BUTZ BATTLES TO WHITE RACE WIN
BUCHANAN, Wis. (July 11, 2024) – Chad Butz continued his astounding season Thursday night by picking up the Vanderloop Equipment / Les Stumpf Ford / Angler’s Bar and Grill 50-lap White Race. It was Butz’s second Fox River Racing Club Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Model feature win of the season.
Butz stormed to the lead early, built up a large advantage, and held off Casey Johnson in the second half of the race to score the win. The win backs up Butz’s Second Place finish in the Red Race, leaving him in contention for the overall Red, White and Blue title which will be determined in August.
After the drop of the green Butz quickly sliced his way toward the front of the field. Taylor Vandermoss held an early lead, but a spin on lap four set up the opportunity for Butz. After a side-by-side battle Butz nosed ahead of Vandermoss and led by the next caution on lap five.
On the restart Butz got away from the field and left Vandermoss to battle Johnson for Second. Eventually Johnson was able to take the spot. Butz was ahead by more than half a straightaway at this point. Behind them fast qualifier Lowell Bennett was challenging for Third. Eventually he found his way to the spot. Riley Stenjem was also marching through the field and found his way into the Top Five by lap 15.
As the laps clicked off, Butz held his advantage. That was erased with a yellow on lap 28. This brought Johnson to the front row for a restart. Johnson kept close, but could not power past Butz. Eventually Butz resecured the lead by lap 30.
Two laps later, a scuffle from Third on back left the field scrambling and allowed Butz and Johnson to separate themselves to battle for the win. Johnson kept close tabs and threatened on several occasions, pulling to the inside several times. However, Butz was able to pull away each time.
In the final laps, Johnson closed quickly and attempted to swing high and make a run out of the turns to challenge for the win. Butz was prepared and held Johnson at bay. Although closing quickly at the end, Johnson settled for Second behind Butz. Maxwell Schultz emerged from the scramble to take Third, Sawyer Effertz made a late run to Fourth, and Stenjem rounded out the Top Five.
STUMPF SCORES ANOTHER LATE MODEL WIN
Alex Stumpf found Victory Lane for the third time this season in the Fox City’s Towing Late Model 20-lap feature. He also captured the Red Race in June.
Stumpf was able to overtake Justin Woller on a lap-six restart and remained unchallenged to the checkered flag.
Much of the race played out in the first seven laps. Todd Verhagen led early until a spin by Matt Wittman occurred while he was battling for Second with Scott Wolf. That restart on lap four allowed Stumpf and Woller to close in on the front of the field.
Woller charged through quickly and had the lead by lap five. Stumpf followed to Second and Verhagen tucked back in line in Third just in front of Braison Bennett. Another yellow then fell for an incident involving Wolf and TJ Spierowski.
On the restart Stumpf was able to cruise past Woller and grab the lead. As he built his buffer over the field, Woller attempted to hold off Bennett. However, Bennett took Second by halfway. He was unable to make up the ground on Stumpf, who went on to the win. Woller held Third and Bryan Monday held off Brian Henry at the line for Fourth.
THERRIEN GETS FIRST WIN, SPOO GRABS ANOTHER
Fred Therrien and Rick Spoo took wins in the 15-lap Pete’s Auto WIR ¼-Mile Late Model features. The win in the first feature was Therrien’s first in the division.
Therrien led the first feature wire-to-wire, but was challenged heartily by Dan Thomson and Pete McVey. With five laps remaining, Thomson stormed to the outside of Therrien, but could not muster enough of a challenge. Therrien darted away to the win. McVey and Mike Reichenberger slipped past Thomson to round out the podium.
In the second feature, Spoo outlasted a spirited late-race charge from fast qualifier Ty Fietzer. Spoo took the lead at the drop of the green and felt the heat through most of the race from Tim Baumann. Fietzer grabbed Second after a restart and with four laps remaining tracked down Spoo. He was able to challenge in turns one and two on the final lap, but Spoo held on. Baumann went on to finish Third.
OPSAHL HOLDS ON FOR SUPER STOCK WIN
Mitch Opsahl may have led the entire 20-lap Novus Auto Glass Super Stock feature, but he had to hold off multiple challengers to take the win.
Opsahl first felt the heat from Jeff Treml and Josh Mueller. The veteran racers dashed to the inside and outside, but couldn’t get past Opsahl. A yellow on lap eight brought some new challengers, including Cody Vanderloop.
As the field worked the inside line, Vanderloop went to the high side. He had plenty of room to test the leaders and got to Second before another caution in the final laps. Vanderloop had a chance on the outside, but Opsahl held strong at the drop of the green. Vanderloop continued to stay even, but Opsahl put his elbows out and kept Vanderloop from making the pass.
On the final lap Vanderloop threw his machine into turn three hoping to make it stick on the outside. Unfortunately for him, it just would not stick. Opsahl went on to win with Ethan Beattie grabbing Second, Mike King Jr taking Third, Mueller securing Fourth, and Vanderloop falling to Fifth.
KASEY VANDERLOOP BACK IN THE GROOVE IN THE SPORT TRUCKS
Kasey Vanderloop took his third win of the season in the 20-lap Wisconsin Sport Truck feature. He sliced his way through the field and went on to win in convincing fashion.
Tommy Gee and Mason Calmes paced the field early, battling side-by-side for the lead over the first five laps. Quicky Kasey Vanderloop worked his way toward the front. He was in Third by lap six. His brother Brady and Kyle Quella were also on the move.
Kasey took the lead with a three-wide move on Gee and Calmes coming to the line on lap eight. One lap later Brady made the same move to grab Second. Quella was close behind.
In the second half of the race Kasey held a strong advantage over Brady, who was left to deal with Quella. A spirited battle saw Quella spin in the final laps, allowing Brady to escape and finish Second to Kasey. Calmes was Third, Owen Voight Fourth, and Tanner Fickel was Fifth.
OPSAHL ALSO TAKES SIZZLIN’ 4S
Mitch Opsahl made the most of another return to the Roundabout Bar and Grill Sizzlin’ 4s with his second win of the season. Opsahl marched through the field and held off Eli Schommer to claim the 20-lap main.
Leon Frahm led early, but soon had Gavin Klein and Opsahl close by. Klein took the lead on lap seven. Opsahl took Second one lap later. A caution near the midway point left Klein to battle with Opsahl, and Schommer close by in the second row.
Initially Klein was able to hold off Opsahl, but on lap 11 Opsahl stormed to the lead. Schommer was able to grab Second and stay close, but could not move past Opsahl. Klein made a late charge back and took Second from Schommer with two laps to go. Frahm finished Fourth and Blake Vandenboom was Fifth.
GRACYALNY TAKES FIGURE 8S
Jordan Gracyalny found himself in the winner’s circle once again in the Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8s. Gracyalny battled past Jeff Danley early in the 13-lap feature, then cruised to the win. Danley was Second, Craig Krueger Third, Ethan Beattie Fourth, and Mitch Opsahl Fifth.
UP NEXT…
The Fox River Racing Club’s 50th season rolls on with Kurz Industrial Solutions helping present the action next Thursday. Kids can participate in big wheel races before the event. Racing begins at 6:30pm.