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Schill Takes The Trophy In The Bob Fish Pontiac Buick GMC Alan Kulwicki Memorial
(Slinger, WI) May 21—It seemed only fitting that the hardware from the 14th
edition of the Bob Fish Pontiac-Buick-GMC Alan Kulwicki Memorial was taken
home by the popular veteran Al Schill, as he held off David Prunty to win the
70-lap late model feature event Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway.
“I didn’t realize this was the 14th year, “ exclaimed Schill, whose race
cars have carried the number 14 throughout most of his thirty-plus career
which included many laps against the late NASCAR champion for whom the race is
named. “I’ve never won this one before. I’ve won just about everything
else here, except the Nationals, but now we’ve got one out of the
way.”
“Someone gave me a newspaper clipping in the pits from 1977,” Schill
continued. “And it showed me passing Alan Kulwicki for the win here.”
Fred Winn and Conrad Morgan led the field to the green flag and Morgan timed
the start perfectly to shoot into the lead ahead of Winn, Nick Schumacher, and
Ken Wills. Schill fell into line in fourth place while Dennis Prunty and Gary
LaMonte battled for fifth as the event quickly fell under the caution flag on
lap three when Dave Teske spun in turn three. Morgan once again maintained the
lead on the restart as Schumacher battled Winn for second with Schill staying
in line right behind them. The yellow flag appeared again a few laps
later as LaMonte spun and tagged the wall between the first and second
turns.
With Morgan continuing to lead, Schill began to move forward, maneuvering his
way into second by lap 20 while Dennis Prunty fought off Wills, Schumacher,
and David Prunty for the third spot. Schill had his car turning well off the
corners and he was able to work his way to the inside of Morgan to take the
lead on lap 23. Schill and Morgan contested the lead over the next several
laps before the race was slowed once again under the yellow as the result of a
Colin Bamke and Tony Strupp tangle in turn two. As racing resumed, Morgan made
an attempt to take the lead using the outside groove but his car suddenly
twitched to the right and he faded through the field, allowing David and
Dennis Prunty to move into second and third respectively. Morgan retired from
the event shortly thereafter as the cause to his problems was found to be a
cut tire. Once out front, Schill threaded his way through traffic and kept a
steady lead as the Prunty brothers contested second place before David
prevailed just before lap 40. The top five stabilized over the final
laps and no one was able to touch Schill as he drove to the victory over David
Prunty and Dennis Prunty. Nick Schumacher finished in fourth and Ken Wills
crossed the stripe for an impressive fifth place finish. Lowell Bennett took
the checkered flag in sixth place ahead of Josh Bauer who started last and
raced his way to a seventh place finish. John Mueller, Brad Mueller, and Fred
Winn rounded out the top ten.
Josh Bauer won the 30-lap late model semi-feature over Mike Egan and Mark
Bitzan. Travis Dassow finished in fourth place and Rich Loch was fifth. Brad
Mueller took the win in the late model fast dash and David Prunty was the
fastest qualifier at 11.369 seconds.
James Swan sliced his way through the field to take the lead late in the
Midwest Sportsman feature en route to victory in the 30-lap event.
Mike Borchardt and Rob Braun occupied the front row at the start and Braun
hooked up in the outside lane to snag the early lead. Borchardt lined up into
second place as behind him, Kenny Joosten, Swan, and Brad Keith jockeyed for
position. Swan steadily worked his way forward, taking over second place from
Borchardt by lap ten as Joosten, Keith, Jeff Holtz, Mike Graczkowski, and Pat
McIntee battled behind them. Once into second place, Swan gradually closed the
gap between himself and Braun, catching the leader by lap 16 and then taking
the top spot with a nice inside move on lap 18. As Swan and Braun fought for
the lead, Holtz and Graczkowski advanced into third and fourth place
respectively while Borchardt held the fifth spot just ahead of Keith and
McIntee who were aggressively contesting the sixth position. In the final
laps, Braun was unable to find a way around Swan and the defending track
champion charged to the win, leaving Braun to settle for second place. Holtz
held off Graczkowski for third while Keith edged Borchardt for the fifth spot
at the line.
Jay Shambeau took top honors in the Midwest Sportsman fast dash while Dave
Thomas returned to the speedway with a rebuilt car and set fast time at 12.637
seconds.
Steve Huelsbeck edged Ron Schmitt to pick up the victory in the 20-lap Midwest
Modified feature.
Matt Pate led the opening laps as Eddie Bentfield battled alongside while Dale
Prunty and Jason Feyereisen pressured the lead duo. By lap five, Prunty was
able to work the outside to grab the lead as Huelsbeck weaved his way forward
to take over second place just ahead of Feyereisen and Pate. Three laps later,
Huelsbeck took to the outside and raced wheel-to-wheel with Prunty for the
lead. Huelsbeck and Prunty battled side-by-side during the middle stages with
Huelsbeck able to barely snag the lead on lap 11. Eddie Bentfield experienced
mechanical problems on lap 12 just in front of the leaders and Prunty found
himself caught up in Bentfield’s misfortune, cutting down and tire and
spinning as the caution flag flew.
Huelsbeck led Ron Schmitt on the restart and Schmitt immediately began to look
to the high side, pulling alongside momentarily before getting loose in the
fourth turn and allowing Hueslbeck to skate out front. Schmitt regained his
composure and once again tracked down Huelsbeck in the waning laps, moving
alongside with three laps to go. Huelsbeck and Schmitt staged a classic side
by side duel for the win with Huelsbeck taking the victory by inches over
Schmitt. Joe Houpt finished a strong third while Joey Bentfield and Prunty
rounded out the top five finishers.
Prunty took the checkered flag in the Midwest Modified fast dash and Schmitt
set fast time after touring the speedway in 12.425 seconds.
Aaron Cain held off Jamie Vetter to win the 16-lap Thunderstock main event.
Shawn Hoeffler finished in third followed by Troy Martingilio and Ryan
DeStefano in fourth and fifth place respectively. Bob Losiniecki and Travis
Buchholtz each brought home victories in the Slinger Bees events while Ben
Dolnick won the Spectator Eliminator races in his Subaru. Willie Van Camp
scored the win in the Figure 8 race to close out the evening.
Event: Bob Fish Pontiac/Buick/GMC Alan Kulwicki Memorial Date: May 21, 2006
Late Model Feature 70-laps
1. Al Schill (Franklin) 15. Colin
Bamke (Slinger)
2. David Prunty (Brownsville) 16. Scott Schoeni (Slinger)
3. Dennis Prunty (Lomira) 17. Tony Strupp (West
Bend)
4. Nick Schumacher (Hartford) 18. Chad Barker (Franksville)
5. Ken Wills (Slinger) 19. Ed
Grober (Milwaukee)
6. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 20. Conrad Morgan
(Waukesha)
7. Josh Bauer (Random Lake)
8. John Mueller (Hubertus)
9. Brad Mueller (Random Lake)
10. Fred Winn (Sussex)
11. Dave Teske (Richfield)
12. Gary LaMonte (West Allis)
13. Mike Egan (Slinger)
14. Randy Schuler (Mequon)
Late Model Semi Feature- 30 lap
1. Josh Bauer (Random Lake) 4. Travis Dassow (West
Bend)
2. Mike Egan (Slinger)
5. Rich Loch (Muskego)
3. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls)
Late Model Fast Dash- Brad Mueller (Random Lake)
Late Model Fast Time- Dave Prunty (Brownsville) 11.369 seconds
Midwest Modified Feature 30 laps
1. Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee) 4. Joey Bentfield (Gerkes Corners)
2. Ron Schmitt (Jackson) 5. Dale
Prunty (Allenton)
3. Joe Houpt (Mequon)
Midwest Modified Fast Dash- Dale Prunty (Allenton)
Midwest Modified Fast Time- Ron Schmitt (Jackson) 12.425 seconds
Midwest Sportsman Feature 30 laps
1. James Swan (Lake Geneva) 4. Mike Graczkowski
(Jackson)
2. Rob Braun
(Wales) 5. Brad
Keith (West Bend)
3. Jeff Holtz (Muskego)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Dash- Jay Shambeau (Hubertus)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Time- Dave Thomas (Franklin) 12.637 seconds
Thunderstocks Feature 15 laps
1. Aaron Cain (Sussex) 4. Troy
Martingilio (Slinger)
2. Jamie Vetter (Oak Creek) 5. Ryan DeStefano
(Colgate)
3. Shawn Hoeffler (Slinger)
Slinger Bees Heat #1 laps
1. Bob Losiniecki (Slinger) 4. Derek Hoarig
(Germantown)
2. Justin Poenitsch (West Bend) 5. Tanya Manke (Stone Bank)
3. Frank Verhunce (Slinger)
Slinger Bees Heat #2 laps
1. Travis Buchholz (Slinger) 4. Jason Hennes
(Richfield)
2. Tom Berens (Slinger)
5. Josh Wenninger (Lomira)
3. Shawn Gavin (Jackson)
Figure 8 Winner- Willie Van Camp (Appleton)
Spectator Eliminator- Ben Dolnick (Slinger)
Point Standings
Late Model Point Standings
1. David Prunty Brownsville 143; 2. Al Schill Franklin 135; 3. Brad Mueller
Random Lake 120; 4. Josh Bauer Random Lake 115; 5. Dennis Prunty Lomira 91; 6.
Lowell Bennett Neenah 90; 7. Nick Schumacher Harford 90; 8. Ken Wills Slinger
84; 9. Dave Teske Richfield 81; 10. John Mueller Hubertus 77; 11. Fred Winn
Sussex 69; 12. Collin Bamke Slinger 67; 13. Gary LaMonte West Allis 65; 14.
Rich Loch Muskego 64; 15. Scott Schoeni Slinger 64; 16. Conrad Morgan Wales
60; 17. Ed Grober Milwaukee 59; 18. Tony Strupp West Bend 58; 19. Travis
Dassow West Bend 57; 20. Mike Egan 47
Midwest Sportsman Point Standings
1. Mike Graczkowski Jackson 150; 2. Brad Keith West Bend 129; 3. James Swan
Lake Geneva 128; 4. Jeff Holtz Muskego 126: 5. Rob Braun Wales 121; 6. Mike
Borchardt Greenfield 101; 7. DaveThomas Franklin 81; 8. Scott Shambeau
Milwaukee 74; 9. Pat McIntee 74; 10. Ryan Zielski Slinger
71;
Midwest Modified Point Standings
1. Steve Huelsbeck Milwaukee 244; 2. Joe Houpt Mequon 227; 3. Dale
Prunty Allenton 172; 4. Ron Schmitt Jackson 163; 5. Joey Bentfield Gerkes
Corners 129; 6. Matt Pate Menomonee Falls 123; 7. Jason Feyereisen Random Lake
109; 8. John Kruschel Sussex 88; 9. Eddie Bentfield Gerkes Corners 81; 10.
Bill Tandetzke Milwaukee 76;
Figure 8 Point Standings
1. Willy VanCamp 170; 2. Scott Goetzke 165; 3. Donald VanCamp Jr. 160; 4.
Paul Williams 130; 5. Rick Bruskiewicz 110
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