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Siefert, Junio, Kickbusch, Reinhardt Win Exciting Features On Opening Night At Thunderhill
By Greg Aregoni
April 30, 2005; Sturgeon Bay, WI. For the 13th year in a row WDOR was
the sponsor for the season opener. Even though the wind was cold
Saturday night; the racing on the tracks fast surface was hot. Over 90
cars took to the track on opening night. Some drivers had early season
jitters, while others seemed to already be at the top of their
game. Racing was done by 9:30 with four exciting divisions taking
to the track.
In IMCA Modified action, Jared Siefert led all 20 laps taking home the
victory. In IMCA Stockcar action "Mad" Matt Junio won the
feature event in impressive fashion with a 1/2 straightaway win. Scott
Reinhardt won in a shootout in the Street Stock feature. Keith Kickbusch
started his 2005 campaign with a feature win in the IMCA Hobby Stock class.
Green Bay's Jared Siefert grabbed his outside front row starting position to
jump out to the lead by about five car lengths over Jeremy Jacobs, Darrell
Massart, Doug Maurer, Todd Dart, and Jay Mathias. With Siefert solidly out
front, the battle was for second. Jacobs and Dart had a hard battle
going for second for many laps with Dart getting the advantage finally on the
top side of the track. With five laps to go Dart tried catching Siefert
but to no avail. Meanwhile, Jay Mathias found some very fast track and
passed two cars in the final two laps. Crossing the line by four car
lengths ahead of Dart, Siefert picked up the first IMCA Modified feature win
of the season. At the line, Siefert was followed by Todd Dart, Jeremy
Jacobs, Jay Mathias, and Doug Maurer. In talking to Jared Siefert after the
race, he said, "The track was fast where ever I went. The track was
unusually smooth for a dirt track early in the season."
Luxemburg's Dave Davister led the opening lap in the IMCA Stockcar
Feature. Coming out of turn two Davister spun and collected Troy Muench
in the caution. Matt Junio of Casco, inherited the lead and pulled to a
1/2 straightaway lead. The dual for second was now between Dave Bouche,
Mike Wietor, Bernie Reinhardt, Charlie Kroll, and Shawn Kilgore. As the
shuffling continued for positions 2-8, Junio had his cruise set out
front. Junio Crossed the line first followed by Dave Bouche, Charlie
Kroll, Shawn Kilgore, and last years champion Craig Paque in fifth. This
was only the third time Junio had raced this car. About his car he said,
"This is one of the best handling cars I have ever drove. The Red
Bandit Chassis was real fast tonight."
In opening night IMCA Hobby Stock action Keith Kickbusch used his front row
starting spot to gain the lead in the early going of the feature. Tony
Schlei stayed hot on his heals throughout the feature. Tom Brumlic, Jeff
Lautenbach, Dave DeGrave and Brandon Peterson had a great battle for the third
position. After Brumlic had a tire go down, coming out of two, he had to
leave the race. The battle in sued with Lautenbach getting the third
spot. Meanwhile up front, Kickbusch wasn't able to shake Schlei but
never let him get a run. Taking home the win was Keith Kickbusch,
followed by Tony Schlei, Jeff Lautenbach, Dave DeGrave, and Brandon Peterson.
In Street Stock action, Scott Reinhardt and John Sternard had a classic battle
for the first ten laps of the race. Reinhardt and Sternard both started
on the front row and got out to a three car lengths lead on the rest of the
field. Mike King Jr., Scott Iverson, Doug Morgan, and Mike Pierrard were
left to settle for third. With Reinhardt up top and Sternard down low
the race was on for the lead. Reinhardt would lead every time at the
line with Sternard tight by his side. Reinhardt finally shook loose from
Sternard with five laps to go. Sternard had heavy pressure from Mike
King Jr. but held second. Reinhardt would go on to win the race by 5 car
lengths over Sternard. Third would go to Mike King Jr., followed by
Scott Iverson, and Mike Pierrard. Reinhardt's feature win was his first
in a two year drought. "I had finished second and third so many
times the last few years, I was so happy when I finally won tonight. The wait
was well worth it."
Next weeks races are sponsored by Butch's Auto and Mbroidery by Mary.
Forest County Potawatomi Thunderhill Speedway will be running a special next
week. $5.00 will get you into the grandstands. The race track will
also be giving away a West Coast Chopper big wheel every night all year
long.
Thunderhill Speedway is located at the John Miles Park in Sturgeon Bay, Wi.
For more information call 920-743-7052. The tracks website is www.Racethunderhill.com
Race Summary
20 Lap IMCA Modified Feature- 1. Jared Siefert, Green Bay 2. Todd Dart,
Algoma 3. Jeremy Jacobs, Algoma 4. Jay Mathias, Luxemburg 5. Doug Maurer, De
Pere
10 Lap Heats- Heat 1 1. Darrell Massart, Brussels 2. Maurer
Heat 2 1. Siefert 2.Dart
Heat 3 1. Jacobs 2.Sean Jerovetz, Saumico
18 Lap IMCA Stockcar Feature- 1. Matt Junio, Casco 2. Dave Bouche,
Algoma 3. Charlie Kroll, Algoma 4. Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee 5. Craig Paque,
Algoma
10 Lap Heats- Heat 1 1. Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay 2. Mike Wietor,
Green Bay
Heat 2 1. Jeff Vlies, Brussels 2. Kroll
Heat 3 1. Kilgore, Junio
15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock Feature- 1. Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee 2. Tony
Schlei, Zion, IL 3. Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay 4. Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg
5. Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay
10 Lap Heats- Heat 1 1.Ed Anschutz, Algoma 2. Tom Brumlic, Denmark
Heat 2 1.Kickbusch, Marcus Moede, Casco
15 Lap Street Stock- 1. Scott Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay 2. John Sternard,
Green Bay 3. Mike King Jr, Little Chute 4.Scott Iverson, Sturgeon Bay 5. Mike
Pierrard, Green Bay
10 Lap Heats- Heat 1 1. Doug Morgan 2. David Hoerning
Heat 2 1. Dennis Weidner, Brussels 2. Harley Simon
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