|
Rain Dampens Summer Shootout Return To The Mile
By John Wiedemann – www.racingwisconsin.com
Milwaukee – June 28, 2006 – A reorganized Summer Shootout returned to the
Milwaukee Mile Wednesday night for round five of the Series. With the largest
car count of the year, the racers were set to do battle under threatening
skies. Unfortunately, Mother Nature won for the night as the rain fell right
after the completion of the first round of heat races. After the rain, the
Safety trucks and racers made a valiant effort to dry the track but ran out of
time as darkness set in. Morgan Schissel, Mike Piecko Jr., Michael Bilderback
and Alex Arelano were declared winners of their respective divisions based on
the heat race finishes.
Morgan Schissel has been on fire in the Super Cup division. Even starting at
the back of the pack was not enough to keep the youngster from another
victory. Schissel worked his way through the pack to the rear bumper of Cody
Lipstieuer and followed him around the track until there were three laps left
in the race. Making his move in turns one and two, Schissel worked to the
inside of Lipstieuer and finally pulled off the pass on the other end of the
track to take the lead and the win. The victory was Schissel’s third of the
series. Lipstieuer crossed the finish line in second followed by Camdon Murphy
and Greg Ballard.
In just his second race at the Milwaukee Mile, Alex Arelano is proving to be a
quick study at the track. After a surprising finish of second in his first
feature race two rounds ago, the rookie Bandolero pilot went out tonight and
grabbed his first heat race win. The fifteen year old speedster methodically
moved up from his fourth starting position to the second position and then set
his sights on Blake Brown who had led the race from the drop of the green
flag. On the final lap, Arelano moved to the inside of Brown and drag raced
down the backstraight into the final turns. Arelano held off Brown to the
finish line and took home his first Summer Shootout win. Brown was followed to
the checkers by Jesse Bernhagen, Kyle Jusits and Caylie Duncanson.
The Thunder Roadster division once again featured the battle of the Pieckos as
Mike and Mike Jr. went after each other in the first half of the race. That
battle came to a grinding halt as the roadster driven by Mike Sr. slowed to a
stop on the backstraight. An easy route to victory by Mike Jr. was not in the
cards though as Dave Townsend put the pressure on for the final laps. While
trying to pass through turns three and four of the final lap, Townsends ride
spun out and Mike Jr. was finally able to pull away and take the
victory.
A pack of ten Legends put what was to be the final show of the night. Michael
Bilderback showed that he has the track figured out leading from the drop of
the green to the checkers. Ernie Schaal, Ryan Miles and Curt Gantzig followed
closely behind but neither of them had what was needed to get past the black
number 2 car. When asked what his secret was, Bilderback said, “We came up
with a new setup that helps us get out of the corners better. That is what is
important at this track.” Schaal, Miles and Gnatzig crossed the finish line
in order followed by George Giesen and Ric Mattie.
While most drivers were disappointed in being unable to finish out the racing
of the night, all were happy that the Series is back running and looking
positive. The Summer Shootout returns to the Milwaukee Mile next week on July
5th with the gates opening at 5pm. Practice starts at 5:15pm with racing at
6pm. The Super Cups will once again join the Bandoleros, Thunder Roadsters and
Legends with free admission to all spectators to come out and enjoy the action
at the Legendary Milwaukee Mile.
RESULTS
SUPER CUPS
Heat: Morgan Schissel, CodyLipstieuer, Camdon Murphy, Greg Ballard
BANDOLEROS
Heat: Alex Arelano, Blake Brown, Jesse Bernhagen, Kyle Jusits, Caylie
Duncanson, Adam Rawski, Dwight Dunlap, Aaron Moyer, Kyle Piecko, Jimmy Uteg
III, Kyle Coates
THUNDER ROADSTERS
Heat: Mike Piecko, Jr., Dave Townsend, Mike Piecko, Sr.
LEGENDS
Heat: Michael Bilderback, Ernie Schaal, Ryan Miles, Curt Gnatzig, George
Giesen, Ric Mattie, Zack Townsend, Tom Henricks, Jim Uteg, Cody Townsend
For full coverage of the Summer Shootout, visit www.racingwisconsin.com/summershootout
For ticket information and details on the all the exciting events at The
Milwaukee Mile, visit www.milwaukeemile.com.
|
|
|
