LEMIEUX SCORES 40TH FEATURE WIN AT THE HILL
(Sturgeon Bay, WI – 8/11/2022)
Billy LeMieux became only the fifth driver to record 40 feature wins in Door County, highlighting racing action at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Thursday night.
The event was a milestone in itself, as it marked the 50thanniversary of local stock racing at the Door County Fair.
LeMieux’s milestone win came in the Stock Car class; his first of the year. He outdueled Troy Muench and Tom Brumlic to take the lead on the 7th lap, with Muench staying in hot pursuit to the checker before settling for second. Brumlic placed third after leading for four laps in the early stages.
With another solid 4th place finish, Brett Wenzel all but locked up his third straight Stock Car title. Dave Bouche returned to Sturgeon Bay for the first time this season after missing earlier events recovering from surgery. The five-time stock car champ placed fifth in his return.
LeMieux became only the fifth driver to hit the 40 win mark since the track reopened in 1993. He trails only Todd Dart (62), Charlie Kroll (51), Muench (42) and Eugene Gregorich (41).
Dart extended his total to 62 by winning the night’s Modified feature. He took the lead from Jeff Bodendorfer on the sixth lap, pulling away to a dominating victory.
Bodendorfer held off Tim Czarneski at the line to record his best Sturgeon Bay finish; a second. JJ Anderson and Greg Gretz completed the top five.
It was the second visit of the season for the Modifieds, with Dart winning them both.
Cole Czarneski scored a walk-away win in the Sport Mod class, his second career Sturgeon Bay triumph. He out-gunned Randy Theys at the drop of the green and was never seriously challenged.
Despite not winning, it was a banner night for Theys, a former track champion from the winged modified days. His second place finish was his best of the year, plus he took the win in his qualifying heat.
With a third place showing, Craig Dorner narrowed the gap to just four points back of division leader Randy LeMieux, Jr heading into championship night. Shawn Falk was fourth and Shawano regular Dustin Wudstrack scored a top five in his first visit of the season.
Despite a rash of cautions, the Street Stock feature provided the closest finish of the night. Point leader Dave DeGrave worked his way from the 6th row to join Tyler Fox and Presley Harrington in a three-car battle up front.
Having passed Harrington, DeGrave swept to the outside of Fox on the 10th lap and looked to be headed to his first feature win of the season. But Harrington fought back. Finding an inside line to his liking, he worked past DeGrave into the lead on the 13th circuit.
A final caution led to a green-white-checker finish, with Harrington hanging on for his first career Sturgeon Bay win. Despite not winning, the big point night put a virtual lock on what could be DeGrave’s third Street Stock title at The Hill.
Fox ran in the top three for the duration, finishing ahead of Brian Krejcarek and Marcus Moede.
4 cylinder bomber driver Adam Broehm led every lap he raced, winning both the feature and his heat in dominating fashion. It was his first win of the season and 4th career at The Hill.
Mike Plate, Jr, Calvin Stueck, Landon Kaye and Mason Geigel completed the top five.
Stueck’s run edged him closer to his second Sturgeon Bay title, as he extended his division lead to nine points over Plate and Scott Schlafke.
The Hill’s next event is championship night Saturday, August 20; the final points event of the 2022 season. The Raceway’s four regular divisions, plus Modifieds, will be in action with a 6:00PM start time.
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 8/11/2022
Stock Car Feature: Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay – Troy Muench, Brussels – Tom Brumlic, Denmark – Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc – Dave Bouche, Algoma – Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski
Last Chance Qualifier 1: Eric Mahlik, Green Bay – Dan Sell, Suring – Aaron Karcz, Pulaski – Barry VanStraten, Shiocton
Last Chance Qualifier 2: Rob Waechter, Jr, DePere – Kyle Resch, Manitowoc – Kerry Douglas, Fish Creek – Duane Mertens, Luxemburg
Heat 1: Nathan Lauscher, Two Rivers – Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 2: David Reinhardt, Fish Creek – Brett Koehler, Two Rivers
Heat 3: Muench – Larry Karcz
Heat 4: Billy LeMieux – Caden LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Sport Mod Feature: Cole Czarneski, Denmark – Randy Theys, Algoma – Craig Dorner, Brussels – Sean Falk, Bonduel – Dustin Wudstrack, Tigerton – George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1: Theys – Czarneski
Heat 2: Roger LaViolette, Forestville – Dorner
Unified Dirt Street Stock Feature: Presley Harrington, Oshkosh – Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg – Tyler Fox, Brussels – Brian Krejcarek, Two Rivers – Marcus Moede, Algoma – Chad Naze, Green Bay
LCQ 1: Jason Geyer, Brussels – Garrett Geyer, Brussels – Aaron Ploor, Brussels – Jimmy Anderson, Forestville
LCQ 2: Dan VanPay, Denmark – Scott Iverson, Sturgeon Bay – Geno Sternard, Brussels – Nick Berzowski, Pulaski
Heat 1: Moede – Nick Wunrow, Denmark
Heat 2: Fox – Dillon Ploor, Brussels
Heat 3: Harrington – DeGrave
Heat 4: John Denil, Jr, Sturgeon Bay – Josh Novak, Neenah
4 Cyl Bomber Feature: Adam Broehm, Newton – Mike Plate, Jr, DePere – Calvin Stueck, Clintonville – Landon Kaye, Luxemburg – Mason Geigel, Manitowoc – Scott Schlafke, Cleveland
Heat 1: Broehm – Schlafke
Heat 2: Stueck – Brian Watzka, Jr, Luxemburg
Modified Feature: Todd Dart, Algoma – Jeff Bodendorfer, Waterford – Tim Czarneski, Denmark – JJ Anderson, DePere – Greg Gretz, Kewaunee – Craig Dorner, Brussels
Heat: Bodendorfer – Dart
