ANSCHUTZ SCORES 30TH FEATURE WIN AT THE HILL
(Sturgeon Bay, WI – 5/20/2023)
Ed Anschutz returned to fulltime Street Stock racing in Sturgeon Bay in grand style, winning the opening Street Stock feature at The Hill Raceway Saturday night.
Other winners to open the season were Brett Wenzel in the Stock Cars, Craig Dorner in the Sport Mods and Scott Schlafke in the 4 cylinder Baby Bombers.
The win for Wenzel was a perfect start for him in his quest for a fourth consecutive Stock Car title. Starting positions on opening night are based on a random draw, as opposed to season point averages that come into play on the second night.
Consistently high in the point standings, Wenzel’s normal starting spot is row six at best. The draw format allowed him to start the feature from the third row.
He quickly advance to second and by the 6th lap worked past leader Barry VanStraten to claim the lead. From there it was smooth sailing on the way to the checker, as he built up nearly a half lap cushion over the battle for second.
With Wenzel checked out, a spirited battle for second was finally secured by Caden LeMieux in the closing laps. Darren Otto was successful in a rare visit to Sturgeon Bay, winning a heat and placing third in the final.
Dan Sell, Jr advanced from the 7th row to nip VanStraten at the wire for 4th.
Anschutz had to scrap a bit more than Wenzel to secure his landmark victory as Garrett Geyer proved a worthy adversary for most of the contest.
Geyer outdueled Ford Malvitz to take the top spot with Anschutz working into third on lap four. A caution with 7 laps down positioned Anschutz and Malvitz in the second row behind Geyer for the restart.
At the drop of the green, Anschutz worked inside Geyer, with the two racing side by side for the next six laps. On the 13th circuit Anschutz was finally able to secure the point and pull away to a comfortable advantage.
Geyer finished a solid second, chased to the line by his dad Jason who settled for third. Mechanical issues in his qualifying heat relegated Shannon Guelette to a starting spot in the 6th row. But he was able to work through the pack for a strong fourth place finish ahead of Malvitz.
The 30th career win for Anschutz broke a tie with Dave Bouche for 10th on the all-time win list since the track reopened in 1993.
After taking the lead from Bernie Reinhardt on the 5th lap, Dorner was in position to perhaps turn the Sport Mod main into a sleeper. But instead, he was in for a pitched battle to the checker that came from an unlikely source; second year racer Coy Vlies.
While Dorner is a former champ, the son of racer Jeff “Pepe” Vlies is in the infancy of his career. That was hard to tell, as Vlies kept the pressure on and nearly stole the win away as the two worked lapped traffic in the closing two laps.
The lead duo became a trio on the last lap as a charging Randy LeMieux, Jr arrived on the scene. The two-time defending champ was forced to start last on the grid after dropping out of his heat. He caught the leaders a bit too late to challenge for the win, but under the circumstances, a podium finish in the end was a major accomplishment.
Reinhardt and Roger LaViolette completed the top five.
Schlafke grabbed the lead with a couple laps to go in the 4 cylinder feature to win for the fourth time in the last five racing nights, dating back to last year. It was his 12th feature win at the Raceway.
The Hill’s next event is the annual Nathan Bouche Memorial Sunday, May 28. Along with the change from the regular racing night of Saturday to Sunday, first race on the card will be at 5:00pm. The Raceway’s four regular divisions will be in action, with out-of-car driver introductions scheduled for the Stock Car feature starters.
The Hill Raceway is located at the John Miles Fair Park, 812 North 14th Ave in Sturgeon Bay, WI. All track information can be found on our Facebook @hillraceway or contact 920-495-6631 Regular night pricing: Pit pass $25, crew members 17 and under $15. Grandstands $10, 12 and under free. Service members are free with ID.
The Hill Raceway results 5/20/2023
Stock Car Feature: Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc – Caden LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay – Darren Otto, Green Bay – Dan Sell, Jr, Suring – Barry VanStraten, Shiocton – Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1: Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor – Caden LeMieux
Heat 2: Otto – Jared Siefert, Luxemburg
Heat 3: Mike Pierrard, Suamico – Wenzel
Sport Mod Feature: Craig Dorner, Brussels – Coy Vlies, Casco – Randy LeMieux, Jr, Brussels – Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay – Roger LaViolette, Forestville – Logan Theys, Luxemburg
Heat 1: Mike Plate, Valders – Dorner
Heat 2: Randy Theys, Algoma – Reinhardt
Unified Dirt Street Stock Feature: Ed Anschutz, Two Rivers – Garrett Geyer, Brussels – Jason Geyer, Brussels – Shannon Guelette, Luxemburg – Ford Malvitz, Sturgeon Bay – Chad Naze, Green Bay
Heat 1: Jason Brandes, Chilton – Garrett Geyer
Heat 2: Anschutz, Tyler Fox, Brussels
Heat 3: John Denil, Jr, Sturgeon Bay – Bailey LaViolette, Sturgeon Bay
4 Cyl Bomber Feature: Scott Schlafke, Cleveland – Neil Watcka, Green Bay – Carl King, Shawano – Brandon VanOoyen – Branden Schirpke, Clintonville.
Heat 1: King – Skyler Bork, Little Chute
