HOWARD SNAGS THRILLING STAN THE MAN MEMORIAL WIN, BUTZ WINS 4TH OF SEASON
BUCHANAN, Wis. (August 8, 2024) – On a night where the Novus Auto Glass Super Stocks were on display with the Stan the Man Memorial, it was only appropriate that their 25-lap feature event would leave the grandstand stunned.
It was just one of many action-packed events in Thursday’s Fox River Racing Club event presented by ProAmpac.
All appeared as though TJ Smith was about to cap off an incredible run from 16th to the win until his machine lost power coming to the white flag. Smith’s misfortune handed the lead to Danny Gracyalny with Howard in hot pursuit. Gracyalny attempted to hold him off, but Howard gained the inside line in turns three and four and powered to the win at the checkered flag.
Gracyalny led early from his front-row starting spot and stretched out a large advantage over the field. Chris Busse, Chuck Gilbertson Jr., and Mitch Opsahl were left to battle for Second until the first yellow fell on lap 11. On the restart Opsahl went around in front of the inside line, collecting several other contenders. Smith had slipped free, and suddenly was in the Top Five.
On the restart Smith took the outside line on Gracyalny. He was able to power away and left the rest of the field battling for Second until another yellow fell on lap 21.
Smith again escaped the field on the single-file restart, leaving Gracyalny attempting to fight off Howard. All changed when the white flag fell and Smith slowed, leading to the last-lap pass by Howard over Gracyalny. George Schwalbach was also able to get past Gracyalny to finish Second, Mike Gilson ended up Fourth, and Jeff Treml was Fifth.
It was an emotional win for Howard, as he bagged the biggest race on the Super Stock calendar. What’s more he joined the list with his father Ed, who is a two-time winner of the Stan the Man Memorial event.
BUTZ ROLLS TO ANOTHER SUPER LATE VICTORY
Chad Butz emphatically bounced back after finishing outside of the Top Five for the first time this season two weeks, taking his third Thursday night Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Model 35-lap feature win. It was Butz’s fourth win overall, adding in the White Race victory.
Butz swiftly moved into the Top Three then outgunned Maxwell Schultz on a restart to grab the lead and cruise to the win.
Jordan Thiel led early and brought Schultz, Jeff VanOudenhoven and Butz into the Top Four by lap two. As Schultz was sizing up Thiel for the lead, Butz swung to the inside of VanOudenhoven to take Third. Just as Schultz took the lead by a nose on lap seven, an incident involving RJ Braun and Lowell Bennett brought out a caution. Braun, unfortunately, saw his night come to an end due to contact with the front stretch wall.
Schultz was able to escape Thiel on the restart, but Butz was right on his heels. Butz swung to the inside on lap nine and grabbed the lead. Behind him Schultz was able to hold off Thiel for Second.
As the laps clicked off Butz gained ground on Schultz. He appeared to be losing some real estate at the midway point of the race, but then turned up the wick and pulled away to a convincing win in the final laps. Schultz held Second, Thiel was Third, VanOudenhoven Fourth, and Riley Stenjem rounded out the Top Five.
VAN WYCHEN BACK IN THE LATE MODEL WIN COLUMN
Nate Van Wychen had been bitten by bad luck too many times this season to let another chance at a win slip away. Van Wychen scored his first 20-lap Late Model feature win of the season after grabbing the lead from TJ Spierowski on lap 14.
Spierowski jumped out to a big lead early in the race leaving Scott Wolf to battle with Wayne Posselt, Van Wychen, and Brian Henry inside the Top Five. Van Wychen was able to make the move past Posselt into Second on lap five and began tracking down Spierowski.
As the laps clicked off, the margin was shrinking. Van Wychen eventually caught Spierowski on lap 12, and started to look for the inside line. Eventually on lap 14, Van Wychen was able to get down low and sneak his way into the lead. He then built his advantage over the final six laps on the way to the win.
Behind him, a dazzling side-by-side battle took place for Fourth between Bryan Monday and Alex Stumpf. The duo exchanged the spot by inches at the line over the course of the final five laps. Monday held the advantage at the line to secure Fourth. Ahead of them Spierowski held Second ahead of Henry in Third.
DIX GETS FIRST ¼-MILE LATE MODEL WIN, FIETZER GRABS ANOTHER
Ty Fietzer and Don Dix took the 15-lap twin features for the Pete’s Auto WIR ¼-Mile Late Models. Dix’s win was his first since joining the division at the start of the season.
Fietzer snared the lead at the outset of the first 15-lap feature and dominated for most of the event. A pair of cautions brought some contenders – including former division Champions Mike Reichenberger and Rick Spoo – to the table, but Fietzer was able to turn them away. Reichenberger was Second, Spoo Third, Tim Baumann Fourth, and Russ Lorbiecki was Fifth.
The second feature saw a big shake up late in the race. Henry Neerdaels led early after grabbing the lead from AJ Schmid. Eventually Mike Meyerhofer moved to Second and set his sights on Neerdaels.
With two laps to go, Meyerhofer caught Neerdaels. Trying to get to the inside entering turn three contact was made sending both spinning and taking damage. That handed the lead to Dix who was in Third. Dix was able to get away on the restart and hold on for the win. Dan Thomson was Second, Baumann Third, Reichenberger Fourth, and Schmid Fifth.
BRADY VANDERLOOP SCORES SECOND SPORT TRUCK WIN OF ‘24
Brady Vanderloop held off a late charge from his teammate and reigning Wisconsin Sport Truck Champion Jason Vanhandel to win his second 20-lap feature of the season.
Vanderloop took advantage of his second-row starting spot to grab the lead by lap two. His brother Kasey followed him into Second, but slipped back on lap four after going off track on the back stretch. Vanhandel took Second and looked to keep pace with Brady.
As the lead trucks worked through lapped traffic in the second half of the race, Vanhandel found his opportunity. He caught Brady and swung to the inside for the lead on lap 15. However, Vanhandel slipped slightly in turn one, allowing Brady to take the lead back. Brady went on to take the win over Vanhandel. Tanner Fickel held off Kyle Quella to finish Third and Kasey Vanderloop rounded out the Top Five.
KLEIN GETS THIRD SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN
Gavin Klein picked his way through the field quickly to take the lead by lap six of the 20-lap Roundabout Bar and Grill Sizzlin’ 4 feature. He then jumped away from the field on a late restart to cruise to victory.
Matthias Hecker led early, but all eyes were on Klein working the outside line to the front. He battled Cody Vandenberg for Second on lap five, then immediately worked past Hecker into the lead on lap six.
A late restart brought contenders in Jordan Fickel, Eli Schommer, and Chase Thomson, but Klein was able to get away convincingly. The Top Four remained the same behind him at the checkered flag. Kory Lorrigan rounded out the Top Five.
BEATTIE BAGS TVR MEMORIAL IN FIGURE 8s
The Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8s honored the legendary Terry Van Roy with a 14-lap feature. In the end it was Ethan Beattie who took the win. Beattie took the lead early from Matt Bauer and did not look back.
There were several near misses in the X that Beattie needed to avoid, but he did so perfectly. Mike Meyerhofer was Third, Josh Anthony was Fourth, and Russ Lorbiecki was Fifth.
UP NEXT…
The 2024 Red, White and Blue State Championship series holds its final event – the Blue Race presented by Appleton Breakfast Rotary Club and Action Auto. The Championship battle in the Super Late Models is tight with the tandem of Riley Stenjem and Ty Majeski leading Chad Butz by a single point. Casey Johnson is Third, just ten points back. Racing begins at 6:30.