Beautiful racing weather greeted race-hungry Shawano Speedway fans Saturday.
Eighty-three racers were on hand to try mastering the historic half-mile oval on the season’s opening night.
Ron Berna, Jerry Wilinski, Kyle Frederick, Tracy Wassenberg and Scott Blanke scored hard-fought feature victories on Twigs Beverage Sun Drop night at the races.
Late Model
Berna, the defending track champion, led the entire Late Model feature, but it was far from a runaway. Berna, who grabbed the lead at the drop of the green, was pressured early by pole sitter Todd Frank and sixth-place starter Paul Parker.
Near the halfway point of the race, eighth-place starter Nick Anvelink raced his way into the second spot. Anvelink applied late pressure, but could not make a pass to get by Berna.
Troy Springborn may have had the fastest car on the track, though, as he raced his way from his starting position at 18 to finish third in the race.
IMCA Modified
Oreskovich, who won the pole, took the lead at the start of the IMCA Modified feature before a caution bunched up the field after only two laps. Jerry Wilinski had moved from his seventh-place starting position to second by the third lap, and put a pass on Oreskovich for the lead on lap six.
Oreskovich continued to pressure Wilinski and took back the lead on lap nine. However, Wilinski battled right back into the lead on the following lap.
Behind the leaders, Jerry and Eddie Muenster raced side by side for numerous laps locked in a tussle for the third spot.
Wilinski was able to fend off Oreskovich for the win, while Jerry Muenster prevailed over son Eddie for third.
IMCA Stock Car
The IMCA Stock Car feature was a real barn burner. Travis VanStraten and Harley Simon started the race crossing the line door handle to door handle on lap one.
The pair continued side-by-side racing for the lead during the early portion of the race while Frederick advanced from his 10th-place starting position up to third by lap seven. On lap eight, Simon, Frederick and Mike Schmidt went three wide for second behind VanStraten.
The four cars bunched up on lap 10 and raced in a tight pack for the lead. VanStraten, Schmidt and Frederick went three wide for the lead on lap 12.
Frederick took the lead by a nose on lap 15, gave up the lead to VanStraten on lap 16, and used the outside line in corner four to take the lead back the following lap.
Schmidt and Simon closely followed the lead pair waiting to pounce. Frederick was able to hang on as the checkered flag waved.
IMCA Sport Mod
Jason “The Weazel” Jach started on the pole of the IMCA Sport Mod feature and grabbed the early lead.
Jordan Barkholtz took the lead on lap five, but Jach raced back to the top spot on the next lap, and looked like he had the car to beat.
On lap 14, though, Tracy Wassenberg got to the rear bumper of Jach and really began to pressure the leader.
Wassenberg pulled even with Jach coming out of turn four on lap 16. Heading into turn one on the next lap, Jach’s car shot out flames from underneath and his night was over. Wassenberg cruised to the victory.
Mighty Four
Drama came early on in the Mighty Four feature, as Calvin Stueck made contact with leader Scott Blanke on the opening lap, causing Blanke to spin and sending cars all over the track trying to avoid contact.
Stueck got the black flag for his role in the incident, and Blanke was given his spot back at the front of the field.
Blanke and Josh Slewinski raced a number of laps side by side for the top spot, but Blanke would not be denied of winning his first feature at the Shawano Speedway.
Racing will continue next Saturday night with a 6:30 p.m. start time.
Categories
