KELLY CAPTURES FINAL FRRC CHECKERED OF ‘23
BUCHANAN, Wis. (August 31, 2023) – Kris Kelly has won plenty of races on the half-mile at Wisconsin International Raceway. However, the former Late Model Champion will be the first to admit his track record in the Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Models isn’t what he had hoped it would be.
Thursday night changed the storyline as Norway, Michigan’s Kelly – making his second start of the season – cruised to the win in the 35-lap feature presented by Valley Liquor and Busch Light. Kelly held off a late charge from season Champion Sawyer Effertz to score the victory.
At the drop of the green Kelly secured the lead and proved that he would be a tough customer in the main. Kelly built a lead as the trio of Grant Griesbach, Jordan Thiel and Effertz were making their way into the Top Five.
Effertz, much like in last week’s race, started to clip off spots in the Top Five. Already with the Championship claimed from setting fast time and a solid showing in the dash, he looked to seal the title with a win. Effertz was able to work past Thiel and Griesbach to take Third by halfway.
The long green flag run continued with Kelly holding a healthy advantage over Braison Bennett. Effertz continued to chop away and worked past Bennett on lap 26. He then set his sights on the leader.
Kelly experienced a big scare with seven laps remaining when he caught side-by-side lapped traffic. With some patient maneuvers, Kelly was able to clear the traffic, but Effertz had closed the gap.
In the final laps Effertz was able to get to the inside, and even nosed ahead at the stripe with two laps remaining, But Kelly would not be denied as he was able to hold off Effertz and claim the win by less than a car length.
Effertz claimed his Championship with a Second Place finish, Braison Bennett was Third, Griesbach Fourth, and Thiel rounded out the Top Five.
MONDAY GETS BACK TO LATE MODEL VICTORY LANE
Last year’s Fox City’s Towing Late Model Champion Bryan Monday may have passed the torch to JJ Vanderloop on Thursday night, but not before he scored a win in the 20-lap feature. Monday jumped to an early lead and held off late charges from Nate Van Wychen and Vanderloop to seal the win.
Initially TJ Spierowski took the lead from Monday. A yellow on lap one for an incident involving Tarra Springstroh and Ty Fietzer brought the only restart of the event. Spierowski took the outside, leaving Monday the inside line.
At the drop of the green drivers began to jockey for position in the Top Five. Monday secured the lead on lap five with Spierowski being challenged by Justin Woller, Brian Henry, and Nate Van Wychen. Eventually Henry and Van Wychen emerged, taking Second and Third.
Henry went to work looking for ways around Monday, but slipped on lap 13. Van Wychen capitalized and took the spot. He began to size up Monday, as Vanderloop closed in on the leading three cars.
As Monday held firm on the inside, Van Wychen waited for an opportunity. Vanderloop saw plenty of space in the high line and began his run with just a few laps remaining. With two laps to go, Van Wychen was ready to set up a run out of turn two, but Vanderloop was sneaking to his outside. Both drivers had to back out of their plans to save their machines. This allowed Monday plenty of free space as he went on to the win.
Van Wychen held of Vanderloop for Second, Henry was Fourth, and Spierowski was Fifth.
SCHWALBACH SEALS SUPER STOCK TITLE WITH A WIN
George Schwalbach left no doubt in the Novus Auto Glass Super Stock Championship battle by taking the 20-lap feature win. The win and title were especially meaningful for Schwalbach as it gave him a chance to honor his friend, and past co-Champion Terry Van Roy.
Jeff Danley took an early lead with Emery Beattie and Jeff Treml in close pursuit. The first caution fell on lap five when Cody Vanderloop and title contender Tony Wilz made contact. Vanderloop invoked the gentleman’s agreement, giving Wilz his spot back.
On the restart Danley and Treml began to tussle for the lead. The two made contact on lap six which opened the inside for Schwalbach to grab the lead. As he secured the top spot, Treml attempted to get back into line, but his machine looped entering turn three on lap eight.
Schwalbach was joined by Rachel Evans for the restart on the front row. He wasted no time taking the lead back, leaving Evans to deal with Chuck Gilbertson Jr and fast qualifier Randy Theimer at halfway.
On lap 14 Theimer made a move into Third behind Evans. Schwalbach and Evans soon caught lapped traffic, but their battle for the lead was short-lived as a spin by Wilz brought out the final yellow.
Schwalbach was able to get away on the restart with just five laps remaining and went on to the win. Evans was Second, Theimer Third, Mike King was Fourth, and Trevor Howard Fifth.
KASEY VANDERLOOP TAKES FINAL SPORT TRUCK FEATURE OF ‘23
In a season that saw plenty of dueling between brothers Kasey and Cody Vanderloop, it was Kasey who grabbed the final checkered flag of 2023 in the 20-lap Wisconsin Sport Truck feature.
Kasey outdueled Cody with two laps remaining on the way to his fourth win of the season. Behind him, teammate Jason Vanhandel enjoyed another solid day – securing the Championship with a fast time and podium finish.
Kyle Quella looked tough to beat early in the race as he took the lead and built a large advantage over the pack. Behind him Brady Vanderloop, Landon Braatz, and Kasey and Cody Vanderloop rounded out the Top Five.
The first caution fell for a caution involving Brady Vanderloop and Jason Plutz. This brought the field back to Quella, who was joined by Cody Vanderloop on the front row. Cody Vanderloop eventually surged past Quella on lap 11 and started to set the pace. Meanwhile Kasey Vanderloop and Vanhandel were on the move. That was until a yellow involving Landon Braatz with five laps to go. Unfortunately for Quella, he exited the track on the same lap with a mechanical issue.
On the restart Cody Vanderloop rocketed away from Kasey. However, Kasey caught up quickly with Vanhandel in tow. Kasey went to the outside to challenge his brother for the lead. The two would make slight contact several times as they battled for the final win. Kasey secured the lead exiting turn two with two to go, and one lap later Cody was sidelined with mechanical issues.
Kasey went on to win by a comfortable margin over Vanhandel, Logan Mahoney was Third, Kylee Vandermoss Fourth, and Owen Voight rounded out the Top Five.
FICKEL TAKES SIZZLIN’ 4 CHECKERED
Justin Fickel was able to outlast Mitch Opsahl in the 20-lap Roundabout Bar & Grill Sizzlin’ 4 feature, but Opsahl secured the class’ Championship.
After an early yellow for Leon Frahm experiencing mechanical issues, Fickel and Opsahl started moving through the pack. Jeremy Czarapata had taken the lead on lap three and was setting the pace in front of Jacobi Pollei, Mike Klein, Fickel, and Opsahl.
On lap seven Czarapata had a mirror full of Klein. However, Klein soon had to deal with Fickel, who moved past him on lap 10, then around the outside of Czarapata into the lead on lap 11. Two laps later, Opsahl did the same. He started to hound Fickel until a caution fell, setting up a final restart.
With the preferred line, Fickel was able to battle past Opsahl. Despite keeping close tabs, Opsahl was unable to find a way past Fickel, who scored his team’s fourth win of the season. Eli Schommer stormed to Third late, Czarapata was Fourth, and Klein was Fifth.
MEYERHOFER SEALS FIGURE 8 TITLE WITH WIN
Although he had the Championship in the Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8s already sealed entering the night, Mike Meyerhofer capped the season win a win in the final 13-lap main event.
Tyler Vanderbloemen held an early lead until a yellow on lap three. Meyerhofer closed in after Vanderbloemen resecured the lead. On lap five Meyerhofer was able to slip by and cruise to the win – narrowly avoiding collisions in the X with Ethan Beattie.
Russ Lorbiecki was Second, Jordan Gracyalny was Third, Vanderbloemen Fourth, and Mitch Opsahl was Fifth.
THAT’S A WRAP ON 2023
The Fox River Racing Club would like to thank the fans, teams, staff sponsors, and staff and ownership of Wisconsin International Raceway for a memorable 2023 season. More information about the awards banquet and off-season news will be available at the FRRC website.