|
Prunty Takes Port-A-John 100 And Joosten Wins The Legend At Slinger
By Dan Margetta
Slinger, WI-Sept. 4 — David Prunty posted his fifth late model feature win of
the season by taking top honors in the Port-A-John 100 and Kenny Joosten
charged to victory in “The Legend” 60-lap Midwest Sportsman Series main
event Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway.
“I wish we could restart the season with the set-up we have now,” Prunty
said from victory lane. “The six DNF’s (from earlier in the season) really
hurt us but we’re happy with the five wins.”
Ken Wills and Al Schill brought the field to the green flag and after racing
side-by-side for the first five laps Schill powered his way into the lead on
the outside. Donavan Morgan and Austin Konetski slipped in line in third and
fourth while Dennis Prunty worked to hold off John Mueller, David Prunty, and
Brad Mueller for fifth place. Dennis Prunty’s car began to kick loose on lap
15 and he was forced to go up the track to save it, allowing David Prunty and
Mueller to go by as the leaders lined up nose-to-tail ahead of them. As Schill
continued to lead, Prunty and Mueller soon caught Wills and Morgan and began
to pressure them for second place. Wills briefly got out of shape in turn two
and the momentarily bobble benefited Prunty and Mueller as they shot by,
grabbing second and third place respectively. Schill kept his car out front
for the first 28 laps, before Prunty as able to work his way by to take
command and soon after, Mueller also was able to get around Schill for second.
The first caution flag flew on lap 33 when Mike Strupp had something break on
his car and he slapped the turn two wall.
Prunty led Mueller and Schill on the restart as Lowell Bennett appeared in the
top five, racing with Wills, Morgan, and Austin Konetski. Bennett advanced his
way to fourth place by lap 35 and the top five remained static with Prunty
still leading over Mueller and Schill. Bennett was the driver on the move
during the middle stages as he worked his way under Schill by lap 55 to grab
third place as Morgan moved up to challenge Schill for fourth. Schill and
Morgan battled alongside each other for three laps before Schill’s car
looped around in turn four, producing the yellow flag with Prunty leading
Mueller, Bennett, Morgan, and Feiler.
A lap after racing resumed, Austin Konetski appeared to have a throttle stick
and his car smacked the turn three wall with the right rear before snapping
around and climbing the wall, coming to rest on his roof at the bottom of the
speedway. Konetski was not injured in the incident and the field lined up for
the restart with Prunty maintaining his lead over Mueller. Prunty began to
gradually pull away from Mueller in the closing stages as Bennett began to put
the pressure on for second place. Prunty was unchallenged in the final stages
and he drove to his fifth feature win of the season. Mueller held off Bennett
for second place and Feiler finished in fourth place ahead of Morgan and
Wills. Nick Schumacher was seventh while Dennis Prunty, John Mueller, and Mike
Egan rounded out the top ten.
Toby Rott won the 30-lap late model semi-feature over Jeff Way and Scott
Schoeni. Rich Loch took the checkered flag in fourth place and Conrad Morgan
made his return to the speedway with a fifth place finish. Jerry Eckhardt held
off Rick Corso to win the 12-lap late model consi and David Prunty won the
fast dash. Brad Mueller was the fastest qualifier at 11.418 seconds.
Joosten charged from deep in the field to score the win and the $3,000 payday
in “The Legend”, a 60-lap feature for the Midwest Sportsman Series.
Indiana driver, Keith Sterkowitz led the early laps as Jeff Tisler, Dave
Thomas, and Collin Bamke followed close behind. Sterkowitz maintained the top
spot as the field remained tightly bunched behind him. Ryan Finley’s car
broke loose in turn two on lap 14 and as he tried to save the car, he clipped
the right rear of Ron Weyer’s machine on the backstretch, sending Weyer’s
car over on it’s roof and into the turn three billboards. Weyer’s car spun
around while upside down before coming to rest at the bottom of the banking as
the field was slowed with Sterkowitz leading Tisler and Thomas.
On the restart, the field stacked up in accordian-like fashion, resulting in
James Swan spinning into the infield as the race remained under green. Swan
was able to continue but found himself far back in the pack, nearly a lap
down. A few laps later, on lap 25, Gary LaMonte experienced mechanical
problems and he dropped out of the event. Thomas was able to get around Tisler
for second place and took to the outside lane in an attempt to take the lead
from Sterkowitz. After several laps of trying, Thomas made the outside lane
work and took command of the race on lap 30, just before the second caution
flag appeared when Jan Kantner spun and collected Andy Haver in turn two.
Thomas led Sterkowitz on the restart as Pat McIntee moved into third place
while Joosten advanced into the top five in fourth place ahead of John
Senercia and Kenny Richards. Joosten was the driver on the move in the second
half as he sliced his way by McIntee for third place by lap 45 and then
charged around Sterkowitz for second on lap 50. Meanwhile, Swan made an
incredible comeback as he made up ground following his earlier spin, taking
fifth place from Senercia. Joosten soon tracked down Thomas and made his move
for the lead with four laps to go as Swan also charged through the field,
challenging for the third spot as the laps wound down. Joosten completed the
pass for the lead on lap 56 and then held off Thomas to score the victory
while Swan took the checkered flag in third place. Senercia crossed the stripe
in fourth place while Sterkowitz finished fifth. Swan’s third place finish
clinched the track championship and he and Joosten celebrated on the
frontstretch with a series of
burnouts.
Ron Weyer was the winner of the 20-lap Midwest Sportsman semi-feature over
Andy Haver and Jay Schambeau. Mike Borchardt and Scott Schambeau rounded out
the top five. Rob Braun was victorious in the fast dash and James Swan set
fast time with a lap of 12.542 seconds.
Steve Schulz turned back all challenges to win the 25-lap Midwest Modified
feature, taking the win over Ron Schmitt and Dale Prunty.
The race got off to a rocky start as several cars including Eddie Bentfield,
Joe Houpt and Dale Prunty made contact at the drop of the green, sending them
spinning to the infield. The second attempt at starting the race was much
better as Schulz charged into the lead over Ron Schmitt and Jason Feyereisen.
Wes Biswell advanced forward in the early laps, taking over third place by lap
five as Schulz continued to lead. David McCardle entered the top five and
began to race with Feyereisen for position by lap 13 and two laps later, both
drivers tangled in turn one to produce a caution flag with Schulz leading
Schmitt and Biswell. Schulz was never headed over the final laps and raced to
the win while Schmitt finished in second place. Dale Prunty rebounded from his
earlier misfortunes and he was able to snag third place from Biswell at the
finish. Steve Huelsbeck completed the top five.
Schulz also was victorious in the fast dash and Feyereisen was the fastest
qualifier after turning in a lap in 12.347 seconds.
Rick Schaefer won the thrilling 12-lap Thunderstock feature over Chris Beine
and Eric Schuetz. Aaron Cain and Mark Kissinger finished in fourth and fifth
place respectively. Ryan Zielski and Scott Bundy each won Slinger Bees races
and Moe DeStefano was the winner of the Port-A-John Speedway Guest Cars race.
Rob Myers drove a Cadillac to the win in the Spectator Elimination events and
Scott Goetzke won the Figure 8 race.
Event: Port-A-John Labor Day Special
Date: Sept. 4, 2005
Late Model Feature 100-laps
1. David Prunty
(Brownsville)
15. Josh Bauer (Random Lake)
2. Brad Mueller (Random
Lake) 16.
Robert Maynor (Colgate)
3. Lowell Bennett
(Neenah)
17. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls)
4. Dave Feiler (Sun
Prairie)
18. Austin Konetski (Janesville)
5. Donavan Morgan (Oconomowoc) 19. Toby Rott
(Slinger)
6. Ken Wills
(Milwaukee)
20. Mike Strupp (Theresa)
7. Nick Schumacher (Hartford)
8. Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
9. John Mueller (Hubertus)
10. Mike Egan (Slinger)
11. Al Schill (Franklin)
12. Dave Teske (Sussex)
13. Fred Winn (Sussex)
14. Jeff Way (Burlington)
Late Model Semi-Feature- 30-laps
1. Toby Rott
(Slinger)
4. Rich Loch (Muskego)
2. Jeff Way
(Burlington)
5. Conrad Morgan (Waukesha)
3. Scott Schoeni (Slinger)
Late Model Consi- 12-laps
1. Jerry Eckhardt (Johnson Creek) 4. Shawn Roethle (Hartford)
2. Rick Corso (McHenry,
IL)
5. Jerry Schneider (Green Bay)
3. James Jesoshek (Menomonee Falls)
Late Model Fast Dash- David Prunty (Brownsville)
Late Model Fast Time- Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 11.418 seconds
Midwest Modified Feature 25 laps
1. Steve Schulz
(Waukesha) 4. Wes
Biswell (Sussex)
2. Ron Schmitt
(Jackson)
5. Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee)
3. Dale Prunty (Allenton)
Midwest Modified Fast Dash- Steve Schulz (Waukesha)
Midwest Modified Fast Time- Jason Feyereisen (Random Lake) 12.347
seconds
Midwest Sportsman Feature-60 laps
1. Kenny Joosten (Wonder Lake, IL) 4. John Senercia (Orland Park, IL)
2. Dave Thomas
(Franklin)
5. Keith Sterkowitz (Cedar Lake, IN)
3. James Swan (Lake Geneva)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Dash- Rob Braun (Wales)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Time- James Swan (Lake Geneva) 12.542 seconds
Midwest Sportsman Semi-Feature-20 laps
1. Ron Weyer
(Richfield) 4.
Mike Borchardt (Greenfield)
2. Andy Haver (West Bend) 5. Scott
Schambeau (Milwaukee)
3. Jay Schambeau (Hubertus)
Thunderstocks Feature 15 laps
1. Rick Schaefer (Kewaskum) 4. Aaron Cain (West Bend)
2. Chris Beine
(Slinger)
5. Mark Kissinger (West Bend)
3. Eric Schuetz (West Bend)
Slinger Bees Heat #1 8 laps
1. Ryan Zielski (Slinger) 4.
Tanya Manke (Hartland)
2. Tom Berens (Slinger) 5. Bob
Losiniecki (Richfield)
3. Justin Okruhlica (Jackson)
Slinger Bees Heat #2 8 laps
1. Scott Bundy (Cedarburg) 4.
Desi Wiedenhoeft (Jackson)
2. Steve Paukner (West Bend) 5. Justin Poenitsch (Kewaskum)
3. Joey Bentfield (Gerkes Corners)
Port-A-John Guest Cars Winner- Moe DeStefano (Colgate)
Spectator Elimination Winner- Rob Myers (Hartford)
Figure 8 Winner- Scott Goetzke (Iron Ridge)
Championship Point Standings
Late Model Division: 1. Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 1093 2. David Prunty
(Brownsville) 1042; 3. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 983; 4. Dave Feiler (Sun
Prairie) 881; 5. Austin Konetski (Janesville, WI) 811; 6. Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
782; 7. John Mueller (Hubertus) 771; 8. Nick Schumacher (Germantown) 762; 9.
Mike Egan (Slinger) 705; 10. Al Schill (Franklin) 604; 11. Travis Dassow (West
Bend) 602; 12. Fred Winn (Sussex) 556; 13. Rich Loch (Franklin) 552; 14. Ken
Wills (Milwaukee) 546; 15. Scott Schoeni (Slinger) 536; 16. Randy Schuler
(Mequon) 506; 17. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls) 496; 18. Robert Maynor
(Colgate) 483; 19. Tommy Hromadka (Brookfield) 392; 20. Donavan Morgan
(Oconomowoc) 382.
Midwest Modified Division: 1. Dale Prunty (Allenton) 1755; 2.
Steven Schulz (Menomonee Falls) 1728; 3. Ron Schmitt (Jackson) 1686; 4. Steve
Huelsbeck (Milwaukee) 1590; 5. Jason Feyereisen (Randon Lake) 1412; 6. Wes
Biswell (Sussex) 1346; 7. David McCardle (Menomonee Falls) 976; 8. Russ Grade
(Hartland) 937; 9. Joe Houpt (Mequon) 871; 10. Russ Moberly (West Bend) 744.
Midwest Sportsman Division: 1. James Swan (Lake Geneva) 1316 ; 2. Brad
Keith (West Bend) 1100; 3. Collin Bamke (Slinger) 1037; 4. Gary LaMonte (West
Allis) 950; 5. Dave Thomas (Franklin) 766; 6. Pat McIntee (West Bend) 764; 7.
Jay Schambeau (Hubertus) 718; 8. Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 697; 9. Scott
Schambeau (Milwaukee) 625; 10. Gary Tisler (Reedsville) 582.
Figure 8: 1. Donald Van Camp Jr. (Seymour) 1325; 2. Scott Goetzke
(Iron Ridge) 1220; 3. Shane Becker (Iron Ridge) 1155; 4. Willy Van Camp
(Appleton) 880; 5. Paul Williams (Hartford) 840.
|
|
|
