ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(KAUKAUNA, WI) June 20 – Freedom native Kyle Calmes used the power of his “Batman” decorated racer to slip past Appleton’s Andy Monday on the final circuit for the lead, capturing the super late model main Thursday night at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
The 35-lap contest saw three different leaders in the first nine circuits. Montello’s Bobby Kendall outdueled polesitter Alex Stumpf into the lead at the drop of the green – only to have Stumpf wrestle it back one lap later. Monday stormed on the high line from his fourth starting spot into the lead on lap nine.
The former track champion quickly began putting some real estate between himself and the rest of the field – only to see his margin erased on lap 12 when Stumpf looped his mount while scrapping with Kendall and Grant Griesbach for second.
When racing resumed two laps later a Griesbach spin on the fronstretch sent the field scattering. In all nine cars spun to avoid. Defending track champion Casey Johnson, who made contact with the inner retaining wall, was forced to pit. On the restart Monday retained the top spot with Calmes moving up to challenge Kendall for the runnerup spot by the halfway point.
Calmes shook free from Kendall and began slowly reeling in Monday, catching the Appleton driver with 10 laps remaining. Calmes remained glued to Monday’s rear bumper, trying both high and low to get past him. Calmes ducked underneath Monday as the white flag was displayed and pulled ahead of Monday to score a thrilling last lap win.
“This was one of these nights Andy I have been rivals for a long time and it was a lot of fun,” Calmes said. “I was happy to see the white flag come and I was able to sneak inside of him. Andy’s always a tough guy to pass. When all those cars spun I was in the right place at the right time. We had a close call there. I may have even made contact with (Griesbach) I’m not even sure.”
The late model feature was red flagged on lap four when rookie Nathan Brantmeier pasted the inner retaining wall on the frontstretch. The teenage driver was shaken up but otherwise o.k.
When racing resumed Eddie Muenster kept the lead and received heavy pressure from last week’s winner Nathan Van Wychen and Braison Bennett. Bennett wrestled second away from Van Wychen on lap seven and kept Muenster in his sights. A Brett Wenzel spin with ten laps remaining drew an amber. On the restart Bennett pulled alongside Muenster on the high line, snatching the lead on lap eleven. The third-generation driver kept Muenster at bay and cruised to victory.
“This car was fast inside and outside,” Bennett said. “Where it is hurting is on the straightaways. I love running with Eddie Muenster. He always races me hard and clean. We have a good time battling out there.”
Greenleaf’s Jeff Treml survived Trevor Howard glued to his rear bumper and persevered to win his second super stock feature of the year. Howard settled for second place money, followed by Larry Raygo, Greg Hauser and heat winner Peter Wilz.
Track officials “broke out the broom” for former sport truck champion Kyle Quella. The Appleton ace scored a clean sweep in the division, scoring fast time and both the heat and feature wins.
Kaukauna’s Danny Gracyalny came out of a semi-retirement to clinch the first of two WIR quarter-mile feature races. Gracyalny finished second to Appleton’s Andy Monday in the second main event. Monday was guest driving the car of Cory Kemkes.
Two Rivers Steve Van Oudenhoven captured the first Sizzlin’ 4 feature while veteran Larry Gintner of Neenah scored his second feature win in as many weeks in feature number 2.
Sussex’ Russ Lorbiecki won the Figure 8 feature, his first of 2019.
Next Thursday night June 27 Kens Sports will sponsor the Kids coin drop presented by Fast Comfort VIP Suites. 43 different bikes will also be given away to kids as part of that promotion. It will also be the first of two appearances of the Pavement Pounder Dirt Sportmods presented by Winnegamie Home Builders Association. Racing gets underway at 6:30 p.m. You can check frrc.us for more information or follow the club’s Facebook page.
SUPER LATE MODEL FEATURE – Kyle Calmes, Freedom; Andy Monday, Appleton; Bobby Kendall, Montello; Brent Strelka, Freedom; Maxwell Schultz, Reedsville; Sawyer Effertz, Darboy; Alex Stumpf, Woodville; Michael Anthony, Appleton; Lowell Bennett, Neenah; Corey Manders, Hilbert; Alex Seidel, Appleton; Pete Vandermolen Jr., Oshkosh; Taylor Haufschildt, De Pere; Randy Schuler, Mequon; Jesse Oudenhoven, Kaukauna; Casey Johnson, Edgerton; Taylor Vandermoss, Appleton; Grant Griesbach, Pewaukee; Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Appleton Tim Springstroh, Freedom
SEMI-FEATURE- Springstroh; Schuler; Manders; Haufschildt; Robby Younger, De Pere; Michael Hardtke, Kewaunee; Trevor Vandermolen, Oshkosh
HEATS 1) Anthony; Haufschildt 2) Lowell Bennett; Effertz
DASH – Strelka
FAST TIME: Schultz, 19.327
LATE MODEL FEATURE- Braison Bennett, Neenah; Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; Bryan Monday, Appleton; Nate Van Wychen, Kaukauna; Chase Randerson, Oshkosh; Mike King, Appleton; Will Timmers, Kaukauna; Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers; RD Yaeger, Appleton; Tarra Springstroh, Waupun; Nathan Brantmeier, Neenah; Matt Wittman, Appleton; Justin Woller, Appleton (DNS)
HEAT – Will Timmers, Kaukauna; Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers
DASH- Randerson
FAST TIME- Braison Bennett, 20.420
WIR ¼ MILE LATE MODELS FEATURE 1) Danny Gracyalny, Kaukauna; Brandon Reichenberger, Appleton; Andy Monday, Appleton; Travis Willing, Appleton; Tom Spierowski, Neenah
FEATURE 2) Monday; Gracyalny; Reichenberger; Travis Willing, Appleton; Rick Spoo, Neenah; Jerry Schneider, Appleton
Fast Time – Andy Monday, 14.683
SUPER STOCK FEATURE – Jeff Treml, Greenleaf; Trevor Howard, Kaukauna; Larry Raygo, Omro; Greg Hauser, Wrightstown; Peter Wilz, Menasha;
HEAT – Peter Wilz, Menasha; Ed Howard, Kaukauna
FAST TIME – Rachel Meyerhofer, 15.647
SIZZLIN’ 4 FEATURES 1) Steve Van Oudenhoven, Two Rivers; Mike Klein, Appleton; Tom Schweitzer, Menasha; Heather Wolfgram, Oshkosh; Mitchell Opsahl, Freedom 2) Larry Gintner, Neenah; Jordan Biese, Bucktown; Jake Peters, Shiocton; Larry Belonger, Two Rivers; Klein
FAST TIME – Gintner, 17.763
SPORT TRUCKS FEATURE –Kyle Quella, Appleton; Dom Sokolik, Fond Du Lac; Cody Vander Loop, Freedom; Bobby Wautier, Denmark; Kylee Vandermoss, Appleton
HEATS 1) J.J. Vanderloop, Freedom; Dom Sokolik, 2) Quella; Cody Vander Loop
FAST TIME – Quella, 16.269
FIGURE 8 – Russ Lorbiecki, Sussex
