The Vault
1998 – SCHROEDER WINS; BENNETT EDGES WHEELER FOR FRRC CROWN
Posted on: Thursday March 19, 2026
Green Bay’s Mark Schroeder won the final Thursday Night Thunder show at WIR in 1998. (Mary Lewis photo)
SCHROEDER WINS; BENNETT EDGES WHEELER FOR FRRC CROWN
(reprinted from the September 9, 1998 edition of Checkered Flag Racing News)
(KAUKAUNA, WI) SEPT. 3 – The final “Thursday Night Thunder” racing program presented by the Fox River Racing Club, brought out a crowd of 5,500 fans to see Lowell Bennett edge out Rod Wheeler for the season late model title.
The championship was Bennett’s second title at the raceway, having previously won the title in 1991. For Wheeler, it was the fourth time he finished in the runnerup points position after being bridesmaid in 1994, 1995, 1996 and again this year.
Mark Schroeder was the main man in victory lane at the end of the evening, claiming his first late model feature win since the 1996 season, a year in which he won the track title. Schroeder became the 10th different feature winner this season, an FRRC record dating back to 1975.
John Sturm and Ben Brinkman made up the front row of the 25-lap headliner. Meanwhile, Schroeder began gradually working his way to the front of the field, getting up to third by lap three. Schroeder worked his way into second place. The Green Bay pilot wrestled the top spot away from Sturm on lap 21 and took the victory. Jeff Van Oudenhoven took second, followed by Lowell Bennett, Wheeler and Terry Baldry rounding out the top five finishers.
In limited late model action, Dan Peterman blasted from his pole position and cruised to victory in that division’s feature. The feature win was Peterman’s fourth of the ’98 campaign. Trailing him at the checkers were Larry Gintner, Gary Natrop, Don Dix and Steve Smits. Smits wrapped up the division track title.
Andy Geiger once again proved again to be the man to beat in the Wisconsin sport trucks. Geiger won his fifth feature race of the season. Dean Daul, Hank Calmes, John Meidam and John Roeser placed second through fifth, respectively.
Chris LaRocque emerged triumphant in the street stock feature. The Appleton driver spent most of the contest swapping the lead with Brian Johnson. Johnson hung on for second place. Greg Hauser, Randy Van Roy and Terry Van Roy took third through fifth, respectively. Van Roy earned his first division track title.
In Figure 8 action, Chris Price beat out Dan Gracyalny in the feature race. Gracyalny had already secured the title weeks earlier with a massive points lead.
The officials of the Fox River Racing Club want to thank the participants and fans of the “Thursday Night Thunder” program for helping create one of the most successful programs in club history.
The final stock car racing program of the season at WIR is the annual Tournament of Speed which will be held Friday Sept. 11 and Saturday Sept. 12.
SUMMARY
LATE MODEL
FEATURE – Mark Schroeder, Green Bay; Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Appleton; Lowell Bennett, Neenah; Rod Wheeler, Appleton; Terry Baldry, Omro; Jim Duchow, Kaukauna
SEMI-FEATURE – Gordie Sannes Jr., De Pere; Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; Mark Vandenboogart, Kimberly; Carey Vander Loop, Brillion
HEATS – 1st) Ron Blank, Menasha; C. Vander Loop 2nd) Sannes; Vandenboogard 3rd) John Sturm, Appleton; Ben Brinkman, Oshkosh
Dash – Schroeder; Wheeler
Fast Time: Baldry, 19.683
LIMITED LATE MODEL
FEATURE – Dan Peterman, Brillion; Larry Gintner, Neenah; Gary Natrop, Kaukauna; Don Dix, Kaukauna; Steve Smits, De Pere; Andrew Kluck, Seymour
SEMI-FEATURE – Lee Konitzer, Larson; Dan Carpenter, Appleton; Matt Maynard, Kimberly
HEATS – 1st) Maynard; Mark Meton, Larsen 2nd) Gary Bock, Kaukauna; Peterman
Dash – Jamie Berling, Appleton; Keith Otte, Appleton
Fast Time: Dix, 15.068
WISCONSIN SPORT TRUCKS
FEATURE – Andy Geiger, Brillion; Dean Daul, Appleton; Hank Calmes, Appleton; John Meidam, Appleton; John Roeser, Green Bay
SEMI-FEATURE – Nick Arnoldson, Kaukauna; Robyn Wussow, Black Creek; Bill Brandes Jr, Brillion
HEATS – 1st) Steve Meidam, Neenah; Dean Metko, Oshkosh 2nd) Geiger; Calmes
STREET STOCKS
FEATURE -Chris LaRocque, Appleton; Brian Johnson, Appleton; Greg Hauser, Little Chute; Randy Van Roy, Kaukauna; Terry Van Roy, Darboy
SEMI-FEATURE – Corey Neuman, Menasha; Curt Boettcher, Kaukauna; Gary Benion, Menasha
C-FEATURE – Scott Vanderbloomer, Kaukauna; Festus Lemmers, Brillion; Billy Malloy, Green Bay
FIGURE 8 – Chris Price, Center Valley; Dan Gracyalny, Little Chute; Jeff Bestcha, Darboy