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Bennett Shades Schill In A Thriller At Slinger
by Dan Margetta
(Slinger, WI) June 25—Lowell Bennett and Al Schill put on a performance for
the history books Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway during the Berres
Brothers Coffee Roasters 70 before Bennett emerged with the victory in a photo
finish.
“Thank God for Sunday nights, this was a lot of fun,” an obviously excited
Bennett told the crowd after edging Schill by about six inches for the win.
“My hat’s off to Al Schill, “ Bennett continued, “Both of us have
raced a lot of laps here and he’s a phenomenal driver. We just had a ball
here tonight.”
Bennett led the opening laps over Gary LaMonte as Mike Egan, Travis Dassow,
Nick Schumacher, and David Prunty all raced for the third position. Prunty
experienced mechanical issues which caused him to slow on lap ten and in the
effort to avoid his slowing car, Mike Strupp made contact with the car in
front of him and spun. Dennis Prunty then slid into Strupp’s stalled car as
the caution flag waved with Bennett leading LaMonte, Egan, Dassow, and
Schumacher. With the field lined up in double-file formation for the restart,
Bennett worked the inside to continue to lead over LaMonte as Schumacher also
used the inside to advance to third place by lap 20, bringing Jeremy Lepak
forward with him.
The second caution flag of the event flew on lap 36 when Tommy Pecaro looped
his machine in turn two with Bennett still leading over LaMonte, Schumacher,
Lepak, and Colin Bamke who maneuvered his way to fifth. Schumacher used the
low lane on the restart to edge to the inside of LaMonte for second place
while Bamke charged on the outside to pull alongside Lepak and he used the
high side to move forward until he clipped the backstretch wall on lap 39 and
spun backwards into the turn three concrete necessitating another caution
flag.
Schill had sliced his way forward prior to the yellow flag and lined up in
fourth for the restart, just behind LaMonte while Bennett continued to pace
the field over Schumacher. Schill used a strong run on the outside as racing
resumed to build enough momentum to pull ahead of LaMonte and then ease to the
inside of Schumacher to take second. Schill then remained glued to Bennett’s
bumper and looked to the inside in a bid for the lead just past the 50-lap
mark. The leaders began to encounter lapped traffic just as Schill pulled
alongside Bennett and both drivers raced door to door for the lead. Neither
Bennett nor Schill lifted as they passed the lapped cars, leaving barely
enough room to fit a dime between their cars but never touching in a classic
battle for the top spot.
The race was slowed for a final time on lap 60 when LaMonte appeared to have
some mechanical issues and his car stoved the turn one wall extremely hard.
The incident set up a ten lap shootout for the win and Schill chose the inside
lane for the restart, leaving Bennett to line up in the outside lane. Both
Bennett and Schill were on the mark for the restart and they resumed their
side-by-side tussle for the lead. Bennett was able to draw ahead slightly off
the corners, but Schill made up ground in the center of the turns and they
stayed together for the final ten laps. Schill managed to get a strong run off
turn four on the final lap and he made an inside charge as the two headed for
the checkered flag. At the stripe, Bennett barely nipped Schill for the win
with a margin of victory of about six inches. Lepak took the checkered
flag in third place right behind the lead duo and just ahead of Schumacher who
finished fourth. Fred Winn turned in another steady and consistent run for a
fine fifth place result. Travis Dassow was sixth and Mike Egan finished in
seventh place. Josh Bauer, David Prunty, and Dave Teske rounded out the top
ten.
John Mueller took home top honors in the 30-lap late model semi-feature over
Tommy Pecaro and Randy Schuler. Mark Bitzan finished fourth ahead of Jim
Schmittinger. Matt Raudabaugh won the 12-lap late model consi over Shawn
Roethle and Jim Jesoshek. Gregg Pawelski and Bill Shavlik rounded out the top
five. Nick Schumacher was the winner of the late model fast dash and Ken Wills
blistered the speedway in 11.343 seconds to set fast time.
Jay Shambeau charged to the win in the 40-lap Midwest Sportsman Series
feature, holding off Jeff Holtz at the finish.
Shambeau used the outer groove to take the lead at the start while Gary Tisler,
Ryan Zielski, and Holtz followed. A spin by Corey Funk in turn two produced
the caution flag on lap six with Shambeau leading Tisler, Zielski, Bobby Giers,
and Holtz. Shambeau and Tisler battled door to door as racing resumed and they
disputed the lead for the next 15 laps as neither could gain enough advantage
to take sole possession of the top spot. Finally Shambeau was able to break
away leaving Tisler to fight for second with Zielski, Holtz, Giers, Brad
Keith, and Mike Graczkowski. As the group approached lapped traffic, they
scattered to get around the slower machines and Zielski chased his car up the
track in turn two after contact from behind, leaving Graczkowski with nowhere
to go but the turn two wall. Zielski spun exiting the corner as well and the
race was slowed under the yellow flag with Shambeau leading Tisler, Holtz, and
Giers. Shambeau chose the outside lane for the restart and used the groove to
keep the lead as the green flag waved. Tisler found himself trapped in the
inside lane as Holtz used the high side to take second place on lap 25.
Shambeau steadily drove the final laps and he took the checkered flag for his
first feature victory of the season. Holtz crossed the stripe for a strong
second place finish ahead of Giers who came home in third place. Pat McIntee
charged late in the event to grab fourth place at the checkered while Brad
Keith was fifth.
Bobby Giers won the Midwest Sportsman fast dash and Mike Graczkowski was the
fastest qualifier at 12.672 seconds.
Jefferson Speedway standout Jon Ovadahl Jr. visited the Slinger Super Speedway
and left with the hardware in the 30-lap limited late model feature.
Jeff Steenbergen grabbed the early lead over Tyler James and Kris Kelly while
Andy Wendt, Dave McCardle, and Nick Schumacher jockeyed for spots behind them.
Steenbergen was able to scoot away from the field on lap ten when James became
momentarily crossed up in turn two, allowing Kelly and Wendt to close in.
Kelly was able to get to the inside of James on lap 15 to take second place
and Wendt followed suit a few laps later to take third. Three laps later,
Schumacher also tried to get an inside run on James and as the two entered
turn three, their cars touched and James spun. Chris Ratajczyk and Eric
Fransen were unable to avoid the incident and they collided as the caution
flag flew.
On the restart, Steenbergen spun the tires while accelerating to the green and
Kelly took over the top spot from the outside. Behind the lead duo, Ovadahl
was slicing his way forward, pulling behind Wendt and into fourth by lap 20.
On lap 24, Ovadahl muscled his way by Wendt and into third and one lap later
another caution waved as Jason Deppe spun down the frontstretch. In a
surprising move, Kelly chose the outside lane for the restart, allowing
Steenbergen the inside line with Ovadahl behind him. Kelly was unable to clear
Steenbergen on the restart and they raced alongside each other with Ovadahl
nipping on Steenbergen’s heels in third place. As the three raced to the
white flag, Ovadahl ran Steenbergen hard into turn three and was able to work
his way to the inside. With Ovadahl edging to the inside of Steenbergen, Kelly
found himself out of room on the top side and he fell to third as Ovadahl
completed the pass entering turn one on the final circuit. Ovadahl was able to
turn back any challenges from Steenbergen and he drove to the win, leaving
Steenbergen to settle for a second place finish. Andy Wendt took the checkered
flag in third followed by Kelly and Scott Nottestad.
Nick Schmacher was the winner of the limited late model fast dash and Eric
Fransen was the fastest qualifier of the night after turning in a lap of
12.336 seconds.
Steve Huelsbeck used the outside lane to take the lead late in the event en
route to victory in the 20-lap Midwest Modified feature.
Joe Houpt paced the beginning circuits while John Kruschell and Wes Biswell
settled into second and third respectively. Houpt and Kruschell battled
side-by-side for the lead over the first ten laps while Biswell ran directly
behind them, looking for a way to get by. On lap eleven, Kruschell had to
check up slightly in turn four as Biswell and Huelsbeck took advantage of the
situation and took over second and third respectively. A lap later, Biswell
also used the outside to take command of the race and Huelsbeck worked his way
into second place. Huelsbeck then was able to move to the outside of Biswell
and gradually began to edge ahead as Biswell’s car appeared to skate
slightly off the corners. Huelsbeck took the top spot with two laps to go but
couldn’t shake Biswell who continued to work the inside. On the final lap,
Huelsbeck pushed up a bit in the final corner, opening the door for Biswell to
make a final challenge that came up just short at the stripe as Huelsbeck took
the win. Biswell finished a close second while Dale Prunty worked his way up
from the back to come home in third place. Ron Schmitt was fourth and Jason
Feyereisen was fifth.
Earlier, Schmitt won the Midwest Modified fast dash and Feyereisen was the
fastest qualifier at 12.297 seconds.
Shawn Gavin and Roman Blank each came away with wins in the Slinger Bees
events and Randy Gray won the Port-A-John Speedway Guest Car race. Willie Van
Camp closed the night with a win in the Figure 8 event.
Event: Berres Brothers Coffee
Date: June 25, 2006
Late Model Feature 70-laps
1. Lowell Bennett (Neenah) 15. Gary LaMonte (West
Allis)
2. Al Schill (Franklin) 16. Ken
Wills (Slinger)
3. Jeremy Lepak (Wausau) 17. Tommy Pecaro
(Janesville)
4. Nick Schumacher (Hartford) 18. Colin Bamke (Slinger)
5. Fred Winn (Milwaukee) 19. Mike Strupp
(Theresa)
6. Travis Dassow (West Bend) 20. Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
7. Mike Egan (Slinger)
8. Josh Bauer (Random Lake)
9. David Prunty (Brownsville)
10. Dave Teske (Richfield)
11. Conrad Morgan (Waukesha)
12. Chad Barker (Franksville)
13. Rich Loch (Muskego)
14. Matt Kocourek (Franklin)
Late Model Semi Feature- 30 lap
1. John Mueller (Hubertus) 4. Mark Bitzan
(Menomonee Falls)
2. Tommy Pecaro (Janesville) 5. Jim Schmittinger (West
Bend)
3. Randy Schuler (Mequon)
Late Model Consi. Feature- 12 lap
1. Matt Raudabaugh (Menomonee Falls) 4. Gregg Pawelski (Milwaukee)
2. Shawn Roethle
(Hartford) 5. Bill
Shavlik (West Bend)
3. Jim Jesoshek (Milwaukee)
Late Model Fast Dash-Nick Schumacher (Hartford)
Late Model Fast Time- Ken Wills (Slinger) 11.343 seconds
Midwest Modified Feature 20 laps
1. Steve Huelsbeck (Milwaukee) 4. Ron Schmitt (Jackson)
2. Wes Biswell (Sussex) 5.
Jason Feyereisen (Random Lake)
3. Dale Prunty (Allenton)
Midwest Modified Fast Dash- Ron Schmitt (Jackson)
Midwest Modified Fast Time- Jason Feyereisen (Random Lake) 12.297
seconds
Midwest Sportsman Feature 30 laps
1. Jay Shambeau (Hubertus) 4. Pat McIntee
(West Bend)
2. Jeff Holtz (Muskego)
5. Brad Keith (West Bend)
3. Bobby Giers (Wonder Lake, IL)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Dash- Bobby Giers (Wonder Lake, IL)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Time- Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 12.672
seconds
Limited Late Model Feature 30 laps
1. Jon Ovadahl Jr. (Watertown) 4. Kris Kelly (Norway, MI)
2. Jeff Steenbergen (Waupun) 5. Scott Nottestad
(Stoughton)
3. Andy Wendt (Watertown)
Limited Late Model Fast Dash- Nick Schumacher (Hartford)
Limited Late Model Fast Time-Eric Fransen (West Bend) 12.336
seconds
Slinger Bees Heat #1 8-laps
1. Shawn Gavin (Jackson) 4.
Justin Poenitsch (Kewaskum)
2. Brian Wick (Richfield) 5. C.J.
Corallini (North Lake)
3. Derek Hoarig (Germantown)
Slinger Bees Heat #2 8-laps
1. Roman Blank (Allenton) 4. Matt
Westphal (West Bend)
2. Nathan Jensen (West Bend) 5. Ken Schraufnagel
(Slinger)
3. Justin Okruhlica (Jackson)
Port-A-John Guest Cars Winner- Randy Gray
Figure 8 Winner- Willie Van Camp (Appleton)
Point Standings
Late Model Point Standings
1. Al Schill Franklin 402; 2. David Prunty Brownsville 380; 3. Lowell Bennett
Neenah 357; 4. Nick Schumacher Harford 283; 5. Josh Bauer Random Lake 281; 6.
Dennis Prunty Lomira 274; 7. Fred Winn Sussex 242; 8. John Mueller
Hubertus 219; 9. Collin Bamke Slinger 219; 10. Gary LaMonte West Allis 203;
11. Ken Wills Slinger 200; 12. Mike Egan Slinger 192; 13. Scott Schoeni
Slinger 171; 14. Travis Dassow West Bend 171; 15. Randy Schuler Mequon 170;
16. Dave Teske Richfield 163; 17. Conrad Morgan Wales 157; 18. Brad Mueller
Random Lake 150; 19. Mark Bitzen Menomonee Falls 143; 20. Tommy Pecaro
Janesville 141
Midwest Sportsman Point Standings
1. Mike Graczkowski Jackson 377; 2. Brad Keith West Bend 360; 3. Jeff Holtz
Muskego 346: 4. Rob Braun Wales 271; 5. Pat McIntee West Bend 267; 6. Jay
Shambeau Hubertus 244 7. Mike Borchardt Greenfield 232; 8. Ryan Zielski
Slinger 223; 9. James Swan Lake Geneva 218; 10. Scott Shambeau Milwaukee
213
Midwest Modified Point Standings
1. Steve Huelsbeck Milwaukee 647; 2. Ron Schmitt Jackson 620; 3. Dale Prunty
Allenton 586; 4. Jason Feyereisen Random Lake 471; 5. Joe Houpt Mequon 465; 6.
Wes Biswell Sussex 340; 7. Joey Bentfield Gerkes Corners 292; 8. John Kruschel
Sussex 290; 9. Eddie Bentfield Gerkes Corners 257; 10. Matt Pate Menomonee
Falls 197
Figure 8 Point Standings
1. Donald VanCamp Jr Seymour 475; 2. Willie VanCamp Appleton 440; 3. Jeff
Wohlabe Appleton 430; 4. Scott Goetzke Iron Ridge 415; 5. Paul Williams
Hartford 360
Limited Late Model
1. Scott Nottestad Stoughton 170; 2. Jerry Eckhardt Johnson Creek 166; 3. Andy
Wendt Watertown 161; 4. Jeff Steenbergen Waupun 161; 5. Nick Schumacher
Hartford 146; 6. Nick Wendt Watertown 135; 7. Kris Kelly Norway MI 129; 8.
Chris Ratajiczyk West Bend 121; 9. Tyler James Oconomowoc 112; 10. Dave
McCardle Jr. Menomonee Falls
104
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