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Slinger Speedway Honors 2005 Champions
(Slinger, WI) January 8, 2006 - Slinger Speedway completed its 58th year of
racing during the 2005 season and the annual awards festivities capped off
another successful campaign for the Worlds Fastest Quarter Mile Oval.
The Awards Ceremony took place at the Washington County Fair Park Saturday
night January 7, 2006. A wonderful dinner catered by the Charcoal Grill
and Rotisserie preceded the awards while Comedian Billy Elmer provided
entertainment after all the hardware was handed out. The tab for the
evening exceeded $80,000 including cash, contingencies, and other
awards.
Brad Mueller collected top honors in the Late Model Division. Brad had a
division leading nine fast times, and also had nine runner up feature
finishes. He racked up sixteen top 5’s along with winning one-trophy
dash on his way to successfully completing a three peat, winning his third
consecutive championship. Brad drove the #89, Go Wireless, Metro
Milwaukee Auto Auction, Suburban Harley-Davidson, Pro-power, Pathfinder to the
Championship. Finishing in second place was David Prunty just 89 points
short of his first Championship. The number 89 was on his mind most of
the summer but usually in his mirror or not too far ahead. Five Wins,
fourteen top 5’s, four fast times, three trophy dash wins, and the Race of
Champions win highlighted this drivers 2005 campaign. Six times he
finished outside the top 10 costing him a shot at his first
championship. Former Champion Lowell Bennett was the third place
finisher. Lowell started the season strong winning the Opening Day
Miller Lite 75, and followed that up two weeks later winning the N/Connect
Wireless Internet 60. He also won the Mid-Season Championships Wisconsin
Drywall Distributors 75. Along with Lowell’s three Feature wins he
added fifteen Top 5 finishes, and one trophy dash win. 2004 Rookie of
the Year Dave Feiler recorded twelve top ten’s, two fast time’s four
trophy dash wins and a feature win on Miller/Bonjovi night to finish 4th in
the championship standings. Feiler also was the overall winner of the
Coca-Cola Triple Crown. Rounding out the top five was Austin Konetski.
Austin scored two wins in 2005. He won the Ewald Automotive/RI Flooring
70 and Coke/Subway 60, while racking up fifteen top ten finishes, three fast
times, and one trophy dash win. During the 2005 season 75 different late
model drivers took to the high banks of Slinger Speedway with an average
weekly car count of 35. With these high car counts Slinger Speedway
continues to field one of the most competitive late model classes in the
Country.
Nick Schumacher took home the 2005 Rookie of the Year honors by winning one
feature, finishing in the top ten 14 times, and collecting 1 trophy dash win.
Nick finished 8th in the championship standings during his maiden voyage
racing a late model on the high banks of the World’s Fastest 1/4 Mile Oval
in Sonya and Dan Delcamps # 16, Sonya’s Rose Ford.
Conrad Morgan took home the hard luck award after an early season crash
sidelined him with a broken arm and damaged tendon. Conrad put a couple
of drivers in his car during the season and then came back late in the season
to complete the year in the familiar blue 92.
Dale Prunty was crowned champion in the Midwest Modified Division. Dale
successfully defended his 2004 title by placing in the top five 14 times,
winning one trophy dash, setting fast time on 3 occasions and winning 3
features. Ron Schmitt finished second in the points battle for the 3rd
consecutive year in the Modified division. The runner up scored 17 Top 5
finishes including 4 feature wins, and 4 Trophy Dash wins driving the number 6
Goeden’s Auto Body car. The third place finisher was Steve Schulz
taking home the checkered flag in 4 feature races, and two trophy dashes along
with recording 5 fast times, and 13 top 5’s. Steve Huelsbeck took home
fourth in the championship standings by compiling 14 top five finishes, 6
trophy dash wins, and feature wins in the Bob Fish/Alan Kulwicki Memorial and
Ritter Technology/Parker Store races. Finishing fifth with one-feature
win, 10 Top 5’s, and a division leading 11 fast times was the driver of the
Suburban Motors #90 Jason Feyereisen.
James Swan lead the division in feature wins with 6, trophy dash wins with 4,
and top fives with 19 on his way to winning the 2005 Midwest Sportsman
Championship. Runner up in the Midwest Sportsman was Brad Keith.
Brad was a threat to win every week. With an impressive record including
15 top fives, 3 fast times, 1 trophy dash win, and 4 feature wins. One of
those wins coming during the Miller Lite Slinger Nationals. Always
improving Collin Bamke took home third in the standings with 2 feature
win’s, 3 fast times, 3 trophy dash wins, and 12 top fives over the course of
the season. Gary Lamonte recorded 10 top fives, one fast dash, a
division leading 11 fast times, and 2 feature wins on his way to a fourth
place in the championship standings. Dave Thomas placed fifth overall with 6
top 5’s, 14 top 10’s, while setting fast time on two occasions and winning
2 fast dashes. He led 26 of the final 30 laps in the “LEGEND”
on his way to finishing 2nd in the inaugural event.
New for 2005 was a five race Eldorado Trailer Sales Limited Late Model
Series. Long time Slinger Speedway Late Model veteran Chris Ratajczyk
dominated the Eldorado Trailer Sales Limited Late Models. He was perfect
finishing in the top five in every race including 3 feature wins. He
also won the trophy dash twice and collected fast time honors
once. Runner up was Kyle Jarlsberg with Dylan Schuyler, Andy Wendt
and Kris Kelly rounding out the top five.
Donald Van Camp won the championship in the Figure 8 division. Donald
had seven feature wins along with 14 top five finishes. Runner up was
Scott Goetzke, with Shane Becker in third and Willy Van Camp rounding out the
top four.
The Thunderstock division honors went to Eric Scheutz for recording the most
wins with 4-checkered flags. The Driver in The Complete Car Care Slinger
Bee’s that recorded the most wins with 6-checkered flags was Ryan Zielski.
The 2006 season will open with a practice day on Saturday April 22nd and The
Miller Lite Twin 75’s Season Opener on Sunday Afternoon, April 23rd.
April 30th will be another afternoon race with evening racing starting Sunday
Night May 7th.
On behalf of track owner-promoter Wayne Erickson, and the entire staff Slinger
Speedway would like to thank everyone that has been a part of the success the
track enjoyed in 2005 - especially the many fans, teams, and sponsors
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