Kendall Breaks Through for First FRRC Win of 2022
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (June 16, 2022) – After consecutive Second Place finishes to begin the season Bobby Kendall surged to the front of the Super Late Model field and captured his first win of 2022. Kendall rocketed around Alex Stumpf on lap 23 of the 35-lap main event presented by L&S Electic and didn’t look back.
“This really felt good. It really wasn’t easy,” Kendall said. “The car was a handful during practice, but we made all the right adjustments.”
One of the most nerve-wracking moments for Kendall came at the halfway point of the feature. After working his way to the runner-up spot, Kendall challenged Stumpf to the inside entering turn one. He put his left side tires onto the quarter-mile track, upsetting his car. After a wild save, Kendall was able to reset in Third and charge his way back to the front.
“I got into the turn too hard and lost some roll speed. It was hard to save, but we did what we had to do after being so close the first two weeks, this one feels good,” Kendall said.
The field was led to green by Michael Anthony and Taylor Vandermoss. After a lap of tight side-by-side action, Anthony got sideways exiting turn four. The field scrambled to avoid, but Braison Bennett and Sawyer Effertz were collected. Bennett sustained the most damaged, but returned with several body panels missing.
On the following restart Stumpf stormed to the lead with Brent Strelka following him into Second on lap three. As the field started to settle into a run, Sawyer Effertz slowed while battling for a spot in the Top Five. Both Dalton Zehr and Jeff VanOudenhoven made evasive moves to avoid trouble. Effertz, unfortunately, pulled off after losing power. The field would see the yellow anyone as Trevor Vandermolen spun exiting turn four on that lap.
Stumpf fought off Strelka on the restart until a yellow for debris. At that point Kendall was challenging for Third, and he eventually wrestled the spot away from Lowell Bennett when the green came out again. Kendall eventually chased down Strelka at haflway before his sideways slide in turns one and two.
After the save it was Kendall on the move. He held off Strelka then chased down Stumpf in a matter of three laps before making his pass for the lead with 12 to go. Behind Kendall Stumpf maintained Second, Strelka was Third, Lowell Bennett Fourth, and Dalton Zehr stole Fifth from Andy Monday on the final lap.
VANDERLOOP OUTGUNS LATE MODEL FIELD FOR FIRST WIN
Freedom, Wis. teenager JJ Vanderloop has enjoyed a strong start to his Late Model season. He put an exclamation point on a solid month of June by picking up his first Late Model win in the 20-lap feature.
Vanderloop started Sixth on the grid, rode in the Top Three in the early portion of the race, and took the lead for good on lap 12.
The outside line was the place to be when the green flag fell. Outside polesitter Todd Verhagen jumped to the lead, bringing Evan Beattie, Vanderloop, and Justin Woller along. The Top Four broke away from the pack and began to battle amongst themselves.
Beattie swiped the lead from Verhagen on lap seven after sizing him up for a couple of circuits. Verhagen held on to Second until Vanderloop made a hearty challenge around the midway point of the race. Vanderloop swung to the inside, stole second from Verhagen then set his sights on the top spot. He shot past Beattie on lap 12 after diving to the inside.
Beattie would carry on to finish Second, Woller moved to Third, Verhagen was Fourth, and, after being trapped in traffic, fast qualifier Bryan Monday was Fifth.
VAN DAALWYK AND BAUMAN SPLIT QUARTER-MILE LATE MODEL FEATURES
Quarter-Mile Late Model Rookie Dan Van Daalwyk outdueled fellow front-row starter Roger Braun to secure the lead in the first QMLM feature and cruise to victory. The duo went side-by-side for four laps before Van Daalwyk surged into the lead.
The lone caution of the first feature fell around the midway point of the race when Brandon Reichenberger and Wayne Posselt tangled. The caution brought Bob Duchow to the doorstep of the lead, but Van Daalwyk proved too strong as he held on for the win. Heather Wolfgram trailed the duo to the line to finish Third.
In the second feature Tim Bauman rode the outside line and proved to be in the right place at the right time to secure the win. Front row starters Pete McVey and Kevin Heebe tangled on lap three, sending both to the tail for the restart. Bauman had surged to Third on the outside line and avoided the mayhem to assume the lead.
Bauman continued to build his lead as Rick Spoo and Reichenberger battled for Second. Spoo ended up on top of the battle, despite feeling the heat from Reichenberger, who would finish Third.
VANDERLOOP TOPS SUPER STOCKS AGAIN
Cody Vanderloop has been looking more and more comfortable in the Super Stocks as the early portion of the season goes on. For the second week in a row Vanderloop cruised around the field on the outside and drove his station wagon to Victory in the 20-lap main.
Vanderloop dashed around the outside of Jeff Treml to grab Second on lap three, then set his sights on leader Adam Peterman. Behind them, Trevor Howard was also cruising through the field. Vanderloop secured the lead on lap five, with Howard taking second just a few laps later.
A caution fell with three laps remaining when Treml spun in turn four. The single file restart saw Howard keep close tabs on Vanderloop and providing a few challenges. Vanderloop held off the charges, however, for his second straight win. Behind Howard, Andy Casavant finished Third, Shane Krueger was Fourth, and Josh Mueller was Fifth.
WAUTIER COLLECTS FIRST SPORT TRUCK WIN OF SEASON
After a pair of Second Place finishes, Bobby Wautier would not be denied his first Sport Truck feature of the season. Wautier took the lead early in the 20-lap feature, and flexed his muscle out front.
Jason Vanhandel took an early lead in the feature from the front row with Wautier following close behind into Second. After an early caution, Vanhandel and Wauter restarted on the front row. Wautier was able to surge ahead and grab the lead. Behind him VanHandel and Landon Braatz broke away in the Top Three.
After another caution on lap three, Wautier again rocketed away on the restart with Vanhandel and Braatz following to Second and Third again. While the front of the field was settled and Wautier began to break away, Cody Vanderloop was picking his way through the field after dipping off the track under the first caution. Vanderloop was back into the Top Five by halfway, took Fourth a lap later and moved past Braatz for Third with three to go.
Wautier showed his strength on the way to a sizable margin over Vanhandel. Behind Vanderloop in Third, Braatz and Kasey Vanderloop rounded out the Top Five.
JEREMY CZARAPATA DOMINATES SIZZLIN’ 4S
Visiting racer Jeremy Czarapata started at the front of the 20-lap Sizzlin’ 4 feature and ran away from the rest of the pack, cruising to a large margin of victory.
Behind Czarapata Issac Therrien and Justin Fickel put on a dazzling display while moving through traffic. On many occasions Therrien and Fickel were side-by-side or three-wide with other drivers while battling for position. Eventually Therrien emerged ahead of Fickel and secured Second by lap 11. Behind them Jacoby Pollei was Fourth and Jurnee Bennett finished Fifth.
BAUER BESTS FIGURE 8S
After a mad scramble at the drop of the green Matt Bauer secured the lead over Craig Krueger, then held on for victory in the 13-lap main event.
There were several close calls in the “x” which gave Krueger a couple of chances to close the gap on Bauer. However, Bauer proved too strong and pulled away when given the opportunity. Krueger went on to finish Second and Ethan Beattie was Third.
NEXT WEEK…
L&W Supply presents Thursday Night Thunder at Wisconsin International Raceway. The Super Late Models, Late Models, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, Super Stocks, Sizzlin’ 4s, Rockin’ Rovals, and Figure 8s will be in action. Racing begins at 6:30.