WHITMAN DODGES YELLOWS, RAIN, WINS 141 SPEEDWAY MOD FEATURE

by Joe and Kim Verdegan

(Francis Creek, WI) June 2– De Pere’s Johnny “Hitman” Whitman snuck underneath Seymour’s Jamie Schmidt on a lap 14 restart and sweated out some late cautions to capture the modified feature at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, his first of the year here.

A total of 133 cars checked in to do battle. The field included 23 modifieds, 15 Brian Peterson Grand Nationals, 24 stock cars,28 Tisler Salvage street stocks, 29 IMCA northern sportmods and 13 sport fours.

Racing was delayed for more than hour while rain showers peppered the track.

Whitman, who started deep in the field in row six, methodically sliced his way through the pack, working his way up to third by lap nine. Whitman wrestled second away from Mishicot’s Kyle Kudick two laps later, and began closing in on Schmidt when a caution flew on lap 13 when Luxemburg’s Jared Siefert blew a motor, drawing a yellow.

When racing resumed Whitman ducked underneath Schmidt to take the lead. Whitman rode the high line the rest of the way and sweated out the remaining yellows and wound up cruising to the win. New Franken’s Shawn Kilgore, who started in row eight, battled his way through the field to nab second from Kudick on the final lap. Kudick hung on for third, followed by De Pere’s Jay Matthias and Denmark’s RM Van Pay.

Oconto Falls Jon Courchaine charged from his row four starting spot and scored his first stock car feature win of the season. Brothers Jon and Rick Mahlberg took second and third, respectively. Defending track champion Junior Karcz of Pulaski and Kewaunee’s Luke Lemmens took fourth and fifth, respectively.

New Franken’s Brad Lautenbach scored his first IMCA northern sportmods feature win of the year. Lautenbach started in row five and passed Luxemburg’s Chad Kaminski for the lead on lap 17 and hung on for victory. New Franken’s Mark Joski, Kaminski, Suamico’s Josh Long and Oconto’s Rob Charapada finished second through fifth, respectively.

Little Chute’s Matt Vetting fought off a fast closing Don Sorce Jr. of West Allis to capture his first 20 lap Brian Peterson Builders Grand National feature win. Sorce Jr. settled for second at the pay window, followed by defending track champion TJ Smith of Menasha, Manitowoc’s Logan Rhode and Chilton’s Steve Schneider.

Oshkosh’s Jerry Winkler passed fellow Oshkosh driver Jon Ashcroft for the lead on lap six and hung on to win the Tisler Salvage street stock feature. It was Winkler’s second win in as many days as he won at his hometown track Oshkosh Speedzone the night before. Two Rivers Jeremy Hebel took second, followed by hometown driver Kraig Koehler, defending track champion Danny Gracyalny and last week’s feature winner Matt Reinke of Reedsville.

Defending track champion Ralph Legios Jr. of Oconto won the sport four feature.

Next Saturday night, June 9 will be Custom Windows Plus/1st Choice Auto driver sponsorship night. For more information please check 141speedway.com. You can also follow us on both Facebook and Twitter. The track phone is (920) 863 3377. For further information call (920) 905 1112. 141 Speedway is located 15 minutes south of Green Bay on County “R” in Francis Creek.

RACE SUMMARY

MODIFIEDS

FEATURE –Johnny Whitman; Shawn Kilgore, New Franken; Kyle Kudick, Mishicot; Jay Matthias, DePere; RM VanPay, Denmark

HEATS 1)Mike Wedelstadt, Fremont; Dean Mauer, DePere 2)Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; Matthias 3) Jamie Schmidt, Seymour; Whitman

BRIAN PETERSON BUILDERS GRAND NATIONALS

FEATURE –Matt Vetting; Don Sorce; T. J. Smith; Logan Rhode, Manitowoc; Steve Schneider, Chilton

HEATS 1) T.J. Smith, Menasha; Matt Vetting, Little Chute2) Don Sorce, West Allis; Tim Warner, Malone

STOCK CARS

FEATURE –Jon Courchaine, Oconto Falls; John Mahlberg; Rick Mahlberg, Denmark; Larry Karcz Jr, Pulaski; Luke Lemmens, Kewaunee

HEATS 1) Todd Augustian, Kewaunee; Kyle Resch, Manitowoc 2)John Mahlberg, Hilbert; John Heinz, Green Bay 3)Tyler DeBouche, Suamico; Mike Gilson, Greenleaf

IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMODS

FEATURE –Brad Lautenbach; Mark Joski, New Franken; Chad Kaminski; Josh Long, Suamico; Rob Charapata, Oconto

SEMI FEATURE — J.J. Anderson, Pulaski; Erik Mahlik, Green Bay

HEATS 1 )Brad Lautenbach, New Franken; Troy Jerovetz, Green Bay 2) Brian Reif, Mishicot; Chad Vetting, Valders 3) Jessi Ness, Abrams; Chad Kaminski, Luxemburg

TISLER SALVAGE STREET STOCKS

FEATURE –Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh; Jeremy Hebel, Two Rivers; Kraig Koehler, Francis Creek; Dan Gracyalny,Greenville; Matt Reinke, Reedsville

SEMI FEATURE –Paul Diefenthaler, Manitowoc; George Paul, Luxemburg

HEATS 1)Jon Ashcroft, Oshkosh; Allen Schlueter, Oconto 2) Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh; Mike Zitzer, Sheboygan 3) Shawn Haydon, Greenville; Nick Everard, Luxemburg

SPORT FOURS

FEATURE – Ralph Leigois Jr., Oconto: Brian Johnson, Oconto Falls; Mike Montie, Oconto; Cody Hungerford, Little Chute; Shaun Bangart, Chilton

Posted on June 2nd, 2012