VAN ITEN SHRUGS OFF BROKEN CHEEKBONE, WINS IMCA MOD MAIN AT 141
by Joe Verdegan
(Francis Creek, WI) July 21 — Green Bay’s Eric Van Iten would not let a broken cheekbone stop him, as he passed Dean Maurer of De Pere for the lead on lap nine and went on to capture the 20 lap IMCA modified feature at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Wednesday.
A total of 94 cars pulled through the pit gate, including 17 IMCA modifieds, 22 stock cars, 19 northern sportmods, 18 grand national sportsman and 16 sport fours.
Van Iten suffered the injury two weeks ago at Luxemburg Speedway when a rock broke through his helmet and cracked him cheekbone. Despite the swelling, Van Iten donned a larger helmet and went racing. Van Iten started fifth on the grid and wrestled the lead away from Maurer on lap 9. Points leader Jared Siefert scratched his way through the field and challenged Maurer, but wound up third. Green Bay’s Benji LaCrosse and Randy Markwardt Jr. of Sheboygan Falls rounded out the top five.
Green Bay’s John Heinz captured the 20 lap IMCA stock car feature. Pulaski’s Rod Snellenberger took second, followed by Shiocton’s Barry Van Straten, Gillett’s Kyle Frederick and Greenleaf’s Mike Gilson.
Green Bay’s Josh Long survived late race pressure from points leader Johnny Whitman of De Pere to win his first 20 lap IMCA northern sportmod feature. Whitman captured an earlier makeup feature and wound up second in the second A main. Oconto’s Travis Cain took third. New Franken’s Brad Lautenbach, who returned after suffering an back injury a few weeks ago at another track, finished fourth. conto Fall’s Eric Arneson rounded out the top five.
Earlier in the evening a makeup feature was run from two weeks ago in the IMCA stock cars. Saukville’s Roger Johnson won his first career feature since he began racing in 1994.
Chilton’s Steve Schneider scored a clean sweep in the grand national sportsman division, winning both his heat race and the caution filled 20 lap feature. A six car pileup on lap three tightened the field,
and sent points leader Ben Stumpf to the pits. He recovered to finish fifth. Schneider won and was trailed by Ben Stumpf of Brillion, Menasha’s TJ Smith, Schneider’s brother Tom Schneider and Alex Stumpf.
Points leader Sam Ambrosius padded his points lead with a feature win in the sport four division.
Next Wednesday night, July 28 will be the second appearance of the season by the Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association late models. This show was rained out two weeks prior. Racing gets underway at
7 p.m.
For more information, please check out the track’s website at 141speedway.com. You can also follow 141 Speedway on both Twitter and Facebook. 141 Speedway is located 20 miles south of Green Bay
on County “R” in Francis Creek. For more information call 920 905 1112.
RACE SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE – Eric Van Iten, Green Bay; Dean Maurer, De Pere; Jared Siefert, Luxemburg; Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay; Randy Markwardt Jr., Sheboygan Falls; RM Van Pay, Denmark
HEATS 1) Kyle Kudick, Mishicot; Siefert
2) Maurer; Lance Arneson, Oconto Falls
IMCA STOCK CAR MAKEUP FEATURE FROM July 7 — Roger Johnson, Saukville; Junior Karcz, Pulaski; Tony Bouche, Algoma; Rick Mahlberg, Denmark; Mike Gilson, Greenleaf; Scott Stewart, Oconto
IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE — John Heinz, Green Bay; Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; Barry Van Straten, Shiocton; Kyle Frederick, Gillett; Mike Gilson, Greenleaf; Steven Stewart, Oconto
HEATS 1) John Heinz, Green Bay; Kyle Frederick, Gillett
2) Jesse Colwell, Greenleaf; Steve Stewart, Oconto
3) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; Johnson
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD MAKEUP FEATURE FROM July 7 — Johnny Whitman, De Pere; Rob Charapada, Oconto; Troy Jerovetz, Green Bay; Jesse Brey, Manitowoc; Eric Arneson, Oconto Falls; Josh Long, Green Bay
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD FEATURE –Long; Whitman; Travis Cain, Oconto; Brad Lautenbach, New Franken; Arneson; Kelsey Hayes, Sturgeon Bay
HEATS 1) Long; Lautenbach
2) Hayes; Whitman
GRAND NATIONAL SPORTSMAN FEATURE — Steve Schneider, Chilton; Ben Stumpf, Brillion; Tom Schneider, Chilton; TJ Smith, Menasha; Alex Stumpf, Brillion; Richard Hed, Sheboygan Falls
HEATS 1) Tom Schneider; Travis Groelle, Manitowoc
2) Steve Schneider; Alex Stumpf
SPORT FOUR FEATURE — Sam Ambrosius, Pulaski; Jordan Parma, Kewaunee; Travis Arenz, Sheboygan; Dan Juszcyk, Sobieski; Jessi Ness, Abrams
HEATS 1) Jerry Duggan, Mishicot; Ness
2) Mike Zitzer, Sheboygan; Ambrosius
Posted on July 21st, 2010
