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Vecauteren Memorial Trophy Goes To James Swan At WIR
by Keith Vercauteren
(Kaukauna, WI) August 19, 2006 - In a race run in memory of series
founder Gary Vercauteren, current point leader and former series champion
James Swan from Lake Geneva, WI emerged victorious in the 35-lap Mid-American
Stock Car Series feature at Wisconsin International Raceway Saturday
night. A mechanical failure in the car of early leader and fast
qualifier Bill Prietzel from Richfield, WI handed Swan the lead on lap 23 of
the race, which was the Blue Race of the 35th Annual Red, White and Blue State
Championships.
George Schultz from Bristol, WI jumped in front of polesitter Andrew Kulka of
Deerfield, WI to take the lead on the opening lap. Kulka slowed slightly
as the pack roared out of the fourth turn, with the faster cars of Prietzel,
Bobby Gutknecht of Oak Creek, WI and Lyle Nowak of Wausau, WI bunching up
behind him and going three-wide as the cars headed down the front
straightaway. On the second lap, the yellow flag dropped when the hood flew
off the car driven by Brett Bauer of Kimberly, WI on the backstretch.
When the green flag flew again, Schultz continued to set the pace followed by
Prietzel, Swan and Nowak. Prietzel put the pressure on Schultz for the lead,
looking to the outside groove on lap 5. Staying on the high side,
Prietzel shot by Schultz as they headed into turn three on lap 6. By lap 10,
Prietzel held a four-car length lead over Schultz, Swan, Nowak and Gutknecht.
As the leaders began encountering lapped traffic on lap 13, Swan began a
battle with Schultz for second place. Swan nearly got the job done when
Bauer and Mark Kissinger of West Bend, WI both looped their cars coming out of
turn three on lap 20, bringing out the caution. On the restart, Swan
wasted no time in getting past Schultz and set his sights on Prietzel, who
continued to maintain a healthy lead.
Looking to cruise to victory lane, Prietzel instead experienced heartache as
mechanical issues caused his car to slow dramatically exiting turn four on lap
23. Prietzel, the three-time and defending series champion, retired to the
pits as Swan inherited the lead. Meanwhile, the battle for second heated
up as Gutknecht began looking for a way around Schultz. Scott Null of
Lake Mills, WI spun in turn one on lap 24, slowing the action.
Gutknecht pulled to the high side of Schultz on the restart to take away the
second position on the restart. Schultz didn't give up easily, however,
and stayed glued to Gutknecht's bumper. On lap 28, Schultz attempted to
reclaim the position by diving inside Gutknecht in turn 2, but the two cars
collided which sent Gutknecht spinning and the caution flag flying. Due
to a contact rule, both cars were sent to the back of the pack for the
restart.
Swan then drove smoothly to the finish to pick up his second series win in a
row, followed by Nowak, Ron Weyer of Richfield, WI, and Jeff Tisler of
Reedsville, WI. Gutknecht and Null both battled back from their earlier
spins to finish fifth and sixth respectively. With the win, Swan was able to
claim the overall Red, White and Blue points title and padded his Mid-American
Stock Car Series points lead.
After the race, Swan was presented with the Vercauteren Memorial Traveling
Trophy by members of the Vercauteren family in honor of series founder Gary
Vercauteren, who passed away suddenly in October of 2005. The trophy
will be presented annually to the winner of the event.
10-heat races were won by Bauer and Swan. Prietzel toured the half-mile,
D-shaped oval in 20.934 seconds to set fast time.
The next event for the Mid-American Stock Car Series will be a big one as the
series heads to the Milwaukee Mile for the Governor's Cup Weekend. A
40-lap feature is planned for Saturday, August 26th and a 16 car, 16 lap
$2,000-to-win "Dash For Cash" is scheduled for Sunday, August
27th. For more information, visit the series website at www.midamericanracing.com.
35-lap feature: 1. James Swan, Lake Geneva, WI 2. Lyle Nowak,
Wausau, WI 3. Ron Weyer, Richfield, WI 4. Jeff Tisler, Reedsville,
WI 5. Bobby Gutknecht, Oak Creek, WI 6. Scott Null, Lake Mills,
WI 7. Mark Kissinger, West Bend, WI 8. Tim Schmitt, Muskego,
WI 9. George Schultz, Bristol, WI 10. Travis Rodewald, Manitowoc,
WI 11. David Verhagen, Green Bay, WI 12. Joe Kerkhoff, Greenleaf,
WI 13. Jim Thorson, Sugar Grove, IL 14. Andrew Kulka, Deerfield,
WI 15. Brett Bauer, Kimberly, WI 16. Bill Prietzel,
Richfield, WI 17. Tony Habeck, Black Creek, WI 18. Andy Casavant,
Two Rivers, WI 19. Greg Marks, Maribel, WI 20. Jake Finney,
Sycamore, IL
10-lap heats: First: 1. Bauer 2. Gutknecht 3.
Kerkhoff 4. Null 5. Tisler 6. Schultz 7. Marks 8. Kissinger 9.
Verhagen 10. Prietzel
Second: 1. Swan 2. Nowak 3. Rodewald 4. Weyer
5. Thorson 6. Kulka 7. Schmitt 8. Cassavant 9. Habeck
Fast time: Preitzel (20.934)
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