ANVELINK PADS POINT LEAD WITH SECOND ‘BURG WIN
Kilgore, Muench, Budzban, Van Pay and Boulanger Notch Victories
LUXEMBURG, Wis. (June 19, 2015) – In Nick Anvelink’s first win, nearly one month to the date, it was patience that ended up paying dividends. This time around a good mashing of the go-fast pedal and some slick moves helped Anvelink bolster his point lead in the 25-lap Late Model feature.
The night’s Keeter Tebon Memorial was presented by Champion Auto Glass, Simonar Sports, Luxemburg Implement, Bayland Builders and Gandrud Performance Parts.
Anvelink and fellow top-point drivers Brett Swedberg and Tom Naeyaert started in the middle of the Late Model starting field. Early in the going there was little room to shake free as Jeff Curtain and Doug Blashe swapped the top spot. Finally, by lap six, Anvelink was able to find some space to make a daring pass to the outside of Tim Rothe, then quickly to the inside of Brett Swedberg to take fourth.
Just after Anvelink made his move, Ron Berna had caught the leaders. He moved to second on lap eight and set his sights on Blashe. Two laps later Anvelink caught Curtain to battle for third. Anvelink made the pass on the outside on lap 11. One lap later the caution fell for an incident involving Naeyaert and Paul Parker.
Blashe led the field back to green with Berna and Anvelink side-by-side in the second row. At the drop of the green Anvelink seized his opportunity. He soared away from Berna, then even with Blashe and eventually to the lead by lap 12. Blashe tried to fight back, charging into turns three and four. Unfortunately, the gamble did not pay off and Blashe spun, bringing out another yellow.
Another restart was botched when Blashe, Jeremy Kazynski, Steve Petri and Adam Jahnke came together in turn one. Only Kazynski was able to continue.
The final restart proved to be no problem for Anvelink as he drove away from the pack. Swedberg eventually moved past Berna to finish second. Justin Ritchie charged from the final row to finish fourth. Justin Hirt rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Berna and Curtain.
A stunning three car battle in the final laps highlighted the IMCA Modified Keeter Tebon Memorial feature. Shawn Kilgore found just what he needed to in the highest of the high grooves to hold off Johnny Whitmann and Benji LaCrosse.
Whitman and Lucas Lemmens swapped the lead early in the 20-lap affair. Through the first half of the race, there was little movement by some of the quicker cars in the middle of the pack. That all changed after a caution on lap ten.
On the restart Kilgore jumped from outside of the top five into the top three. He brought Benji LaCrosse, who transferred in by winning the last chance race, for the ride. Kilgore took third on lap 12 by running the outside line. Two laps later he took second from Lemmens.
Continuing his charge on the outside Kilgore pulled even with Whitmann on lap 16. Although he pushed ahead, Whitmann found just enough to make sure Kilgore could not get away. As the two went side-by-side, LaCrosse slipped to third and caught the lead duo. When the white fell Whitmann and Kilgore were dead even at the line.
Door-to-door through the final lap Kilgore finally charged ahead at the checkered with Whitmann a foot off his bumper and LaCrosse a foot off Whitmann’s tail end. Tyler Hackett and Eric Scribner rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Whitmann, Kilgore and Hackett.
The world’s fastest chess match took place in the IMCA Stock Cars Keeter Tebon Memorial Feature. Heat race winners Troy Muench and Rod Snellenberger proved their strength in the feature, with Muench coming out on top.
Craig Dorner and Greg Wichman set the field in motion for the 20-lap feature. Dorner grabbed the early lead with Muench in tow. Muench muscled his way to the inside line on lap three and jumped away from the pack.
Shortly after Muench took the lead Snellenberger took second from Dorner and began to reel in Muench. On lap eight Snellenberger caught Muench and began to survey his options.
Lap after lap Muench kept his machine pasted on the inside groove. Snellenberger tried to stay low, then swing high and dive low, then stay low and go high – all in an attempt to shake Muench. However, Muench realized that he had the upper hand.
It seemed as though Snellenberger may not get a final opportunity to steal the win until the white flag fell. With a strong surge on the outside line Snellenberger pulled even with Muench in one and two. Just as Snellenberger looked as though he might make the pass, the duo made contact down the back stretch. Muench escaped with the lead into turns three and four and collected the win. Snellenberger settled for second, Evan Madden was third, Brett Wenzel was fourth and Dorner rounded out the top five.
Lady Luck finally smiled on Chris Budzban in the IMCA Sport Mod feature. After weeks of sour luck from accidents to failures, everything fell into place for the driver of the X in the 20-lap main.
Vince Engebretson took control of the feature at the drop of the green with Budzban soon to grab second. On lap three Budzban was able to set up Engebretson and slid to the outside line. After a lap of a side-by-side tussle Budzban had the lead.
A yellow flag fell on lap six for debris, bunching up the field and bringing challengers to Budzban’s doorstep. However, on the restart Budzban was too strong. He surged away from Tracy Wassenberg and Sport Mod point leader Todd Wiese.
Wiese went on to grab second from Wassenberg. Engebretson finished fourth and Kelsy Hayes completed the top five. Heats were won by Engebretson and Wassenberg.
Dan Van Pay won his third straight IMCA Hobby Stock feature. From his eighth-place starting spot Van Pay took advantage of a scramble by the leaders to take the top spot on the first lap. With room opening to the outside Van Pay stayed high and cruised away from the pack. A late restart brought a challenge from Marcus Moede, but Van Pay brushed it off over the final three laps. Moede finished second, Corry Cotter was third. Dean Anhalt won the heat race.
Point leader Scott Boulanger accomplished an incredibly rare feat in the Street Stocks. Not only did he win the heat and feature, but he also led every lap in both races. He came from a sixth-place starting spot in the 20-lap feature to grab the lead exiting turn four on the outside. Scott Karbon was second and Jared Spaulding was third.
Next week Prestige Custom Cabinetry presents the Cheesehead Triple Crown Challenge at Luxemburg. The IMCA Modifieds will pay $5,000 to win. Heavy hitters from around the state and the country are expected to attend. Round One of the Cheesehead Triple Crown takes place at 141 Speedway on Wednesday and Thursday. After the stop at Luxemburg on Friday the series wraps up at Chilton Speedway on Saturday. All weekly divisions except the Late Models will be on hand at Luxemburg next week.
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