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Prunty Edges Bennett And Gets Win #4 Of The Season
By Dan Margetta
Slinger, WI-August 14—David Prunty edged Lowell Bennett to win the 65-lap
late model feature Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway to pick up his
fourth feature victory of the season.
“He (Bennett) was all over me,” an excited Prunty told the crowd from
victory lane. “I was very tight and I knew any second he would be able to
stick his nose under me but luckily I was ahead the whole way and was able to
keep the tires cooler.”
Mike Strupp brought the field to the green flag and led the early laps as
Prunty slide into second place by lap ten, ahead of Bennett, Fred Winn, and
John Mueller. With the close racing up front, the field remained tightly
bunched, causing a gridlock situation back in the field that resulted in a
spin involving Ken Wills that also collected Travis Dassow on lap fourteen.
Strupp led Prunty, Bennett, and Winn on the restart while John Mueller and
Brad Mueller followed as behind them, Dennis Prunty, Austin Konetski, and Dave
Feiler worked their way around Robert Maynor. The top three began to pull away
as both John and Brad Mueller worked the outside in an attempt to get around
Winn for fourth while Dennis Prunty, Konetski, and Feiler staged their own
struggle over the seventh spot. Winn began to fade as John and Brad Mueller
each used the outside to pass by and then Konetski and Feiler took to the top
to get around Winn as Dennis Prunty looked to make a move on the inside.
Meanwhile at the head of the field, David Prunty was able to turn under Strupp
and take command of the race on lap 23 and Bennett followed with a similar
inside move to grab second. With Prunty still leading over Bennett and Strupp,
Brad Mueller found a groove on the high side and was able to pass John Mueller
for position by lap 30 as Konetski closed in. The caution flag waved for the
second time a few laps later when contact between Konetski and John Mueller
sent Mueller spinning off the front straightaway, relegating both drivers to
the rear of the field for the restart.
Prunty and Bennett eased ahead of the field on the restart while Strupp found
himself being challenged by both Brad Mueller and Feiler for third. Mueller
was able to draw alongside Strupp but as he did, his car suddenly became loose
in the corners and on the next circuit around he skated wide in turn four,
losing two positions as both Feiler and Nick Schumacher drove by him. Feiler
looked to the inside of Strupp and took over third place by lap 40 as Prunty
continued to circle the speedway with Bennett glued to his back bumper. Over
the final laps, Bennett appeared to have the better handling car and he made
numerous attempts to take the lead, but each time, Prunty proved to be just
strong enough to keep him at bay. Prunty was able to gain a slight advantage
when the leaders caught lapped traffic and he held off Bennett’s charges to
take the win by about a half car length. Feiler finished a strong third while
Strupp capped off his respectable run with a fourth place finish. Schumacher
crossed the finish line in fifth place but was later relegated back two
positions for actions on an earlier restart. That left Dennis Prunty
officially in fifth place and Brad Mueller in sixth. Schumacher was credited
with seventh place while Rich Loch, Mike Egan, and Jeremy Lepak rounded out
the top
ten.
Mark Bitzan drove a flawless race to win the 30-lap late model semi-feature
while Dave Teske finished second to grab the final transfer spot into the main
event. Scott Schoeni crossed the stripe in third followed by Dan Jung and Brad
Dahmer. Dennis Prunty won the fast dash and Dave Feiler was the fastest
qualifier at 11.347 seconds.
James Swan charged from deep in the field to score the win in the 30-lap
Midwest Sportsman main event over Brad Keith and Collin Bamke.
Scott Schambeau and Jimmy Evans began from the front row and raced alongside
each other for the opening circuits with Schambeau able to edge ahead at the
line. With the top two racing side-by-side, Swan and Keith were able to slice
their way forward into third and fourth place. Eventually, Evans began to fall
back as first Keith and then Swan dove to the inside to take over second and
third respectively as Schambeau continued to lead. Schambeau’s car appeared
to be loose on the exits of the turns and that allowed Keith and Swan to close
quickly using the outside lane. The duo continued on the outside and raced
around Schambeau on lap 19 as farther back, Bamke and Pat McIntee staged their
own battle over the fourth position. As Bamke and McIntee raced door to door,
McIntee skated high in turn four and Bamke took over third place. Keith and
Swan ran nose to tail until the final lap when Swan made his move on the
outside, pulling even with Keith at the white flag. As they exited turn two,
Keith’s car slid slightly on the inside and Swan was able to gain momentum
and take the lead on the backstretch. Swan then was able to beat Keith back to
the finish line to claim the win. Keith finished a close second while Bamke
came home with a third place result. Scott Schambeau took the checkered flag
in fourth place and Jay Schambeau was fifth.
Dave Thomas claimed the win in the fast dash and Swan set fast time after
turning in a lap of 12.680 seconds.
Russ Grade left the field in his mirrors as he raced to the win in the 25-lap
Midwest Modified feature.
Grade started the event from the pole position and led at the outset as Steve
Huelsbeck moved forward to challenge Eddie Bentfield for second. Huelsbeck
completed the pass a few laps later as Grade continued to lead. Two of the
division’s hotshoes experienced trouble almost simultaneously as fast
qualifier Jason Feyereisen dropped off the pace with mechanical problems and
Dale Prunty spun around in turn four after contact with another car as the
field remained under the green. Steve Schulz, Wes Biswell, and Ron Schmitt all
made their way by Bentfield to advance into the top five just before the
caution flew on lap eight when Bentfield looped around in turn four. Grade led
on the restart over Huelsbeck and Schulz as Biswell battled Schmitt over the
fourth spot. Schulz jumped to the outside lane and challenged Huelsbeck for
second and their tussle allowed Grade to streak ahead. Huelsbeck and Schulz
remained side by side for several laps as Grade continued to extend his lead
while Biswell and Schmitt also raced alongside each other. Relatively
unchallenged throughout the closing laps, Grade raced to the victory while
Huelsbeck turned back Schulz for second. Schmitt nipped Biswell at the finish
to grab fourth place, leaving Biswell to settle for fifth.
Huelsbeck took top honors in the Midwest Modified fast dash and Jason
Feyereisen blistered qualifying with a lap of 12.296 seconds.
Eric Schuetz captured the win in the 12-lap Thunderstocks feature over Andy
Okrasinski and Rick Schaefer. Jim Bentzler finished in fourth place while
Dustin Krebs was fifth. Tom Berens and Miles Dornbrook were victorious in
Slinger Bee races and Bill Astovich Sr. won the Port-A-John Speedway Guest
Cars. Dannon Tessmer was the winner of the Spectator Eliminator event and
Willie Van Camp won the Figure 8 race. The night concluded with a demolition
derby that was won by Jody Schubert.
Date: August 14, 2005
Late Model Feature 65-laps
1. David Prunty (Brownsville) 15. John Mueller
(Hubertus)
2. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 16.
Fred Winn (Sussex)
3. Dave Feiler (Sun Prairie) 17. Robert
Maynor (Colgate)
4. Mike Strupp
(Theresa) 18. Ken
Wills (Milwaukee)
5. Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
19. Dave Teske (Sussex)
6. Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 20. Mark Bitzan
(Menomonee Falls)
7. Nick Schumacher (Hartford)
8. Rich Loch (Muskego)
9. Mike Egan (Slinger)
10. Jeremy Lepak (Wausau)
11. Al Schill (Franklin)
12. Ryan Mathews (Lake Geneva)
13. Travis Dassow (West Bend)
14. Austin Konetski (Janesville)
Late Model Semi Feature- 30 lap
1. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls) 4. Dan Jung (Iron Ridge)
2. Dave Teske
(Sussex) 5.
Brad Dahmer (Sheboygan Falls)
3. Scott Schoeni (Slinger)
Late Model Fast Dash-Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
Late Model Fast Time- Dave Feiler (Sun Prairie) 11.347
seconds
Midwest Modified Feature 25 laps
1. Russ Grade (Hartland) 4.
Ron Schmitt (Jackson)
2. Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee) 5. Wes Biswell (Sussex)
3. Steve Schulz (Waukesha)
Midwest Modified Fast Dash- Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee)
Midwest Modified Fast Time- Jason Feyereisen (Random Lake) 12.296
seconds
Midwest Sportsman Feature 30 laps
1. James Swan (Lake Geneva) 4. Scott Schambeau
(Milwaukee)
2. Brad Keith (West Bend) 5. Jay Schambeau
(Hubertus)
3. Collin Bamke (Slinger)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Dash- Dave Thomas (Franklin)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Time- James Swan (Lake Geneva) 12.680 seconds
Thunderstocks Feature 12 laps
1. Eric Schuetz (West Bend_ 4. Jim Bentzler
(Hartford)
2. Andy Okrasinski (Colgate) 5. Dustin Krebs (Hartford)
3. Rick Schaefer (Kewaskum)
Slinger Bees Heat #1 8 laps
1. Tom Berens (Slinger) 4. Shawn Gavin
(West Bend)
2. Shawn Friedeck (Waukesha) 5. Troy Martingilio (Sussex)
3. Jamie Vetter (Oak Creek)
Slinger Bees Heat #2 8 laps
1. Miles Dornbrook (Hartford) 4. Jacob Vanoskey (Hartford)
2. Steve Paukner (West Bend) 5. Frank Verhunce
(Mayville)
3. Bob Bliemeister (Germantown)
Port-A-John Speedway Guest Car Winner-Bill Astovich Sr.
Spectator Elimination Winner- Dannen Tessmer
Figure 8 Winner- Willie Van Camp (Appleton)
Demo Derby Winner- Jody Schubert (Port Washington)
Point Standings
Late Model Division: 1. Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 903; 2. David Prunty
(Brownsville) 834; 3. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 820; 4. Dave Feiler (Sun
Prairie) 762 5. Austin Konetski (South Beloit, IL) 720; 6. Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
665; 7. John Mueller (Hubertus) 664; 8. Nick Schumacher (Germantown) 651; 9.
Travis Dassow (West Bend) 522; 10. Mike Egan (Slinger) 522; 11. Al Schill
(Franklin) 462; 12. Fred Winn (Sussex) 462; 13. Scott Schoeni (Slinger) 451;
14. Rich Loch (Franklin) 445; 15. Ken Wills (Milwaukee) 428; 16. Randy Schuler
(Mequon) 427; 17. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls) 412; 18. Robert Maynor
(Colgate) 390; 19. Tommy Hromadka (Brookfield) 333; 20. Andrew Morrissey (De
Forest) 325.
Midwest Modified Division: 1. Dale Prunty (Allenton) 1466; 2.
Steven Schulz (Menomonee Falls) 1401; 3. Ron Schmitt (Jackson) 1384; 4. Steve
Huelsbeck (Milwaukee) 1327; 5. Wes Biswell (Sussex) 1168; 6. Jason Feyereisen
(Randon Lake) 1166; 7. Russ Grade (Hartland) 937; 8. David McCardle (Menomonee
Falls) 862; 9. Joe Houpt (Mequon) 725; 10. Russ Moberly (West Bend) 635.
Midwest Sportsman Division: 1. James Swan (Lake Geneva) 1081; 2. Brad
Keith (West Bend) 922; 3. Collin Bamke (Slinger) 854; 4. Gary LaMonte (West
Allis) 853; 5. Pat McIntee (West Bend) 685; 6. Dave Thomas (Franklin) 609; 7.
Jay Schambeau (Hubertus) 599; 8. Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 597; 9. Scott
Schambeau (Milwaukee) 541; 10. Gary Tisler (Reedsville) 480.
Figure 8: 1. Donald Van Camp Jr. (Seymour) 1100; 2. Shane Becker
(Iron Ridge) 955; 3. Scott Goetzke (Iron Ridge) 940; 4. Willy Van Camp
(Appleton) 765; 5. Paul Williams (Hartford) 680.
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