The Vault
1998 – RATAJCZAK ROLLS INTO MODIFIED VICTORY LANE AT THE HILL
Posted on: Friday March 6, 2026
RATAJCZAK ROLLS INTO MODIFIED VICTORY LANE AT THE HILL (reprinted from the September 9, 1998 edition of Checkered Flag Racing News) story by Dave Panske
(STURGEON BAY, WI) SEPT. 5 – The second last point night of the 1998 season proved interesting as all four divisions are up for grabs at the Thunder Hill Speedway. Dan Ratajczak won an IMCA modified feature for the first time this season here. Charlie Kroll rolled to his second IMCA stock car feature win in three weeks. Part-time racer Dave Pavlik won his fourth street stock feature of the year and Mike Soukup won his second bomber feature in three weeks.
Joel Schmit took the lead in the modified main followed by Randy LeMieux, Chris Derenne, Ratajczak, Buck Schmelzer and Eugene Gregorich. Schmit led the way for the first half of the race despite three cautions for spins. After the restart on lap 11, Ratajczak started working his way to the point passing Derenne for the runner-up spot and then moving up on Schmit.
Schmit was running high and Ratajczak found the inside to his liking and pulled alongside of Schmit on lap 14. Two laps later, Ratajczak slipped into the top spot and left the field to battle for second. Current point leader Todd Dart was running fourth until a slight mix up on lap 18 opened the door for second, which he quickly pulled into. He pulled up on Ratajczak, but was unable to challenge as Ratajczak won his first feature of the season here. Dart took the second place finish to hold his point lead and has an eight-point advantage over Ratajczak for the final night shootout.
Schmit took third in the finish with Brad Anderegg taking fourth. George Henkel kept his car in the title chase by placing fifth and sits only nine marks behind Dart. LeMieux rounded out the top six.
Next week September 12, will be the annual Pepsi Street Stock Slam special. The fifth annual event is run when the IMCA cars are gone to their special in Boone, Iowa. The streets will run for a 25 lap feature for a $700 top prize and lap money which could boost the winners total to $1,200. The bombers will also run for lap money.
The mods and stocks that do attend the night’s program will run reduced programs. None of the divisions will run for track points. Also added to the night’s action will be the Luxemburg sport trucks and the cruisers that ran a special here during the fair. Racing for the slam will be done by draw and will start at the regular 6 p.m. time.
The final night of racing on Saturday, September 19 will be the final point night and will decide all four division champions. There will be four first time Thunder Hill champions crowned.
Immediately following the season on the 19th, construction will begin on the new grandstand that will replace the bleachers for the 1999 season.
SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED
FEATURE – Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station; Todd Dart, Algoma; Joel Schmit, Green Bay; Brad Anderegg, Algoma; George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay; Randy LeMeiux Jr., Sturgeon Bay
HEATS 1ST) Jason LaViolette, Brussels; Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg 2ND) Schmit; Ratajczak
IMCA STOCK CAR
FEATURE – Charlie Kroll, Algoma; Kerry Douglas, Sturgeon Bay; Larry Karcz, Sobieski; Pat Davister, Luxemburg; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski
CONSY – Matt Junio, Casco; Chad Bartelt, Shiocton; Don Argeoni, Sturgeon Bay; Craig Paque, Algoma
HEATS – 1ST) Joe LeBotte, Kewaunee; Corey Greenwald, Fish Creek 2ND) Douglas; Jeff Brehmer, Pulaski 3RD) Russ Tuttle, Brussels; Tim Van De Hei, De Pere
STREET STOCK
FEATURE – Dave Pavlik, Sturgeon Bay; Troy Muench, Sturgeon Bay; Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek; Jared Siefert, Green Bay; Tom Coel, Green Bay; Tom Daubner, Carlsville
CONSY – Reinhardt; Coel; Bernie Reinhardt, Fish Creek; kevin Jandrin, Forestville
HEATS 1ST) Siefert; Rick Johnson, Sturgeon Bay; 2ND) Eric Vander Loop, Manitowoc; Daubner 3RD) Jeff Vlies, Algoma; Muench
BOMBER
FEATURE – Mike Soukup, Sturgeon Bay; Corey Haen, Sturgeon Bay; Brent Eisenman, Luxemburg; Josh Massart, Brussels; James Iverson, Luxemburg; James Anderson, Sturgeon Bay
CONSY – Travis Annoye, Casco; Massart; Soukup; Eisenman
HEATS 1ST) Tony Herbst, Sturgeon Bay; Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay 2ND) Marty Beilke, Sturgeon Bay; Tom Frea, Sturgeon Bay 3RD) Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Jay Naze, Forestville