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Bennett Charges From The Back To The Front, Twice
By Clint Smith
(Slinger, WI) May 28, 2006—Lowell Bennett made history by being the first
driver to win the semi-feature and transfer on to win the E.H. Wolf and Sons
80 lap late model feature.
“What an awesome night, we had a lot of fun here tonight, we just got loose
qualifying, and qualifying is so important here” exclaimed an exhausted
Bennett to the crowd.
Fred Winn and Mike Strupp battled the first two laps side by side, until Dave
Teske overtook Strupp for second. Strupp’s car loosened up on lap four and
he slipped back to fifth place, as Nick Schumacher and Mike Egan worked their
way around him. On lap eight, Schumacher overtook Teske for second. Teske’s
night came to an end early, as he retired to the infield with a flat left
front tire. Brad Mueller was trapped behind a slower car, taking him several
positions further back in the field. A caution occurred on lap fourteen,
as Randy Schuler spun by himself in turn two. When the contest went back to
green, Winn resumed the lead over Schumacher, Egan, Dennis Prunty and Josh
Bauer. Dave Prunty moved his way up to fifth position by lap
nineteen.
On lap twenty-two, Lowell Bennett and Mike Strupp made contact, causing a
caution and sending both cars to the rear of the field. When the green flag
resumed, Nick Schumacher overtook Fred Winn for the lead, but only until lap
twenty five, when Winn used the inside groove to muscle back around
Schumacher. Dennis Prunty moved into second place, passing Schumacher on lap
twenty-eight. On lap twenty-nine, Dave Prunty moved past Schumacher, as well
as Brad Mueller a few laps later. The next caution occurred on lap
thirty-four, when Pete Weidemeyer’s car stalled. When the race resumed, Fred
Winn again held the point. On lap forty one, Brad Mueller’s machine hit the
wall hard in turn four, taking him out of contention and bringing about yet
another caution flag.
When the race resumed again, Dennis Prunty was able to overtake Fred Winn for
the lead on lap forty-one. By lap forty-five, Winn slipped back to sixth
place, as David Prunty, Schumacher, Rich Loch and Lowell Bennett made it past
him into the top five. One lap later, David Prunty passed his brother for the
lead. Two laps later, Dennis Prunty and Rich Loch got together on the
front stretch, bringing out the caution once again. The race resumed briefly,
until the caution fell before lap forty-nine for contact between John Mueller
and Weidemeyer. On lap fifty, Bennett was able to move up into second place
and Al Schill moved into third. He pursued David Prunty until the last two
laps, when David Prunty approached lapped traffic, and Lowell Bennett was able
to take the outside lane on the last lap to pass Prunty for the very
impressive win. Al Schill, Nick Schumacher and Fred Winn rounded out the top
five. Ken Wills also had an impressive night, battling his way to sixth place
after advancing from the semi-feature. Randy Schuler finished seventh,
followed by Mike Egan, Travis Dassow and John Mueller who rounded out the top
ten.
Lowell Bennett also won a hard contested battle with Ken Wills to take the 30
lap late model semi-feature. They both opted to transfer into the feature.
Scott Schoeni, Tommy Hromadka, and Mark Bitzan rounded out the top five. Ron
Ragan won the consolation race over Matt Raudabaugh. Mike Egan was the winner
of the fast dash and Al Schill was the fastest qualifier of the evening after
turning in a lap of 11.482.
Ron Schmitt dominated the caution free Midwest Modified 20 lap feature. Joey
Bentfield took the early lead and held the point, as Ron Schmitt darted
through the field. By lap 4, Schmitt overtook the top spot. On the same lap,
Bentfield’s car wiggled a bit, and Jason Feyereisen and Dale Prunty worked
their way into second and third place. The trio of Schmitt, Feyereisen and
Prunty pulled away from the rest of the field building a ten-car length lead
by the time the checkered flag flew. Schmitt was followed by Feyereisen,
Prunty, Steve Huelsbeck and John Kruschel, who rounded out the top five.
Steve Huelsbeck was the winner of the Midwest Modified fast dash and Jason
Feyereisen was the fastest qualifier after turning in a lap of
12.500
Mike Graczkowski won the Midwest Sportsman feature beating Scott Ascher to the
line. Ryan Zielski took the early lead, followed by Dean Olla. A multi-car
incident occurred on lap three, collecting the cars of Pat McIntee and Cory
Funk. The cars of Mark Kissinger and Brad Keith also needed attention from
their crews, as they momentarily left the track. Both returned to competition
before green flag racing resumed. Zielski again lead the field over Dean
Olla when the race restarted. Jeff Holtz worked his way up to second place by
lap six, followed by Dave Thomas, Graczkowski and Scott Ascher, who rounded
out the top five positions. On lap twelve, Holtz engaged in a side-by-side
battle with the leader, Zielski. On lap fourteen, Dave Thomas dropped from the
event, after experiencing mechanical problems. On lap sixteen, Mark Kissinger
spun in turn two bringing out the caution flag once again. Brad Keith had
mechanical issues during the caution and retired to the infield. Upon
returning to green flag action, it was again Zielski leading the field, this
time battling side by side with Jeff Holtz for several laps. On lap
twenty-one, Zielski lost several positions as his car momentarily slipped in
front of his fellow competitors. This cost him two positions, as he dropped
back to third place. Graczkowski was able to continue on for the victory over
Ascher, Holtz, Zielski and Pat McIntee who fought his way through the field
back to a fifth place finish.
Jeff Holtz was the winner of the Midwest Sportsman fast dash and Mike
Graczkowski was the fastest qualifier after turning in a lap of 12.818
Jerry Eckhardt won a hard fought battle to win the Limited Late Model 30 lap
feature. Jerry inherited a front row starting spot, after the car of Jeff
Steenbergen was unable to take the green flag for the event, after coming to a
rest during the hot laps before the event got underway. Eckhardt led the first
two circuits, until Ryan Destefano over took him for the lead on lap
two. Destefano lead the contest until lap eleven, when Eckhardt again
challenged for the lead. Nick Schumacher challenged his way up to third spot
by lap fifteen. On lap nineteen, fast qualifier, Jason Thoma and Kris Kelly
moved into fourth and fifth positions, passing Ryan DeStefano. The battle for
the lead heated up on lap twenty between Eckhardt and Chris Ratajczek, as
Thoma charged to the front. A caution occurred on lap twenty-seven, as
DeStefano’s car stalled in turn three. As the green flag dropped, Eckhardt
fended off fierce challenges from second place finisher, Thoma to win the
feature. Ratajczek, Schumacher and Andy Wendt rounded out the top five.
Tyler James was the winner of the Limited Late Models fast dash and Jason
Thoma was the fastest qualifier with a time of 12.541
Tom Berens and Frank Verhunce won the two Slinger Bees features, while Don Van
Camp bested the field of Figure Eights.
Event: E.H. Wolf and Sons Memorial Day
Special
Date: May 28, 2006
Late Model Feature 80-laps
1. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 15. Pete Weidemeyer (West
Bend)
2. David Prunty (Brownsville) 16. Matt Koceurek (Franklin)
3. Al Schill (Franklin) 17. Dennis
Prunty (Lomira)
4. Nick Schumacher (Slinger) 18. Rich Loch (Muskego)
5. Fredd Winn (Sussex) 19.
Brad Mueller (Random Lake)
6. Ken Wills (Slinger) 20.
David Teske (Richfield)
7. Randy Schuler (Mequon)
8. Mike Egan (Slinger)
9. Travis Dassow (West Bend)
10. John Mueller (Hubertus)
11. Mike Strupp (West Bend)
12. Josh Bauer (Random Lake)
13. Conrad Morgan (Waukesha)
14. Gary LaMonte (West Allis)
Late Model Semi Feature- 30 lap
1. Lowell Bennet (Neenah) 4. Tommy Hromadka (Brookfiled)
2. Ken Wills (Slinger) 5. Mark Bitzan
(Menominee Falls)
3. Scott Schoeni (Slinger)
Late Model Consi. Feature- 12 lap
1. Ron Ragan
(Hartford)
4. Jim Jesowshek (Menominee Falls)
2. Matt Raudabaugh (Menonminee Falls) 5. Rick Saegert
(Hartford)
3. Collin Bamke (Slinger)
Late Model Fast Dash-Mike Egan (Slinger)
Late Model Fast Time- Al Schill (Franklin) 11.482 seconds
Midwest Modified Feature 20 laps
1. Ron Schmitt
(Jackson) 4. Steve
Huelsbeck (Milwaukee)
2. Jason Feyereisen (Random Lake) 5. John Kruschel (Sussex)
3. Dale Prunty (Allenton)
Midwest Modified Fast Dash-Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee)
Midwest Modified Fast Time- Jason Feyereisen (Random Lake) 12.500
seconds
Midwest Sportsman Feature 30 laps
1. Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 4. Ryan Zielski (Oconomowoc)
2. Scott Ascher (Sussex) 5. Pat McIntee
(West Bend)
3. Jeff Holtz (Muskego)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Dash- Jeff Holtz (Muskego)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Time- Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 12.818
seconds
Limited Late Model Feature 30 laps
1. Jerry Eckhardt (Johnson Creek) 4. Nick Schumacher (Hartford)
2. Jason Thoma (Jefferson) 5.
Andy Wendt (Watertown)
3. Chris Ratajczyk (West Bend)
Limited Late Model Fast Dash- Tyler James (Oconomowoc)
Limited Late Model Fast Time- Jason Thoma (Jefferson) 12.541
seconds
Slinger Bees Heat #1 laps
1. Frank Verhunce (Mayville) 4. 11
2.
84
5. Sammantha Krebs
3. 3
Slinger Bees Heat #2 laps
1. Tom Berens (Slinger) 4. Jason
Hennes (Richfield)
2. Shawn Gavin (Jackson) 5. C.J. Corallini
(North Lake)
3. Justin Poenitsch (Kewaskum)
Figure 8 Winner- Don Vam Camp (Seymour)
Point Standings
Late Model Point Standings
1. David Prunty Brownsville 218; 2. Al Schill Franklin 202; 3. Lowell Bennett
Neenah 170; 4. Brad Mueller Random Lake 150; 5. Josh Bauer Random Lake 149; 6.
Nick Schumacher Harford 140; 7. Ken Wills Slinger 129; 8. Dennis Prunty Lomira
125; 9. Fred Winn Sussex 115; 10. John Mueller Hubertus 113; 11. Dave Teske
Richfield 109; 12. Gary LaMonte West Allis 97; 13.Travis Dassow West Bend 95;
14. Rich Loch Muskego 93; 15. Conrad Morgan Wales 93; 16. Randy Schuler Mequon
89; 17. Scott Schoeni Slinger 64; 18. Mike Egan Slinger 87; 19. Collin Bamke
Slinger 78; 20. Ed Grober Milwaukee 76
Midwest Sportsman Point Standings
1. Mike Graczkowski Jackson 240; 2. Jeff Holtz Muskego 189: 3. Brad Keith West
Bend 160; 4. Pat McIntee 129; 5. James Swan Lake Geneva 128; 6. Ryan Zielski
Slinger 127; 7. Mike Borchardt Greenfield 126; 8. Rob Braun Wales 121; 9.
Scott Shambeau Milwaukee 119; 10. DaveThomas Franklin 117
Limited Late Model Point Standings
1. Jerry Eckhardt Johnson Creek 80; 2. Jason Thoma Jefferson 72; 3. Chris
Ratajczk West Bend 63; 4. Nick Schumacher Hartford 56; 5. Andy Wendt Watertown
49; 6. Kris Kelly Norway, MI 45; 7. Scott Nottestad Oregon 41; 8. Chad Reimer
Oconomowoc 38; 9. Tyler James Oconomowoc 36; 10. Nick Wendt Watertown 34
Midwest Modified Point Standings
1. Steve Huelsbeck Milwaukee 332; 2. Joe Houpt Mequon 296; 3. Ron
Schmitt Jackson 293; 4. Dale Prunty Allenton 272; 5. Jason Feyereisen Random
Lake 227; 6. Joey Bentfield Gerkes Corners 168; 6. 7. John Kruschel Sussex
164; 8. Matt Pate Menomonee Falls 123; 9. Eddie Bentfield Gerkes Corners 117;
10. Joseph Osterman Milwaukee 80
Figure 8 Point Standings
1. Donald VanCamp Jr. Seymour 260; 2. Willy VanCamp Appleton 230; 3. Scott
Goetzke Iron Ridge 230; 4. Shane Becker Hartford 185 5. Jeff Wohlabe Appleton
180
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