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Big Payday For Mullen At Luxemburg
by Tom Wagner
LUXEMBURG, WI: September 3, 2004 - While not intended for racing, the
famous quote from legendary baseball personality Yogi Berra is perfect for
describing Friday night's modified feature at the Luxemburg Speedway. The quote: "It ain't
over...'till it's over."
Such was the case for Scott Mullen, as the recently crowned track champ saw a
huge lead wiped away by caution, then needed to fight off a determined Jeremy
Jacobs to win the Prestige Custom Cabinetry 40 lap modified special taking
home $1,500 in the process. The night proved to be an encore performance
for two other 2004 track champs, Shawn Kilgore in the stock cars and Tyler
Smith in the Sport Fours, as both were also feature winners. In the
hobby stocks, it was second year pilot Dave Lane capturing his second trophy
in a row.
With points out the window for the open special, starting feature spots were
determined by the luck of the draw. And Mullen had the best luck of
all. Picking the pole position, he quickly parlayed the good fortune
into a commanding lead. Aiding his escape from the rest of the pack, was
a torrid battle for second, featuring Brad Rohloff, Todd Dart, Mike Klenz, Jay
Matthias, R.M. VanPay, Brian Mullen, Sean Jerovetz and Jacobs.
With that position contested, Mullen was able to fly to a solid half-lap
advantage, lapping over half of the 24 car starting field in the
process. Dart finally won the war for second after 24 straight green
flag laps, but had no chance what-so-ever of catching Mullen. But in
just four laps, the complexion of the race changed entirely. Flying down
the front-stretch, Billy LeMieux's left rear wheel popped free, sending it
bouncing into the first turn. The resulting yellow flag meant that
Mullen's insurmountable advantage was washed away to nothing.
Not only was the lead gone, but the contenders suddenly back in the mix
included five area past or present track champs (Jacobs, Dart, VanPay, Jared
Siefert and Scott's brother Brian), plus other veterans all with feature
winning credentials.
The first of the all-star pack to take a shot at the leader was Dart.
After a good restart from Scott Mullen, Dart closed and began to work the low
line. On the 31st circuit, Dart made a dive to the inside between one
and two, briefly pulling even with Mullen. But the car came around,
sending Dart into a slide. Yellow flew again, signaling another cease
fire and an end to Dart's shot at the win. With Dart relegated to the
back of the field, the next challenger to the plate was Jacobs.
With Brian Mullen, Matthias and VanPay running side by side for third behind
him, Jacobs was able to concentrate on Scott Mullen. He too tried to
gain the inside edge, probing several times, but could never drive in deep
enough to wrestle the preferred line from the Mullen. On the final turn
of the final lap, Jacobs finally gained the footing and was able to get his
front bumper just about up to Mullen's door panel. But the last ditch
effort fell just short, sending Mullen to the big score by less than a car
length.
Establishing the outside line, VanPay secured third with two laps to go.
He was chasing down the lead duo as the checkers flew. Brian Mullen,
Matthias and Siefert completed the top six.
Kilgore also picked a good starting spot for the stock car feature. In
just two laps, he moved from the second row past Shawn Havel into the lead for
good. Settling in up front, it appeared like Kilgore could cruise home
to the win. However, the stock car feature story followed the same
script as the modified headliner.
Jason Czarapata shadowed Kilgore early, but left pretty much alone running for
second. Travis VanStraten had taken third from Laurel Ettien on the 12th
lap, but would have had trouble catching Czarapata. That's when the
cautions started flying and things got interesting again. Despite not
causing the first amber, VanStraten was dropped from contention after being
send to the pits under caution to remove the front cowling which had been torn
loose after a brush with an infield tire.
Any hope of an easy win was gone at that point, as incidents stopped things
with four laps and only two laps to go. Czarapata and Ettien stayed
close, as did Troy DeGrave. Joining them for the late push were two
drivers who came from deep in the field. Kyle Frederick drove to the
front despite an eighth row starting spot, and Joe White advanced from dead
last on the 20 car starting grid to challenge for the win at the final sprint.
The laps green-white-checker segment saw Kilgore take the win, with Czarapata,
White, DeGrave, Ettien and Frederick closely in tow.
A late caution kept things interesting for Lane in the hobby stock
feature. He grabbed the point from Duane Mertens on lap three, but was
forced to fend off Tom Brumlic for the second straight week following a
restart on lap 13.
Brumlic pressured to the wire, but it was Lane recording his second career
Luxemburg win, going back to back in the process. Derek Moede, Ed
Anschutz, Dan Davister and track champ Keith Kickbusch rounded out the top
six.
Just like the hobby stock finale, the Sport Four feature was a carbon copy of
the previous week's finish. Smith, starting from the pole, was chased to
the wire by Greg Banker. Banker had a couple shots at the inside, but
Smith was able to fend him off each time en route to the win.
Racing takes a break at the Speedway until the rescheduled Battle of the Burg
III takes to the clay as part of the two-day Fall Spectacular October
1&2. The Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association will headline the
Friday night slate, joined by modifieds, stock cars and street stock running a
complete show featuring qualifiers and features. The mods, stocks and
streets will be back Saturday with hobby stocks and Sport Fours also on the
card. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track's website
is www.luxemburgspeedway.com.
MODIFIED 40 LAP FEATURE: Scott Mullen, Seymour - Jeremy Jacobs,
Algoma - R.M. VanPay, Green Bay - Brian Mullen, Seymour - Jay Matthias, Green
Bay - Jared Siefert, Green Bay.
Semi-Feature: Sean Jerovetz, Little Suamico - Tim VanDeHei, Green Bay -
Danny Deau, Suamico - James Tebon, Algoma
Heat 1: Siefert - Eric VanIten, Green Bay
Heat 2: Brad Rohloff, Pulaski - Matthias
Heat 3: Jacobs - Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
STOCK CAR 25 LAP FEATURE: Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee - Jason
Czarapata, Kewaunee - Joe White, Oconto Falls - Troy DeGrave, Green Bay - Troy
Muench, Sturgeon Bay - Kyle Frederick, Gillet
Sem-feature: Frederick - Jeff Vlies, Kewaunee - Muench - Brandon Mindak,
Casco
Heat 1: Czarapata - Dave Davister, Luxemburg
Heat 2: Mike Wietor, Green Bay - Craig Paque, Algoma
Heat 3: Shawn Havel, Brussels - Kilgore
HOBBY STOCK 18 LAP FEATURE: Dave Lane, Green Bay - Tom Brumlic,
Denmark - Derek Moede, Casco - Ed Anschutz, Algoma - Dan Davister, Luxmeburg -
Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee
Heat 1: Brumlic - Mike Mueller, Green Bay
Heat 2: Anschutz - Jesse Behnke, Mishicot
SPORT FOUR 15 LAP FEATURE: Tyler Smith, Luxemburg - Greg Banker,
Bonduel - D.J. Jorgenson, DePere - Jim Roffers, DePere - Bruce Sand, Two
Rivers - Pokey Schlise, Shawano
Heat 1: Sand - Smith
Heat 2: Greg Gawryleski, Green Bay - Schlise
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