Final Points Night Crowns New Champions

By Cresta Buss

On the final points night of racing at PowerCom Speedzone, the fans had some exciting racing to watch as some point leaders maintained there leads and won the championship in there division and others grasped the championship while racing the final race of the season at the Speedzone. 

In the Grand National Division, there was a tie between Robert Cullen and Keith Schommer for the championship.  They let all the fans know that neither one would give it up easily battling all the way to the end to be the victor of the race and also the season champion.  As the green flag fell, Dan Nelson took the lead with a pack of cars right behind giving chase.  Out of turn 1 on the very first lap, Cullen, Van Roy, Schommer and Tim Doehling were in a heated battle for second place catching Nelson and all vying for the first position.  A heated battle ensued and Doehling finally took the lead.  Doehling didn’t maintain the lead for long as Van Roy and Cullen caught up and battled for the first position once again.  Schommer was on the move as well and reached the first position as the two points champion leaders fought back and fourth for the first position.  With only 2 laps remaining, Schommer was behind Cullen with Van Roy right on his tail.  Going into turn 2, Schommer spun dashing any hopes to take home the championship.  Cullen finished in the first position, sealing the championship for the season.  Van Roy finished second, Jeff Deidrick third, Dan Nelson fourth and Andy Fuhrmann fifth.

In the Suburban Motors Harley Davidson/Buell Modified division, Tim Lemirande only needed to finish 10 places ahead of Chris Engels to clinch the championship.  He did just that with putting on an impressive display of driving moving from the eighteenth starting position and finishing the race in the fourth position.  As the green flag fell to start the race, Mark Pownell took the lead with Brian Stern and Benjamin Brinkman right behind to challenge for the first position.  Turn 4 didn’t hold any luck for some of the drivers as Dave Schneider, Matthew Streekstra, Steve Kloehn and Chris Engels got tangled up and caused a caution.  After the caution, Pownell maintained his lead but as the eighth lap came into sight, Jay Schraufnagel took the lead with an impressive run moving up five spots in just three laps.  Another not-so-lucky corner caused a three-car pile up bringing out the caution once again.  After the caution, Schraufnagel maintained his lead and would throughout the rest of the entire race.  Tim Lemirande made his move on Pownell for the fourth position, which would remain his spot for the entirety of the race.  As the checkered was thrown, Schraufnagel finished first, Russell Reinwald placed second, Dan Miller was third, Tim Lemirande was fourth and Mark Pownell rounded out the fifth position. 

As the green flag fell in the American Auto Stocks Division, all Jerry Kope was hoping for was to finish the race and finish it at least 10 spots in front of Dave Averkamp.  This would allow for Kope to capture the season championship in the American Auto Stocks Division.  However, it wouldn’t be an easy road for Kope and the other drivers as the race got underway.  Tim Montonati jumped out front as the race began.  Patty Winkler had her hopes of finishing dashed as she smacked the wall and would leave the race and was unable to return on the first lap.  After the caution, Montonati maintained his lead once again with Cory Friday working his back bumper.  Mark Schultz also wanted the top spot as he too would chase Montonati for the first position with Friday.   In the three way battle, Friday spun around in turn 2, causing a caution and would be sent to the back of the pack.  After the 2^nd caution of the race, Schultz battled Montonati for the first position.  Near the middle of the pack, Dave Averkamp was working his way to the front and battled with Jeff Jahnke for the fourth position.  On lap 13, Dave Averkamp took the lead from Montonati and would never relinquish the lead for the rest of the 7 laps remaining.   The point’s leader going into the race was working a battle of his own so he wouldn’t lose his championship spot.  He finished in the fourth position giving him the season championship in the American Auto Stocks division.  Though he didn’t overtake the points lead, Dave Averkamp went on to win the race for the third time this season.  Tim Montonati placed second, Jeff Jahnke third, Jerry Kope fourth and Mark Schultz rounding out fifth.

Bob Voight had no worries going into the night’s races as he pretty much had the championship wrapped up.  As the green flag fell, Rick Long and Korey Krupp went side by side for the first position with Long being the victor on the backstretch.  Bob Voight worked on Krupp for the second position with Krupp being the victor in that battle.  As the race continued, the top three point’s leaders were in a heated battle for the first position.  As the story went all year long, Voight, Krupp, and Long battled together throughout the race with the finish the same as the points would be at the end of the night.   As the checkered was thrown, Bob Voight would win for the third time this season and wrap up the championship.  Korey Krupp would place second, Rick Long would place third, Craig Fickel fourth  and Scott Deising rounding out the top five. 

Going into the Dirt Devil division races, Chris Cottrell was just wishful that he would finish and wouldn’t relinquish his top point’s leader standings to second place Jasper Drengler.  As the race got underway, Loren Rangeloff took the early lead with Matt Voigt right behind.  There was a six-car cluster all in the chase for the third position between Mike Mueller, Nick Rennhack, Chris Cottrell, Brandon Rennhack, Jasper Drengler and Matt Recheck.  Mueller was the victor with five drivers right behind chasing him and the two leaders down.  Drengler maneuvered his way into the second position only to take the first position from Rangeloff  on lap 5 and would not relinquish his lead.  As the checkered fell, Drengler placed first, Rangeloff second, Brandon Rennhack third, Matt Voigt fourth and Chris Cottrell rounding out the top five. 

As the evening came to a close, there was a chance for the pit crews to get in on some of the racing action.  There were two mechanic races that were held when the final races were over. Justin “Monkey” Manke was the winner of the Suburban Motorsports Modified Mechanics division and Matt Juedes was the winner in the American Auto Stocks Mechanics division.  Congratulations to those winners! 

The PowerCom Speedzone would like to thank all the fans, drivers, pit crews, sponsors and employees for supporting a successful 2003 season.  The Speedzone would like to also congratulate all the track champions on there 2003 PowerCom Speedzone Championships.  Congratulations! 

Be sure to check www.wismotorsports.com for 2003 Banquet information, upcoming specials at the racetrack and for news about the 2004 season.

Summary of Events:

Suburban Motors Harley Davidson/Buell Modified Division
A-Main (1-10) Jay Schraufnagel, Russell Reinwald, Dan Miller, Tim Lemirande, Mark Pownell, Benjamin Brinkman, Tim VanDehei, Ken Preisgen, Scott Lewis, Chris Engels
B-Main 1 – Timothy Robbins B-Main 2 – Jason Enoch
Heat 1 – Brian Drexler, Heat 2 – Jay Schraufnagel, Heat 3 – Brian Stern, Heat 4 – Dan Miller

American Auto Stocks Division
A-Main (1-10) Dave Averkamp, Tim Montanati, Jeff Jahnke, Jerry Kope, Mark Schultz, Jeff Schmidt, Cory Friday, Richard Admundson Jr., Jim Williams, Ken Feavel
B-Main  – Kenneth Broeckel
Heat 1 – Jerry Kope, Heat 2 – Gary Neau, Heat 3 – Paul Delap, Heat 4 – Jim Williams

Grand National Division
A-Main (1-10) Robert Cullen, Terry Van Roy, Jeff Deidrick, Dan Nelson, Andy Fuhrmann, Bob Mann, Todd Rohde, Frank Foremiller, Keith Schommer, Tom Robbins
Heat 1 – Terry Van Roy, Heat 2 – Robert Cullen

Quick Sign/Corporate Impressions Hobby Stock Division
A-Main (1-9) Bob Voight, Korey Krupp, Rick Long, Craig Fickel, Scott Deising, Rich Wojahn, David Rindt, Ross Losse, Chad Petrie
Heat 1 – Rick Long

Golf Central/Jurassic Valley Dirt Devil Division
A-Main (1-10) Jasper Drengler, Loren Rangeloff, Brandon Rennhack, Matt Voigt, Chris Cottrell, Matt Recheck, William Angermeyer, Dustin Schwandt, Dan Neuman, Kevin Schutlz
Heat 1 – Loren Rangeloff, Heat 2 – Brandon Rennhack

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