(Champions crowed in all Fox River Racing Club divisions)
(KAUKAUNA, WI) Aug 29 – Casey Johnson won both the battle and the war at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Thursday night.
The Cambridge racer scored not only the super late model feature win but by starting the 35 lap main clinched his second straight division title for Chase Motorsports of Appleton.
Champions in all the track’s divisions were crowned. In late model action Neenah’s Braison Bennett clinched his second division title. The third-generation driver also won the division crown in 2016. The team of Wayne Sonkowsky and Greg Hauser snapped up the super stock crown.
Little Chute’s Emery Beattie fended off his brother Evan Beattie to capture the second 15 lap Sizzlin’ 4 feature. The Beattie brothers combined to capture the division title. Oshkosh’s Heather Wolfgram scored the win in the division’s first feature. Appleton’s Kyle Quella clinched the sport truck crown a week ago already. Quella still went all out and captured his eighth feature flag on the year. Appleton’s Brandon Reichenberger clinched the WIR ¼ mile late model title two weeks ago.
The Figure 8 title went to “The Showstopper” Mike Meyerhofer of Hilbert.
An opening lap wreck on the frontstretch drew a red flag in the 35 lap super late model main event. Cars involved included Mickey Schallie, Kyle Calmes and Neal Sannes. All three who got caught up in the melee were forced out of contention.
After a long delay for cleanup racing resumed with a complete restart. Alex Stumpf outraced Bobby Kendall to take the lead at the drop of the green. Only two laps were in the books when a Robby Younger spin drew an amber. Stump picked up where he left off before the caution when racing resumed. Kendall pulled door-to-door with Stumpf, pulling ahead with the lead on lap five. Kendall began stretching out his margin while Brent Strelka worked over Stumpf for the runnerup spot. Johnson joined the party and it was a three car scrum for the runnerup spot. Johnson motored around Stumpf for second and began reeling in Kendall.
Johnson caught Kendall on lap 15 and stayed on the high line, pulling away from the second-generation driver after several circuits, finally assuming the lead on lap 18. Kendall wasn’t ready to give up the fight and remained within striking distance of the champion. Kendall kept the pressure on all race long, and bobbled slightly in turn three with 11 laps to go. Johnson kept Kendall and company at bay for the balance of the contest to secure the win.
“This win tonight pretty much put an exclamation point on our season,” Johnson said. “The team gave me a great car out here every week. What a way to end the season! We’re involved in so many points battles at the tracks and series across the Midwest. You really have to stay focused. The weekly show out here is second to nobody. I had some great battles this year with Max (Schultz) and hats off to him for a solid year.”
Hometown driver Nate Van Wychen fended off a hard charging Bryan Monday of Appleton to score the late model feature win. Monday hung on for second, followed by Bennett, Reagan May and Brett Wenzel rounding out the top five.
Fremont’s Dylan Wenzel captured his fourth feature win in five outings in the super stock class.
Kaukauna veteran Danny Gracyalny emerged victorious in the Figure 8 feature.
The Fox River Racing Club and staff of WIR want to thank the fans, drivers and sponsors for their support during the 2019 season. You can check frrc.us for more information or follow the club’s Facebook page.
SUPER LATE MODEL FEATURE – Casey Johnson, Cambridge; Bobby Kendall, Montello; Brent Strelka, Freedom; Alex Stumpf, Woodville; Andy Monday, Appleton; Jesse Oudenhoven, Kaukauna; Sawyer Effertz, Darboy; Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Appleton; Michael Anthony, Appleton; Lowell Bennett, Neenah; Maxwell Schultz, Reedsville; Pete Vandermolen Jr., Oshkosh; Taylor Vandermoss, Appleton; Robby Younger, De Pere; Brady Baldry, Oshkosh; Cory Kemkes, Appleton; Tim Springstroh, Freedom; Kyle Calmes, Freedom; Mickey Schallie, Darboy; Neal Sannes, De Pere; Randy Schuler, Mequon (DNS)
HEATS 1) Anthony; Bennett 2) Kendall; Monday
DASH- Strelka
FAST TIME – Johnson, 19.157
LATE MODEL FEATURE – Nate Van Wychen, Kaukauna; Bryan Monday, Appleton; Braison Bennett, Neenah; Reagan May, De Pere; Brett Wenzel, Two Rivers; Chase Randerson, Oshkosh; Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; Justin Woller, Appleton; Mike King, Appleton; Rachel Meyerhofer, Brillion; Mike Meyerhofer, Hilbert
Heat –Baker; Randerson
Dash – King
FAST TIME- Bennett, 20.337
SUPER STOCK FEATURE – Wenzel; Trevor Howard, Kaukauna; Wayne Sonkowsky, Kaukauna; Dave Meyerhofer, Kaukauna; Jeff Treml, Greenleaf
HEAT – Howard; Larry Raygo, Omro
FAST TIME – Wenzel, 15.645
SIZZLIN’ 4 FEATURES 1st) Heather Wolfgram, Oshkosh; Jordan Gracyalny, Kaukauna; Evan Beattie, Little Chute; J.D. Rudser, Bucktown; Steve Van Oudenhoven, Two Rivers 2nd) Emery Beattie, Little Chute; Evan Beattie; Larry Gintner, Neenah; Rick Glaser, Appleton; Mitch Meyerhofer, Chilton
FAST TIME – Larry Gintner, Neenah 18.034
SPORT TRUCKS FEATURE – Kyle Quella, Appleton; Cody Vander Loop, Freedom; Taylor Vandermoss, Appleton; Bobby Wautier, Denmark; Casey Vander Loop, Freedom
HEATS 1) Casey Vander Loop; Dom Sokolik, Fond Du Lac 2) Jason Plutz, Menasha; Kyle Quella
FAST TIME – Quella, 16.309
FIGURE 8 – Danny Gracyalny, Kaukauna; Russ Lorbiecki, Sussex; Ethan Beattie, Little Chute
