Wisconsin Dells, WI, October 27 - Art Speciale of Bartlett, IL, collected his first Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series win of the season at the Dells Raceway Park. Speciale made a charge in the late stages of the "Monster (s)Mash 250" to edge Charlie Pinkalla by a few car lengths for the win.
Speciale was the overall winner and first in the "A" Class over Pinkalla. First in the "B" Class was Mike Herwald over Tom Carr. Speciale collected $800 for the win with Herwald claiming $400 respectively.
Roger Schultz scored his first Midwest Enduro Small Car Series win of the 2007 season during the running of the "Monster (s)Mash 125" small car enduro. Schultz was first over Bill Mueller.
Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series official tech. inspector Kevin Rogers took the win in an exciting 15 lap "official's race" featuring a grudge match between the Dells Raceway Park officials and the Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series officials. Ray Kreyer made a late charge on lap 13 and held the lead briefly before Rogers went back ahead at lap 14 to hold Kreyer by a car length at the line for the win.
Linda Haugan got a big jump on the field during the running of the 15-lap "powder puff" event for the Midwest Enduro Small Car Series cars. Vachenzia Jester caught Haugan at the lap 8 marker and cruised on for the win with Michelle Fagenbaum taking the runner up spot as Haugan hada late race spin.
The top ten in each class received plaque awards plus prize money. The awards were courtesy of the Alakai Hotel & Suites of Wisconsin Dells. Speciale & Schultz also received Halloween themed trophies courtesy of Alakai for their respective wins in the main events.
There were many great costumes presented during the "children's costume contest" with the top three best receiving Toy's "R" Us gift certificates of $75, $50 & $25 respectively. Rain Fagenbaum was the winner of the contest in a fish costume. Runner up was Katie Hocking in a Midwest Enduro trophy and in third was James Waschvisch in a wizard costume. The lucky bike winners chosen by a random drawing were Jamey Red & Angel Hess. Balistreri Trucking of Milwaukee presented the bikes.
In post race action, Mark Johler claimed the win in the "pumpkin balancing contest" as he rotated the 1/3 mile oval for at least ten laps without losing a pumpkin that was placed on the hood of his car.
A "pumpkin launch" took place after the events were completed with pumpkins flying for a distance of 100 feet or more.
Mike Haugan, the 2006 Midwest Enduro Small Car Series champion, got a great jump on the field as the green flag was displayed from starter Kevin Lucas. Adam Johnson caught Haugan by the lap 8 marker with Bill Mueller in tow. Haugan went to the pit area on lap 14 with problems and at that point the race was to catch Johnson. At lap 25, it was Johnson out front followed by Bill Mueller, Chatroop, Mark Johler and Steve McBride. The driver on the move at this point was Jason Condrad who cut a five-second deficit to one second by lap 50 to put himself in the runner up spot. At the 50-lap marker, it was Johnson followed by Condrad, Bill Mueller, Chatroop, and Johler. Condrad experienced mechanical problems at the lap 55 marker and was out of contention. Bill Mueller remained six seconds behind the leader at this point but reduced the margin to three seconds ten circuits later as Johnson started to slow with suspension problems. Johnson's car succumbed to the problem on lap 77 and retired to the pit area for the remainder of the 125-lap event. Bill Mueller now had the point with a nine-second advantage over second running Schultz. With twenty-five laps to go, the running order had Bill Mueller out front with Schultz in second followed by Steven Mueller, Johler and Chris Hart. On lap 111 things were about to get ugly as Bill Mueller and son Steven Mueller tangled as Bill Mueller was set to put Steven Mueller a lap down. In the melee, Bill Mueller spun relegating the lead to Schultz. Schultz then held the point for the remainder of the 125-lap event to claim the win, ten seconds ahead of runner up Bill Mueller.
Fifty-three entries were on the grid for the running of the "Monster (s)Mash 250" Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series main event. Scott Riemer started from the pole with his Halloween themed car and was passed early by Al Kuphal. Kuphal set a fast pace and at lap 25 marker he held a four-second advantage over Riemer followed by Pinkalla, Rick Cregger and Les Wiedenhoeft. Pinkalla caught Kuphal on lap 45 and two circuits later Kuphal was in the wall after the throttle apparently stuck. At the lap 50 marker, it was Pinkalla out front followed by Cregger, Darryl Traber, Mike Kasperek and Matt Schlick and the positions continued that way until the mandatory refueling pit stop on lap 65.
After the break, Pinkalla once again took the lead with a persistent Kasperek right on his bumper. Kasperek forged ahead on lap 74 but was lost quickly two circuits later as he was spun around after being tangled with the cars of Gerald Hayes and Glenn Tomasini. The red flag was displayed on lap 88 for Geoff VeZain as he lost control and hit the inside retaining walls knocking them out of place in the process. After the walls were resurrected Traber had a slim one-car advantage over Pinkalla even after getting air lifted in to the turn four wall by Tim Steinhoff. The criminal act by Steinhoff did not stop Traber as he and Pinkalla seemed to be the ones to beat at this point. At the lap 100 half way marker the top five included Pinkalla, Traber, Speciale, Schlick and Kasperek. Pinkalla and Traber would exchange the lead several times before the second pit stop on lap 130.
The next 65 circuits were very similar as the last 65 as Traber and Pinkalla swapped the lead several times but Kasperek and Speciale were beginning to close the gap as the group headed for the final 65 laps of the 250 lap event.
Traber got a good jump on Pinkalla on the restart and pulled out in front. Traber was hit by the stalled v-6 car of Chris Sackman after Sackman attempted to make a sharp left in front of traffic towards the pit area. Traber and Pinkalla was nose to tail until lap 198 when Traber was once again intentionally tagged cowardly by Tim Steinhoff flattening the left rear tire. Pinkalla now had the hot shoes of Speciale, Kasperek and Schlick to deal with for the remainder of the event to claim his first Series win. The field was slowed on lap 235 as David Dominguez engine expired sending John Krolicki hard in the wall. In the melee, Kasperek was hit in the right rear tire making it go flat. As the race resumed, Pinkalla held the point but was being contested by Speciale. Speciale snuck his way inside of Pinkalla with five to go to take the win a few car lengths ahead of Pinkalla. The top five at the line were Speciale, Pinkalla, Schlick, Kasperek and Tom Ruh.
Barnharst claimed his third Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series championship title. Following Barnharst for the 2007 top five were Jay LeBrun, Tom Arnold, Traber and Erich Iversen. Jill Balcerowski claimed the 2007 Pinkalla Auto Solutions "rookie of the year" honors.
Chatroop earned his first Midwest Enduro Small Car Series championship title. Following Chatroop for the 2007 top five were Becky Pinkalla, Chris Hart, Tony Prietzel and Steven Mueller. Mueller also claimed the 2007 Pinkalla Auto Solutions "rookie of the year" honors.
The next Series event is a post-season drivers meeting November 10. The meeting will take place at the Shamrock Inn in Caledonia starting at 1 pm. For further information call (262) 895-6682 from 6 - 9 pm. or leave a message. Additional up to date information can be found on the Series website at www.midwestenduro.com
COMPLETE SUMMARY: "Monster (s)Mash 250"presented by Alakai Hotel & Suites
OVERALL FINISH
1. Art Speciale, Bartlett, IL, 250 laps completed; 2. Charlie Pinkalla, Racine, 250; 3. Matt Schlick, Cortland, IL, 249; 4. Mike Kasperek, Clintonville, 248; 5. Tom Ruh, Elkhart Lake, 247; 6. Mark Fogel, West Bend, 247; 7. Tom Arnold, Minooka, IL, 246; 8. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, 246; 9. Craig Phillips, Edgerton, 246; 10. Tom Carr, Beloit, 246; 11. Darryl Traber, Waterford, 242; 12. Tom Barnharst, Wind Lake, 240; 13. Tom Waldman, Edgerton, 239; 14. Jay LeBrun, Antioch, IL, 235; 15. Matt Born, Sheboygan Falls, 234; 16. Jay Bozart, Edgerton, 232; 17. Larry Born III, Hingham, 230; 18. David Dominguez, Edgerton, 226; 19. John Krolicki, Milwaukee, 224; 20. Jeff Hutchison, Beloit, 220; 21. Brad Jones, Rockton, IL, 217; 22. Don Wilson, Hartford, 217; 23. Jill Balcerowski, Franklin, 216; 24. Don Lunsford, Oak Creek, 214; 25. Tim Steinhoff, Cashton, 213; 26. Tom DeYoung, Lowell, IN, 210;27. Ken Hocking, Joliet, IL, 206; 28. Bill Combs, Genoa City, 205; 29. Gary Paulick, Racine, 203; 30. Erich Iversen, Kenosha, 201; 31. Ryan Nuti, Edgerton, 195; 32. Chris Sackman, Union Grove, 191; 33. Les Wiedenhoeft, Jackson, 182; 34. Gerry Galloway, Hanover Park, IL, 143; 35. David Donahue, Milwaukee, 124; 36. Mike Hart, Edgerton, 103; 37. Brian Blenker, Junction City, 94; 38. Geoff VeZain, Ottawa, IL, 83; 39. Bob Kelly, New Berlin, 77; 40. Gerald Hayes, Monee, IL, 73; 41. Desi Wiedenhoeft, Jackson, 70; 42. Julie Hayes, Monee, IL, 65; 43. Chris Weber, Cashton, 61; 44. Buddy Feldt, Beloit, 61; 45. Scott Riemer, Brookfield, 61; 46. John Olson, Sparta, 56; 47. Al Kuphal, Franklin, 47; 48. Jake Sproehlich, Adell, 20; 49. Glenn Tomasini, Big Bend, 16; 50. David Paskiewicz, Madison, 1; 51. Rick Cregger, Madison, 0; 52. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, 0; 53. Brad Hetzel, West Bend, 0
"A" CLASS
1. Speciale; 2. Charlie Pinkalla; 3. Schlick; 4. Kasperek; 5. Ruh; 6. Fogel; 7. Arnold; 8. Phillips; 9. Traber; 10. Barnharst; 11. Waldman; 12. LeBrun; 13. Matt Born; 14. Bozart; 15. Born III, 16. Lunsford, 17. Steinhoff; 18. Iversen, 19. Nuti, 20. Les Wiedenhoeft; 21. Galloway, 143; 22. Donahue; 23. Hart; 24. Blenker; 25. VeZain; 26. Gerald Hayes; 27. Chris Weber; 28. Riemer; 29. Olson; 30. Kuphal, 31. Sproelich; 32. Paskiewicz; 33. Cregger; 34. Tomasi, 35. Hetzel
"B" CLASS
1. Herwald; 2. Carr; 3. Dominguez; 4. Krolicki; 5. Hutchison; 6. Brad Jones; 7. Wilson; 8. Balcerowski; 9. DeYoung; 10. Hocking; 11.Combs; 12. Paulick; 13. Sackman; 14. Kelly; 15. Desi Wiedenhoeft; 16. Julie Hayes; 17. Feldt; 18. Tomasini
"Monster (s)Mash 125" SMALL CAR
1. Roger Schultz, Rockford, IL, 125 laps completed; 2. Bill Mueller, Racine, 125; 3. Steven Mueller, Caledonia, 125; 4. Becky Pinkalla, Racine, 124; 5. Chris Hart, Edgerton, 123; 6. Harley Jankowski, Sparta, 123; 7. Todd Lunsford, Caledonia, 122; 8. Louis Chatroop, Palatine, IL, 117; 9. Tony Prietzel, Peru, IN, 117; 10. Mark Johler, Des Plaines, IL, 116; 11. Keith Slagg, Racine, 114; 12. Michael Haugan, Beloit, 111; 13. Dylan Helfenstein, Racine, 110; 14. Corey Abel, West Bend, 108; 15. Chris Jones, Rockford, IL, 106; 16. Jim Tremblay, Milwaukee, 98; 17. Chris Lelak, Crest Hill, IL, 85; 18. Adam Johnson, Grand Marsh, 77; 19. Jason Condrad, Burlington, 74; 20. Logan Schnake, Arlington Heights, IL, 66; 21. Dennis Jones, Rockton, IL, 63; 22. Steve Naples, Bartlett, Il, 50; 23. Mike McKay, West Allis, 48; 24. Steve McBride, Rockton, IL, 34; 25. Chad Fagenbaum, DeMotte, IN, 5
"Monster (s)Mash 15" SMALL CAR "Powder Puff"
1. Vachenzia Jester, Beloit; 2. Michelle Fagenbaum, DeMotte, IN; 3. Linda Haugan, Beloit; 4. Shannon McCarthy, Oak Creek; 5. Bobbie Slagg, Racine; 6. Natalie McCarthy, Peru, IN; 7. Rose Marie Craft, South Beloit, IL
"Monster (s)Mash 15" STOCK CAR "Official's Race"
1. Kevin Rogers, Delavan; 2. Ray Kreyer, Poynette; 3. Patrick Barrett, Wisconsin Rapids; 4. Russell Schmid, Portage; 5. Bob Wilson, Waterford; 6. Shannon McCarthy, Oak Creek; 7. Mike Babicz, Antioch, IL; 8. Kevin Lucas, Milwaukee; 9. Richard Francois, Baraboo; 10. Reed Powers, Poynette; 11. Mathew Melk, New Berlin; 12. Nick Barrett, Wisconsin Rapids.
