Kendall Beats Two for Win Two of 2022
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (June 30, 2022) – The #2 of Sawyer Effertz led the first half of the 35-lap Super Late Model feature at Wisconsin International Raceway. It was at the exact halfway point of that feature that Bobby Kendall captured the lead – and never let go. The win marked his second for the 2022 season.
Rain threatened to cancel the evening’s events as showers and a thunderstorm swept over the track late in the afternoon. Track drying efforts were successful and although qualifying had to be canceled (all races lined up based on points), every race was executed successfully.
Sawyer Effertz began the feature on the pole position and held that spot for half of the race. He faced challenges from Andy Monday, Grant Griesbach, and finally Kendall – only one was able to take the lead away. Prior to that battle, a caution came out on lap fifteen for Monday and Braison Bennett who tangled in turn two of the half mile after previous laps of back & forth jabs.
During lap 18 Kendall was able to out-maneuver Effertz and claim the top spot. Effertz held on as best he could for the following seven laps, but eventually fell further back as Alex Stumpf made his way up to the second position. A strong showing for Stumpf – bringing his ride home in 2nd place – was cause for celebration for Stumpf’s sponsors who also were sponsoring the evening’s events – Les Stumpf Ford.
Despite giving the two positions away, Effertz faded no further and was able to claim 3rd at the checkered. Rounding out the top five were Lowell Bennett and Jeff Vanoudenhoven.
LATE MODEL JAUNT BRINGS JOY FOR JJ
The fates decided to mirror two weeks prior’s winners as JJ Vanderloop once again collected a Late Model victory on the same night as Kendall in the Super Lates. It was also his second of the season.
Starting on the inside of row three, Vanderloop had his work cut out for him to navigate to the front. Ahead of him on the grid were strong competitors in the division – Todd Verhagen, Brian Henry, Scott Wolf and Chase Randerson. However, the young gun figured a way through the top four and caught the lead on lap six. He would not relinquish it.
Four laps from the end of the race, Nate Van Wychen and Brent Strelka tangled, spinning out the 56 of Van Wychen. Strelka invoked the gentleman’s agreement and Van Wychen took his spot back. That gesture would ensure a 4th place finish for Van Wychen.
JOSH MUELLER MAKES UP GROUND WITH TWO VICTORIES
In the Super Stocks, Josh Mueller was able to win both his heat race and the night’s feature. He came into the event 25 points out of first place. That deficit has now been cut almost in half, with Mueller sitting in 4th place in Super Stock points, just 13 out of the lead. Despite starting in the back half of the field, Mueller piloted his #26 to a win, sharing eight laps of lead with fellow points challenger Trevor Howard.
The points situation is very tight in the Super Stocks – currently Cody Vanderloop and Trevor Howard share the top spot with 305 points apiece. Just two points out of that tie is veteran Andy Casavant. At the halfway point of the Fox River Racing Club season, the Super Stock points championship is anyone’s game.
HEBBE AND VAN DAALWYK EACH NAB ¼ MILE LATE MODEL WIN
The dual-feature format of the ¼ Mile Late Models typically brings two winners each night. Kevin Hebbe and Dan “The Freight Train” Van Daalwyk were each the victors of Thursday’s events.
Hebbe executed a late race pass of Roger Braun in feature #1 to secure the win. An early solo spin stacked the field back up with Hebbe and Braun emerging as the duo to beat. The two duked it out for eleven of the fifteen laps before Hebbe took over on lap 13.
On the final lap of feature #2, Henry Neerdaels and Tim Baumann made contact with both spinning out. This came after a hard battle between the two which lasted for ten of the fourteen total laps of the race. The contact between Neerdaels and Baumann occurred on the white flag lap of the event. Race control dictates that in the event of a caution on the white flag lap, the race is over and the results of the final lap (in this case, lap fourteen) are taken as the finishing order (minus the cars involved). Neerdaels and Baumann were moved to the end of the field because of the caution, and the feature win was awarded to Van Daalwyk. This is his second of the season.
BOBBY WAUTIER CONTINUES CRUSHING CAMPAIGN
There hasn’t been a single feature this season in which Bobby Wautier has finished any poorer than 2nd place. Thursday saw Wautier bring home another win – his third of the season. Wautier started in 10th place and only led the last six laps of the race, but that was enough for the victory.
Despite this intense series of wins, his point lead over 2nd and 3rd place (Cody Vanderloop and Jason Van Handel respectively) is only 15 points. That’s how strong the competition has been in the Wisconsin Sport Trucks.
FICKEL FINISHES FIRST IN ‘FOURS FORAY
“The Flying Pickle” Justin Fickel brought it home in first in the Sizzlin’ 4s feature. He led 16 of the 20 laps in the feature, a dominating performance that was challenged at times by Dan Thomson who spread between 1st and 3rd in the feature – but never lower. Thomson eventually finished in second.
BAUER SECURES FIGURE 8 WIN
Matt Bauer won Thursday’s feature in the Figure 8’s, fending off Shaun Bangart and Terry Van Roy for the win. Starting in third, Bauer piloted his #18 to the top spot, with Bangart and Van Roy close behind. The three would give and take plenty over the 13 laps, but Bauer never yielded first.
NEXT WEEK…
The White Race! Vanderloop Equipment presents the second event in the 3-part Red, White & Blue State Championship Series. Out-of-town travelers and locals will compete for a shot at the coveted championship. Racing starts at 6:30pm with all your favorites plus the v6 Rovals in action.