Wi Dirt Racin

(Francis Creek)- On a very cold night that saw 121 cars in the pit area; the racing did the best it could to keep the fans warm. Opening night was the night of the veterans earning the top spot.

Feature Winners were Eddie Muenster(IMCA Modifieds) Rod Snellenberger(IMCA Stockcars) Tracy Wassenberg(IMCA Sportmod) Shawn Haydon(Street Stock) Dan Sorce(Grand National) and Matt Brehmer(4 Cylinder)

Eddie Muenster earned his front row starting spot by winning his heat race and making the invert. He had to use every ounce of his racing skill to earn the feature win. Muenster shot in front of the field to a comfortable lead to start the main event. Johnny Whitman rushed into second place and set his sight on the leader. Whitman would run down the leader and go to work on him. Brian Mullen used the side by side battle to make it a three car race with 5 laps remaining. Mullen’s hopes would dwindle in turn 1 when he slipped up causing him to fall back in the field. Muenster fought the final laps with Whitman waiting for a any slip. That never came and Muenster picked up the win plus an extra $210 for leading every lap. Whitman settled for second. Eric Mahlik had a strong finish to the feature to wind up third. Eric Van Iten and Brad Lautenbach rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Stockcar front row looked like throwback Thursday into the 1990’s with “Hot Rod” Snellenberger and the baby blue 72 Rob Waechter on the front row. Snellenberger was seeking his second win of the weekend as he jumped ahead of the pack. Justin Jacobson would make a bid for the runner-up spot as he would eventually make his way around Waechter. Snellenberger would go into cruise mode with Waechter finally regaining second. Jacobson and Larry Karcz would make contact bringing out a caution with two laps remaining to bring out a two lap, dash for cash. Waechter was able to take one final shot at Snellenberger on the restart. Snellenberger bobbled but maintained the lead and picked up the win. Snellenberger led every lap to earn an extra $210. Waechter was second with defending champion John Heinz charging to third. Jacobson maintained his top four finish. Luke Lemmens finished fifth.

Mike Dauphinais jumped up front in the early stages of the IMCA Sportmod feature. Tracy Wassenberg showed his veteran charm and quickly ran down the leader. Wassenberg would make quick work of the field and pull away. Andy Kleczka and J.J. Anderson picked up where they left off in their heat race battling wheel to wheel. Kleczka would finally earn the spot but couldn’t run down “Batman.” Wassenberg looked like a former Super National Champion the rest of the feature and picked up the win in dominating fashion. Kleczka would beat Anderson to the checkers. Robby Thiel had a solid top four finish. Ryan Lemieux rocketed from his B main win to garner a top five finish.

The only thing stopping Shawn Haydon and a trip to victory lane in the Street Stock feature was two cautions before the race could finish a lap. Once the green flag flew, Haydon quickly showed why he is one of the aces in the division. Haydon never was touched in the main event. He would have leads of nearly a full straightaway throughout the race. Defending champion Paul Diefenthaler would get through the field and into second just before halfway through the race. Haydon picked up the point lead with the opening night win. Diefenthaler showed early consistency in his bid for a repeat championship. Doug Engleking finished third by himself. Rookie, Sawyer Haese completed an impressive first night in the division with a top four finish. Keith Kickbusch was fifth.

Sibling rivalry can be a fun thing to watch. Especially when it pits little brother vs. big brother in a racing situation. “ We are both very competitive and like to push each other.” Dan Sorce, Grand National driver. Kevin Lubach ran in the top spot of the Grand National feature until Dan Sorce shot into the top position. Sorce would take the lead on lap five with big brother Don following behind. Don Sorce would get to the back bumper of his little brother as they made their way through lapped traffic. With five laps to go, Don had clearance and one more shot at his brother. Dan had the winning ways on opening night and fended off his brother for the win. Nick Strobbe Jr made the opening night a success with a third place finish. Lubach would finish fourth and Shawn Schmitt fifth after a post-race disqualification of the Kevin Naidl.

Mathias Prouty led the opening two circuits of the 4 Cylinder Feature until he spun in turn four. Matt Brehmer inherited the lead and never looked back. He led through a series of cautions and picked up the win. Shawn Bangart finished second. Prouty came back to finish third. Brandon Kaye and Brad Prahl rounded out the top five.

Next Saturday Night, May 3rd, The IMCA Modified will run their first Red, White and Blue race. The winner will take home $1,000.

Every Saturday Night racing will start at 6 p.m. Six divisions will take to the 1/3 mile.
Checkout www.141speedway.com for all of the track’s details. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

IMCA Modified Feature- 1. Eddie Muenster 2. Johnny Whitman 3. Eric Mahlik 4. Eric Van Iten 5. Brad Lautenbach

B Main 1. Jay Matthias

Heat #1 1. Muenster 2. Jeremy Christians
#2 1. Whitman 2. Shawn Kilgore
#3 1. Mahlik 2. Randy Markwardt

IMCA Stockcar Feature- 1. Rod Snellenberger 2. Rob Waechter 3. John Heinz 4. Justin Jacobson 5. Luke Lemmens

Heats- #1 1. Troy Muench 2. Waechter
#2 1. Snellenberger 2. Heinz

IMCA Sportmod Feature- 1. Tracy Wassenberg 2. Andy Kleczka 3. J.J. Anderson 4. Robby Thiel 5. Ryan Lemieux

B Main- 1. Lemieux

Heats- #1 1. Brandon Long 2. Colten Van Hierden
#2 1. Anderson 2. Kleczka
#3 1. Hunter Parsons 2. Thiel

Street Stock Feature- 1. Shawn Haydon 2. Paul Diefenthaler 3. Doug Engleking 4. Sawyer Haese 5. Keith Kickbusch

B Main- 1. Kevin Luedtke

Heats- #1 1.Kickbusch 2. Haese
#2 1. Haydon 2. Diefenthaler
#3 1. Kraig Koehler 2. Mike Wilde

Grand National Feature- 1. Dan Sorce 2. Don Sorce 3. Nick Strobbe Jr 4. Kevin Lubach 5. Shawn Schmitt

Heats- #1 1. Dan Sorce 2. Tim Doehling
#2 1. Don Sorce 2. Strobbe Jr

4 Cylinder Feature- 1. Matt Brehmer 2. Shaun Bangart 3. Mathias Prouty 4. Brandon Kaye 5. Brad Prahl

Heats- #1 1. Adam Broehm 2. Brehmer
#2 1. Bangart 2. Scott Johnson

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