Springborn Dominates WISSOTA Late Model Feature; Ritchie Wins Again
By Bert Lehman

Shawano, WI (June 19, 2004) - With 95 drivers on hand, the Shawano Speedway was back in action Saturday night, with Troy Springborn winning his third WISSOTA Late Model feature of the year. Mike Wedelstadt won his second straight IMCA Modified feature, while Jeremy Christians won his second IMCA Stock Car feature of the year. Justin Ritchie repeated as the Limited Late Model feature winner, his fourth of the year.

Mark Mitchell grabbed the early lead in the WISSOTA Late Model feature, but was quickly being challenged by Troy Springborn, who started the race in the sixth position, and was in second by the end of the first lap. Springborn then made quick work of Mitchell, taking the lead on the second lap, leaving Mitchell, M.J. Hintz, Luke Roffers and Terry Anvelink fighting for the rest of the top five spots. Roffers began challenged Hintz a couple of laps later, as the two drivers began gaining on Mitchell.

With Springborn firmly in the lead and pulling away from the field, Hintz, Roffers and Nick Anvelink each worked their way by Mitchell at the midpoint of the race. Hintz and Roffers then put on a side-by-side battle, with Anvelink waiting in the wings for his opportunity to advance. Roffers grabbed the runner-up spot from Hintz with eight laps remaining, but gave up the spot to Anvelink one lap later. There was no catching Springborn, though, as he was on a rail. Nick Anvelink, Roffers, Hintz and Terry Anvelink followed Springborn across the line.

In the IMCA Modified feature, Jim Hanson jumped out to the quick lead over Tom Schaal, Craig Bartz, Paul Thorpe and Mike Wedelstadt. Wedelstadt quickly moved to third, as Bartz used the high groove to grab the second spot on the second lap, and then the lead on the third lap. By the time five laps were in the books, Bartz and Wedelstadt were bumper-to-bumper, with Wedelstadt challenging Bartz several times over the next several laps. Bartz was up to the challenge, maintaining the lead, while Brad Rohloff was advancing to third. 

Rohloff was gaining on Bartz and Wedelstadt, but his car seemed to suffer a broken tie-rod on the left front with four laps remaining, putting an end to his bid. This left it a two car battle. With three laps remaining, Wedelstadt used the high groove and pulled alongside Bartz. Bartz tried battling back, but Wedelstadt was able to pull in front and hang on for the win. He was followed by Bartz, Eric Van Iten, Thorpe and Wade Schutt. 

Jeremy Thiex led the first two laps of the IMCA Stock Car feature before giving way to Jason Czarapata. Jeremey Christians, Larry Karcz, Dan Michonski and Rod Snellenberger all followed Czarapata past Thiex. Czarapata’s lead lasted only two laps, when Christians pulled alongside Czarapata and grabbed the lead. The two raced side-by-side for the next five laps, with Christians winning that battle, taking control of the lead with five laps remaining.

With Christians in the lead, Karcz caught Czarapata, with those two racing side-by-side for two laps, but this time Czarapata was up to the challenge, taking control of the second spot. In the end, it was Christians crossing the line first, with Czarapata, Karcz, Snellenberger and Michonski following.

In the Limited Late Model feature, Jeff Curtin took the lead after a caution on the second lap. Justin Ritchie quickly pulled up to Curtin’s bumper on the next lap, before pulling alongside Curtin one lap later. Ritchie then grabbed the lead and began pulling away from the field. Another caution on lap nine slowed the race. On the restart, Ritchie continued to lead with Curtin, Bob Schmidt, Tony Wudstrack and Luke Uttecht following. That’s the way it ended, with Ritchie taking the win.

Racing action will continue next Saturday night, with the action starting at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the Shawano Speedway, visit www.shawanospeedway.com. 

RACING SUMMARY
WISSOTA LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)Troy Springborn, 2)Nick Anvelink, 3)Luke Roffers, 4)M.J. Hintz, 5)Terry Anvelink, 6)M.J. McBride, 7)Gordie Seegert, 8)Randy Markwardt, 9)Tim Lemirande, 10)Mark Mitchell. 
FIRST HEAT: 1)N. Anvelink, 2)Lemirande, 3)Mitchell. 
SECOND HEAT: 1)Springborn, 2)Markwardt, 3)Seegert. 

IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE: 1)Mike Wedelstadt, 2)Craig Bartz, 3)Eric Van Iten, 4)Paul Thorpe, 5)Wade Schutt, 6)Julie McDermid, 7)Lance Arneson, 8)Shannon Ninham, 9)Jerry Muenster, 10)Jim Hanson. 
FIRST HEAT: 1)Schutt, 2)Ninham, 3)McDermid. 
SECOND HEAT: 1)Eric Scribner, 2)Tom Schaal, 3)Eddie Muenster. 
THIRD HEAT: 1)Wedelstadt, 2)Hanson, 3)Jerry Wilinski. 
FOURTH HEAT: 1)Bartz, 2)Thorpe, 3)Brad Rohloff. 

IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE: 1)Jeremy Christians, 2)Jason Czarapata, 3)Larry Karcz, 4)Rod Snellenberger, 5)Dan Michonski, 6)Kevin Lamberies, 7)Shannon Volkman, 8)Jon Wolf, 9)Cory Lemirande, 10)B.J. Giese. 
FIRST HEAT: 1)Christians, 2)Karcz, 3)Czarapata. 
SECOND HEAT: 1)Snellenberger, 2)Lamberies, 3)Lemirande.. 

LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)Justin Ritchie, 2)Jeff Curtin, 3)Bob Schmidt, 4)Tony Wudstrack 5)Luke Uttecht, 6)Jesse Peebles, 7)Bud Lynn, 8)Brian Jensen, 9)Joey Braatz, 10)Dan Thompson.
FIRST HEAT: 1)Wudstrack, 2)Curtin, 3)Larry Drefahl. 
SECOND HEAT: 1)Mike Kunschke, 2)Ritchie, 3)Uttecht..