West Allis, WI, September 3 - Steve Doherty (#49) of Rockford, IL recorded his first win of the season and second in a row during Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series competition held at the historic Milwaukee Mile two mile road course. Doherty captured the event in 2006. Doherty held the point for the entire 160 mile event. The Klement's Sausage "Labor Day 160" enduro started 75 entrants including the full size "stock car" division and the 4-cylinder "small car" division. Both divisions competed at the same time with Doherty campaigning a "small car" entry Sentra to victory lane.
Doherty was first overall followed by Brian Blenker(#94) and Scott Riemer(#8). All three reached the Milwaukee Mile podium and earned huge trophies for their efforts plus prize money. The top three trophy awards were courtesy of Paulie's Pub of West Allis.
Doherty was the winner of the "small car" division followed by current point leader Louis Chatroop(#99). In the "A" class for the "stock car" division it was Riemerr(#8) over Mark Fogel(#127). The winner of the "stock car" division was Brian Blenker(#94) who competed in the "B" class over Tom Arnold(#5).
Over $500 of change were dispersed on the start finish line during the annual Labor Day "penny pickup" for the kids presented by Perfection Truck & Accessories of Johnson Creek. Fans were also welcomed to an "autograph session" held prior to the penny pickup right on the starting grid.
The Klement's "Sausage Race" was another very competitive event. There was a lot of action in the early going of this one as some of the sausages headed in the wrong direction. As the field moved towards the finish line it looked to be a chase between the "Brat" and the "Cheriso" just like in the earlier Series event in June with the "Brat" taking the upper hand in that one. With only 25 feet to go the two were side by side but the "Cheriso" seeked revenge as he pulled away to claim victory.
About 15 members of the "Losers Car Club" were on hand to show off their vehicles prior to the main event. The owners of these pristine cars were able to parade around the 2-mile road course during the National Anthem.
A moment of silence was held prior to the National Anthem in respects to Ron Fryer who recently passed away and was a great friend to the racing community around the Milwaukee area.
The 80 lap main event had Charlie Pinkalla(#98) get a good jump on the field from his pole position as the field entered the road course part of the track in the infield of the Milwaukee Mile. Pinkalla's lead was short lived as Doherty breezed(#49) by and took the lead by the time the field was back on to the Milwaukee Mile oval portion of the course. As the field approached the first of three mandatory refueling pit stops at lap 20, Doherty was shown as the leader nearly one minute ahead of second running Blenker(#94) followed by Mike Hart(#12), Tom Ruh(#91) and Scott Riemer(#8) to round out the top five at this point.
Riemer & Fogel were now on the move after the stop as they both looked to battle for the runner up spot as Doherty left the entire field well behind. Hart bowed out of the event at lap 24. On lap 28, Riemer lost some ground as he went off the road course as he and Fogel were racing for the second spot. As the field entered the second stop it was Doherty, Fogel, Blenker, Ruh and Riemer rounding out the top five.
It just seemed apparent at this point that nobody was going to catch Doherty unless he had a mechanical failure. The race was for second and hope for a Doherty misfortune. As the field was approaching the final mandatory pit stop on lap 60, Doherty was out in front of Fogel by 40 seconds followed closely by Blenker with Jim Sorrick a distant fourth with Mark Johler now on the move in his four cylinder in fifth.
Once again, Doherty set a torrid pace and left everyone in the dust. The real battle was for second as Blenker, Fogel and Riemer were now nose to tail on the starting grid. A red flagged was shown on lap 69 for Johler as he lost the left front tire off of his mount coming off of turn four. He was not injured but his car sustained enough damage to be through for the day. In the melee, Fogel sustained heavy damage as he was rear ended by Brad Jones as he apparently did not see the ten cars that were stopped in front of him for the red flag shown by starter Kevin Lucas. Luckily for Fogel the damage did not hamper his efforts as he sustained cosmetic damage but Jones was through for the day. Blenker started to pull away from Fogel and Riemer after the red flag and sustained a ten second cushion over the third place battle between Fogel and Riemer. On the last lap, Riemer and Fogel got together in hairpin turn with Riemer gaining the advantage. At the line Doherty collected the win one minute ahead of Blenker followed by Riemer, Fogel and Ruh. Fogel suffered a flat as he passed the start/finish line.
The next Series event is scheduled for Saturday September 15 at the Grundy County Speedway (Morris, IL). 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: "Milwaukee Mile Klement's "Labor Day 160"
OVERALL FINISH
1. Steve Doherty, Rockford, IL, 80 laps completed; 2. Brian Blenker, Junction City, 80; 3. Scott Riemer, Brookfield, 80; 4.Mark Fogel, West Bend, 80; 5. Tom Ruh, Elkhart Lake, 80; 6. David Donahue, Milwaukee, 79; 7. Craig Phillips, Edgerton, 79; 8. Louis Chatroop, Palatine, IL, 79 ; 9. Jim Sorrick, Verona, 78; 10. Evan Townsend, Elkhorn, 77; 11. Tom Arnold, Minooka, IL, 77; 12. Mike Herwald, Lake Geneva, 77; 13. Jay Bozart, Edgerton, 77; 14. Darryl Traber, Waterford, 77; 15. Chris Hart, Edgerton, 77; 16. Steven Mueller, Caledonia, 77; 17. Jay LeBrun, Antioch, IL, 76 ; 18. Erich Iversen, Kenosha, 76; 19. Becky Pinkalla, Racine, 76; 20. Darwin Niemczyk, Franklin, 76; 21. Tom Barnharst, Wind Lake, 75; 22. Matt Rowe, Maribel, 75; 23. John Krolicki, Milwaukee, 75; 24. Jim Plautz, Edgerton, 74; 25. Ryan Nuti, Edgerton, 73; 26. Keith Slagg, Racine, 73; 27. Mark Tomasi, Wind Lake, 72; 28. Dusty Heil, Carol Stream, IL, 65; 29. Tom DeYoung, Lowell, IN, 71; 30. Paul Consiglio, Germantown, 71; 31. Al Kuphal, Franklin, 71; 32. Tony Prietzel, Racine, 71; 33. Ryan Millikin, Waukesha, 69; 34. Mark Johler, Des Plaines, IL, 69; 35. Shawn Kasten, Lake Geneva, 68; 36. Jill Balcerowski, Franklin, 68; 37. Corey Abel, West Bend, 67; 38. Matt Born, Sheboygan Falls, 66; 39. Lori Jacoby, Elkhorn, 66; 40. Charlie Pinkalla, Racine, 65; 41. Steve Bayer, Burlington, 65; 42. Bill Mueller, Racine, 64; 43. Troy Luchsinger, Beloit, 61; 44. David Dominguez, Edgerton, 60; 45. Jared Pinkalla, Racine, 58; 46. Dennis Jones, Rockton, IL, 58; 47. Jody Purdy, Milton, 51; 48. Bryan Wick, Richfield, 51; 49. Don Wilson, Hartford, 47; 50. Gary Paulick, Racine, 44; 51. Ken Hocking, Joliet, IL, 42; 52. Geoff VeZain, Ottawa, IL, 38; 53. Joel Schumann, Greenfield, 37; 54. Chris Jones, Rockford, IL, 35; 55. Brad Jones, Rockton, IL, 34; 56. Tim Steinhoff, Cashton, 27; 57. Gerald Hayes, Monee, IL, 25; 58. Mike Hart, Edgerton, 24; 59. Randy Steinhoff, Cashton, 24; 60. Dave Vela, Racine, 22; 61. Pete Koenig, Richmond, IL, 20; 62. Curt Teunissen, Hingham, 18; 63. Larry Born jr., Sheboygan Falls, 12; 64. Jason Condrad, Burlington, 10; 65. Julie Hayes, Monee, IL, 8; 66. Gerry Galloway, Hanover Park, IL, 7 ; 67. Chad Fagenbaum, DeMotte, IN, 7; 68. Joe Brooke, Beaver Dam, 7; 69. Tom Berens, Slinger, 6; 70. Dustin Richards, Pleasant Prairie, 6; 71. Mike Van Howe, Oak Lawn, IL, 5; 72. Bob Mueller jr., Racine, 4; 73. Todd Booker, Lake Geneva, 4; 74. Don Lunsford, Oak Creek, 2; 75. Dave Lembke, Darien, 0
"A" CLASS
1. Riemer; 2. Fogel; 3. Ruh; 4. Donahue; 5. Phillips; 6. Sorrick; 7. Bozart; 8. Traber; 9. Barnharst; 10. Plautz; 11. Nuti; 12. Tomasi; 13. Kuphal; 14. Matt Born; 15. Charlie Pnkalla; 16. Jared Pinkalla; 17. Tim Steinhoff; 18. Gerald Hayes; 19. Mike Hart; 20. Randy Steinhoff; 21. Vela; 22. Larry Born jr.; 23. Galloway; 24. Lunsford
"B" CLASS
1.Blenker; 2. Arnold; 3. Herwald; 4. LeBrun; 5. Iversen; 6. Krolicki; 7. DeYoung; 8. Consiglio; 9. Millikin; 10. Balcerowski; 11. Dominguez; 12. Wilson; 13. Paulick; 14. Hocking; 15. VeZain; 16. Brad Jones; 17. Julie Hayes; 18. VanHowe
SMALL CAR presented by Mueller Motorsports
1. Doherty; 2. Louis Chatroop; 3. Townsend; 4. Chris Hart; 5. Steven Mueller; 6. Becky Pinkalla; 7. Niemcyzk; 8. Rowe; 9. Slagg; 10. Heil; 11. Prietzel; 12. Johler; 13. Kasten; 14. Abel; 15. Jacoby; 16. Bayer; 17. Bill Mueller; 18. Luchsinger; 19. Dennis Jones; 20. Purdy; 21. Wick; 22. Schumann; 23. Chris Jones; 24. Koenig; 25. Teunissen; 26. Condrad; 27. Fagenbaum; 28. Brooke; 29. Berens; 30. Richards; 31. Bob Mueller jr.; 32. Booker; 33. Lembke
