The Scoop
DIEFENTHALER SCORES WIN #11, WHY SPAULDING CLAIMED HIS SHOCKS & MORE
Posted on: Monday August 8, 2022
Manitowoc’s Paul Diefenthaler became the first area street stock racer to hit double digit feature wins with a victory at Outagamie Speedway Friday August 5. (file photo courtesy of danlewisphoto.net)
Manitowoc’s Paul Diefenthaler remains the first Unified Dirt Street Stock racer to hit the double digit feature win mark on the ’22 campaign with his victory Friday night at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour.
Diefenthaler leads all area street stockers with 11 feature wins on the year at area dirt ovals. The Lakeshore area racer has netted feature flags at 141 Speedway (3), Seymour (3), Luxemburg (3) and Sturgeon Bay (2).
In addition Diefenthaler has a pair of IMCA stock car wins and now stands at a career total of 50 feature flags since the accomplished snowmobile racer began his stock car racing career in 2013.
After the win at Seymour Friday Diefenthaler had all four shocks on his number 35 racer claimed by Jared Spaulding of Greenville. The shock claim, which Spaulding used per the rules of the Unified Street Stock class was accepted and Diefenthaler kept his points and prize money for the night.
Had Diefenthaler denied the claim he would have had that prize money and points stripped for the evening and would not have been able to compete at any other area dirt tracks that follow that rules package with a two week suspension.
So what prompted Spaulding to execute the shock claim? “This class is out of hand for being street stock and we need to go back to IMCA hobby stocks,” Spaulding said, declining to provide specifics. “Hopefully I opened up the eyes to some fellow racers. You shouldn’t be scared or ashamed to claim if you feel it needs to be done and is 100 percent in the rules.”
By accepting the shock claim (my opinion here) Diefenthaler displayed good sportsmanship. He’s one helluva wheelman who is playing by the rules. Diefenthaler will likely continue winning races.
But should Spaulding be “shamed” or “ridiculed” for claiming shocks as is set up in the rules? Rules are there for a reason. Claims can be tricky. Claims are in place to follow the “spirit of the rule” so to speak and that in itself can be hard to police. (I defer to Paul Thorpe’s IMCA modified motor claim of Tim Bennett in the 1990’s at Shawano when I asked Thorpe why he claimed Bennett and his response was “because he drove like an (expletive).” That clearly was not following the “spirit” of the rule by the driver’s own admission.
Claims (good or bad) are in place to help control costs. It’s a simple case of “how much are you willing to lose?” Whether or not if Spaulding’s claiming of Diefenthaler’s shocks helps move his 22 car to the front in the near future remains to be seen.
But with social media these days it’s real easy for fans to “pile on” with their thumbs on their phones and chime in while stoking the flames on the fire.
There are many “keyboard warriors” who think they have the answers to everything and anyone can talk tough through Facebook or Twitter. And I’ve seen a little bit of that on Facebook with the Spaulding claim. And drivers aside it’s even worse for race tracks (at least some of them anyways).
it’s August. We’re already seeing the “Dog Daze” of summer set in. In the pits the equipment gets tired. Car owners, drivers and crew members are tired. Track promoters and operators and their respective staff are worn out physically and mentally. And fans in general often start to vanish from the grandstands for weekly racing.
So get out and support your weekly track any chance you get.
2022 NORTHEAST WISCONSIN DIRT TRACK WIN TOTALS (after Sunday August 7, 2022)
(Tracks covered and included: 141, Shawano, Seymour, Luxemburg, Sturgeon Bay, Gravity Park USA & Plymouth. When a northeastern Wisconsin driver wins out of town we’ll also include those totals as well including Dirt Kings series winners).
MODIFIEDS
Jayden Schmidt 6
Mike Mullen 6
Tyler Wilson 5
Marcus Hoeppner 5
Shawn Kilgore 3
Benji LaCrosse 3
Lucas Lamberies 3 (2 Iowa)
Marcus Yarie 3 (Antigo)
Johnny Whitman 2
Konnor Wilinski 2
Jeremie Hedrick 2
Brian Mullen 2
Jared Siefert 2
Brad Lubach 2
Hunter Parsons 1
J.J. Anderson 1
John Schultz 1
Todd Dart 1
Cody Schroeder 1
Wyatt Block 1
Dan Roedl 1
R.M. Van Pay 1
Adam Crapser 1
Dave Zeitler 1
Steve Schneider 1
Lance Arneson 1
STOCK CARS
Mitch Meier 8 (Texas)
Trent Nolan 5
Kyle Frederick 4
Chase Parker 4
Benji LaCrosse 4
Luke Lemmens 4
Mike Mullen 4
Tyler Wilson 3
Jeff Steenbergen 2 (Iowa)
Travis Van Straten 2
Nick Buckarma 2
Tom Brumlic 1 (Eagle River)
Kenny Richards 1
Dave Bouche 1
Eric Mahlik 1
Dan Sell 1
Logan Rhode 1
Cole Czarneski 1
Vern Stedjee 1
Nathan Lauscher 1
Caden LeMieux 1
Tim Mueller 1
Kerry Douglas 1
Robert Waechter Jr. 1
Shawn Havel 1
Brandon Czarapata 1
Brett Wenzel 1
Tim Warner 1
Mitch Stankowski 1 (Antigo)
Jeff Kropp 1
Jordan Barkholtz 1
Justin Jacobsen 1
LATE MODEL
Nick Anvelink 5
Troy Springborn 4
Brett Swedberg 3
Justin Ritchie 3
Joel Bennett 3
Brad Mueller 1
Jim Schmidt 1
AJ Diemel 1 (Dirt Kings, Red Cedar)
Joe Bongiorno 1
Paul Ninzik 1
Taylor Scheffler 1
NORTHERN SPORTMODS
Cole Czarneski 5
Jeffrey Teske 5
Jesse Cullen 4
Craig Dorner 4
Tyler Sobiesczyk 3
Zack Raab 3
Jake Carpenter 3
Brady Harshbarger 3
Travis Schmidt 3
Jon Hitzman 2
Tim Warner 2
Zack Raab 2
Cody Rass 2
Tom Schneider 2
Logan Fleischmann 2 (Antigo)
Chris Budzban 2
Ryan Schmidt 2
Brad Lubach 1
Andy Welter 1
Ryan Besaw 1
Gabe Zellner 1
Jeff Schmuhl 1
Travis Rhoades 1
Dylon Waldvogel 1
Randy LeMieux Jr. 1
Mark Hoeppner 1
Tim Sheppard 1
Elijah Koenig 1
Jeff Vlies 1
Will Garceau 1
Shane Long 1
Bruce Belland 1
Colton See 1
JJ Vanderloop 1
Jeff Steenbergen 1
STREET STOCK
Paul Diefenthaler 11
Ed Anschutz 6
James Fletcher 6 (Beaver Dam)
Trey Van Straten 3
Parker Derks 3
Shaun Bangart 2
Mike Zitzer 2
Dave DeGrave 2
Presley Harrington 2
Jesse Krahn 2
Jason Behnke 2
Shannon Guelette 1
Tim McCormick 1
Kenny Richards 1
Brook Diefenthaler 1
Jason Eisel 1
Cody Potter 1
Corey Romensko 1
Nick Wunrow 1
Jason Brandes 1
4 CYLINDER
Nathan Lisowe 10
Brian Watzka Jr. 6
Tanner Westphal 5
Lucas Hacker 3
Scott Schlafke 3
Adam Broehm 2
Calvin Stueck 2
Brad Wedde 2
Matt Kaye 2
Matt Brehmer 2
Shaun Bangart 2
Kegan Van Ooyen 2
Thomas Schulte 2
Roman Blank 2
James Riske 2
Jake Peters 1
Austin Pingel 1
Jeremy Czarapata 1
James Reese 1
Cody Booth 1
Ben Schulte 1
Autumn Allord 1
GRAND NATIONALS
T.J. Smith 4
Nick Strobbe 3
Matt Loehr 3
Jeff Muehlbauer 3
Dustin Weiss 3
Derek Schrauth 2
Luke Scholten 2
Brian Schrauth 1
Taylor Rahn 1
Rick Gustavson 1
Ryan Minster 1
J.J. Pagel 1
Jonathon Otte 1
Tyler Kulow 1
Josh Pierce 1
Derek Kaat 1