Buhler Wins Wild WISSOTA Late Model Feature At Shawano
By Bert Lehman 

Shawano, WI (July 17, 2004) - Great weather greeted fans and drivers at the Shawano Speedway, as Tim Buhler won his second WISSOTA Late Model feature. Brad Rohloff won his first IMCA Modified feature of the year, while Brian Bruechert won his second straight IMCA Stock Car feature. Jeff Curtin won the Limited Late Model feature.

Veteran Terry Anvelink jumped out to the early lead over Tim Buhler, Cody Grosskruetz, M.J. Hintz and Gordie Seegert in the 20-lap WISSOTA Late Model feature. Over the next two laps, Seegert advanced to the third spot, while Anvelink and Buhler began to distance themselves from the rest of the field. The first caution of the race came out on lap four. On the restart, both Buhler and Seegert motored by Anvelink, while A.J. Diemel and Troy Springborn followed. 

Buhler began to pull away, as Springborn began applying pressure on Diemel for the fourth spot. Springborn quickly got by Diemel and immediately began pressuring Anvelink for the third spot. Springborn tried two or three times to pass Anvelink on the outside, but Anvelink fought him off every time. With five laps remaining, Springborn tried ducking underneath Anvelink, the two made contact, with Anvelink spinning and sustaining a flat rear tire. Springborn was put to the back on the restart. 

When the race was restarted, the cars of Seegert and Doug Blashe made contact coming out of turn two, causing Seegert to spin and sustain a flat tire. Blashe was put to the back on the restart. When the race was restarted the final time, Buhler stayed in command of the race, leaving Nick Anvelink and Hintz to battle side-by-side the remaining laps for the second spot. It was Buhler’s race as he went on to the victory, with Hintz, Nick Anvelink, Tom Naeyaert and Diemel following.

In the IMCA Modified feature, Kyle Meyers grabbed the early lead over Lance Arneson, Brad Rohloff, Roger Van Roy and Dave Diemel. Rohloff wasted no time taking command of the race, flying into the lead on the second lap, with Meyers falling to third. Meyers continued to back track over the next couple laps, allowing Wade Schutt and Ron Figlinski to join the top five.

As the laps clicked by, Rohloff was building himself a huge lead over the second place car of Arneson. This left Diemel and Schutt to battle for the third spot, while Craig Bartz was knocking on the door of the fifth spot. After following Diemel for eight laps, Schutt grabbed the third spot from Diemel with only a few laps remaining. Then with two laps left, Bartz finally was able to crack the top five. There was no denying Rohloff, as he was on cruise control in winning his first feature of the year. He was followed by Arneson, Schutt, Diemel and Bartz.

Brian Bruechert jumped out to the quick lead over Kevin Lamberies, Rod Snellenberger, Jeremy Thiex and Kyle Fredrick A caution a couple of laps into the race bunched up the field. On the restart, Snellenberger took over the top spot, leaving Bruechert and Fredrick to battle side-by-side as well as Lamberies and Jeremy Christians to race side-by-side. Bruechert began gaining on Snellenberger and retook the top spot with half the race in the books.

Snellenberger fought back for the top spot, with Bruechert falling to third. That lasted only one lap, as Bruechert once again grabbed the lead. This dropped Snellenberger back to third behind Fredrick, who pulled alongside Bruechert. Bruechert was able to fight off Fredrick’s advances, as Bruechert went on to the win. He was followed by Fredrick, Snellenberger, Jason Czarapata and Lamberies.

In the Limited Late Model feature, Chad Hohn took the early lead of the race with Brian Jensen, Tony Wudstrack, Larry Drefahl and Jeff Curtin all in pursuit. Curtin advanced to fourth on lap four, with Justin Ritchie grabbing the fifth spot on the next lap.

With over half the race in the books, Curtin was running in the top spot, with Ritchie right on his rear bumper, while Wudstrack, Peebles and Bob Schmidt followed. Over the remaining laps, Ritchie tried several times to take the lead from Curtin, but each time Curtin was able to fend him off. When the cars crossed the finish line, it was Curtin taking the win, snapping the four week streak of wins Ritchie had going. Wudstrack, Peebles and Schmidt rounded out the top five.

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)Tim Buhler, 2)M.J. Hintz, 3)Nick Anvelink, 4)Tom Naeyaert, 5)A.J. Diemel, 6)Troy Springborn, 7)Gordie Seegert, 8)Doug Blashe, 9)Mark Mitchell, 10)Terry Anvelink. FIRST HEAT: 1)Seegert, 2)Springborn, 3)T. Anvelink. SECOND HEAT: 1)Buhler, 2)N. Anvelink, 3)Blashe. 

IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE: 1)Brad Rohloff, 2)Lance Arneson, 3)Wade Schutt, 4)Dave Diemel, 5)Craig Bartz, 6)Jerry Muenster, 7)Ron Figlinski, 8)Kyle Meyers, 9)Mike Wedelstadt, 10)Tom Haferkorn. FIRST HEAT: 1)Jeremy Hedrick, 2)Eric Scribner, 3)Schutt. SECOND HEAT: 1)Rohloff, 2)Bartz, 3)Arneson. THIRD HEAT: 1)Julie McDermid, 2)Roger Van Roy, 3)Meyers. FOURTH HEAT: 1)Wedelstadt, 2)Diemel, 3)Muenster. 

IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE: 1)Brian Bruechert, 2)Kyle Fredrick, 3)Rod Snellenberger, 4)Jason Czarapata, 5)Kevin Lamberies, 6)Jeremy Christians, 7)Cory Lemirande, 8)Dan Michonski, 9)Tyler Rassmussen, 10)Larry Karcz. FIRST HEAT: 1)Lamberies, 2)Bruechert, 3)Snellenberger. SECOND HEAT: 1)Fredrick, 2)Michonski, 3)Czarapata. 

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