Kasperek And Adams Victorious In Dells Motor Speedway Enduro Doubleheader
Wisconsin Dells, WI, June 25 - Clintonville driver Mike Kasperek made his first appearance in over two years of Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series competition worth while as he came home first in the running of the "Alakai Hotel & Suites 250" enduro held at the Dells Motor Speedway. Kasperek was the Series championship crown in 1997. Lenny Adams picked up his first win of the season in Midwest Enduro Small Car Series competition by dominating the running of the "Alakai Hotel & Suites 100" enduro for the 4-cylinder class.
Kasperek was the overall winner and first in the "A" class over Matt Schlick. In the "B" class it was Tom Carr over Don Lunsford and in the "C" class it was Donald Paskiewicz over Larry Wiedenhoeft.
The weather at the Dells Motor Speedway was overcast and humid and that seemed to reflect the nature of the 250 main event. With just one lap in to the event, Jeff Schmidt tangled with Todd Ludtke and went hard in to the turn one wall ending his day short with substantial damage to his '76 Cutlass mount. After Schmidt was removed from his car the race resumed with a battle between the Speciale brothers Art and Phil. At the 25 lap marker it was Art Speciale in front followed by Phil Speciale, Schlick, Jared Pinkalla and Jeff Jeras. The torrid pace continued up front but at lap 55 Art Speciale was black flagged for driving with one hand on the steering wheel and sent to pit area. This left brother Phil up front and as the field approached the first of three mandatory refueling pit stops at lap 65 it was Phil Speciale out front followed by Rick Cregger, Pinkalla, Jeras and Schlick.
After the break, Jeras was on a mission and it was soon a battle between himself and Phil Speciale for the point. Jeras was out of the picture by lap 91 however as he suffered a flat tire on his ride. The race now seemed to be the battle between Phil Speciale and Pinkalla. By lap 100 the running order was Phil Speciale, Pinkalla, Kasperek, Schlick and Cregger who were all on the lead lap at that point. Speciale and Pinkalla would swap the lead several times before the next pit stop at lap 130 which had Speciale out front over Pinkalla, Kasperek, Cregger and Frank Calabrese.
There was not much change in the running order for the next 70 laps except for Calabrese who dropped out of the top five and Schlick was once again in the top five order. With only 50 laps remaining the intensity was seemingly building over the entire field, especially with Speciale and Pinkalla. With 20 laps to go the two collided on the main straightaway sending Speciale in to the pit wall with a broken axle. The field was slowed a few circuits later to remove Speciale from his car and at that point Pinkalla was through for the day as he went to the pit area. With 13 laps remaining, Kasperek took advantage of the situation and went on to victory by six seconds over Schlick followed by Cregger, Darryl Traber and Art Speciale.
In the Midwest Enduro Small Car Series 100 lap event pole sitter Tony Prietzel jumped out to a comfortable lead for the first six circuits before Adams caught him as Prietzel's mount began to slow as the engine eventually expired on lap 15. Adams was never touched the entire event as he held a perfect line throughout the event and lapped the entire field. At the line it was Adams followed by Jack Rabey, Nathan Matz, Rod Brossart and Dave Goebel.
The next Series event is slated for Monday July 4 at the Grundy County Speedway (Morris, IL) for the running of the annual "Fairtime 250" enduro. A powder puff event is set for a 6:30 start followed by the main event at 7:00. For further information contact (262) 895-6682 from 5-9 pm. or leave a message.
SUMMARY: "Alakai Hotel & Suites 250"
"A" Class - 1. Mike Kasperek, Clintonville, 250; 2. Matt Schlick, Cortland, IL, 250; 3. Rick Cregger, Madison, 249; 4. Darryl Traber, Waterford, 248; 5. Art Speciale, Bartlett, 247; 6. Tom Barnharst, Franksville, 246; 7. Mark Tomasi, West Allis, 245; 8. Jim Plautz, Edgerton, 244; 9. Tracy Carr, Beloit, 244; 10. Frank Calabrese, Shiocton, 243"B" Class - 1. Tom Carr, Beloit, 246; 2. Don Lunsford, Oak Creek, 243; 3. Troy Porter, Weston, 240; 4. Erich Iversen, Kenosha, 239; 5. Bob Nuti, Edgerton, 235; 6. Jim Sorrick, Verona, 220; 7. Bob Stubblefield, Sycamore, IL, 179; 8. Jeff Sayler, Howards Grove, 150; 9. Mike Beagel, Winthrop Harbor, IL, 137; 10. Geoff VeZain, Ottawa, IL, 82"C" Class - 1. Donald Paskiewicz, Franklin, 242; 2. Larry Wiedenhoeft, Jackson, 237; 3. Brian Blenker, Junction City, 232; 4. Julie DeNood, Aurora, IL, 229; 5. Scott Bodoh, Madison, 215; 6. Craig Phillips, Edgerton, 135; 7. Tom Waldman, Edgerton, 132; 8. Brad Jones, Rockton, IL, 72; 9. Gary Peat, Madison, 51; 10. Todd Ludtke, Lake Geneva, 49
SUMMARY: "Alakai Hotel & Suites 100"
1. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, IL, 100; 2. Jack Rabey, Brighton, 99; 3. Nathan Matz, Elkhorn, 98; 4. Rod Brossart, Fox Lake, IL, 98; 5. Dave Goebel, Elgin, IL, 97; 6. Art Speciale, Bartlett, IL, 97; 7. Valerie Epright, Delavan, 97; 8. Todd Lunsford, Caledonia, 96; 9. Derek Glessel, Adams, 94; 10. Dylan Helfenstein, Racine, 92