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LaCrosse Tops Luxemburg Modified Finale
by Joe Verdegan
(Luxemburg, WI) Oct. 1 - 2005 IMCA modifed Supernationals champion Benji
LaCrosse of Luxemburg returned to his hometrack, winning in convincing
fashion. LaCrosse took the lead on lap 25 and went on to win the $1,500 top
prize during the second annual Luxemburg Fall Classic Saturday night.
Polesitter Dan Ratajczak sprinted into the early lead at the drop of the
green. Siefert, who started fourth, worked the outside line and drove around
Ratajczak for the lead on lap six. Siefert immediately built up a comfortable
six car length cushion over the rest of the field. LaCrosse, sliced his way
through the pack into second by lap nine and began tracking Siefert down.
Siefert began sifting through lapped cars by lap 16. On lap 17 the caution
flew when Siefert's father Art Siefert's machine stalled on the backstretch.
With 23 laps remaining Siefert kept the lead on the restart, with Ratajczak
regaining the lead with an outside pass of Siefert on lap twenty.
Sean Jerovetz bolted into second two laps later. A caution flew on lap twenty
eight when Siefert's racer stalled on the track. On the restart Matthias
passed Ratajczak for second and challenged LaCrosse in the final laps for the
lead. With five laps remaining Eddie Muenster charged into second, but came up
just short as LaCrosse held on for the win. Eddie Muenster, Jerry Muenster,
Matthias, and Ratajczak rounded out the top five finishers.
Pulaski's Jason Czarapata swept action in the IMCA-style stock car feature,
capturing his heat and grabbing the lead with six laps remaining to win the 28
lap stock car feature.
The stock car feature got off to a rough start, when Brian Bruechert spun at
the front of the pack on the opening circuit. The wreck eliminated Greg Gretz
and Shawn Kilgore. On the second attempted start Laurel Ettien spun on the
second lap while battling Troy Muench and Eugene Gregorich Sr. for the
lead.
On the restart Muench, Gregorich Sr. and Czarapata ran three wide for the next
three laps until Gregorich Sr. finally pulled ahead for the lead on lap five.
By lap eight Rod Snellenberger charged through the field from his eighth
starting spot into second. Kyle Frederick also joined the chase by lap 10,
with Gregorich Sr. leading the three car tussle for the top spot for the next
several laps. On lap 13 Frederick used the outside line to scoot around the
pair into the lead. Frederick went to work putting some distance between
himself and the rest of the field.
The field was tightened on lap seventeen when Muench and Dave Bouche got
together in turn four, sending both drivers to the tail. When racing resumed
Frederick picked up where he left off, keeping the lead with Czarapata
squeezing the inside line. Czarapata pulled off the pass on Frederick on lap
22 and fought off the field to collect the win. Frederick, Snellenberger, Jeff
Vlies and Laurel Ettien rounded out the top five finishers.
Forestville's Von Eychenson passed Dave Hoerning for the lead on lap 13 and
went on to win the 25 lap street stock feature. Oshkosh' Jerry Kope nipped
Dave Hoerning at the line for second. Aaron Thornton and Kyle Kudick rounded
out the top five finishers. Green Bay's Pete Kumbalek passed Greg Thompson of
Denmark for the lead on the final lap to win the 18 lap Challenger hobby
feature.
Lomira's Jesse Kanas captured his fourth, 20 lap IMCA style hobby stock
feature while track champion Greg Banker won the time shortened, 14 lap sport
four feature.
A total of 188 cars took part in the weekend of racing. The field included 45
modifieds, 46 stock cars, 35 street stocks, 22 challenger hobbies, 18 hobby
stocks and 22 sport fours.
The 2005 season awards banquet will be on Saturday, January 28 at the
Rendezvous in the town of Nueren. For more information call 920 863 8446. The
track phone number is 920 845 2300. The track's website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com.
RACE SUMMARY
40 lap modified feature - Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg; Eddie Muenster, Green
Bay; Jerry Muenster, Green Bay; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; Dan Ratajczak, Frog
Station; Brad Rohloff, Pulaski
12 lap semi features - 1st) Lance Arnenson, Krakow; Art Siefert, Green Bay;
Scott Mullen, Seymour; Mike Klenz, Sobieski 2nd) Ed Stehula, Reedsville; Ron
Figlinski, Nichols; Chris Derenne, Luxemburg; Mike Knapp, New London
10 lap heats 1) Jerry Muenster; Danny Deau, Little Suamico 2) Joe Houpt,
Mequon; Mike Mullen, Seymour 3) Eddie Muenster; Rohloff 4) Matt McDermid,
Oconto Falls; Todd Dart, Algoma
28 lap stock car feature - Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; Kyle Frederick, Gillett;
Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; Jeff Vlies, Casco; Laurel Ettien, Luxemburg;
Eugene Gregorich Sr., Kewaunee
12 lap semi features - 1) Nate Michonski, Leopolis; Eugene Gregorich Jr.,
Kewaunee; Pat Davister, Luxemburg; Don Aregoni, Sturgeon Bay 2) Rick Dix,
Green Bay; Steve Kastning, Bonduel; Kraig Gretz, Kewaunee; Gary Reinhardt,
Fish Creek
10 lap heats 1) Troy Muench, Green Bay; Mike Weitor, Green Bay 2) Eric
Malfroid, Luxemburg; Tony Bouche, Algoma 3) Gregorich Sr.; Ben Kroll,
Luxemburg 4) Czarapata; Brandon Mindak, Casco
25 lap street stock feature - Von Eychenson, Forestville; Jerry Kope, Oshkosh;
Dave Hoerning, Appleton; Aaron Thornton, Sturgeon Bay; Kyle Kudick, Mishicot;
Tim Reichenberger, Oshkosh
12 lap semi-feature - Mike Nehmer, Larsen; Paul White, Green Bay; Phil Hiles,
Appleton; David Baenen, New Franken
10 lap heats 1) Bill Kelsey, Sobieski; Thom Therrien, Green Bay 2) Brian Koch,
Freedom; Jeremy Hiles, Appleton 3) Thornton; Kudick
20 lap hobby stock feature - Jesse Kanas, Lomira; Ed Anschutz, Algoma; Dan
Davister, Luxemburg; Tony Schlei, Zion, IL; Michael Smith, Marshalltown, Iowa;
Marcus Moede, Casco
10 lap heats 1) Derek Moede, Casco; Smith 2) Kanas; Marcus Moede
18 lap Challenger hobby feature - Pete Kumbalek, Green Bay; Kraig Koehler, Two
Rivers; Jeff Saylor, Howards Grove; Greg Thompson, Denmark; Bret Koehler, Two
Rivers; Michael Robinson, Denmark
10 lap heats 1) Robinson; Mike Wilde 2) Jason Henrickson, Two Rivers; Thompson
15 lap sport four feature - Greg Banker, Bonduel; Tim Jorgenson, De Pere; Tony
Everard, Green Bay; Tyler Smith, Luxemburg; Kevin Birr, Dousman; Joe Jaeckels,
Kaukauna
8 lap heats 1) Matt Maleport, De Pere; Everard 2) James Vandenboogart, Green
Bay; Phil Martzhall,Seymour
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