SCHULTZ STRIKES BACK IN EARLY SEASON DUEL

BUCHANAN, Wis. (June 27, 2024) – Early in the season Maxwell Schultz and Chad Butz seem to have a leg up on the competition in the Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Models. The duo dueled again in Thursday Night’s Fox River Racing Club action at Wisconsin International Raceway. This time, it was Schultz who was able to come out on top.

Schultz held off Butz in the 35-lap L&W Supply feature to grab his second win of the season. Both drivers have not finished outside of the Top Four in the first six weeks of competition.

JJ Vanderloop took an early lead in the feature and was off to a strong start until the only caution fell for a spin on lap nine. As the field came to the barrel to choose lanes for the restart, Second Place Brent Strelka ducked to the pits, leaving Vanderloop alongside Andy Monday.

This time Monday took the advantage, but he soon felt the pressure from the rookie Vanderloop. Meanwhile, Schultz and Butz had sliced through the field.  Schultz moved to Fourth on lap 12, then Third on lap eight. Butz followed right behind.

Vanderloop chased down Monday and created a three-car battle up front.  As the scramble up front hit the halfway point of the race, Schultz stole the lead. Again Butz was right behind, this time to take Second.

The duo eventually separated from the pack and Vanderloop challenged Monday to take Third.  As the laps clicked off Butz was just inches off the bumper of Schultz. Although he remained close, he was unable to pull even with Schultz. Butz ducked to the inside exiting turn four to the checkered flag, but Schultz had enough momentum to win by a car length. Vanderloop followed in Third, Lowell Bennett was Fourth, and Monday rounded out the Top Five.

BRAISON BENNETT TAKES LATE MODEL MAIN

Braison Bennett sliced his way through the Fox City’s Towing Late Model feature field to grab his first 20-lap main of the season.

Matt Wittman got off to an early lead as Todd Verhagen fought to hold on in the outside lane.  On lap five the inside line moved past Verhagen with Bryan Monday grabbing Second and Bennett, Justin Woller and Brian Henry rounding out the Top Five.  Bennett started his move to the front then.

At halfway Bennett took Second from Monday and started to track down Wittman. At the same time, Henry and Alex Strumpf wen on the attack inside the Top Five.

Bennett quickly closed in and took the lead from Wittman on lap 13. On the same lap Stumpf took Fourth and started to size up Monday. Bennett cruised to the win with Wittman settling into Second. At the line Monday held off Stumpf by centimeters for Third. Henry rounded out the Top Five.

WOLFGRAM MAKES WIR ¼-MILE LATE HISTORY, NEERDAELS GRABS ANOTHER WIN

Henry Neerdaels paid another visit to Victory Lane in the first of two Pete’s Auto WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, but Heather Wolfgram made the most noise with her win in the second feature. Wolfgram became the first female winner in the division’s short history.

In the first feature Neerdaels grabbed the lead early and didn’t look back.  Rookie Kaden Kostichka settled into Second and held that spot until lap nine.  Neerdaels broke away from the pack, leaving a race for Second behind.

Eventually Mike Reichenberger was able to get past Kostichka who got hung out in the top lane.  Reichenberger got to Second on lap nine and Dan Thomson followed.  Before the checkered flag, Rick Spoo was able to move up along with Tim Baumann.  It was Neerdaels with a big advantage over Reichenberger, Spoo, Baumann and Thomson in the Top Five.

In the second feature Shane Krueger led the first three of the 15-lap main.  However, Heather Wolfgram chased him back down and make a pass for the lead. She built a big advantage over the pack as Ty Fietzer soon slid to Second.

As the laps clicked off Fietzer chased down Wolfgram. Fietzer was able to take a few looks to get past, but could not do so. Wolfgram went on for the win by a car length. Don Dix was Third, Pete McVey was Fourth, and Kreuger was Fifth.

TREML SURVIVES SUPER STOCK FRENZY

In a frantic Super Stock feature it was Jeff Treml picking up the victory. Treml had to hold on after several restarts during the shortened event.

The first caution came for a tangle on lap five between Cody Vanderloop and Josh Mueller.  After the restart Mitch Opsahl tangled with Chuck Gilbertson.  Once again the restart was short lived as Mike Gilson ducked off the track in turns three and four, bringing water onto the track.

The field was able to log some laps with Treml fighting off Tony Wilz on the restart.  Mike King was able to settle into Third until yet another yellow fell on lap ten.

Once more Treml had the field covered on the restart and went unchallenged until the yellow fell once again. This time the checkered flag came out, as well. Wilz was Second, King Third, Larry Raygo was Fourth, and Ethan Beattie finished Fifth.

BRADY VANDERLOOP GETS FIRST SPORT TRUCK WIN

Brady Vanderloop showed strength late in the 20-lap Wisconsin Sport Truck feature as he cruised to his first feature win.  Vanderloop outdueled former Champion Kyle Quella to capture the checkered flag.

Grant Gilbert showed the way early as the field started to scramble for position. After a yellow on lap six a restart brought a nervous moment for Brady Vanderloop. He was sent spinning into the infield, but got his spot back after his brother Kasey tapped out to the gentleman’s agreement.

On the following restart Brady and Quella went side-by-side for the lead. It was a short battle however as Luke Wallenberg went for a wild flip after contact with Kasey Vanderloop.  Wallenberg was able to leave the truck under his own power.

At the drop of the green again Brady and Quella battled. Eventually Brady powered away from Quella and built a sizeable advantage.  In the final laps Jason Vanhandel found his way into Third. Masyn Liedke and Cadyn Liedke rounded out the Top Five.

CZARAPATA SCORES SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN

It was a banner day in the Roundabout Bar and Grill SIzzlin’ 4s for Jeremy Czarapata who set fast time and cruised to the 20-lap feature win.

Jesse Nettekoven led the feature early, but it was Czarapata on the charge. He was able to grab Fourth on lap three, then powered past Taylor Vandenberg and Leon Frahm to take Second by lap five.

It took Czarapata another five laps to track down Nettekoven, but he sailed past and into the lead at halfway. Nettekoven held on for Second, Frahm was Third, Vandenberg Fourth, and Kory Lorrigan was Fifth.

BAUER SNEAKS PAST ANTHONY FOR FIGURE 8 WIN

Matt Bauer was in Fourth at the white flag of the 13-lap Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 feature. At the checkered, he was First.

It looked as though the race was going to come down to Jeff Danley and Jordan Gracyalny.  The lead duo battled hard over the last two laps and were in close quarters at the white flag.  Coming through the X the two made contact and went spinning. That handed the lead briefly to Josh Anthony, but Bauer slipped past and took the win.

UP NEXT…

It’s a huge Thursday night with the Les Stumpf Ford / Angler’s Bar and Grill White Race. The All-Star Challenge comes to town for the Late Model division, with a possible entry list reaching 40. Fireworks will end the night. Racing begins at 6:30pm.