Parker Rolls To Late Model Win, Walbruck Wins First IMCA Mod Feature
by Bert Lehman

Shawano, WI (May 15, 2004) - Veteran WISSOTA Late Model driver, Pete Parker was back to his winning ways, winning the WISSOTA Late Model feature at the Shawano Speedway. Norm Walbruck won his first career IMCA Modified feature at the Speedway. Rod Snellenberger won his second IMCA Stock Car feature, while Tony Wudstrack won his first feature of the year in the Limited Late Model division.

Pete Parker used his front row starting spot to grab the early lead over Cody Grosskreutz, Tim Lemirande, Gary Nelson and Doug Blashe in the WISSOTA Late Model feature. Parker immediately began to pull away from the field, while the best action was taking place in the middle of the pack, with A.J. Diemel joining the top five six laps into the race after battling with Blashe. The first caution flag of the race flew shortly after. During the caution, Nelson pitted, and retired from the race. 

On the restart, Parker continued to lead with Lemirande moving up to second, Grosskreutz falling to third, Diemel moving to fourth and Blashe rounding out the top five. Over the next several laps, Diemel pulled up to Grosskreutz’s rear bumper several times, but could not make the pass. The final caution came out with seven laps remaining. Diemel got by Grosskreutz on the restart, and moved by Lemirande on the next lap to take over the second spot. Diemel closed in slightly on Parker, who was firmly in the lead. With only three laps to go, Troy Springborn slowed on the track, bunching up half the field behind him. He would retire from the race. It was all Parker, as he went on to claim his first win of the year. He was followed by Diemel, Lemirande, Grosskreutz and Blashe.

Norm Walbruck and Kurt Waush started in the first row of the IMCA Modified feature, and that is the way they ran after once lap, with Kyle Meyers, Craig Bartz and Eric Scribner following. Bartz quickly worked his way by Meyers on the second lap, and began pressuring Waush a couple laps later. Bartz could not make the pass, as Scribner also worked his way by Meyers at this time. With half the race in the books, Walbruck had built himself a small lead over Waush. 

With only five laps remaining in the race, Waush began closing in on Walbruck, as Bartz and Scribner also closed in on Waush. Bartz pulled alongside Waush a couple of different times over the next two laps, but could not make the pass, as the low groove was the preferred lane to race on. Walbruck maintained his lead, and went on to the victory, his first ever at the Shawano Speedway. Waush, Bartz, Scribner and Eddie Muenster rounded out the top five.

In the IMCA Stock Car feature, Jon Wolf grabbed the early lead over Tyler Rasmussen, Rod Snellenberger, Brian Bruechert and Kyle Frederick. With Wolf pulling away over the first several laps, Snellenberger and Bruechert passed Rasmussen on the third lap, but Bruechert drifted high on the next lap, falling out of the top five. Snellenberger began gaining on Wolf, as Jeremy Christians joined the top five. The first caution of the race came on lap nine.

On the restart, Wolf spun in turns one and two, bringing out the caution once again. This gave the lead to Snellenberger, with Christians moving all the way up to the second spot on the restart. Larry Karcz began pressuring Christians, and grabbed the second spot with a couple of laps to go. As Christians took the white flag, he slowed, as smoke poured from his car, and fluid was dropped on the track. As drivers scrambled to avoid Christians, cars began spinning and colliding in turn one. In all, seven cars will involved in the accident. Snellenberger got the victory, with Karcz, Kevin Lamberies, Frederick and Travis Van Straten officially rounding out the top five.

Aaron Wickersheim jumped out to the early lead over Tony Wudstrack, Nate Yonker, Bud Lynn and Jeff Deutscher in the Limted Late Model feature. Wickersheim’s lead lasted only one lap, when Wudstrack used an inside pass to take the lead. Jesse Peebles also joined the top five at this time. With Wudstrack pulling out to a huge lead, Wickersheim began to slow on the fourth lap, and retired from the race. This gave the second spot to Yonker, with Jeff Curtin moving up to fourth.

With half the race in the books, and Yonker in second, his car went up in smoke, forcing him to the pits. This gave the second spot to Curtin, with Justin Ritchie, Lynn and Mike Kunschke following. Wudstrack had built himself almost a half-lap lead, leaving the best battle between Curtin and Ritchie. Ritchie could get up to Curtin’s rear bumper, but that was all the closer he could get. It was all Wudstrack, as he won his first feature of the year. He was followed by Curtin, Ritchie, Kunschke and Peebles. 

Racing action continues next Saturday night, with the action starting at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the four regular divisions of racing, there will also be Street Eliminator races.

RACING SUMMARY
WISSOTA LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)Peter Parker, 2)A.J. Diemel, 3)Tim Lemirande, 4)Cody Grosskreutz, 5)Doug Blashe, 6)Tom Naeyaert, 7)Gordie Seegert, 8)M.J. McBride, 9)Terry Anvelink, 10)Nick Anvelink. FIRST HEAT: 1)Blashe, 2)Gary Nelson, 3)Naeyaert. SECOND HEAT: 1)Seegert, 2)McBride, 3)Diemel. THIRD HEAT: 1)N. Anvelink, 2)Parker, 3)Troy Springborn. 

IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE: 1)Norm Walbruck, 2)Kurt Waush, 3)Craig Bartz, 4)Eric Scribner, 5)Eddie Muenster, 6)Mike Wedelstadt, 7)John Berna, 8)Kyle Meyers, 9)Wade Schutt, 10)Brad Rohloff. FIRST CONSI: 1)Shannon Ninham, 2)Julie McDermid. SECOND CONSI: 1)Rohloff, 2)Paul Thorpe. THIRD CONSI: 1)Jerry Muenster, 2)Charlie Wild. FIRST HEAT: 1)Jeremie Hedrick, 2)Berna, 3)Brad Moeller. SECOND HEAT: 1)Scribner, 2)Wedelstadt, 3)Jeremy Hodkiewicz. THIRD HEAT: 1)Meyers, 2)Waush, 3)Lance Arneson. FOURTH HEAT: 1)Walbruck, 2)Bartz, 3)Schutt. FIFTH HEAT: 1)Eric Van Iten, 2)E. Muenster, 3)Kevin Ferfecki. 

IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE: 1)Rod Snellenberger, 2)Larry Karcz, 3)Kevin Lamberies, 4)Kyle Frederick, 5)Travis Van Straten, 6)Shannon Volkman, 7)Dan Michonski, 8)Tyler Rasmussen, 9)Brian Karcz, 10)Jason Czarapata. CONSI: 1)Van Straten, 2)Mike Brehmer. FIRST HEAT: 1)Brian Bruechert, 2)Volkman, 3)B. Karcz. SECOND HEAT: 1)Snellenberger, 2)Czarapata, 3)Rasmussen. THIRD HEAT: 1)Jeremy Christians, 2)Lamberies, 3)L. Karcz. 

LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)Tony Wudstrack, 2)Jeff Curtin, 3)Justin Ritchie, 4)Mike Kunschke, 5)Jesse Peebles, 6)Bud Lynn, 7)Larry Drefahl, 8)Gary Janke, 9)Bob Schmidt, 10)Brian Jensen. FIRST HEAT: 1)Peebles, 2)Kunschke, 3)Nate Yonker. SECOND HEAT: 1)Ritchie, 2)Curtin, 3)Schmidt.