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Mueller Takes Slinger Miller Lite 120 Spring Opener
by Dan Margetta
(Slinger, WI) April 22—Brad Mueller brought his “A” game to the Slinger
Super Speedway Sunday afternoon, making a triumphant return by holding off
defending track champion David Prunty and Al Schill to win the Miller Lite 120
Spring Opener.
In a classic high-banks battle, Mueller took to the tough outside groove and
ran wheel to wheel with Prunty over the final laps, before edging Prunty at
the stripe for the win. Schill finished in their tire tracks, within striking
distance at the finish.
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#89 Brad Mueller takes the checkers in
front of David Prunty and Al Schill at the Miller Lite 120
Spring Opener. (Russ Lake Photo) |
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Collin Bamke led the opening laps over Fred Winn and Mike Strupp while Prunty
and Jeremy Lepak filled out the top five. By lap 20, Prunty and Lepak worked
their way into third and fourth place respectively while Conrad Morgan entered
the top five with Mueller also progressing forward. Prunty moved into the
second spot just before the first caution flag flew for a Race McComb spin on
lap 29 as Bamke continued to lead. Bamke made the most of the double-file
restart and maintained his lead over Prunty while Lepak, Nick Schumacher, and
Al Schill fell into position behind the leaders.
Prunty finally worked his way around Bamke to take command of the race on lap
40 while Mueller continued to advance toward the front, racing just outside
the top five behind Lepak and Schill. By the 50 lap mark, Mueller was able to
race into the top five while Prunty launched to a commanding lead. The second
caution of the event waved on lap 56 when Fred Winn developed problems in turn
three, setting up a dash to the scheduled halfway break, which Prunty led over
Schill, Mueller, Bamke, and Schumacher.
Prunty jumped back into the lead as racing resumed while Schill and Mueller
battled for second place followed by Schumacher and Lepak, who staged a battle
of their own over fourth place. Mueller was able to take sole possession of
second place by lap 80 and was looking to track Prunty down for the lead when
the event was slowed for a third time under caution when Tony Strupp’s car
stalled after receiving damage during accordion-like action on the
speedway.
Mueller timed the restart perfectly in the outside lane and was able to race
side by side with Prunty for a few laps before eventually easing into the lead
on lap 86. Prunty remained glued to Mueller’s rear bumper with Schill
latched on in third in a strong three-car tussle for the lead. Prunty was able
to dip inside Mueller exiting turn four and retake the top spot on lap 98 with
Schill also looking to the inside in a bid for second. With Prunty gaining a
slight advantage, Mueller held his ground on the outside, eventually fending
off Schill’s challenge and a few laps later, the three were once again nose
to tail for the lead. During the final ten laps, Mueller looked to the top
side and pulled alongside Prunty. The Slinger veterans put on a racing clinic
to the finish with Mueller trying to use the high groove to get a run off the
corners while Prunty worked the inside, but was unable to utilize his car’s
full advantage exiting the turns with Mueller alongside. As they raced to the
white flag, Mueller was able to barely clear Prunty for the lead and the
three-time track champion held off the defending track champion for the win.
Schill, a five-time track champion himself, had the best seat in the house
over the final laps, crossing the stripe in third place right on the heels of
the top two. Jeremy Lepak and Nick Schumacher rounded out the top five while
Dennis Prunty and Conrad Morgan finished in sixth and seventh place
respectively. Rich Loch, Wayne Freidmund, and Tommy Hromadka rounded out the
top ten.
Chris Ratajczyk was the winner of the 35-lap late model semi-feature over
Steve Schulz and Brad Keith. Jim Schmittinger finished fourth and Joe
DeStefano Jr. was fifth. Brad Mueller topped qualifying with a lap of 11.492
seconds.
Kenny Joosten survived a late race battle with James Swan and drove to victory
in the 40-lap Midwest Sportsman feature.
Joosten jumped into the lead during the opening laps while Dave Obermeyer,
Andrew Kulka, and Dave Thomas battled for the second spot while Bobby
Gutknecht followed in fourth. Swan started deep in the field and maneuvered
his way into the top five by lap 20 while Joosten continued to pace the event.
Thomas and Gutknecht worked their way around Obermeyer as Swan continued to
close. By lap 30, Swan had raced his way into the second spot and was looking
to close in on Joosten for the top spot when the caution flag waved for a
minor tangle between Jake Vanoskey and Becca Kasten on lap 31. During the
final laps Swan pressured Joosten for the lead, making numerous attempts to
the inside while Gutknecht and Obermeyer raced for third as Thomas became
tangled with a lapped car and was forced to leave the track. Swan made another
attempt to duck inside Joosten with two laps to go, but his car twitched loose
in turn four, allowing Gutknecht and Obermeyer to get by. Without the pressure
from Swan, Joosten was able to charge to the win while Gutknecht held off
Obermeyer for second. Swan finished in fourth place and Jimmie Evans completed
the top five.
Jon Reynolds Jr. won a caution-filled 40-lap Limited Late model feature,
keeping Jerry Eckhardt at bay at the stripe.
Jim Schmittinger paced the beginning laps over Tyler James and Reynolds with
Chris Blawat and Eckhardt racing behind them. Schmittinger continued to show
the way until Reynolds was able to make his move, taking the lead by lap 30,
bringing James and Eckhardt with him. Schmittinger fell into a spirited battle
with Scott Apel for fourth just ahead of Rob Braun. Reynolds was unchallenged
as he grabbed the win over Eckhardt while Schmittinger and Apel tangled on the
final lap, leaving the door open for James to take the third spot ahead of
Braun and Ryan DeStefano.
Seth Lootans led every lap to win the 15-lap Thunderstock feature over Ryan
Gutknecht and Dave Edwards. Brad Norgaard and Paul Konechnee were fourth and
fifth respectively. Tom Berens won the Slinger Bees race over Zach Durham, Bob
Losiniecki, Jared Apel, and Dustin Krebs. Donald Van Camp closed out the day
with a win in the Figure 8 race.
Event: Miller Lite 120 Spring Opener
Date: April 22, 2007
Late Model Feature 120 laps
1. Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 15. Fred Winn (Sussex)
2. David Prunty (Brownsville) 16.
Tony Strupp (West Bend)
3. Al Schill
(Franklin)
17. Dale Prunty (Allenton)
4. Jeremy Lepak (Wausau)
18. Race McComb (Hartford)
5. Nick Schumacher (Hartford) 19. Danny Heying
(Waukesha)
6. Dennis Prunty (Lomira)
20. Mike Egan (Slinger)
7. Conrad Morgan (Waukesha) 21. Mike Strupp (Theresa)
8. Rich Loch (Muskego)
9. Wayne Freidmund (Elkhorn)
10. Tommy Hromadka (Brookfield)
11. Matt Raudabaugh (Men. Falls)
12. Gary LaMonte (West Allis)
13. Collin Bamke (Slinger)
14. Mark Bitzan (Menomonee Falls)
Late Model Semi Feature- 35 lap
1. Chris Ratajczyk (West Bend) 4. Jim Schmittinger (Hartford)
2. Steve Schulz (Waukesha) 5. Joe DeStefano Jr.
(Colgate)
3. Brad Keith (West Bend)
Late Model Fast Time- Brad Mueller (Random Lake) 11.492
seconds
Midwest Modified Feature 30 laps
1. Wes Biswell (Sussex) 4. John Kruschel
(Pewaukee)
2. Steve Schulz (Waukesha) 5. Eddie Bentfield (Waukesha)
3. Ron Schmitt (Jackson)
Midwest Modified Fast Time- Steve Schulz (Waukesha) 12.640
seconds
Midwest Sportsman Feature 30 laps
1. Kenny Joosten (Wonder Lake, IL) 4. James Swan (Lake Geneva)
2. Bobby Gutknecht (Oak Creek) 5. Jimmy Evans
(St. Francis)
3. Dave Obermeyer (Allenton)
Midwest Sportsman Fast Time- Mike Graczkowski (Jackson) 12.567
seconds
Limited Late Model Feature 30 laps
1. Jon Reynolds Jr. (Rockford, IL) 4. Rob Braun (Wales)
2. Jerry Eckhardt (Johnson Creek) 5. Ryan DeStefano
(Colgate)
3. Tyler James (Oconomowoc)
Limited Late Model Fast Time- Jon Reynolds, Jr. (Rockford) 12.480
seconds
Thunderstocks Feature 15 laps
1. Seth Lootans
4. Brad Norgaard (Pell Lake)
2. Ryan Gutknecht (Oak Creek) 5. Paul Konechnee (Oconomowoc)
3. Dave Edwards (Salem)
Slinger Bees Heat #1 laps
1. Tom Berens (Slinger) 4. Jared Apel (Colgate)
2. Zach Durham 5.
Dustin Krebs
3. Bob Losiniecki
Figure 8 Winner- Donald Van Camp (Seymour)
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