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Spoonmore Edges Miller In Lake Geneva Mid-Am Thriller
Lake Geneva, WI: June 18, 2005 - The Mid-American Stock Car road show
proved to be the "Jeremy Show" as the series made its first of
two visits to the Lake Geneva Speedway Saturday night.
Jeremy Spoonmore held off a determined Jeremy Miller by a matter of inches in
the 35 lap headliner, en route to his first victory of the 2005 season.
Cautions proved to be a factor in the finale, the last coming with just
five laps to go.
Two quick cautions to start proceedings prevented early leader Gary
Norton from gaining much of an advantage over the field. Norton was
chased by Jason Taghikhani, Spoonmore, Lyle Nowak, John Senerchia and Kenny
Joosten through the early stages, with Taghikhani gaining the inside line and
eventually the lead on the 14th circuit.
Miller, the quick qualifier, started the feature in the 7th row, and was
picking his way steadily through traffic. He was in the top five
by the 12th lap, and caught a huge break six laps later. Senerchia,
running just ahead of him, lost the handle in the second turn collecting
several contenders with Miller narrowly escaping. Series point
leader Bill Prietzel wasn't as fortunate, as contact backed him into the rail
on the backstretch. James Swan and Bobby Gutknecht were also
victims. Prietzel and Swan returned to record top 15 finishes after
visits to the pits, but Senerchia and Gutknecht were sidelined for the
duration.
The restart allowed Spoonmore to grab the bottom line from Taghikhani, a move
he parlayed into the lead on the 19th lap. Two laps later, Miller
grabbed second with Nowak following through for third, leaving Taghikhani in a
battle for fourth with Jaime Dorsey.
Miller wasted little time putting the heat on Spoonmore. With Spoonmore
protecting the inside, Miller set up on the outside and made steady
progress in his quest for the lead. Down the back stretch on the
30th lap, it appeared Miller might have gained the edge, but an Adam Mass spin
wiped out the lap, putting Spoonmore back on the point with Miller behind him.
Again, Spoonmore chose the bottom, forcing Miller's hand to the outside.
Unable to make the pass outside, Miller dropped to the bottom to shadow the
leader through the final corners hoping for a slip. But none came as
Spoonmore took the win by a fraction of a second.
Dorsey passed Nowak late to grab the third spot. Nowak completed a solid
night, matching his best finish of the year. Taghikhani continues to
impress in his rookie season, recording his second straight top five. Gary
Norton, Scott Null, John Janssen, Denny Norton and Ken Smart rounded out the
top ten.
The next series stop in Saturday night June 25 at the 141 Speedway in Francis
Creek, WI. There's also a return trip to Lake Geneva, as the series will
be back October 1-2. For more information, visit the series web site at www.asl-midamracing.com.
Mid-American Lake Geneva Results - 6/18/05
35 Lap Feature
1-10) Jeremy Spoonmore, Somonauk, IL: Jeremy Miller, Rockton, IL: Jaime
Dorsey, Rockford, IL: Lyle Nowak, Wausau, WI: Jason Taghikhani,
Franklin, WI: Gary Norton, Hebron IL: Scott Null, Lake Mills, WI:
John Janssen, Burlington, WI: Denny Norton Jr, McHenry, IL:
Ken Smart, Oconomowoc, WI
11-20) Kenny Joosten, Wonder Lake, IL: Danny Powell, Polo,
IL: Bill Prietzel, Franklin, WI: James Swan, Genoa City, WI:
John Fischer, Burlington, WI: Dave Obermeyer, Allenton, WI: Andrew
Ruthenbeck, Virginia, MN: Billy Tuckwell, Peoria, IL: Mike Smart,
Oconomowoc, WI: Elliot Marquardt, Merrill, WI
21-25) Adam Mass, Woodstock, IL: Rob Braun, Wales, WI: John
Senerchia, Orland Park, IL: Bobby Gutknecht, Oak Creek, WI: Tim
Schmitt, Muskego, WI
Heat 1) Obermeyer, Mass, Ruthenbeck, Powell
Heat 2) G. Norton, Janssen, Null, Nowak
Heat 3) Spoonmore, D. Norton, Senerchia, Miller
Fast Qualifier) Miller - 17.127
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