Bartz captures first career IMCA Modified feature

Drivers start to separate themselves from the pack as the auto racing season nears the mid-season point.

With the shortened season, recovering from a bad night becomes very difficult. Ron Berna, Travis Van Straten, Jayden Schmidt, Tanner Westphal and Jordan Bartz began their run to the finish with wins on Saturday at Shawano Speedway.

The IMCA Modified feature saw Jesse Peebles take the early lead and he was leading when a nasty wreck featuring multiple cars brought out the caution on lap two.

Mark Weisnicht unsuccessfully tried to avoid a spinning car and ended up rolling in corner two. Joel Seegert collected Weisnicht as he rolled, and both were knocked from the event with heavy damage. Both drivers were OK.

Peebles briefly maintained the lead on the restart but Bartz scooted by on lap four. Bartz built a sizeable advantage over Marcus Yarie and Lucas Lamberies as the race neared the halfway point.

It got interesting on lap 18 when caution again flew over the field, but a perfect restart by Bartz resulted in her first career feature win in the Modifieds. Lamberies grabbed second with Jerry Wilinski third, Troy Wilson fourth and Yarie fifth.

Dan Michonski took the lead from Harley Simon on lap four of the Stock Car feature and looked to rebound after a rough finish the week prior. Simon maintained the runner-up spot until lap nine when Van Straten, after starting 12th, got by him.

Van Straten then began to reel in Michonski and on lap 15 he powered by. Van Straten cruised to victory with Michonski second, Rod Snellenberger third and Chucky Forstner fourth.

With many of the normal drivers testing their skills against the World of Outlaws, the Late Models were led to the green by Tom Naeyaert and Chris Engels. Naeyaert led lap one but Berna took the top spot a lap later.

Berna rode the berm to perfection for the final 19 laps to grab the win. Naeyaert held on to the runner-up spot with Troy Springborn finishing third. Mike Mullen and Engels rounded out the top five.

Dylon Waldvogel took early control of the IMCA Sport Mod feature with Tyler Sobiesczyk holding on to second. A lap six caution changed everything as Jayden Schmidt used the restart to his advantage and grabbed the lead. Jeff Schmuhl moved to the runner-up spot on that same restart.

Waldvogel regained the runner-up spot on lap 12, only to be overtaken by Schmuhl on lap 19. While those two sorted out the second spot, Schmidt powered to another feature win.

Schmuhl claimed second with Waldvogel third. Jeffrey Teske and Mathew Radtke, both having started deep in the pack, took home fourth and fifth, respectively.

Tanner Westphal once again proved to be the driver to beat after taking the lead from William Hoefs on lap seven of the Mighty Four feature.

Westphal led the final six laps to pick up the win, with Brad Wedde taking second from Hoefs on lap 10. Hoefs held onto third with Clint Malueg coming in fourth.

ONLINE

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