By Joe and Jordan Verdegan
(Francis Creek, WI) July 9 – Denmark’s RM Van ended an eight year winless drought by winning the 20 lap Modified feature at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday night.
A total 110 of drivers turned out to race, including 24 Modifieds, 19 Brian Peterson Builders Grand Nationals, 21 Sportmods, 18 Stock Cars, 18 Street stocks and 11 Sport 4’s.
Van Pay passed Seymour’s Jamie Schmidt for the lead on lap five and endured several caution periods throughout the contest. Van Pay fought off longtime arch rival Eddie Muenster for the win on the final circuit. Muenster took second, followed by De Pere’s Johnny Whitman, Sobieski’s Sean Jerovetz and Denmark’s Tim Czarneski. The win was Van Pay’s first in more than eight years of racing modifieds.
Don Sorce Jr. made the long haul from Milwaukee worthwhile as he won the 20 lap Brian Peterson Builders Grand national feature. Sorce became the ninth winner in the division in ten weeks of racing. Trailing at the checkers were Brillion’s Alex Stumpf, Chilton’s Steve Schneider, Brillion’s Ben Stumpf and Manitowoc’s Mike Bastian.
Pulaski’s Junior Karcz outdueled Green Bay’s Mike Pierrard and went on to win the Stock car feature, padding his points lead in the process. Pierrard took second in his best performance here of the year. Hilbert’s John Mahlberg took third, followed by Ellisville’s Bob Waechter and Shiocton’s Barry Van Straten.
Greenville’s Danny Gracyalny padded his points lead with a street stock feature win. Sugar Bush veteran Fred Davister led in the early going but surrendered the lead to Gracyalny on lap 9 and Davister dogged the points leader the entire contest. Hometown driver Kraig Koehler squeezed past Davister to take second on a late restart and wound up with second place pay, followed by Davister, Two Rivers’ Dave Gauger Sr. and Appleton’s Matt Warner.
With his fifth place finish, Warner was awarded the $100 Manitowoc Motor and Machining product gift certificate.
Suamico’s Josh Long muscled his way inside of De Pere’s Mike Dauphinais to take the lead on the final lap and win the Sportmod feature. Dauphinais took second in his best performance of the year here. Sturgeon Bay’s Ryan LeMieux, Green Bay’s Troy Jerovetz and Green Bay’s Eric Mahlik rounding out the top five.
Green Bay’s Brandon Kaye won the sport four feature by a full straightaway advantage over the second place car Mike Zitzer of Sheboygan.
Racing resumes next Saturday, July 16 on Stock’s Harley Davidson night. For more information please check the track website 141speedway.com. You can also follow 141 Speedway on both Facebook and Twitter.
141 Speedway is located 20 miles south of Green Bay on County Trunk “R” in Whitelaw. For more information call 920 863 3377. The track’s website is 141speedway.com.
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RACE SUMMARY
MODIFIED FEATURE – RM Van Pay, Denmark; Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; Johnny Whitman, De Pere; Sean Jerovetz, Sobieski; Tim Czarneski, Denmark; Shawn Kilgore, New Franken
SEMI FEATURE- Kyle Lentz Green Bay
HEATS 1) Whitman; Ronnie Plog, Green Bay 2) Jamie Schmidt, Seymour; Mitch McGrath, Neosho 3) Jerovetz; Van Pay
BRIAN PETERSON BUILDERS GRAND NATIONAL FEATURE – Don Sorce, Milwaukee; Alex Stumpf, Brillion; Steve Schneider, Chilton; Ben Stumpf, Brillion; Mike Bastian, Manitowoc; Dan Schumacher, Milwaukee
HEATS 1) TJ Smith, Menasha; Bastian 2) Tom Schneider, Chilton; Steve Schneider
SPORTMOD FEATURE – Josh Long, Green Bay; Mike Dauphinais, De Pere; Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Troy Jerovetz, Green Bay; Eric Mahlik, Green Bay; Andy Kleczka, Suamico
HEATS 1) Jerovetz; Josh Long 2) Scott Boyea, Abrams; Jesse Brey, Two Rivers 3) Dylan Heillman, Green Bay; Mahlik
STOCK CAR FEATURE- Junior Karcz, Pulaski; Mike Pierrard, Green Bay; John Mahlberg, Hilbert; Bob Waechter, Ellisville; Barry Van Straten, Shiocton; Mike Gilson, Greenleaf
HEATS 1) Jon Courchaine, Oconto Falls; Tyler Smith, Luxemburg 2) Karcz; Doug Kropp, Green Bay
STREET STOCK FEATURE – Danny Gracyalny, Greenville; Kraig Koehler, Francis Creek; Fred Davister, Sugar Bush; Dave Gauger Sr., Two Rivers; Matt Warner,Appleton; Trevor Schmidt, Mayville
HEATS 1) Davister; Bob Czarapata, Pulaski 2) Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh; Gracyalny
SPORT 4 FEATURE – Brandon Kaye, Green Bay; Mike Zitzer, Sheboygan; Ralph Liegois Jr., Oconto; Jessica Liegois, Oconto; Zack Dickie, Plymouth
HEATS 1) Zitzer; Dickie 2) Ralph Liegois Jr.; Kaye