Oshkosh, May 1- The Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway kicked off their 2015 racing season Friday night on a large scale as 153 teams checked in to compete on a very smooth and fast 1/3 mile clay oval.
The Outlaw Chassis Street Stock division put 20 cars on the grid for the first feature event of the night. Frank Knaus set the pace for the opening 2 circuits before brother Dan took over on lap 3. Jesse Krahn used an inside moved off the back stretch into turn 3 on lap 7 to take charge bringing Jeff Jungwirth along into the runner up spot. On lap 12, Jungwirth used a similar move entering turn 3 to take charge of the race.
A lone caution bunched the field on lap 134, but Jungwirth pulled ahead of the field after the restart and collected the opening night victory banner. Steve Ecker was able to race from 17th to take over second after the restart, but could not catch Jungwirth to make a serious challenge for the lead and took the runner up spot over Frank Knaus. Alan Schlueter, Krahn and Lexii Ashcraft rounded out the top six.
Travis Van Straten and John Heinz drew the front row for the Total Power Sales IMCA Stock Car main, and pulled into the lead spots at the start. It took several tries to get a lap in and Dylan Heillmann, Joe Arndt, and David Hoerning pulled behind the leader after the first couple laps were recorded.
Van Straten held a couple car length lead through out the race and despite a final caution on lap 9 which set up a time limit race, was able to maintain the lead to collect his first feature win of the season. Heinz took second with Hoerning out dueling Heillmann to take third. Defending Street Stock Champion, Jerry Winkler, had been caught up in several incidents in the race, but showed he should be considered a tough Rookie contender by finishing his first division feature in 5th place over Larry Karcz, Jr.
The Automotive Supply Co IMCA Modifieds brought a field of 33 cars with 20 making the starting grid for the feature event. Mike Wedelstadt drew the pole and established a quick lead on the start. Johnny Whitman, Marcus Yarie, Dan Wirth and Mike Mashl dropped in behind. The top three spread out and the rest of the field bunched behind before a lap 10 caution re set the field.
Wedelstadt lost his lead with Whitman, Yarie, Mike Mullen, from mid pack, Tim Robbins, Eddie Muenster and Mashl behind him for the restart.
Mullen worked to the inside of Whitman and after a couple laps was able to move into the runner up spot, with Yarie also advancing into third. Mullen continued to reel in the leader and used the inside line again on al 14 to take the lead. Once in front, Mullen pulled away leaving the battle for second.
Mullen captured the opening night feature for the second year in a row. Whitman won the tight race for the runner up spot with Yarie taking third. Wedelstadt finished 4th with Eddie Muenster and Tim Lemirande rounding out the top six.
Jeff Steenberger grabbed the lead from the pole as the IMCA Sport Mods started their feature event. Jeff Schmuhl, Jon Schultz, Wyatt Block, Zach McKinnon and Tom Schneider hooked up behind.
The lone caution appeared on lap 7, and Steenberger again held the lead with Schmuhl, Block, Kevin Bethke, Schneider and Schultz tight behind. Steenberger was able to open a slight lead and held off Schmuhl to win his first Speedzone feature since June 7 2013. Right behind in third was Block with Bethke, Schneider and Schultz holding down the top six.
Tim Reichenberger grabbed the lead from the pole in the Gold Star Racing Products Grand National division with Terry Van Roy, Larry Richards, Don Schumacher, Kenny Richards and Aaron Stolp behind. The entire field stayed right behind the leader and the top 4 cars rand side by side in a group for most of the race. Reichenberger was able to hold off Van Roy for the entire distance, and collected his first feature win of the year. Van Roy took second with Larry and Kenny Richards next in line.. Schumacher was fifth and Brian Henry was able to finish 6th.
The Ellingtoin Mutual Insurance Dirt Devils took the track as the curfew expired and an opening lap caution prevented the race from being run. Points and money was divided.
Weekly Friday night racing continues through Labor Day with racing at 7 PM.
The Lucas Oil Late Models will invade the Speedzone coming up on May 15 with the first round of the IMCA Modifieds “King of the Ring” and Street Stocks.
SUMMARY
AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY CO IMCA MODIFIEDS
20 Lap Feature l. Mike Mullen Seymour 2. Johnny Whitman, Green Bay 3. Marcus Yarie, Wausau 4. Mike Wedelstadt, Fremont 5. Eddie Muenster, Green Bay 6. Tim Lemirande, Verona
10 Lap Consy First l. Sean Jerovetz, Green Bay 2. Josh Zdroik
Second l. Steve Schneider, Chilton 2. Dan Radell
8 Lap Heats First l. Tony Wedelstadt 2, Miuke Wedelstadt
Second l. Ed LeMay, Milwaukee 2. Mullen
Third l. Muenster 2. Dan Wirth
Fourth l. Whitman 2. Yarie
TOTAL POWER SALES IMCA STOCK CARS
20 Lap Feature l. Travis Van Straten, Hortonville 2. John Heinz, Green Bay 3. David Hoerning, Appleton 4. Dylan Heillmann, Green Bay 5. Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh 6. Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski
8 Lap Heats First l. Mike Schmidt, Shawano 2., Trent Nolan
Second l. Heillmann 2, Winkler
Third l. Heinz 2. Karcz
IMCA SPORT MODS
20 Lap Feature l. Jeff Steenberger 2. Keff Schmuhl, Beaver Dam 3. Wyatt Block, Shawano 4. Kevin Bethke, Neenah 5. Tom Schneider, Chilton 6. Jon Schultz
10 Lap Consy First l. Scott Howe 2. Todd Ewald, Omro
Seconds l. Brandon Riedner 2. Nick Schultz
8 Lap Heats First l.Ryan Besaw, Omro 2. Cory Wagner
Second l. Zach McKinnon 2. Schneider
Third l. Block 2. Schmuhl
Fourth l. Rob Theil, Appleton 2. Steenbergen
OUTLAW CHASSIS STREET STOCKS
20 Lap Feature l. Jeff Jungwirth, Oshkosh 2. Steve Ecker, Neenah 3. Frank Knaus 4. Allan Schlueter, 5. Jesse Krahn 6. Lexii Ashcraft, Oshkosh
10 Lap Consy 1. Ecker 2. Allan Schmich
8 Lap Heats First l. Jeff Wicinski 2. Dan Knaus
Second l. Ryan Blank, Greenville 2. Wayne Morgan
Third l. Jungwirth 2. Frannk Knaus
Fourth l. Lexii Ashcraft 2. Mark Schultz, Oshkosh
GOLD STAR RACING PRODUCTS, GRAND NATIONALS
10 Lap Feature (time limit) 1. Tim Reichenberger, Omro 2. Terry Van Roy, Appleton 3. Larry Richards, Montello 4. Kenny Richards, Montello 5. Don Schumacher 6. Brian Henry
8 Lap Heats First l. Aaron Stolp 2. Larry Richards
Second l. Kenny Richards 2. Van Roy
ELLINGTON MUTUAL INSURANCE DIRT DEVILS
20 Lap Feature Not run Curfew
8 Lap Heats First l. Kasey Gross, Gleason 2. Ammish Kollmann
Second l. Jim Bangert, Chilton 2. Mitchell Fairbank
Third l. Chris Maas 2. John Stegner
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