Bilderback And Gnatzig Battle To Finish Of Summer Shootout
By John Wiedemann – www.racingwisconsin.com

Milwaukee – August 30, 2006 – The checkered flag has fallen on the 2006 Summer Shootout at the Milwaukee Mile. The night and season was completed with one of the classic battles that the competitors and fans have come to expect from the series. After the racing was completed, the numerous fans in the stand were treated to a raffling off of door prizes. The racers themselves were also treated as Harry Franz won the 50/50 raffle. The West Allis resident proved himself to be a true fan of the series, donating his winnings in the raffle to the racers purse.

Many new drivers showed up for the final race including the grandson of the Lake Geneva Raceway owner running some practice laps. Twelve year old Taylor Dawson had other plans for the evening but wanted to run his first laps in a Bandolero. “It was fun, I really like the track”, exclaimed the young racer. Dawson hopes to compete at LGR on September 8 th and at the Mile next year.

The Thunder Roadster division wrapped up the season with a final Father/Son battle between the Piekcos. Mike Jr. and Sr. have run nose to tail for most of the year and put on one more exciting race for the fans. A win in the heat race had Mike Jr. starting on the inside for the feature but, Mike Sr. jumped to the lead. It was a lead that he would not relinquish for the entire race. Even with getting the car loose in the turns of the final lap and allowing Mike Jr. to pull alongside coming out of the final turn. A drag race to the finish ensued and Mike Sr. crossed the finish line first with Mike Jr. a few feet back.

Todd Booker came back for the second week to race Nick Beinlich in the Allison Legacy division. Booker was joined by Collin Laursen to see if they could stop Beinlich from getting yet another win. Beinlich proved to be too much for the challenge, as he started strong and stretched his lead with every lap. While Beinlich pulled away, Booker made his move on Laursen just before the halfway point of the race, taking over the second position. Laursen kept the pressure on Booker until he spun the car with two laps to go. Beinlich took the feature win followed by Booker and Laursen. The win was number four in the series for Beinlich.

Sloan Henderson, currently second in the nation, traveled from Ohio to join the Bandolero division for the final race. The track proved to be a challenge as Sloan was involved in a first turn wreck in the opening heat race damaging the bodywork on the front of her car. Sloan was able to lead a few laps after the race restart but then pulled of the track unable to finish the race. Aaron Moyer passed Alex Arelano with three laps to go and held on to win the first heat race. Arelano started the second heat race on the pole and never gave up the spot. Moyer moved through the pack to finish second to Arlano in heat race two setting up the front row for the feature.

Arelano wasted no time in the feature race jumping to the lead from his second place start at the drop of the green flag. Moyer moved in right behind Arelano while Blake Brown and Kyle Jusits followed in line. The race ran caution free until almost the final lap when the front body work of Henderson’s car flew off and landed in the middle of turn three. The checkered flag flew and Arelano won his fifth race of the year. Moyer took the second place finish and Jusits pulled of a later race pass of Brown to take home third.

Twelve cars showed up to race on the Mini Mile for the Legends division finale, the biggest car count of the season. The feature race turned into a battle of champions. Last year’s division winner, Curt Gnatzig, had new horsepower and was intent on using it in his last chance to get a win this season. Gnatzig lead the first three laps with Michael Bilderback on his rear bumper. Bilderback then made his move underneath Gnatzig through the third and fourth turn to take the lead on the fourth lap. Gnatzig didn’t let up, and the two blasted through the field nose to tail lapping all but three other cars in the race. Bilderback held a tight line the rest of the race and Gnatzig was unable to find a way by. When the checkered flag flew, Bilderback crossed the line for his sixth win of the season, giving him the season title in the series. Gnatzig took home a season best second place followed by Ryan Miles.

RESULTS
ALLISON LEGACY
Heat: Nick Beinlich, Todd Booker, Collin Laursen

Feature: Nick Beinlich, Todd Booker, Collin Laursen

THUNDER ROADSTERS
Heat: Mike Piecko, Jr., Mike Piecko, Sr.

Feature: Mike Piecko, Sr., Mike Piecko, Jr.

BANDOLEROS
Heat 1: Aaron Moyer, Kyle Jusits, Alex Arelano, Blake Brown, Adam Rawski, Kyle Piecko, Sloan Henderson, Brandon Heisler, Jesse Bernhagen

Heat 2: Alex Arelano, Aaron Moyer, Blake Brown, Jesse Bernhagen, Adam Rawski, Kyle Piecko, Sloan Henderson, Kyle Jusits, Brandon Heisler

Feature: Alex Arelano, Aaron Moyer, Kyle Jusits, Blake Brown, Sloan Henderson, Jesse Bernhagen, Adam Rawski, Brandon Heisler, Kyle Piecko

LEGENDS
Heat 1: Michael Bilderback, Lyle Kuklinski, Curt Gnatzig, Herman Greinig, Cody Townsend, Eric Barth, Steve Kimell, Tim Narr, Brian Peterson, Richard Miller

Heat 2: Michael Bilderback, Curt Gnatzig, Ryan Miles, Herman Greinig, Lyle Kuklinski, Cody Townsend, Zane Townsend, Eric Barth, Steve Kimell, Tim Narr, Brian Peterson, Richard Miller

Feature: Michael Bilderback, Curt Gnatzig, Ryan Miles, Zane Townsend, Lyle Kuklinski, Steve Kimell, Eric Barth, Cody Townsend, Richard Miller, Herman Greinig, Tim Narr, Brian Peterson


For full coverage of the Summer Shootout, visit www.racingwisconsin.com/summershootout

For ticket information and details on the all the exciting events at The Milwaukee Mile, visit www.milwaukeemile.com.