Auto Racing: VanStraten edges Michonski for 6th straight speedway title

Anvelink, Arneson, Bartz also secure final wins
By: 
Scott Owen
Special to NEW Media

SHAWANO — The final night of the 2019 race season brought a large crowd out to Shawano Speedway as part of the Shawano County Fair.

Nick Anvelink (Late Model), Lance Arneson (IMCA Modified), Travis VanStraten (IMCA Stock Car) and Jordan Bartz (IMCA Sport Mod) all won track championships. Lucas Hacker was crowned as the Mighty Four track champion the previous week.

Anvelink won his eighth Late Model feature of the year. Marcus Yarie pulled off a last lap pass to win his third IMCA Modified feature. Dan Michonski scored his sixth IMCA Stock Car feature. Kevin Bethke won for the second time this season.

Troy Springborn entered the night second in the point standings and took the lead at the start of the Late Model feature. Anvelink and Justin Ritchie pursued Springborn.

Ritchie pulled even with Springborn on lap eight, but Springborn was able to fend him off. Anvelink went to the outside of Ritchie on lap 14 to move into the second spot and set his sights on Springborn.

Anvelink got beneath Springborn on lap 16 and took the lead away. On the following lap, Ritchie passed Springborn for second.

At the end, it was Anvelink for the win followed by Ritchie, Springborn, Tom Naeyaert and Ron Berna. It is the second Late Model title at Shawano for Anvelink, who also won the title in 2012 along an IMCA Modified title in 2000. Nick’s father Terry was a seven-time track champion at Shawano.

The IMCA Modified division was the closest point battle entering the night, with three drivers entering the night within two points of one another.

Unfortunately, one of the drivers, Mark Weisnicht, was eliminated on the opening lap after mechanical woes ended his night. This meant it was down to Arneson and Jerry Wilinski, separated by one point for the title.

“The Hitman” Johnny Whitman took the lead at the start of the race. Whitman was quickly pressured by Yarie. As Whitman and Yarie began to pull away from the field, Arneson and Jerry Wilinski battled for position.

Lap after lap, it was Whitman out front with Yarie a few car lengths back. Arneson and Wilinski battled side by side for multiple laps trying to decide the point battle. Eventually Arneson moved ahead of Wilinski.

Out front, the leaders worked through lapped traffic as Whitman continued to show the way. Entering turn three on the final lap, Yarie cracked the whip and pulled to the inside of Whitman. The two former go kart racing adversaries had a drag race to the finish line, with Yarie winning by a bumper.

Whitman had to settle for second followed by Konnor Wilinski, Arneson and Jerry Wilinski. Arneson secured the track championship by two points over Jerry Wilinski. It is the second title for Arneson, as he also won the championship in 2005.

The IMCA Stock Car feature saw Asa Doxtator take the early lead while title contenders Dan Michonski and VanStraten began to work forward from deep in the field. On lap eight, Michonski began to apply the pressure to Doxtator for the lead.

On lap nine, Michonski passed Doxtator for the lead, with Trent Nolan passing Doxtator to move to second. Michonski and Nolan then began to pull away from the rest of the field.

VanStraten would move to the top three on lap 12. Rod Snellenberger made his way past VanStraten on the next lap, but VanStraten returned the favor on the following lap to move back to third. Nolan constantly pressured Michonski over the closing laps, but Michonski would not be denied. Nolan, VanStraten, Snellenberger, and Chummy Arneson rounded out the top five.

With VanStraten’s third-place finish, he secured the track championship by one point over Michonski. It is VanStraten’s unprecedented sixth consecutive title. VanStraten now holds the Shawano Speedway record for consecutive track championships. He had previously been tied with MJ McBride with five in a row.

Kurt Waush took the lead to start the IMCA Sport Mod feature before Bethke powered to the lead on lap five. Bethke would not look back.

Even a late race caution could not prevent Bethke from racing to victory lane for the second time in recent weeks. Jayden Schmidt, Cole Magnin, Matthew Radtke and Brock Saunders completed the top five.

Bartz finished sixth, which secured her first ever track championship. She now has the second title in the family as her father Craig is also a former track champion.