MUENCH, RASS, ANSCHUTZ AND BROEHM TOP THE HILL
(Sturgeon Bay, WI – 6/17/2023)
By Tom Wagner
Two of Door County’s all-time feature winners led the way to victory lane Saturday night, highlighting action at the Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay.
Stock Car veteran Troy Muench scored his 43rdcareer feature win, on the heels of Ed Anschutz notching his 31st in the Unified Dirt Street Stocks. Cody Rass in the Sport Mods and Adam Broehm in the 4 cylinder Bombers also were winners on the night.
Brady Polcen led the first lap of the Stock Car headliner, with Muench powering by from the outside on the second circuit. He was able to maintain the lead the rest of the way, despite constant pressure from behind.
Zach Spangenberg kept the heat on early with three-time defending champ Brett Wenzel taking over with 10 to go. The two were neck and neck for the duration, with Wenzel squeezing ahead briefly at one point before Muench was able fend him off.
At the wire, it was Muench by a car length, tallying his first win in the class since June 28, 2017. The second place finish for Wenzel moved him into third in the standings just two points behind new leader Darren Otto.
Starting in the 7th row, Otto was able to navigate traffic and quickly join the leaders, posting a fourth place finish. Spangenberg scored a season best third just ahead of the new division leader. Scott Reinhardt’s fifth place run was also his best of the season, finishing just ahead of Larry Karcz, Jr.
Muench’s 43rd victory is third only at the track to Todd Dart (63) and Charlie Kroll (51). It was his 22nd in a Stock Car.
There was a bit less drama in the Sport Mod feature as Rass drew a front row starting spot due to a 19thplace DNF his first night out. He ran unchecked, building up a huge lead until a late caution bunched the field.
The restart provided much the same for him, but second place running Randy Theys was not so fortunate. Theys was running by himself and was headed for a season best top two finish until the caution. In a lap, he fell prey to Logan Theys, Randy LeMieux, Jr and Craig Dorner.
So a Theys did end up in second, but it was Logan with a career best run. LeMieux took third to chip away a single point from Dorner’s division lead that now stands at just three markers. While it wasn’t a second, Randy Theys did post his first top five run of the year, edging Bernie Reinhardt for the spot.
The complexion of the Street Stock feature took a major turn on the eighth lap when, as they say at the races, the “Big One” happened.
Garrett Geyer was part of a three car battle with Shannon Guelette and Ford Malvitz up front when his car slowed dramatically on the backstretch. Before he could get out of harm’s way into the infield, cars started piling up behind him. Several of the lead pack including Dave DeGrave and Geno Sternard were involved.
Between the Big One and some early exists, only 10 cars took the green after the melee, with 7 eventually finishing.
The tussle for the win was exciting just the same as Anschutz tried to wrestle the lead away from Guelette. The two raced side by side for eight laps, with Guelette repeatedly fending off challenges from Anschutz on the bottom groove.
The stage was set for a restart with five to go, with Guelette alone out front, Anschutz to the inside and Malvitz to the outside of the second row. At the drop of the green, Anschutz had just enough clearance to snap to the outside in front of Malvitz, and bolt past Guelette through the first and second turns.
Guelette was forced to settle for second with Jason Geyer nipping Malvitz late to take the final podium spot. Steve Georgenson carded his best finish since returning to fulltime racing with a top five run with Amber Delsart also hitting a season high with sixth place evening.
With the win, Anschutz is now tied with Jeremy Wiitala for 9th on the all-time win list.
Broehm looked to be a shoe-in to win the 4-cylinder feature, but as the laps wound down, point leader Scott Schlafke rallied to close the gap to less than a car length on the final lap.
Through the final corners, Schlafke was right there, but couldn’t quite mount a serious challenge for the win. First night out at Sturgeon Bay for Shawn Bangart was a good one as he placed third with Carl King fourth.
The Hill’s next event is Saturday, July 8th; featuring a Christmas in July celebration. 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 6/17/2023
Stock Car Feature: Troy Muench, Brussels – Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc – Zach Spangenberg, Manitowoc – Darren Otto, Green Bay – Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor – Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski
Heat 1: Muench – Reinhardt
Heat 2: Caden LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay – Wenzel
Heat 3: Karcz – Dave Bouche, Algoma
Sport Mod Feature: Cody Rass, Sturgeon Bay – Logan Theys, Luxemburg – Randy LeMieux, Jr, Brussels – Craig Dorner, Brussels – Randy Theys, Algoma – Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1: Mike Plate, Valders – Rick LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 2: Rass – Alec Wery, Algoma
Heat 3: Randy Theys – Logan Theys
Unified Dirt Street Stock Feature: Ed Anschutz, Two Rivers – Shannon Guelette, Luxemburg – Jason Geyer, Brussels – Ford Malvitz, Sturgeon Bay – Steve Georgenson, Sturgeon Bay – Amber Delsart, East Maplewood
Heat 1: Guelette – Dan VanPay, Denmark
Heat 2: Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg – Travis Zirbel, Green Bay
Heat 3: Presley Harrington, Oshkosh – Anschutz
Busch Shootout: Harrington
4 Cyl Bomber Feature: Adam Broehm, Newton – Scott Schlafke, Cleveland – Shawn Bangart, Chilton – Carl King, Shawano – Mike Meier, Chilton – Kyle Jorgenson, Oneida
Heat 1: Meier – King
