PLATE DOUBLES UP – DEGRAVE AND SPANGENBERG FIRST TIMERS AT THE HILL
(Sturgeon Bay, WI – 8/5/2023)
It took Mike Plate several decades to win his first stock car feature in Sturgeon Bay, but it took him less than a month to win his second.
For the second time in three nights of racing, Plate took top honors in the Sport Mod class to highlight action Saturday night at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay.
Joining him in victory lane were first time winners on the season, Zach Spangenberg in the Stock Cars and Dave DeGrave in the Street Stocks. Unfortunately, the track’s curfew claimed the 4 cylinder and visiting vintage modified main events.
There may have been a fountain of youth bubbling somewhere in the pits as several Sport Mod drivers a bit past their voting age looked very sharp in the feature.
Dennis Miesler was fast at the point early on with Plate working past Randy Theys to take second on the 7th lap. Three laps later, he found an opening on the inside to take the lead from Miesler at the race’s midpoint.
From there it was a downhill run for Plate as he was not threatened the rest of the way. Miesler went on to his best Sturgeon Bay finish, second.
While Plate’s career racing at Sturgeon Bay dates back to his modified days in the 90s, careers for two drivers in the top six span back to the 70s; Theys, who placed third, and Ricky LeMieux who came in sixth.
Sandwiched in between were title contenders Craig Dorner and Randy LeMieux, Jr. Dorner came on late to finish third while LeMieux placed fifth. The two points Dorner gained on LeMieux bumped his lead to a less than safe four markers.
In the Stock Cars, Spangenberg outdueled Jeff Lautenbach and appeared to be on his way to a rocking chair win. But things got a little dicey near the end.
Having a solid run up front, Scott Reinhardt’s machine slowed and stopped on the front stretch bringing out a caution with six laps to go.
As is often the case, the bunched up pack produced two more cautions, with the last one sending frontrunners Billy LeMieux and Nathan Otto into the concrete.
The lead pack changed dramatically with a wild scramble over the course of the final three laps. The only one able to hold his spot was Spangenberg, who went on to win his third career Sturgeon Bay feature.
Behind him, Dan Sell, Jr seemed to arrive from nowhere to finish second. Making his first Hill run of the year, former champ Rod Snellenberger ended up in third on the last lap with Dave Bouche also making an 11th hour charge to fourth.
So aside from Spangenberg, the other three top four drivers advancing to the infield tech area after the checker weren’t even running in the top until the tail end of the event.
Lautenbach held on for his second top five run of the season. Brett Wenzel eked out a sixth place finish at the line after being caught up in one of the late incidents. Sell’s late charge allowed him to leapfrog Wenzel in the point standings to take over the top spot by two.
A good night came to a crashing halt for Dillon Ploor in the Street Stock finale. An incident that began in the first corner eventually ended up with Ploor barrel-rolling down the backstretch.
Ploor was able to walk away, with his car joining the cars of Adam Goldman and John Denil, Jr in the pits for the night.
With the starting grid shuffled, Bailey LaViolette was able to take the lead at the drop of the green. Two-time winner Dan VanPay used an outside move to take the point on lap three.
VanPay had little breathing room out front as Garrett Geyer, Dave DeGrave, and Shannon Guelette all gave chase.
A caution with 9 laps to go set Guelette and DeGrave up in the second row behind VanPay for the restart. DeGrave quickly dispatched Guelette, then VanPay, and from there he pulled away to the victory. VanPay held off Guelette for third
The caution allowed Ed Anschutz and Tyler Fox to join the lead group as they placed fourth and fifth respectively.
The win for DeGrave was his 17th in the Streets and 33rd overall at the Sturgeon Bay track.
The Hill’s next event is Thursday night, August 10th, the annual Door County Fair race. The Raceway’s four regular divisions, plus Modifieds, will be in action with a later 6:30PM start time.
The Hill Raceway is located at the John Miles Fair Park, 812 North 14thAve 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. Admission to the Fair itself will include grandstand entrance for the races. The single day entrance cost is $10, or buy a booster button for $25 that gets you in every day for every grandstand event.
The Hill Raceway results 8/5/2023
Stock Car Feature: Zach Spangenberg, Manitowoc – Dan Sell, Jr, Suring – Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski – Dave Bouche, Algoma – Jeff Lautenbach, Sturgeon Bay – Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc
Heat 1: Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor – Caden LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 2: Dan Sell, Sr, Suring – Darren Otto, Green Bay
Heat 3: Lautenbach – Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Sport Mod Feature: Mike Plate, Valders – Dennis Miesler, Luxemburg – Craig Dorner, Brussels – Randy Theys, Algoma – Randy LeMieux, Jr, Brussels – Rick LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
Heat 1: Miesler – Dorner
Heat 2: Randy LeMieux – Rick LeMieux
Unified Dirt Street Stock Feature: Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg – Dan VanPay – Denmark – Shannon Guelette, Luxemburg – Ed Anschutz, Two Rivers – Tyler Fox, Brussels – Garrett Geyer, Brussels
Heat 1: Fox – VanPay
Heat 2: John Denil, Jr, Sturgeon Bay – Brian Krejcarek, Two RIvers
Heat 3: Geyer – Bailey LaViolette, Sturgeon Bay
4 Cyl Bomber Feature: Curfew
Heat: Scott Schlafke, Cleveland – Carl King, Shawano
Vintage Modified Feature: Curfew
Heat: Jim Straseski, St. Francis – Doug Drews, Sheboygan Falls
