LaCrosse Makes it 2 in a Row, Diefenthaler Continues to Dominate
By: Scott J. Owen
Seymour, WI,06/30/2023 – It wasn’t just mother nature bringing the heat to the Outagamie Speedway, the on track action was hot as well as 151 cars turned up the temperature in Seymour Wisconsin. Hometown ace Mike Mullen secured his second WABAM Dirt Kings Late Model Tour event of the season at the track. Full late model results can be found at dirtkingstour.com. While Benji LaCrosse made it 2 in a row in the Professional Plating Inc. IMCA Modified division. Paul Diefenthaler continued to dominate the Trailer Express Unified Street Stock class with his 5th win of the year. Thomas Schulte notched win number 3 in the Medals IMCA Sport Compact feature. While Nick Buckarma (IMCA Stock Car) and Matthew Radtke (IMCA Northern Sport Modified) secured their first wins of the year.
The feature action kicked off with the Trailer Express Unified Street Stock feature. Todd Berzowski led until the third lap when Beau Schoeder powered his way to the lead. Schroeder led as Jesse Krahn and Paul Diefenthaler raced to join him at the front of the field. Krahn moved to the outside line to take the lead on lap 8. Diefenthaler passed Schroeder as well to move to second. Krahn and Diefenthaler raced door to door for multiple laps before Diefenthaler pulled ahead on lap 18 with an outside pass for the lead. Diefenthaler would lead the rest of the race for the win. Krahn, Schroeder, Justin Jacobsen, and Kayden Young chased him across the line at the end.
Third generation racer Jerry Vanderloop snagged the lead at the start of the IMCA Northern Sport Mod feature. Vanderloop would stay out as Taylor Sorenson challenged him early for the lead. Sorenson took the lead on lap 6, but would only stay there for a lap as Matthew Radtke took the lead on lap 7. Radtke would lead the duration of the race for the win. Bernie Miller, Cory Kemkes, Sorenson, and last week’s winner Dylan Waldvogel rounded out the top 5.
The IMCA Stock Car feature was as intense as a circus fire. The race began with a four wide battle for the lead. Darren Otto held the lead on lap 1, but his son Nathan took the lead on lap 2. Josh Mroczkowski, Nick Buckarma, and Dan Sell Jr. soon joined the family feud for the lead. Darren Otto wrestled the lead back on lap 4. Mroczkowski then took his turn in the lead on lap 5. It would be short lived as Darren Otto took the top spot back on lap 6. Darren Otto, Buckarma, and Mroczkowski went three wide for the lead on lap 10 with Buckarma gaining the lead. Benji LaCrosse soon joined the leaders as well and moved to second on lap 14. Buckarma continued to lead, but LaCrosse soon applied the pressure while running second. LaCrosse pulled to the inside of Buckarma as the duo raced side by side over the closing laps. Buckarma would hang on for the win as LaCrosse settled for second. Mroczkowski, Darren Otto, and Chase Parker completed the top 5.
Dan Roedl led the early stages of the Professional Plating IMCA Modified feature as Johnny Whitman moved to second on the track. Whitman used the outside groove of the track to pass Roedl on lap 5. As Whitman led, Lucas Lamberies and Benji LaCrosse steadily worked through the field. A late caution flag would bunch the field up and wipe away Whitman’s lead. LaCrosse ducked under Whitman on lap 17 to take the lead. Whitman took the lead right back on lap 18 though. Lap 19 showed LaCrosse back out front and he would stay there for the win. Whitman finished second followed by Roedl, Lamberies, and Jayden Schmidt.
Alexis Czarapata led early in the Medals IMCA Sport Compact feature before giving way to Al Cottrell. Cottrell would lead the rest of the win for what appeared to be the feature win. Cottrell though was disqualified following post race inspection. Thomas Schulte would be credited with the win followed by Jake Peters, Cody Booth, Czarapata, and Brett DePrez.
Racing will continue next Friday night. Pits open at 4:00, grandstands open at 5:00, and racing will start at 6:30. Full results and more information can be found online at outagamiespeedway.com.
Racing Summary
Professional Plating Inc IMCA Modifieds
Feature: 1) Benji LaCrosse, Casco. 2) Johnny Whitman, Suamico. 3) Dan Roedl, Beaver Dam. 4) Lucas Lamberies, Embarrass. 5) Jayden Schmidt, Seymour. 6) Mike Mullen, Seymour. 7) Konnor Wilinski, Seymour. 8) Cody Schroeder, Manitowoc. 9) Brian Mullen, Seymour. 10) Russ Reinwald, Beaver Dam.
First Last Chance Qualifier: 1) B. Mullen. 2) Kurt Moeller, Kaukauna. 3) Chris Pigeon, Allouez 4) Will Garceau, Francis Creek.
Second Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Jason Ebert, Clintonville. 2) RJ Gerber, Fox Lake. 3) Mike Carter, Greenleaf. 4) Tanner Jahnke, New London.
Heat Winners: 1) Roedl. 2) LaCrosse. 3) Whitman. 4) Travis Hansen, Brillion.
IMCA Stock Car
Feature: 1) Nick Buckarma, Sobieski. 2) Benji LaCrosse, Casco. 3) Josh Mroczkowski, Krakow. 4) Darren Otto, Green Bay. 5) Chase Parker, Hortonville. 6) Dan Sell Jr., Suring. 7) Kyle Frederick, Oconto Falls. 8) Tyler Wilson, Little Suamico. 9) Jeff Kropp, Pulaski. 10) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski.
Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Austin Jansen, Green Bay. 2) Mike Mashl, DePere. 3) Devin Snellenberger, Pulaski. 4) JJ Heinz,Green Bay. 5) Aaron Karcz, Pulaski.
Heat Winners: 1) Kropp. 2) Mroczkowski. 3) Sell.
IMCA Northern Sport Mod
Feature: 1) Matthew Radtke, Marion. 2) Bernie Miller, Hatley. 3) Cory Kemkes, Appleton. 4) Taylor Sorenson, Pulaski. 5) Dylan Waldvogel, Antigo. 6) Colton VanHierden, Waupun. 7) Jeffrey Teske, Shawano. 8) Jerry Vanderloop, Freedom. 9) Kaden Besaw, Omro. 10) Ryan Besaw, Omro.
Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Teske. 2) Chris Kuchta, Combined Locks. 3) Tim Jorgenson, Seymour. 4) Dylan Schmidt, Hortonville. 5) Andrew Engels, Green Bay.
Heat Winners: 1) Ryan Schmidt, Hortonville. 2) Waldvogel. 3) Miller.
Trailer Express Unified Street Stocks
Feature: 1) Paul Diefenthaler, Manitowoc. 2) Jesse Krahn, Beaver Dam. 3) Beau Schroeder, Bonduel. 4) Justin Jaconben, Black Creek. 5) Kayden Young, Weyauwega. Jared Spaulding, Greeneville. 6) Trey VanStraten, Hortonville. 7) Jared Spaulding, Greeneville. 8) TJ Everard, Green Bay. 9) Tony Everard, Green Bay. 10) Austin Steinke, St. Nazianz.
Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Jake Burt, DePere. 2) Tyler Fox, Brussels. 3) Kaylee Greenwood, Suamico. 4) Brandon Fuhrman, Brillion. 5) Michael Czarapata, Pulaski.
Heat Winners: 1) Spaulding. 2) Jacobsen. 3) TJ Everard.
Medals IMCA Sport Compact
Feature: 1) Thomas Schulte, Kaukauna. 2) Jake Peters, Black Creek. 3) Cody Booth, Oshkosh. 4) Alexis Czarapata, Pulaski. 5) Brett DePrez, Green Bay. 6) Ben Schulte, Kaukauna. 7) Nate VanOoyen, Appleton. 8) Bailey Tate, Clintonville. 9) Kyle Jorgenson, Oneida. 10) David Cox, Seymour.
Heat Winners: 1) Jorgenson. 2) T. Schulte.