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19-YEAR-OLD GRIESBACH COPS FIRST WIR SUPER LATE MODEL MAIN IN WILD FINISH
Posted on: Thursday July 1, 2021
19-year-old Grant Griesbach, a student at University Wisconsin Whitewater, won his first super late model feature at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna July 1. (Ricky Bassman photo)
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19-YEAR-OLD GRIESBACH COPS FIRST WIR SUPER LATE MODEL MAIN IN WILD FINISH
(KAUKAUNA, WI) July 1 – 19-year-old Grant Griesbach grabbed the lead on lap 11 and cruised to win his first super late model feature at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Thursday.
The race was red flagged after the white flag was displayed. On the final circuit while battling hard for second, Appleton’s Andy Monday and Montello’s Bobby Kendall collided on the backstretch. The collision sent Monday’s racer into a rollover. Both drivers were unhurt, but their cars suffered significant damage.
Freedom native Kyle Calmes outraced fellow front row starter Corey Manders at the drop of the green of the 35 lap late model feature. Meanwhile Griesbach and Monday continued to scrap for the runner up spot. On lap six Calmes wiggled a bit coming out of turn four as Monday shot to the outside groove to grab the lead.
Griesbach, a student at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, stayed glued to Monday’s rear bumper running in second and ducked underneath Monday to take the lead on lap 11. Griesbach began stretching his lead by the event’s halfway point. His margin was a 1.5 second lead over Monday and company when a caution flew with four laps remaining as Jeff Holmgren Jr. and Alex Stumpf tangled on the backstretch.
With a four lap dash to the finish Griesbach kept the lead when the after the white flag was displayed and the event was red flagged. Track policy dictates once the white flag is thrown the event is over and scoring goes back to the last completed lap. Griesbach scored his first feature flag in three full times seasons of competing at WIR weekly.
Braison Bennett scored second in his best finish of the year driving for Chase Motorsports. Fast qualifier Maxwell Schultz crossed the finish line third, followed by Lowell Bennett and Brent Strelka. “I hated that this race had to end under a red flag like it did,” exclaimed Griesbach in victory lane. “But it’s our first feature win here and we’re gonna take it.”
Grant Griesbach interviewed by WIR track announcer Matt Panure. (Ricky Bassman photo)
With his win Griesbach built upon his point lead in the super late model division.
The late model feature got off to a rocky start with three separate crashes within the first three laps. When the field settled down to green flag racing Appleton’s Brandon Reichenberger and Travis Rodewald swapped the lead going door-to-door for several laps. Rodewald finally pulled away to take the lead on lap nine. Brad Anthony motored into the second spot by lap 11 and began pressuring Rodewald for the lead.
After a caution flew with seven laps to go Rodewald and Anthony resumed their duel for the lead with Rodewald holding off Anthony and company for the win.
Manitowoc’s Travis Rodewald won the late model feature at WIR Thursday, July 1.
In ¼ mile late model action the twin features were won by Appleton drivers Travis Willing and Kevin Hebbe.
Hometown driver Trevor Howard captured the super stock feature while Denmark’s Bobby Wautier emerged victorious in the sport truck feature.
Appleton’s Mitchell Opsahl captured both his heat and the Sizzlin’ 4 feature. Appleton’s Scott Wolf had fast time, thwarting Opsahl from a clean sweep. Nick Ostberg won the Figure 8s.
Next Thursday July 8 Vander Loop Equipment presents the White Race. The V6 Rovals will join the program. Racing gets underway at 6:30 p.m. You can check frrc.us for more information.
SUPER LATE MODEL FEATURE – Grant Griebach, Pewaukee; Braison Bennett, Neenah; Maxwell Schultz, Reedsville; Lowell Bennett, Neenah; Brent Strelka, Freedom; Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Appleton; Sawyer Effertz, Darboy; Kyle Calmes, Freedom; Mike Anthony, Appleton; Brady Baldry, Oshkosh; Randy Schuler, Mequon; Corey Manders, Hillbert; Trevor Vandermolen, Oshkosh; Pete Vandermolen, Oshkosh; Andy Monday, Appleton; Bobby Kendall, Montello; Jeff Holmgren Jr., East Troy; Alex Stumpf, Woodville; Alex Seidl, Appleton; Taylor Vandermoss, Appleton (DNS)
HEATS 1) Holmgren Jr.; Lowell Bennett 2) Stumpf; Andy Monday
DASH – Strelka
FAST TIME – Schultz, 19.188
LATE MODEL FEATURE – Travis Rodewald, Manitowoc; Brad Anthony, Appleton; Brandon Reichenberger, Appleton; Brian Henry, Omro; Nathan Van Wychen, Kaukauna; Bryan Monday, Appleton; Todd Verhagen, Freedom; Rachel Evans, Brillion; Mike Meyerhofer, Hilbert; Matthew Wittman, Appleton
HEAT 1) Rodewald; Jason Vandenberg, Kimberly
DASH – Van Wychen
FAST TIME – Bryan Monday, 20.427
¼ MILE LATE MODEL FEATURES 1) Kevin Hebbe, Appleton; Tim Baumann, Neenah; Jeff Betscha, Darboy; Rick Spoo, Neenah; Wyatt Lemmers, Appleton; Mike Reichenberger, Appleton 2) Travis Willing, Appleton; Bob Duchow, Appleton; Spoo; Mike Reichenberger; Wyatt Lemmers, Appleton; Jerry Schneider, Kaukauna
FAST TIME – Dylan Wenzel, Fremont 14.821
SUPER STOCK FEATURE – Trevor Howard, Kaukauna; Jeff Treml, Greenleaf; Chuck Gilbertson, Kaukauna; Andy Casavant, Two Rivers; Mitch Meyerhofer, Sherwood
HEAT – Gilbertson; Larry Raygo, Omro
FAST TIME – Casavant, 15.580
SIZZLIN’ 4 FEATURE – Mitchell Opsahl, Appleton; Scott Wolf, Appleton; Bob Voight, Appleton; Brandon Van Ooyen, Appleton; Kaiden Volovsek, Freedom
HEATS 1) Paul Yohr, Appleton; Kory Lorrigan, Reedsville 2) Opsahl; T.J. Everard, Green Bay
FAST TIME – Wolf, 18.029
SPORT TRUCK FEATURE – Bobby Wautier, Denmark; Jason Plutz, Menasha; Mike Byrge, Hilbert; Kylee Vandermoss, Appleton; Kasey Vander Loop, Freedom
HEATS 1) Marty Sokolik, Fond Du Lac; Dallas Laramore III, Waukau 2) Jerry Van Handel, Freedom; Dan Vixmer, Fond Du Lac
FAST TIME – Byrge, 16.269
FIGURE 8 – Nick Ostberg, West Bend