KENDALL SURGES TO THIRD WIN ON WILD NIGHT AT WIR
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (July 14, 2022) – It was a week of rebound and retribution for Bobby Kendall as he grabbed his third Super Late Model win of the season on Kurz Industrial Solutions night.
The win came a week after Kendall suffered heavy damage in an incident during the White Race. One Thursday later he and his team returned looking even faster than they were before. In another flip of the script, Kendall seemed immune from the wild happenings of the race around him.
Through the mayhem Kendall sliced his way to the lead by lap 22 from his 14th-place starting spot on the grid. He then survived several late restarts and challenges from fast qualifier Jeff VanOudenhoven.
Curt Tillman seized the lead at the drop of the green and was trailed closely by Nick Van in the opening circuits. Behind them Andy Monday swiftly grabbed Third, followed by Dalton Zehr into Fourth. Using the outside line, Kendall found his way into the Top Five by lap 8 behind them.
On lap 16 Monday and Zehr opened up the inside line on Van, made the pass and started to close in on Tillman. The move opened up space for Kendall who dashed past Zehr and Monday by lap 21. One lap later he found an opening and rocketed past Tillman into the lead. Tillman was then left to try to fend off Monday and Zehr.
A yellow flew shortly after Kendall took the lead when Sawyer Effertz and Dalton Zehr made contact, sending Zehr spinning. Effertz utilized the gentleman’s agreement, giving Zehr his spot back. This was the catalyst for a wild final 10 laps.
Kendall sped away from Tillman on the restart as Monday continued to pressure for Second. On lap 31 Monday found some space to the inside line, but was sent spinning. Track officials ruled Tillman was at fault for not holding his line and Monday was given his spot back. Zehr absorbed some contact as well, and went to the pits for a quick fix.
The single file restart saw Kendall followed by Monday, Chad Butz, VanOudenhoven, and Braison Bennett. As they charged down the backstretch going for the same plot of race track, Butz and Monday made contact, sending Monday up into the outside wall and up on two wheels momentarily. The incident brought an early end to Monday’s evening and Butz was sent to the tail.
The restart was short-lived for another caution at the tail of the field involving Evan Beattie, Trevor Vandermolen and Jesse Oudenhoven. One final restart after that saw Kendall again pull away from the field. VanOudenhoven went on to finish Second, Braison Bennett was Third, Effertz recovered from early electrical issues and the incident with Zehr to finish Fourth, and Nick Van rounded out the Top Five.
BRYAN MONDAY BESTS LATE MODEL MAIN
Bryan Monday has been smooth and consistent all season long. On Thursday Night he grabbed his second feature win of the season to cement his position as the man to beat for the Late Model title.
Monday was credited with the win earlier this June when Evan Beattie did not past post-race technical inspection. This time Monday left no doubt with a late surge to victory.
Brady Baldry grabbed an early lead in the 20-lap main, bringing Monday along into Second on the outside during the opening laps. Monday peeked to the outside on lap six and secured the lead by a slim margin. That proved important as a spin by Nathan Brantmeier brought out the red due to fluid on the race track.
After the clean up Monday chose the outside lane for the restart. He outdueled Baldry and secured the lead. Behind Monday, JJ Vanderloop and Braison Bennett edged their way into Second and Third.
Vanderloop kept the pressure on Monday with Bennett close behind the lead duo. Vanderloop continued to look for an inside lane, but could not sneak past Monday, who firmly stood his ground. Eventually Vanderloop had a hiccup when he grazed the outside wall entering the dogleg. That allowed Monday to build a larger advantage and left Vanderloop to fend off Bennett.
Monday slowly built an insurmountable advantage in the final laps as Vanderloop held off Bennett for Second. Baldry was fourth and Nate Van Wychen grabbed Fifth.
BRAUN AND HEBBE SPLIT QUARTER-MILE LATE MODEL WINS
Roger Braun and Kevin Hebbe bested the twin 15-lap Quarter-Mile Late Model wins. Braun escaped a furious battle behind to cruise to victory in the first while Hebbe survived a late challenge from Rick Spoo to secure the second checkered flag.
In the first feature Braun charged to an early lead and didn’t look back as Heather Wolfgram tried to maintain Second. Dan Van Daalwyk was able to take Second away on lap six with Henry Neardles and Brandon Reichenberger following closely. Those two tangled on the final lap, sending Reichenberger spinning into the infield. Braun maintained nearly a straightaway win over Van Daalwyk in Second.
The second feature had a similar feel at the outset as Hebbe grabbed the lead quickly and started to build his advantage. This came after a botched start that ended the night of would-be outside polesitter Wayne Posselt.
Behind Hebbe, Tim Bauman and Spoo secured Second and Third on lap seven. Spoo stole the Second spot just a couple laps later and, despite damage sustained in the botched start, started to chase down Hebbe. He closed the gap over the final circuit, but couldn’t get any closer than a car length behind Hebbe. Neardles rounded out the Top Three in the second feature as well.
HOWARD PADS POINT LEAD WITH FIRST SUPER STOCK WIN OF SEASON
Getting through the field hasn’t been a problem for Trevor Howard this season. Getting to Victory Lane had been the challenge – until Thursday night. Howard picked his way through the field and took advantage of the outside line to find his way to the front of the Super Stock 20-lap feature.
The win was Howard’s first of the season after a consistent string of solid qualifying efforts and Top Five feature finishes.
Polesitter Adam Peterman took an early lead, but was soon joined by Mike King, Ed Howard, and Trevor Howard. The combo of King and Trevor Howard got around Peterman by lap nine. One lap later Ed Howard slid to the infield and retired from the race.
Trevor Howard kept pace with King and closed in on lap 13. As Howard pulled to the bumper of King, King slid up into the high groove. Howard then charged past and into the lead. King held off Cody Vanderloop to finish Second, fast qualifier Mitch Meyerhofer was Fourth, and Shane Krueger rounded out the Top Five.
WAUTIER RETURNS TO WINNERS CIRCLE IN SPORT TRUCKS
Bobby Wautier had his feature winning streak snapped last week. This week he came through to start a new one as he picked up his fourth feature win of the season in the 20-lap Wisconsin Sport Truck feature.
The first half of the feature saw several yellow flags as the likes of Wauter, Landon Braatz, and Cody Vanderloop found their way to the front of the field. On a restart with six laps complete, Wautier, Bratz, and Vanderloop went three wide for the top spot. Vanderloop captured the lead and Wautier followed into Second.
After anther restart on lap 11, Wautier went to the outside of Vanderloop. The two raced side-by-side until another caution came out with six laps remaining. Wautier had a slight lead on the lap prior to the yellow. He then gained the advantage of a single file restart in the top spot to soar away from the pack at the drop of the green. Despite closing the gap in the late laps, Vanderloop finished Second, Braatz was Third, Jason VanHandel Fourth, and Kylee Vandermoss Fifth.
KURT SCHWEITZER BAGS SIZZLIN’ 4 FEATURE WIN
Kurt Schweitzer outpaced the competition in the 20-lap Sizzlin’ 4 feature for his first win of the season. He grabbed the lead on lap six then survived a late charge from Justin Fickel in the closing laps.
The outside line was the line of choice for Schweitzer to grab the lead from Rick Kaufert. Kaufert was left to deal with his son Ricky, as well as Fickel, Gavin Klein and Jeremy Czarapata.
Eventually Fickel slipped through the remainder of the Top Five, including a bold move to slide between the Kauferts. He was able to grab Second with four laps remaining, closed in on Schweitzer, attempted a last lap pass, but had to settle for Second. Gavin Klein grabbed Third around Rick Kaufert late in the race. Ricky Kaufert finished Fifth.
LORBIECKI BRINGS THE BUS TO FIGURE 8 VICTORY
Just because it grabs plenty of attention for its looks, doesn’t mean the backwards facing bus Figure 8 machine is just for looks. Russ Lorbiecki proved that Thursday night as he wheeled the bus to the 13-lap Figure 8 feature win.
After an early restart on lap one Shaun Bangart paced the field. He quickly was chased down by Lorbiecki, who put plenty of pressure on the leader. As the duo tried to settle the top spot, the “x” started to get congested.
On lap four Bangart and Lorbiecki were side-by-side as they had a near miss at the intersection. The result saw Lorbiecki take the lead, pull away from the pack and set sail to the win. Ethan Beattie inherited Third on the final lap as he avoided a scrap in front of him.
NEXT WEEK…
Next Thursday is Veteran’s Night as the Fox River Racing Club honors those who have served the country. The Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, Sizzlin’ 4s, Rockin’ Rovals, and Figure 8s will all be part of the event. Racing begins at 6:30.