THIEL REBOUNDS IN FINAL FRRC 2024 FEATURE, BUTZ IS CHAMPION

BUCHANAN, Wis. (August 30, 2024) – Jordan Thiel found redemption by capturing the final 35-lap Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Model feature of the season as the Fox River Racing Club season wrapped up its 2024 season Thursday night.

Thiel picked his way through the Top Five, tracked down Braison Bennett and made his move to the lead with just three laps remaining. Behind him Chad Butz secured a Fifth Place finish to claim his first track Championship.

After a botched start claimed several cars, Bennett was able to storm away from JJ Vanderloop for an early lead.  Andy Monday quickly settled into Second and Thiel rushed to Third by lap four.  As the Top Three settled in both Butz and Ty Majeski were on the march.  They were to Sixth and Seventh by lap eight.

On lap ten Thiel made his move to Second around Monday. He then had to make up nearly a straightaway on Bennett.  During that time the field settled in with Maxwell Schultz behind Monday in Fourth and Butz in the Top Five.

As Thiel started to close in on Bennett, the table was set for the point battle between Butz and Schultz. Schultz would need to pass Monday and get some help. Eventually Majeski made a pass on Butz, leaving Schultz with just the pass on Monday to make.

With time running out, Thiel started to look for his chances to take the lead from Bennett and rebound from the late-race incident the previous week. He made no mistake as he cruised past Bennett with three to go and built an advantage.

Inside the Top Five, Schultz had one final chance to get past Monday into Third and potentially seal the title. He was unable to do so, however. To boot, Butz made sure to seal the title as he passed Majeski and regained Fifth at the end of the race.

Butz proved to be the model of consistency this season. He finished outside of the Top Five in only one Thursday night point race.

STRELKA MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN IN LATE MODELS, STUMPF CLAIMS CROWN

Brent Strelka had a strong start to the 2024 season in the Fox City’s Towing Late Models, but some bad luck spoiled the middle of the season. Strelka was able to dominate the final 20-lap feature of 2024 in the class for his Second win. Alex Stumpf was able to cruise to Second and secure the season Championship.

Bryan Monday took an early lead in the race and brought TJ Spierowski and Strelka into the Top Three early on. Strelka had to wait patiently for his opportunity which came on lap eight when he was able to get past Spierowski and set his sights on Monday.

Four laps later Strelka pulled even with Monday and was ahead by a nose at the line for lap 12. He cleared him a lap later and pulled away from the field.

The point battle remained up for grabs behind the leaders. Stumpf and Braison Bennett were picking their way through the field in the second half of the race.  Although Bennett stayed close, Stumpf was on a mission and climbed into Second by the end of the race. It was more than enough to help Stumpf close out the 2024 Championship.

Behind Strelka, Stumpf, and Bennett, Brian Henry made a late race charge to edge ahead of Bryan Monday at the line for Fourth.

VANDERLOOP GOES BACK-TO-BACK, KING REIGNS IN POINT CHASE

Cody Vanderloop enjoyed a solid ending to the Novus Auto Glass Super Stock season by picking up his third win of the season and second in the final two weeks. Vanderloop outlasted a wild first half of the race to find himself in solid position in the second half.  Mike King Jr. posted another solid day to claim the Championship.

Josh Vissers led early in the 20-lap main event and did all he good to hold off the advances of ethan Beattie.  Vanderloop was close behind in Third, then took Second from Beattie on lap 12.  Vissers tried to hold off Vanderloop, but he took the lead on lap 14 just before a caution for a tire being kicked onto the racing surface.  Vissers was also sent off for defensive driving.

The restart saw Vanderloop with Trevor Howard, Beattie and Mike King in the Top Four.  Vanderloop got away and left Howard to try to hold on for Second. Howard was able to do so as King took Third from Beattie in the closing laps. Josh Mueller rounded out the Top Five.

Due to his consistency throughout the season, King needed only to start the feature to take the Championship. His Third Place finish put an exclamation point on a title run that included the Red, White and Blue Championship as well.

BRADY VANDERLOOP WINS THIRD OF SEASON, QUELLA LOCKS DOWN THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP

Brady Vanderloop was able to cap off a strong season in the Wisconsin Sport Trucks with his third win of 2024. However, Kyle Quella’s three wins and strong showings were enough to vault him to his third division title.

The field was thrown into the mixer after a caution for a Jason Vanhandel spin on lap three. Tom Gee led over Owen Voight with Masyn Liedke and Jake Boldig close by.  On the restart Brady Vanderloop grabbed Second by going three wide with Voight and Tanner Fickel.  His brother Kasey did the same one lap later.

Brady was able to track down Tom Gee and took the lead just before midway.  One lap later Kasey followed into Second, but could not chase down his brother.

The race was halted for a wild incident that saw both Hunter Dalton and Jake Boldig flip on the backstretch with less than five laps remaining. Both drivers were ok.  On the restart Brady was able to pull away from Kasey and head to Victory lane. Luke Wollenberg made a late run to Third, Gee was Fourth and Fickel rounded out the Top Five.

LORRIGAN GETS FIRST SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN, SCHOMMER IS CHAMP

Kory Lorrigan picked up his first 20-lap Roundabout Bar & Grill Sizzlin’ 4 feature by pulling away from a heated Second Place battle late in the race. Eli Schommer maintained his poise and secured enough spots to capture the Championship in the division.

Jordan Fickel and Shane Schwaller battled for the lead early until a yellow for Andy Wiese going off track and into the outside wall. Wiese was not deemed to be responsible for the yellow as he tangled with a lapped car.

On the restart Fickel and Schwaller tangled, allowing Lorrigan to capture the lead. He pulled away from the pack as Wiese and Kaiden Volousek swapped Second.  In the end Lorrigan would maintain a healthy advantage on his way to the win. Volousek ended up Second, Wiese was Third, Jeremy Czarapata Fourth, and Matt DeWilde Fifth.

Schommer ended the night Ninth, but kept close enough tabs to his fellow point contenders to hold on to the point advantage he had built throughout the season.

GRACYALNYS DO IT AGAIN IN THE FIGURE 8S

In a caution-marred Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 feature, Danny Gracyalny was able to survive and grab his second win in as many weeks. Gracyalny took the lead as Mitch Opsahl’s machine broke on a restart at halfway.

Jordan Gracyalny and Russ Lorbiecki were tied in the point standings entering the race. Unfortunately for Lorbiecki, his race was cut short on a lap-one incident. Jordan was able to go on to finish in the Top Five. For the second straight week he and his dad could celebrate a feature win and a Championship.

UP NEXT…

The Fox River Racing Club will hold its awards banquet on Saturday, January 11. More information will be available in the coming weeks.