Braison Bennett Cruises to Second FRRC Victory After Late Restart
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (June 23, 2022) – Braison Bennett outdueled Alex Stumpf on a restart with 12 laps remaining in the Super Late Model main presented by L&W Supply and held off several furious challenges to pick up his first win of 2022.
Bennett secured the lead from the inside line on the lap-23 restart after racing in close quarters with Stumpf into turns one and two. Stumpf filed back into second and continued to keep pressure on Bennett. Every time he appeared to peek inside, Bennett slammed the door shut.
“It was a lot of fun,” Bennett said. “We were a little free in the center and had to do everything we could to hang on to it, but it was definitely great to pick up the win.
“We knew [Stumpf] was coming into the corner a little harder,” Bennett continued, “so I knew I had to aim it straight on entry and take advantage of the great drive off the corner. I think that’s what saved us.
Bennett and Stumpf both began the race in the third row and watched as Taylor Vandermoss secured an early lead over Andy Monday. As things started to take form in the Top Five, Grant Griesbach and Lowell Bennett made contact in turn four on lap 12. Griesbach invoked the gentleman’s agreement, giving Bennett his spot back.
On the restart the outside line took off, sending Monday to the lead with Stumpf and Bennett behind. Stumpf began testing lines to get around Monday and found the inside lane on lap 16. Eventually Stumpf would grab the lead and leave Bennett, Monday, and Kendall to battle. Coming to the line for lap 16 Bennett dived to the inside to take Second as Kendall went high on Monday. Kendall was forced to back out of the potential three-wide situation as Bennett secured Second.
The next and final caution fell with 12 laps remaining when Trevor Vandermolen and Josh Butler tangled exiting turn four. This would set up the restart between Stumpf and Bennett. As per usual, Stumpf as the leader elected the top side. Bennett selected the bottom to maintain track position. When the green flag fell Bennett held in with Stumpf and drifted slightly off the bottom, taking some real estate from Stumpf. Bennett dashed into the lead, leaving Stumpf behind to challenge.
Behind Bennett and Stumpf, Bobby Kendall maintained Third. Despite quickly dashing through the field, Kendall was unable to mount a challenge and would finish in that position. Monday held out Dalton Zehr to complete the Top Five.
The win was Bennett’s second in a Super Late Model with Chase Motorsports and first that went the full distance. He won a rain-shortened feature last August.
MONDAY GETS THE W IN LATE MODEL MAIN
After post-race inspection, Bryan Monday was awarded his first Late Model win of the season.
Evan Beattie was the first to cross the line, but was found to have an infraction with his machine after the 20-lap main event.
The inside line got off to a strong start when the green flag dropped as Verhagen brought Beattie and Justin Woller up into the Top Three on lap one. Although Verhagen built a bit of an advantage early, Beattie chewed it up and was challenging by lap five. On lap six Beattie snuck to the inside line in turns three and four and showed the way to line.
One lap later the caution fell for an incident involving Brady Baldry. Beattie was joined by Woller on the restart with Verhagen and fast qualifier Bryan Monday in the second row. Beattie jumped back to the lead as Woller slid back in line in Second. Monday swiftly secured Third at the drop of the green, as well.
As Beattie began to break away, Monday engaged in battle with Woller for Second, which would prove to be a battle for the win. The duo was side-by-side for several laps before Monday secured the spot on the final circuit. JJ Vanderloop and Chase Randerson tailed those two to the checkered flag.
A HAT TRICK FOR VANDERLOOP IN THE SUPER STOCKS
Despite starting deep in the field, Cody Vanderloop was able to pick his way through the Super Stock field and capture his third straight 20-lap feature event. Vanderloop secured the lead after a wild restart on lap 12 and survived a late caution for the win.
Polesitter Adam Peterman paced the first eight laps of the feature before being challenged by Jeff Treml. By this point Andy Casavant had secured Third and was ready to challenge the top pair. Treml took the lead on lap nine while Casavant and fast qualifier Mitch Meyerhofer kept the pressure on.
After a Clint Evans spin, Treml was joined by Casavant on the front row for the restart. The two made contact going into turn one, which sent Casavant to the very top groove of the race track. That opened the outside for Vanderloop who found himself even with Treml just a lap later. As he’s done over the past three weeks, Vanderloop rolled the outside line to the lead.
A final yellow dropped with two laps to go, with Meyerhofer now in Second. At the drop of the green Vanderloop was able to get away and cruise to the win. Meyerhofer maintained Second, Treml was Third, Casavant Fourth, and Trevor Howard rounded out the Top Five.
WAUTIER REPEATS, SWEEPS SPORT TRUCKS
It’s about that time of year that Bobby Wautier flexes his muscle in the Wisconsin Sport Truck division. Wautier scored his second straight win in a 20-lap feature after capturing fast time and a heat win earlier in the evening.
Wautier secured the lead on lap eight as Cody Vanderloop lost power coming to the line. He would go on to win by about five truck lengths over Jason Vanhandel.
Alex Ruedinger secured the early lead before the first caution fell for Kasey Vanderloop. Both his teammates Cody Vanderloop and Jason Vanhandel were almost collected, but avoided the melee.
On the restart Landon Braatz and Cody Vanderloop dashed into the top two spots. Vanhandel and Wautier soon followed into Third and Fourth. At that point Wautier went on the offensive, securing Third from Vanhandel, then grabbing Second from Braatz coming to the line on lap eight. Just as he took Second, Cody Vanderloop lost power, allowing the trio behind him to surge past.
Wautier went on to build his lead over Braatz and Vanhandel who battled for Second. Eventually Vanhandel was able to secure the spot, leaving Braatz to cross the line Third. Kasey Vanderloop recovered from the early spin to finish Fourth, and Kylee Vandermoss was Fifth.
KLEIN BREAKS THROUGH FOR SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN
After setting fast time earlier in the evening, Gavin Klein caught the right breaks at the right time to challenge for the win. He took the lead after a lap-six restart and cruised to his first win of the season in the 20-lap Sizzlin’ 4 feature.
The biggest shake up of the race came on lap four when Issac Therrien and Justin Fickel made contact on the back stretch. Fickel went spinning off turn three, while Therrien cut through the infield and dislodged his rear bumper cover. Both resumed the race at the tail of the field, but left Klein in prime position to go on the attack.
At the drop of the green Klein quickly dashed to the outside and found some space. He worked his way past Mitch Opsahl and started to build his advantage. Behind Klein, Phil Lehl III was able to cruise to Second. Unfortunately for him, however, Lehl spun coming to the white, surrendering the Second spot. That handed Second back to Opsahl, Eli Schomer was Third, Tom Schweitzer Fourth, and Kaiden Volousek was Fifth.
ANTHONY OUTMATCHES FIGURE 8 FOES
Josh Anthony showed plenty of speed early in the season, but was plagued by DNFs in the Figure 8 division. This week he was able to put everything together to score his first 13-lap feature win.
Anthony outpaced fellow front-row starter Shawn Bangart and led the way from the drop of the green. A major melee almost happened with four to go when Bangart and Chuck Gilbertson Jr. came together entering the X. Everyone went scrambling and Bangart dropped out as a wheel came off his machine.
This allowed Anthony to build his lead even more and set sail to the win. Gilbertson was able to secure Second, Ethan Beattie was Third, Russ Lorbiecki finished Fourth and Matt Bauer was Fifth.
MCKEEVER ROCKS THE ROVAL
Austin Mckeever left his fellow Rockin’ Rovalers in the dust in the 10-lap main event and navigated his way to his first win in the division. Despite early challenges from Ron Neerdles, Mckeever broke away to a healthy advantage and the win.
NEXT WEEK…
The Fox River Racing Club and Les Stumpf Ford begin Fourth of July weekend early with a full slate of racing action and fireworks at the end of the night. The Super Late Models, Late Models, Quarter-Mile Late Models, Super Stocks, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, Sizzlin’ 4s, and Figure 8s are on the card. Racing begins at 6:30 pm.