LOWELL BENNETT BACK TO VICTORY LANE IN FRRC ACTION
BUCHANAN, Wis. (July 25, 2024) – Multiple-time Fox River Racing Club Champion Lowell Bennett returned to glory Thursday night by capturing the 35-lap Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Model feature. The win was Bennett’s first of 2024.
Bennett was joined by fellow multi-time Champ Jeff Van Oudenhoven on the front row. After three laps of side-by-side battling, Bennett surged ahead to take the lead. He was soon followed by Maxwell Schultz who secured Second and Andy Monday who slid to Third.
As the laps clicked off Bennett continued to hold a healthy advantage over Schultz and Monday. Once the race got to halfway, it was Monday who began to feel the heat. Both Grant Griesbach and Riley Stenjem closed in to challenge for position.
Eventually Griesbach was able to make a move and take Third away on lap 30. Stenjem stepped in to challenge in the final circuits. By this point Bennett had built a sizeable advantage over Schultz, who had the same distance back to the frantic battle for Third.
Bennett went on to take the win, Schultz was Second, Griesbach held Third and Stenjem clipped Monday at the line to take Fourth.
BRYAN MONDAY WINS BY A NOSE AT THE CHECKERED
It was a close call in the Fox City’s Towing Late Models 20-lap feature. At the stripe Bryan Monday was able to hold off Braison Bennett by mere inches to grab his first win of the season.
Todd Verhagen got out to an early lead. The outside line moved in a hurry as Matt Wittman, Monday and Nate Van Wychen followed into the Top Four. On lap five a yellow fell for an incident involving Will Timmers and Justin Woller restacked the field. Verhagen grabbed the lead back, but was immediately challenged by Monday, who had restarted behind him in row two.
After three laps of surveying his options, Monday took the lead from Verhagen and brought Wittman and Van Wychen along. Van Wychen soon made his move past Wittman into Second. The Top Three raced in close quarters over the next seven laps until an incident between Van Wychen and Wittman caused a caution and put both to the tail.
On the single file restart Monday was followed by Alex Stumpf and Braison Bennett. Stumpf looked for a line on the inside as the field restarted, but Monday protected the line. The outside was left open for Bennett to do his work. Bennett was able to move past Stumpf and challenge Monday over the final two laps.
As the field took the white Bennett was even with Monday. He gave one final effort going into turns three and four on the outside. A drag race to the line saw Monday have just enough power to hold on for the win. Stumpf was Third, Verghagen Fourth and TJ Spierowski was Fifth.
BAUMANN AND SPOO WIN ON THE QUARTER MILE
Tim Baumann and Rick Spoo were the winners of the twin 15-lap Pete’s Auto WIR ¼-Mile Late Model Features.
Dan Thomson led early in the first feature until a caution for Shane Krueger and Heather Wolfgram. Thomson tried to hold off Henry Neerdaels and Baumann after the restart, but got tangled with the duo bringing out a yellow. Thomson was deemed the lone cause of the caution, leaving Baumann and Neerdaels to battle for the win.
In the final laps, something went awry on Neerdaels machine, allowing Bauman to cruise to victory. Spoo, Kaden Kostichka, Pete McVey, and Ty Fietzer rounded out the Top Five.
AJ Schmid controlled the pace early in the second feature. He was soon contested by Don Dix and Fietzer. Fietzer made contact, sending Schmid spinning. However, Schmid was given the lead back as Fietzer invoked the gentleman’s agreement.
On the double file restart Spoo grabbed the lead from Schmid and built a large advantage. He survived another restart with Neerdaels and Baumann behind to cruise to the win. Baumann took Second from Neerdaels on the final lap, Thomson was Fourth and Dix was Fifth.
OPSAHL SCORES SECOND SUPER STOCK WIN
Mitch Opsahl may have led all 20-laps of the Super Stock feature, but he certainly felt the heat on the way to his second win of the season.
Opsahl took an early lead until a caution on lap six. On the restart Opsahl was able to power away from Chuck Gilbertson Jr., but was trailed closely by Ethan Beattie once he was able to shake free of Gilbertson.
Behind the lead pair Jeff Danley, Mike King, and Cody Vanderloop battled for Third. As King challenged Danley, Vanderloop took a spot. King was later able to get past.
In the final laps Beattie got to the doorstep, looking for Opsahl to slip off the inside line. It was not to be though, as Opsahl went on to the win. Danley held Third and Vanderloop surged ahead of King to take Fourth.
QUELLA PADS POINT LEAD WITH THIRD SPORT TRUCK WIN
Kyle Quella was in the right place at the right time to capitalize and take his third 20-lap Wisconsin Sport Truck feature of 2024.
After several lead changes early in the race, Logan Mahoney looked to be in full control. Mahoney had a comfortable advantage as the likes of Quella, Kasey Vanderloop and Luke Wallenberg were battling inside the Top Five.
Unfortunately for Mahoney, his truck lost power in the final five laps, handing the lead to Quella. Vanderloop came from deep in the field to take Second, Wallenberg was Third, Tanner Fickel Fourth and Grant Gilbert was Fifth.
ROOKIE THOMSON GETS FIRST SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN
Youngster Chase Thomson threw down a strong performance, grabbing his first ever 20-lap Roundabout Bar & Grill Sizzlin’ 4 feature.
Thomson took the lead and stretched out his advantage over the field early. Behind him there was a furious battle from Second back through Seventh. A yellow on lap 16 brought competitors back to Thomson, but he was able to get away.
When the green fell again Thomson escaped Matt DeWilde and the rest of the pack. Jeremy Czarapata eventually took Second at the line from DeWilde, Andy Wiese was Fourth, and Cody Vandenberg was Fifth.
DANNY GRACYALNY BACK TO FIGURE 8 WINNERS CIRCLE
After coming close to making a return to victory lane last week, Danny Gracyalny was able to close the deal in the 13-lap Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 feature.
Gracyalny took an early lead from the front row and kept the field at bay throughout the main. Mitch Opsahl was Second, Josh Anthony Third, Jordan Gracyanly Fourth, and Ethan Beattie was Fifth.
UP NEXT…
Bergstrom GM of Neenah helps usher in the final month of the FRRC’s 50th season. Fabel Collision and Repair is boosting the Wisconsin Sport Truck feature’s purse, putting them on display for the evening. Racing begins at 6:30pm.