Bernhagen And Brown Sweep Away Mother Nature In Summer Shootout
by John Wiedemann, racingwisconsin.com

MILWAUKEE (July 18, 2007) – While the Summer Shootout racers battled with each other, they were also racing Mother Nature as showers peppered the night’s on trakck action. When all was said and done, all of the races were run and Blake Brown returned to Victory Lane with his fourth win in a row. Jesse Bernhagen won his second feature of the season at the Milwaukee Mile Summer Shootout Series.

In the first Bandolero heat race of the evening, Aaron Moyer took the lead on the first lap and ran upfront all the way to the white flag lap. Jesse Bernhagen waited till the final trip down the backstraight to make his move and drove to the inside of Moyer. Side by side, the youngsters ran through the final turn for a drag race to the checkers. At the line, it was Bernhagen by a bumper. Bernhagen wouldn’t wait as long to take the lead in the second heat race as he pulled to the front out of the second turn of the first lap. Moyer tried to challenge, closing to within a car length when rain hit the track. The race was called with Bernhagen the winner, followed by Moyer, Vern Fagerberg, Adam Rawski, Kyle Vergata and Bandolero first timer, Chris Manson.

In the Bandolero feature, Bernhagen started in the pole position with Moyer on the outside. Moyer then challenged on the inside but Bernhagen grabbed the lead back two turns later. The complexion of the race changed when Moyer lost the handle going through the fourth turn and looped his car. Most of the field went by, dropping Moyer back to fifth. Bernhagen continued to pull away from the field gaining a straightaway lead by the halfway point of the race. Moyer battled back, methodically picking off positions and moving back into second with a few laps left in the race. Bernhagen was long gone and took the checkers for a clean sweep of Bandolero action.

Not much has been able to stop Blake Brown lately and not even rain in the first Legend heat race could stop him, it may have even helped him. Starting fifth, Brown worked his way up to second when a quick shower made the caution flag fly. On the restart, Brown took control of the race all the way to the checkers. Dave Townsend crossed the line in second with Tim Narr following next. Heat race number two featured a great side by side battle for the lead between Max McNamara and Kyle Jusits in the beginning of the race. Brown started back in seventh and worked his way to third around the race’s midpoint. In consecutive laps Brown powered by Jusits and then McNamara on the backstraight, takin the lead of the race. At the finish, it was Brown, McNamara, Narr, Jusits and Cody Townsend.

With Brown on the pole for the Legend feature race, the competitors knew they had to get to him quick or watch him run away. McNamara grabbed the lead away on the first lap as Narr battled to the inside of Brown on the second lap. But, on the third lap, Brown took charge. Brown assumed second and then worked on passing McNamara on the outside coming out of turn four, but McNamara hung with him and they ran side by side. Ultimately, Brown took the lead and never looked back. Even a brief off track excursion down the front straight that sent sparks flying and the crowd gasping was not enough to keep Brown from winning his fourth straight feature. McNamara maintained second and Curt Gnatzig charged through the field to finish third. Narr and Jusits battled in the final laps with Narr prevailing in fourth relegating Jusits to fifth.

Donna Wolfe won the 50/50 raffle and graciously donated half of the winnings back to trophies and prizes for the racers.

Returning to Saturday afternoons, the Summer Shootout resumes at the Milwaukee Mile on July 28th. Practice starts at 11:00am, with racing at noon. The series features free admission, race fans are invited to come out and watch the races from bleachers in the infield of the Milwaukee Mile.

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

RESULTS
BANDOLEROS
Feature: Jesse Bernhagen, Aaron Moyer, Adam Rawski, Kyle Vergata, Vern Fagerberg, Chris Manson

Heat 1: Jesse Bernhagen, Aaron Moyer, Vern Fagerberg, Adam Rawski, Kyle Vergata, Chris Manson

Heat 2: Jesse Bernhagen, Aaron Moyer, Adam Rawski, Kyle Vergata, Vern Fagerberg, Chris Manson

LEGENDS
Feature: Blake Brown, Max McNamara, Curt Gnatzig, Tim Narr, Kyle Jusits, Dave Townsend, Cody Townsend, Alex Arelano, SJ Kimmell, Rich Miller, Brad Plunkett, Herman Greinig

Heat 1: Blake Brown, Dave Townsend, Tim Narr, Max McNamara, Herman Greinig, Curt Gnatzig, Alex Arelano, Brad Plunkett, Kyle Jusits, SJ Kimmell, Cody Townsend, Rich Miller

Heat 2: Blake Brown, Max McNamara, Tim Narr, Kyle Jusits, Cody Townsend, Alex Arelano, Dave Townsend, SJ Kimmell, Herman Greinig, Rich Miller, Brad Plunkett, Curt Gnatzig