Current points leaders try to build leads on Night of Champions

Schmidt, Wilinski, Swedberg, Forstner and Wedde win features
By: 
Dave Buss
Special to NEW Media

The 2019 track champions were honored Saturday at Shawano Speedway as part of the Night of Champions. The action on the track saw the 2020 points battles heat up as the season nears its end.

The IMCA Sport Mods began the feature events with Max Oreskovich on the pole. Starting to his outside on the front row was the 28 of Andy Klosterman.

Oreskovich gained the early advantage until lap four, when Klosterman made his move sneaking by the 75 machine. Klosterman looked well on his way to an impressive victory until a caution brought perennial front-runner Jayden Schmidt to his back bumper.

Schmidt used the restart to grab the top position and drive off to yet another feature win in 2020. Zachary Raab powered his way forward to second, with Matthew Radtke and Jason Jach completing the top four.

Schmidt increased his point leads over Jeffrey Teske and Jeff Schmuhl, as the second- and third-place drivers in points were involved in an accident earlier in the feature.

In the IMCA Modified feature, Shawn Frelich and Jesse Peebles led the field to the line. Peebles grabbed the early advantage while Konnor Wilinski began his move forward after starting in the eighth position. Wilinski captured the top spot a few laps later.

Wilinski began to pull away as Marcus Yarie and Lance Arneson gave chase. As the top three worked themselves free of the pack, Lucas Lamberies was slicing his way through the field. Wilinski was up to the challenge, grabbing the feature win with Yarie finishing second.

Lamberies eventually finished third after starting 15th. Not to be outdone, last week’s feature winner Tyler Wilson finished fifth after coming through the last chance qualifier. Jerry Wilinski took home the fourth spot.

In the Late Model division, Brett Swedberg powered past Joel Bennett on lap two and drove off to a dominating win. Swedberg lapped all but three cars on his way to the win.

Bennett grabbed the runner-up spot with current points leader Troy Springborn third. Tom Naeyeart took fourth.

It only took Chucky Forstner a couple laps to grab the top spot in the IMCA Stock Car feature. Gary Kasperek applied the pressure on Forstner for the first half of the feature that went caution free.

Jeremy Christians and Trent Nolan battled it out for the runner-up spot, with Nolan grabbing the spot behind Forstner. Christians and Kasperek rounded out the top four.

Points leader Travis Van Straten grabbed sixth, maintaining a slim advantage over Christians heading into the final weeks of the season.

Alexis Michonski, hampered by mechanical issues early in the season, looked like the car to beat as she grabbed the lead for the first half of the Mighty 4 feature.

Michonski held off Brad Wedde and Austin Pingel for multiple laps until Wedde got by on lap seven. Jason Stueck and Tanner Westphal eventually worked by Michonski as well. Wedde earned the win, with Stueck, Westphal and Michonski completing the top four.

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For full results and point standings, visit https://www.myracepass.com/profile/?r=1874&rt=track.