VANOUDENHOVEN SPRINTS TO FIRST FRRC WIN OF 2022
Cody Vanderloop Masters Massive 28-car Super Stock Stan ‘The Man’ Memorial
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (August 4, 2022) – Thursday was a big night for some of the mainstay names of the Fox River Racing Club and Wisconsin International Raceway.
Jeff VanOudenhoven set fast time and cruised through the Super Late Model feature field in their 35-lap feature event. In Victory Lane he would recall growing up at the race track and watching his dad Milo build his legacy.
On the quarter-mile the legendary Stan ‘The Man’ Gracyalny was honored with the most prestigious Super Stock race of the year. Cody Vanderloop took the biggest win of his young career, besting a field of 28 cars.
The Super Late Model feature saw Sawyer Effertz surge to an early lead past front row starters Taylor Vandermoss and Brent Strelka. Effertz went on to build a large lead over the rest of the pack as the field started to sort itself out.
In the early portions of the race Andy Monday was making moves inside the Top Five and found himself in Third before halfway. Behind him VanOudenhoven was slowly picking his way through the field. He found himself in Seventh on lap seven, then in Sixth on lap nine, and finally to Fifth as Monday made the move ahead of him.
VanOudenhoven continued to put the hammer down and move to the front. He tracked down Monday and Vandermoss then slipped past both by the halfway point of the race. Dalton Zehr, who was stuck in traffic early, was making moves toward the Top Five at this point, as well. He dashed to Fifth on lap 22.
Once he had moved to Second past Strelka on lap 23, VanOudenhoven began to reel in Effertz. The leaders closed in on lapped traffic, allowing VanOudenhoven to challenge. However, a caution for a solo spin by Derek Schallie paused the battle on lap 26.
On the restart VanOudenhoven and Effertz raced furiously for the top spot. After two laps, VanOudenhoven was able to push ahead and start to build his lead. He would go on to build a strong advantage and pick up the win – one that will set up a tight point battle between himself and Zehr.
Effertz was Second, Monday settled into Third, Zehr made a late move to Fourth, and Strelka finished Fifth.
STRELKA HOLDS OFF RANDERSON’S LATE CHARGE
Brent Strelka is becoming a master of photo finishes in the Late Models. For the second time this season he outlasted a drag race to the stripe to score a win in the 20-lap feature. Fast qualifier Chase Randerson made a late run, but came up short of a win by a matter of feet.
Strelka seized the lead early, but had plenty of company up front. JJ Vanderloop made several challenges that were turned away. Eventually Randerson came to the doorstep and took Second from Vanderloop on lap 5.
The field settled in for the long run with Randerson hooked to the back bumper of Strelka. Randerson had a strong opportunity to take the inside line on lap eight, but Strelka kept the door sealed shut. Behind them Nate Van Wychen put a challenge to Vanderloop and took Third on lap 15.
One lap later the only caution of the race came out when Brady Baldry and Vanderloop made contact, sending Baldry into the outside wall. Unfortunately, he sustained heavy damage and his night met an early end.
On the restart Strelka was able to keep Randerson at bay. As the final laps clicked off Randerson closed the gap. Although he appeared to be out of striking distance, Randerson made a massive run into turn three on the final lap and was able to pull even with Strelka. The result was a drag race to the stripe where Strelka emerged by a nose. Van Wychen was Third, Vanderloop moved back to Fourth after the incident, and Travis Rodewald rounded out the Top Five.
VANDERLOOP TAKES STAN ‘THE MAN’ MEMORIAL
On a night where the Super Stocks were on full display, the past, present and future of the division came to the forefront in the 25-lap special event. Cody Vanderloop scored his third win of the season in Greg Hauser’s famed station wagon. The win came full circle as Hauser as been a mainstay in the division, but has now passed the reigns to present and future star Vanderloop.
Evan and Ethan Beattie led the field of 28 to the green flag. Ethan was able to get the upper hand and held a strong lead over Evan, who was battling for Second with Trevor Pankratz. Behind them several drivers were waiting patiently for their chance to make a move.
Eventually Shane Krueger, Ed Howard, and Vanderloop slipped by with daring three-wide maneuvers to take Second, Third, and Fourth. Krueger then began to reel in Beattie until the first caution fell at the halfway point of the race.
From the inside lane Ethan Beattie outdueled Krueger. Vanderloop followed to Second as Krueger was stuck on the outside lane. With nine laps remaining Vanderloop had tracked down Beattie and began to challenge. Another caution fell when Larry Raygo stalled outside of turn two. Beattie again chose the inside for the restart with Vanderloop to his outside.
At the drop of the green Vanderloop quickly swung to the inside line behind Beattie. On exit of turn two Beattie’s machine snapped sideways. He was unable to collect it and spun into the infield. The miscue allowed Vanderloop to take the lead and build his advantage on the way to the win.
Tony Wilz battled through the field to finish Second, Ed Howard was Third, and Terry Van Roy clipped TJ Smith at the line to hang on for Fourth.
SPOO AND REICHENBERGER TOP WILD NIGHT IN QUARTER-MILE LATES
Thursday was a night where luck played a huge factor in visiting Victory Lane. As leaders scrapped for the top spot in both features, Rick Spoo and Brandon Reichenberger made the right moves to be in the right place at the right time.
In the first ¼-Mile Late Model feature Pete McVey and Wayne Posselt tangled early with both being sent to the back after the incident on lap four. On the restart Spoo caught a fortunate break as Henry Neerdaels slid up the track and Spoo was able to slip through into Second. Spoo wrestled the lead away from Roger Braun three laps later. After a restart at the halfway point, Spoo again jumped away from the field and cruised to the win.
The second feature saw a heart-stopping near incident on the first lap. Bob Duchow slipped off the track on the backstretch on lap one. As he tried to get back onto the track Dylan Wenzel slipped through and avoided contact between Duchow and Heather Wolfgram.
On the second try it was Wenzel and Tim Bauman leading the field to green. Bauman secured the top spot and looked to keep Wenzel in his rear view mirror. The battle for the lead paused for a spin with six laps to go, then again with three laps to go for a stalled Neerdaels.
At the drop of the green Wenzel hounded Bauman. He looked to have forced his way to the inside as Bauman hoped to hold the bottom. The result was plenty of contact and both drivers spinning to the infield. Brandon Reichenberger, who was sitting Third, inherited the lead. He would cruise to the win after the restart.
WAUTIER HITS HALF A DOZEN
Bobby Wautier took his sixth Wisconsin Sport Truck feature win of the season. He made a late pass on Jason Van Handel to secure victory.
Landon Braatz led the first four circuits of the race until a spin brought out the yellow on lap four. VanHandel grabbed the lead on the restart, bringing Cody Vanderloop and Wautier along into Second and third.
Wasting little time, Wautier swung around Vanderloop on lap six. He then began to track down VanHandel. VanHandel held strong, turning back the challenge of Wautier for several laps. However, Wautier found a lane to the inside with two laps remaining. He secured the lead on the back stretch then ran to the checkered flag.
Van Handel was Second, Cody Vanderloop held off Kasey Vanderloop by inches at the line for Third, and Braatz was Fifth.
KLEIN STRIKES AGAIN IN SIZZLIN’ 4s
Gavin Klein is starting to make a habit of picking up victories. The high schooler sliced through the 27-car Sizzlin’ 4 feature field to score his third win of the season.
Mike Daverveld took an early lead until a yellow for debris on lap two. On the restart Klein was able to take the outside of the second row. Things opened up for him at the drop of the green, and he would set his sights on the top spot.
Shane Schwaller cruised past Daverveld off the restart with Klein right on his bumper. After Schwaller secured the lead, Klein immediately challenged. He took the lead on the outside line on lap four. One lap later Issac Therrien followed into Second.
As the laps clicked off Klein built his advantage. He went unchallenged for the remainder of the race. Therrien was Second, Larry Gintner was Third, Kurt Schweitzer was Fourth, and Jacoby Pollei rounded out the Top Five.
LORBIECKI CAPITALIZES IN FIGURE 8 WIN
The Figure 8s never fail to provide a wild story line. It looked as though Matt Bauer was on his way to victory until a pair of cautions shook up the race. Russ Lorbiecki was in the right place to capitalize and grab the win.
On the first restart with four laps to go Craig Krueger made contact with the retaining wall in the infield, sending his wheel off his machine. The following restart brought the turning point of the race when Bauer and Shawn Bangart tangled. Both were sidelined with damage.
After the tangle Russ Lorbiecki, who had battled his way to Third, inherited the lead. He maintained a healthy advantage on the way to the win. Terry Van Roy was Second, Ethan Beattie Third, Evan Beattie Fourth, and Joe Munes Fifth.
NEXT WEEK…
Appleton Breakfast Rotary Club presents the Blue Race. Champions of the 51st Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series will be crowned after the races. The Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, Sizzlin’ 4s, Figure 8s, and Rockin’ Rovals will be on the card. Racing begins at 6:30pm.