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MSA 360 Sprintcars Return to the Powercom Speedzone – Week 10
August 12th, 2003
By: Cresta Buss
MSA Sprint Article contributed By George Baumann
For the second time this season, the MSA 360 Sprints returned to the Powercom
Speedzone in Oshkosh, WI to bring an exciting start to the Winnebago County
Fair. As the Fair got underway outside the grandstands, the racing
heated up and many fans, old and new, had a great time watching the racing
action.
In MSA 360 Sprint action, David ONeal wasted no time in charging from the
third row to the lead and recorded his first Midwest Sprintcar Association
A-Main win of the year. ONeal passed Russ Wetenkamp for the lead with a
high-side pass off turn two on lap three and led the remainder of the 20-lap
event. Lance Fassbender soon followed ONeal and chased him the remainder of
the race but was never able to get closer than several car lengths. Doug
Schenck, who surrendered the series points lead to K.J. Skelton the previous
race, charged from his fourteenth starting position to finish third and was
the fastest car on the track in the final laps. The race went yellow with four
laps remaining and it was a shootout the rest of the way. The well prepared
track allowed cars to go three wide at times and positions changed rapidly.
Rounding out the top five was Troy Wondra and T.J. Luedtke. Point’s leader
K.J. Skelton started the race eleventh and finished seventh, one position
ahead of Michael Emme who started the night second in the standings ahead of
Schenck. However, the strong performance by Schenck earned him the KSE Hard
Charger Award and moved him into second in the standings behind Skelton in
what has become a very close race for the championship between these three
drivers.
In the American Auto Sales Stocks A-Main, Tim Montanati jumped off the start
and took the lead. Right behind, Mike Rauchle and Gary Neau battled it
out for the second position with Neau being the victor. Richard
Admundson Jr. moved up the pack to battle Mike Rauchle for the third
position. Rauchle would not relinquish his position to Admundson Jr. but
would eventually be overtaken later in the race. On lap 3, Neau made his
leap into the first position on the front stretch over Montanati, but because
of a caution before the leaders crossed the line, Montanati stayed in first
for the restart. After the caution, Jerry Kope came from the middle of
the pack to compete for the fifth position with Jerry Winkler. On lap 5,
Neau once again made his leap for the first position and was successful this
time. Adam Pugh remained quiet until he noticed a hole and took
advantage as he moved into the third position from Rauchle. Near the
middle of the pack, there was a cluster of cars vying for the seventh, eighth,
ninth, and tenth positions between Shawn Frelich, Dale Averkamp, Shawn Haydon,
and Doug Brabant. Near the front, Adam Pugh worked on Tim Montanati for
the second position, was successful, and pulled Jerry Kope along with him for
the third position. On the final lap, Pugh made his move for the first
position but Gary Neau held him off and took the win in the American Auto
Sales Stocks A-Main. Adam Pugh was second, Jerry Kope was third, Tim
Montanati placed fourth, and Shawn Haydon rounded out the fifth position.
As the green flag fell in the Grand National Division, Troy Weich took the
lead with Frank Foremiller and Tim Doehling battling right behind. Andy
Fuhrmann was on the move and moved into the third position behind Doehling.
Behind the top three cars there was a battle on for the fourth position
between Foremiller, Keith Schommer and Robert Cullen. Cullen was on the
move, as he would overtake the first position at the half way mark of the
race. Schommer moved into the second position as well at the half way
mark following Cullen and making his way to battle it out for the first
position. Brian Gilles was also on the move as he was in the battle for
the fourth position. As the checkered flag fell, it was Cullen grabbing
the first position. Doehling and Schommer were side by side coming out
of turn 4, but Schommer was able to hold off Doehling by a bumper at the line,
for the second and third positions, respectively. Weich placed fourth
and Gilles rounded out the fifth position.
In Suburban Motors Harley Davidson/Buell Modified Division, Chad Rathke jumped
out to the early lead with Larry Walter Jr. right behind in second.
There was a tight battle for the third position behind between Danny Deau, Dan
Miller, and Russell Reinwald. As they battled, in turn 3, Larry Walter
Jr. spun and fell to the last position. Some incredible driving
prevented a caution and everyone moved up a position. Miller moved into
the second position and would not relinquish his spot throughout the race even
though, there was some very heavy heat on his tail. Travis Spaulding
wanted some front lead action and moved up from the middle of the pack to
contend for the fourth position with Nick Woods. Two cars, 21 of Jamie
Czerneski and the 66 of Mike Hansel, got tangled on the front stretch and
caused a caution. After the caution, Rathke stayed the leader but the
10s of Jay Schraufnagel was on the move from his tenth starting
position. Schraufnagel moved into the second position on lap 5 and
overtook the lead on lap 6. He would not relinquish the lead throughout
the rest of the race. Midway through the race, Russell Reinwald was on
the move and passed Spaulding for the fourth position. He would
eventually pass Rathke for the third position sending Rathke back to battle
for fourth with Spaulding. Rathke would be the victor in the battle for
the fourth position sending Spaulding to the fifth position. As the
checkered flag fell, Jay Schraufnagel took the first position, moving up from
the tenth position at the start of the race. Dan Miller finished in
second position, Reinwald placed third, Rathke maintained fourth and Spaulding
rounded out the fifth position. This was Schraufnagel's fifth win of the
season and seventh top five A-Main finish this season.
Be sure to check out the upcoming events at the PowerCom Speedzone in Oshkosh,
WI and The Raceway@Powercom Park in Beaver Dam, WI. On August 23rd, 2003
in Beaver Dam, the IRA Outlaw Sprints / Badger Midgets & Modifieds bring
the Return of the Triple Crown. On August 26th, 2003, in Oshkosh its
Final Points Night for all regular racing classes, Modifieds, Stocks, Grand
Nationals, Dirt Devils, Hobby Stocks and Figure 8’s. On August 30th,
2003, in Beaver Dam, there will be ˝ mile National Championship Motorcycle
Races celebrating Harley–Davidson’s 100th anniversary. On September
1st, in Oshkosh, there is a Labor Day Special featuring the IRA Outlaw Sprints
& UMP/WISSOTA Late Models. For dates, start times and more
information on the upcoming events, visit WWW.WISMOTORSPORTS.COM.
Summary of Events:
Suburban Motors Harley Davidson/Buell Modified Division
A-Main (1-10) Jay Schraufnagel, Dan Miller, Russell Reinwald, Chad Rathke,
Travis Spaulding, Scott Lewis, Benjamin Brinkman, Dennis Schultz, Chris Engels,
Todd Ascherien
B-Main 1 – Steve Boelter B-Main 2 – Tim Vandehei
Heat 1 – Russell Reinwald, Heat 2 – Jay Schraufnagel, Heat 3 – Nick
Woods, Heat 4 – Larry Walter Jr.
MSA 360 Sprintcar Division
A-Main (1-10) David Oneal, Lance Fassbender, Doug Schenck, Troy Wondra, T.J.
Luedtke, Danny Schlafer, K.J. Skelton, Michael Emme, Russ Wetenkamp, Dean
Erfurth
B-Main – Mark Wernes Jr.
Heat 1 – Lance Fassbender Heat 2 – Jeff Harder, Heat 3 – David ONeal
American Auto Stocks Division
A-Main (1-10) Gary Neau, Adam Pugh, Jerry Kope, Tim Montanati, Shawn Haydon,
Jerry Winkler, Mike Rauchle, Doug Brabant, Dale Averkamp, Dan Wirl
B-Main – Russ Dietzen
Heat 1 – Adam Pugh, Heat 2 – Gary Neau, Heat 3 – Shawn Frelich, Heat 4
– Tim Montanati
Grand National Division
A-Main (1-10) Robert Cullen, Keith Schommer, Tim Doehling, Troy Weich, Brian
Gilles, Andy Fuhrmann, Tommy Moore, Frank Foremiller, Thomas Boerson, Rex
Karner
Heat 1 – Robert Cullen, Heat 2 – Andy Fuhrmann
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