Swedberg Turns His Night Around For His Fourth Win of the Year

By: Scott J. Owen

Shawano, WI,06/18/2022–Hall of Fame night at the Shawano Speedway always seems to bring a stout field of cars, a big crown in the stands, and special graphics schemes to salute the honorees.  This year was no different with 114 cars signed in, Matthew Radtke and Lance Arneson honored new Hall of Famers Doug Blashe and Brad Rohloff, and a big crowd filled the stands.  On the track Brett Swedberg scored his 4th Late Model win.  Brad Wedde garnered his second Mighty Four win.  While Johnny Whitman, Mike Mullen, and Zack Raab each scored their first Shawano Speedway feature wins of the year. 

Brett Swedberg’s night started about as bad as possible.  After a wreck in the heat race, Swedberg’s car needed to be carried off by two wreckers.  Undaunted, he and his crew went to work making repairs.  With repairs completed, he lined up to start ninth in the feature race.  Tim Rothe took the lead at the start of the race and immediately received pressure from Kyle Raddant and Luke Postl.  On lap 3 Raddant and Postl made contact on the frontstretch with both cars making contact with the wall.  Somehow the both continued on. This allowed Swedberg to advance to second though.  On lap six Swedberg charged to the outside of Rothe to take the lead.  Swedberg quickly rode off into the sunset.  Behind Swedberg, Raddant and Postl battled for second for much of the race, with Raddant eventually moving to second.  Raddant began closing the gap on Swedberg.  Swedberg though would not be denied.  Raddant finished second.  Rothe passed Postl back for third place late in the race.  Postl finished fourth.  Ron Berna took fifth. 

Johnny Whitman started on the pole of the IMCA Modified position and led every lap to win the race.  It was no cakewalk though as Mike Mullen and Marcus Yarie applied constant pressure.  Mullen and Yaire raced side by side for numerous laps.  Mulle would finish in second.  Luca Lamberies charged to third place steadily working his way forward from his 11th place starting position.  Brekken Kleinschmidt and Yarie completed the top five.   

In IMCA Stock Car action, Travis VanStraten snagged the lead at the start of the race.  As VanStraten led, Jordan Barkholtz, Mike Mullen, Dan Michonski, and Trent Nolan wrestled for positions behind him.  Mechanical gremlins would eliminate Michinski from action and bring out a caution flag.  On lap 5 Mullen pulled even with VanStraten and two cagey veterans raced side-by-side for two laps before Mullen took over the lead.  Mulen would not look back en route to victory.  VanStraten held off Barkholtz for second.  Branden Czarapata finished fourth.  Luke Lemmens advanced 12 spots to take fifth.  

Zack Raab was smooth as butter all race long as he led every lap of the IMCA Northern Sport Modified feature.  Jeffery Teske, Cory Kemkes, and Teagan Wudstrack each came from deep in the field to finish in positions two through four.  Matthew Radtke came home in fifth position.    

Bailey Tate led the opening lap of the Mighty Four feature before Brad Wedde snuck past for the lead on lap 2.  Tanner Westphal soon advanced to second and pressured Wedde for the lead.  Wedde held on for the win with Westphal, Tate, Carl King, and Justin Haufe completing the top five.    

Racing will continue next Saturday with the Dirt Kings Late Model Tour making a return along with IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern Sport Modifieds, and Mighty Fours. Full results and more information can be found online at www.ShawanoSpeedway.net.

Racing Summary

Late Model Feature:

1. Brett Swedberg, Shawano.  2) Kyle Raddant, Shawano.  3) Tim Rothe, Hortonville.  4) Luke Postl, Shawano.  5) Ron Berna, Abrams.  6) Tom Naeyaert, Shawano.  7) Joe Reuter, Green Bay.  8) Derek Jahnke, New London.  9) Kevin Baldry, Omro.  10) Butch Thiel, Shawano.

IMCA Modified Feature:

1. Johnny Whitman, Suamico.  2) Mike Mullen, Seymour.  3) Lucas Lamberies, Clintonville.  4) Brekken Kleinschmidt, Shawano.   5) Marcus Yarie, Wausau.  6) Wyatt Block, Tigerton.  7) Rob Charapata.  8) Jeremie Hedrick, Embarrass.  9) Mike Schmidt,  Shawano.  10) Konnor Wilinski, Seymour.

IMCA Stock Car Feature:

1. Mike Mullen, Seymour.  2) Travis VanStraten, Hortonville.  3) Jordan Barkhotlz, Hortonville.  4) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski.  5) Luke Lemmens, DePere.  6) Trent Nolan, Shawano.  7) Jeremy Christians, Horicon.  8) Justin Jacobson, Black Creek.  9) Kyle Frederick, Oconto Falls.  10) Chucky Forstner, Shiocton.

IMCA Northern Sport Mod Feature:

1. Zack Raab, Antigo.  2) Jeffery Teske, Shawano.  3) Cory Kemkes, Appleton.  4) Teagon Wudstrack, Caroline.  5) Matthew Radtke, Marion.  6) Dustin Wudstrack, Tigerton.  7) Dylon Waldvogel, Antigo.  8) Bryce Clements, Suring.  9) Tyler Sobiesczyk, Shawano.  10) Will Garceau, Francis Creek. 

Mighty Four Feature:

1. Brad Wedde, Clintonville. 2) Tanner Westphal, Clintonville. 3) Bailey Tate, Clintonville. 4) Carl King, Shawano. 5) Justin Haufe, Marion. 6) Lexi Michonski, Shawano. 7) Jody Cornelius, Oneida. 8) Briar Hass, Neenah. 9) Taylor Junk, Shawano. 10) Shayne Collar, Marion.