lehr’s cars began
to slip back from leader Cox and into the snare of the spirited battle between
David Gough and Greg Wheeler. Wheeler held steady in third, with Gough
searching for the way by. In the last moments of the race Lehr, now
shadowed by Wheeler and Gough, dove to the bottom of lap traffic.
Wheeler went high and was overtaken by Gough as the last lap went on the
board. Up front Cox sailed to the win just seven minutes and thrity six
seconds after the race began.
In victory lane a thunderous ovation greeted an emotional winner.
“This night. This one is special. We hate to see a speedway
close, but to be listed among the winners here is truly an honor. Thank
you to everyone for coming out tonight. Mike Babicz, thank you for
putting on a great show for us to race, thank to my family and crew for
their support. This is GREAT!!!” boomed the winner.
Runner up Lehr and Gough echoed Cox’s comments, stating this event was a
tremendous success and that they were thankful for the chance to compete at
the speedway and then thanked the fans for their attendance and support.
A quick thank you to Paul Kuyawa and Ron Rodda. It was good to see and
meet both journalists at Lake Geneva and be sure to find their column on www.hoseheads.com
For more information, check out www.hossracing.com,
www.lakegenevaraceway.com
or your favorite internet racing new site!
8/3/2006 - Lake Geneva Raceway Results
BIG 8 SERIES SUMMARY
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jeremy Miller, Rockton, Ill.; 2. Ricky Bilderback, South
Beloit, ; 3.Erik Darnell, Park City, Ill.; 4. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park,
Ill.; 5. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 7.
Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 8. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 9. Jerry
Gille, Roscoe, Ill.; 10. Chad Squirt Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 11. Brady
Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 12. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis; 13. Nick Shutkas,
Caledonia, Ill.; 14. Mark English, Janesville, Wis; 15. Michael Kruschke (t),
Muskego, Wis; 16. John Baumeister, Lake Geneva, Wis; 17. Ralph Gentile,
Racine, Wis; 18. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 19. Mike Beyers, Machesney
Park, Ill.; 20. Rick Corso, McHenry, Ill.; 21. Andy Niles, Holmen, Wis; 22.
Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 23. Jeff Goodwin, Kenosha, Wis; 24. Nick Wendt, Lake
Mills, Wis.
B-Main 01 -- 1. Mark English, Janesville, Wis; 2. Kyle Jarlsberg,
Cambridge, Wis; 3. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 4. Chad Squirt Stevens,
Orfordville, Wis; 5. Jeff Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 6. Jack Rabey,Brighton,
Wis.; 7. Nick Beinlich, Lincolnshire, Ill.; 8. Mike Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 9.
Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis.
Heat 01 -- 1. Rick Corso, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Mike Lloyd, Machesney Park,
Ill.; 3. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 4. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 5. Mike
Beyers, Machesney Park, Ill.; 6.Erik Darnell, Park City, Ill.; 7. Jeremy
Miller, Rockton, Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Keith Tolf, Union
Grove, Wis; 3. Jerry Gille, Roscoe, Ill.; 4. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake,
Ill.; 5. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 6. Ricky Bilderback, South Beloit, ; 7.
Jeff Goodwin, Kenosha, Wis.
Heat 03 -- 1. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis; 2. Brady Liddle,
Oregon, Wis; 3. Nick Wendt, Lake Mills, Wis; 4. Mark English, Janesville, Wis;
5. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 6. Jeff Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 7. Mike
Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 8. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis.
Heat 04 -- 1. John Baumeister, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Andy Niles, Holmen,
Wis; 3. Nick Shutkas, Loves Park, Ill.; 4. Kyle Jarlsberg, Cambridge, Wis; 5.
Jack Rabey, Brighton,Wis.; 6. Chad Squirt Stevens, Orfordville, Wis; 7. Nick
Beinlich, Lincolnshire, Ill..
Time Trial -- 1. Jeremy Miller, Rockton, Ill.; 2. Sonny Schoffen,
Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Mike Beyers, Machesney Park, Ill.; 4. Ricky Bilderback,
South Beloit, ; 5. Kris Kelly, Norway, Mich.; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe, Ill.; 7.
Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 8. Jeff Goodwin, Kenosha, Wis; 9. Erik Darnell,
Park City, Ill.; 10. Josh Wallace (T), Pell Lake, Wis; 11. Mike Lloyd,
Machesney Park, Ill.; 12. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 13. Rick Corso, McHenry,
Ill.; 14. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 15. Michael Kruschke (t), Muskego, Wis;
16. Jack Rabey, Brighton,Wis.; 17. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 18. John
Baumeister, Lake Geneva, Wis; 19. Mark English, Janesville, Wis; 20. Andy
Niles, Holmen, Wis; 21. Nick Wendt, Lake Mills, Wis; 22. Nick Shutkas, Loves
Park, Ill.; 23. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 24. Chad Squirt Stevens,
Orfordville, Wis; 25. Jeff Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 26. Kyle Jarlsberg,
Cambridge, Wis; 27. Mike Schmitz, Kenosha, Wis; 28.
Weapons Division
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 2. Tom Ruh, Elkhart Lake, Wis;
3. Al Kuphal (t), Franklin, Wis; 4. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Darryl
Traber, Waterford, Wis; 6. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 7. Mark Tomasi,
Wind Lake, Wis; 8. Tom Barnharst, Franksville, Wis; 9. Glenn Tomasini,
Burlington, Wis; 10. Tom Boyd, Antioch, Ill.; 11. Rob Solovio;; 12. Donnie
Paskiewicz, Franklin, Wis; 13.Dave Kamholtz, Genoa City,Wis.; 14. Mike Herwald,
Lake Geneva, Wis; 15. Charlie Frisch;; 16. Scott Rymer;; 17. Mark Ludtke,Lake
Geneva,Wis.;
Heat 01 -- 1. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Darryl Traber,
Waterford, Wis; 3. Charlie Frisch;; 4. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 5. Glenn
Tomasini, Burlington, Wis; 6. Rob Solovio;; 7. Tom Boyd, Antioch, Ill.; 8.
Donnie Paskiewicz, Franklin, Wis; 9. Dave Kamholtz,Genoa City,Wis.; 10. Scott
Rymer;; 11. Tom Barnharst, Franksville, Wis; 12. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein,
Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 2. Tom Ruh, Elkhart Lake, Wis;
3. Al Kuphal (t), Franklin, Wis; 4. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Reid
Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 6. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis.
Time Trial -- 1. Jeff Schultz, Salem, Wis; 2. Al Kuphal (t), Franklin,
Wis; 3. Mark Ludtke, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. Tom Ruh, Elkhart Lake, Wis; 5. Reid
Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 6. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Mike Herwald,
Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Micheal Shorten, Mundelein, Ill.; 9. Darryl Traber,
Waterford, Wis; 10. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, Wis; 11. Glenn Tomasini,
Burlington, Wis; 12. Tom Boyd, Antioch, Ill.; 13. Tom Barnharst, Franksville,
Wis; 14. Donnie Paskiewicz, Franklin, Wis; 15.Dave Kamholtz,Genoa City,Wis.;
16. Scott Rymer
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