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Bamke Takes Career Win #1 At Slinger
By: Dan Margetta
(Slinger, WI) June 11 — 19-year old rookie Colin Bamke turned a lot of heads
Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway, putting on a performance worthy of
a veteran to nail down his first career late model feature victory in the
Enders Construction/Design to Construct 75-lap main event.
“That was incredible!” the understandably excited Bamke told the crowd
after holding off brothers Dennis and David Prunty by running the outside lane
magnificently. “I was shaking the whole time, especially having to run the
outside,” Bamke continued, “but we’ve had some bad luck this year and we
finally got a chance to show what we can do.”
Bamke began the event from the outside of the front row and managed to lead
the opening lap after clearing pole-sitter Mark Bitzan in turn three while
Nick Schumacher, Mike Strupp, Josh Bauer, and Dennis Prunty charged for
positions behind the lead duo. Bamke held on to the lead as Strupp and Prunty
advanced to second and third place just before the first caution flag of the
race unfurled on lap ten when Schumacher and Bitzan tangled on the
frontstraightaway. Bamke chose the inside lane on the restart and once again
eased ahead as Prunty dispatched Strupp to take second. Farther back, Lowell
Bennett began to march to the front, taking over third place by lap 17 while
Gary LaMonte and David Prunty also moved up into the top five. Incidental
contact as the result of close racing behind them, peeled Mike Egan’s front
fender away, causing it to flail in the wind and he began to slow in an effort
to leave the speedway. While Egan slowed approaching turn three, those behind
him began to check up and the accordion-like effect resulted in Tony Strupp
ramping over a slowing Al Schill on lap 20. Strupp’s car continued on and
made hard contact with the turn three wall, momentarily getting airborne
before landing back on all four wheels. Strupp was not injured in the mishap
but the event was stopped under the red flag to clean up the speedway with
Bamke leading Dennis Prunty, Bennett, LaMonte, and David Prunty.
On the restart, Bamke held the inside while Dennis Prunty took to the high
side and the two raced alongside each other for many laps, with Prunty edging
ahead to lead some laps at the stripe. Prunty eventually cleared Bamke to
claim the lead for himself on lap 29 while Bennett experienced problems as his
car appeared to suddenly get extremely loose and he headed to the pits. While
Bamke and Prunty disputed the lead, LaMonte, Jeremy Lepak, and Schumacher
raced with David Prunty over the third through sixth positions. LaMonte became
trapped on the high lane and began to slide back as Lepak took third ahead of
Schumacher and David Prunty. The race was slowed a second time on lap 33 after
John Mueller and LaMonte tangled in turn two.
This time as racing resumed, Bamke found himself on the outside while Dennis
Prunty held tough down low. Bamke maintained his position on the outside and
remained side-by-side with Prunty in the battle for the top spot. Bamke ran
the outer groove beautifully and remained on the gas when rookies would
normally back off, eventually managing to clear Prunty for the lead on lap 35.
Behind them, David Prunty and Lepak fought over third place and on lap 58,
aggressively took the position in turn two. Lepak’s car took off up the
track and as he regained control, Al Schill looked to the inside to pass but
contact between the cars caused both of them to spin to draw the final caution
flag.
Bamke was once again poised to keep his lead as the green flag reappeared and
he turned back any further challenges from Dennis Prunty as he raced to his
first career late model feature victory. Dennis Prunty settled for a second
place finish, holding off his brother David Prunty, who finished a close
third. Nick Schumacher was fourth and Fred Winn completed a strong run with a
fifth place finish.
Ed Grober won the 30-lap late model semi-feature over Tony Strupp and Randy
Schuler. Robert Maynor and Jerry Eckhardt rounded out the top five. Dennis
Prunty won the fast dash and David Prunty set fast time at 11.298 seconds.
Brad Keith took the lead by lap ten and drove to victory in the 30-lap Midwest
Sportsman feature.
Keith started from the inside of row two and fell in line in third place while
Dean Olla and Dave Thomas battled for the early lead. Thomas took command of
the event on lap five ahead of Olla, Keith, and Rob Braun. Keith began to
pressure Thomas for the lead, taking over the top spot by lap ten. Once out
front Keith began to check out from the field as Thomas had his hands full
dealing with challenges from Braun, Kenny Joosten, and Mike Graczkowski. Jeff
Holtz also entered the mix, entering the top five by lap 20. Braun was able to
pass Thomas for second in the final ten laps as Keith continued to lead the
event. Keith remained unchallenged in the waning laps and he cruised to the
win over Braun and Thomas. Joosted finished fourth and Holtz crossed the
finish line in fifth.
Troy Weich scored his first victory of the season in the Midwest Sportsman
semi-feature, holding off Don Wood and Andy Haver for the win. Chris Beine was
fourth and Tom Elsinger finished fifth. Keith also won the Midwest Sportsman
fast dash and Mike Graczkowski was the fastest qualifier at 12.528 seconds.
Scott Nottestad won an exciting 30-lap limited late model feature over Nick
Wendt and Jeff Steenbergen.
Wendt and Dave McCardle paced the field to the green flag and Wendt grabbed
the early lead as Nick Schumacher, Nottestad, and Chris Ratajczyk battled for
third. Schumacher became loose on lap six but saved his car as behind him,
drivers started to take evasive action, resulting in Jason Deppe spinning in
turn three to bring out a caution flag. Wendt led on the restart but wasn’t
able to shake Schumacher and Nottestad who were glued to his rear bumper.
Behind the top three, Ratajczyk sliced his way forward and along with Jeff
Steenbergen, tracked down the top three. Ratajczyk became hooked up on the
outside and gradually moved his way up to challenge Wendt for the lead on lap
21. Ratajczyk continued on the high side and managed to snag the lead on lap
24 with Wendt remaining alongside while Nottestad trailed in their tire
tracks. The action heated up with three laps to go as the lead battle resulted
in Ratajczyk drifting high in turn two and spinning around and into the
infield. Wendt and Nottestad made it by Ratajczyk’s spinning car with
minimal damage as the race remained under green and Nottestad quickly ducked
to the inside as he and Wendt raced for to the white flag. Nottestad was able
to complete the pass for the lead on the final lap and he charged under the
checkered flag to claim the victory. Wendt finished second while Steenbergen,
Schumacher, and Andy Wendt rounded out the top five.
Tyler James was victorious in the limited late model fast dash and Kris Kelly
paced all qualifiers after circling the speedway in 12.390 seconds.
Ron Schmitt took top honors in the 25-lap Midwest Modified feature.
Dennis Prunty led the beginning laps as he battled side by side with Schmitt
in the early going as Jason Feyereisen and Steve Huelsbeck. A tangle between
John Kruschell and Joey Bentfield in turn three on lap seven brought out the
yellow flag with Dennis Prunty leading Schmitt and Feyereisen. Schmitt worked
his way by Prunty on lap eight while Huelsbeck also advanced forward, taking
second place on lap ten. With Schmitt and Huelsbeck out front, Wes Biswell
worked his way forward into third place on lap 11 while Dale Prunty joined the
top five. As Huelsbeck and Biswell fought hard for second place, Schmitt
extended his advantage. With Schmitt pulling farther away, the battle for
second expanded to four cars as Dale Prunty and Feyereisen joined Huelsbeck
and Biswell as the laps ticked down. Schmitt charged to the win while at the
line, Dale Prunty nipped Biswell for second place. Huelsbeck finished in
fourth place and Feyereisen was fifth.
Schmitt also was the winner of the Midwest Modified fast dash and Huelsbeck
was the fastest qualifier at 12.293 seconds.
Shawn Gavin and Matt Schatz split the wins in the Slinger Bees events and Alex
Knable won the Port-A-John Speedway Guest Car event. Bill Vorpagel drove his
BMW to the win in the Spectator Eliminator race and Donald Van Camp closed the
night with a win in the Figure 8 event. Jenna Hejlik was crowned Miss Slinger
Speedway for 2006.
Event: Enders Construction/Design to Construct
Date: June 11, 2006
Late Model Feature 75-laps
1. Colin Bamke (Slinger) 15.
John Mueller (Hubertus)
2. Dennis Prunty (Lomira) 16. Mike
Strupp (Theresa)
3. David Prunty (Brownsville) 17. Josh Bauer (Random
Lake)
4. Nick Schumacher (Hartford) 18. Tony Strupp (West
Bend)
5. Fred Winn
(Sussex) 19.
Mike Egan (Slinger)
6. Scott Schoeni (Slinger)
7. Andrew Morrissey (Deforest IL)
8. Jeremy Lepak (Wausau)
9. Al Schill (Franklin)
10. Tommy Hromadka (Brookfield)
11. Gary LaMonte (West Allis)
12. Tommy Pecaro (Markesan)
13. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls)
14. Lowell Bennett (Neenah)
Late Model Semi Feature- 30 lap
1. Ed Grober (Glendale) 4. Robert Maynor (Colgate)
2. Tony Strupp (West Bend) 5. Jerry Eckhardt (Johnson Creek)
3. Randy Schuler (Mequon)
Late Model Fast Dash-Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
Late Model Fast Time- David Prunty (Brownsville) 11.298 seconds
Midwest Modified Feature 20 laps
1. Ron Schmitt (Jackson) 4. Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee)
2. Dale Prunty (Allenton) 5. Jason Feyereisen (Random Lake)
3. Wes Biswell (Sussex)
Midwest Modified Fast Dash- Ron Schmitt (Jackson)
Midwest Modified Fast Time- Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee) 12.293
seconds
Midwest Sportsman Feature 30 laps
1. Brad Keith (West Bend) 4. Kenny Joosten (Wonder Lake, IL)
2. Rob Braun (Wales) 5. Jeff Holtz
(Franklin)
3. Dave Thomas (Franklin)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Dash- Brad Keith (West Bend)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Time- Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 12.582
seconds
Midwest Sportsman Semi-Feature- 12 lap
1. Troy Weich (Fond du Lac) 4. Chris Beine (West Bend)
2. Don Wood (West Bend) 5. Tom Elsinger (West
Bend)
3. Andy Haver (Slinger)
Limited Late Model Feature 30 laps
1. Scott Nottestad (Stoughton) 4. Nick Schumacher (Hartford)
2. Nick Wendt (Watertown) 5. Andy Wendt
(Watertown)
3. Jeff Steenbergen (Waupun)
Limited Late Model Fast Dash- Tyler James (Oconomowoc)
Limited Late Model Fast Time- Kris Kelly (Norway, MI) 12.390 seconds
Slinger Bees Heat #1 laps
1. Shawn Gavin (West Bend) 4. Jason Hennes (Richfield)
2. Tonya Manke (Hartland) 5. Bryan Wick (Richfield)
3. Bill Roska (Sussex)
Slinger Bees Heat #2 laps
1. Matt Schatz (Hartford) 4. Matt Westphal (West
Bend)
2. Jacob Vanosky (Slinger) 5. Derek Hoerig (Germantown)
3. Desi Weidenhoeft (Jackson)
Port-A-John Guest Cars Winner- Alex Knable
Spectator Elimination Winner- Bill Vorpagel (West Bend)
Figure 8 Winner- Donald Van Camp (Seymour)
POINT STANDINGS
Late Model Point Standings
1. David Prunty Brownsville 340; 2. Al Schill Franklin 326; 3. Lowell
Bennett Neenah 277; 4. Dennis Prunty Lomira 246; 5. Josh Bauer Random Lake
241; 6. Nick Schumacher Harford 233; 7. Fred Winn Sussex 196; 8. Collin
Bamke Slinger 190; 9. John Mueller Hubertus 189; 10. Gary LaMonte West Allis
172; 11. Ken Wills Slinger 165; 12. Scott Schoeni Slinger 153; 13. Brad
Mueller Random Lake 150; 14. Mike Egan Slinger 149; 15. Randy Schuler Mequon
146; 16. Dave Teske Richfield 127; 17. Travis Dassow West Bend 126; 18. Edward
Grober Milwaukee 123; 19. Conrad Morgan Wales 122; 20. Mark Bitzen Menomonee
Falls 121
Midwest Sportsman Point Standings
1. Mike Graczkowski Jackson 342; 2. Brad Keith West Bend 303; 3. Jeff Holtz
Muskego 274: 4. Rob Braun Wales 240; 5. James Swan Lake Geneva 218; 6. Pat
McIntee West Bend 207; 7. Mike Borchardt Greenfield 207; 8. Ryan Zielski
Slinger 198; 9. Dave Thomas Franklin 184; 10. Scott Shambeau Milwaukee 175
Midwest Modified Point Standings
1. Ron Schmitt Jackson 534; 2. Steve Huelsbeck Milwaukee 516; 3. Dale Prunty
Allenton 487; 4. Joe Houpt Mequon 398; 5. Jason Feyereisen Random Lake 387; 6.
Joey Bentfield Gerkes Corners 253; 7. John Kruschel Sussex 234; 8. Wes Biswell
Sussex 226; 9. Eddie Bentfield Gerkes Corners 212; 10. Joseph Osterman
Pewaukee 175
Figure 8 Point Standings
1. Donald VanCamp Jr Seymour 425; 2. Scott Goetzke Iron Ridge 370; 3. Jeff
Wohlabe Appleton 350; 4. Willie VanCamp Appleton 340; 5. Paul Williams
Hartford 300
Limited Late Model
1. Scott Nottestad Stoughton 121; 2. Jerry Eckhardt Johnson Creek 121; 3. Nick
Schumacher Hartford 112; 4. Nick Wendt Watertown 106; 5. Andy Wendt Watertown
98; 6. ChrisRatajiczyk West Bend 93; 7. Jeff Steenbergen Waupun 89; 8. Tyler
James Oconomowoc 74; 9. Kris Kelly Norway MI 73; 10. Eric Fransen West Bend
72
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