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DRAMATIC FINISHES HIGHLIGHT THE HILL

The Hill Raceway

Sturgeon Bay, WI.

By: Tom Wagner

Baseball’s Yogi Berra said it best; it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

That’s the way it was Saturday night as close feature finishes were the norm, highlighting action at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay on Hall of Fame night 2024.

Dan Sell, Jr, Mike Plate, Shannon Guelette and Nick Everard were winners in the Raceway’s four regular divisions with Dan Ratajczak taking top honors in the visiting Modified class.

The night not only provided exciting finishes, but significant effects on the season’s championship battles.  Such was the case in the Stock Car class before a lap was even recorded.

As the field took the initial green flag, pole sitter Paul Barribeau lost grip at the front of the field and slid sideways causing a chain reaction crash near the back of the pack as cars scattered.  Scott Reinhardt entered the night second in points to Brett Wenzel, but was one of the casualties, along with Tony and Dave Bouche.

As the race played out, it evolved to basically a four car shootout between Barry VanStraten, Zach Spangenberg, Troy Muench and Sell, as Wenzel methodically picked his way forward.

With five laps left, Spangenberg took the top spot for the first time as the four raced in a tight pack.  Unfortunately for him, he clipped an infield retaining tire to bring out a caution and end his night.  That put Sell on the point for the restart and added Wenzel to the mix as well.

Under attack the rest of the way Sell was able to hold the lead en route to his first point night victory in Sturgeon Bay.  He also jumped to second in points, 11 behind Wenzel, setting the stage for a repeat of 2023 when the two battled down to the wire for the title.  The first lap incident was a blow to Reinhardt, dropping him from second all the way down to eighth in the standings.

The Sport Mod feature finish was in doubt literally until the last corner.  With a front row staring spot, former champ Cody Rass was probably the odds-on favorite to take the checker, and early on it appeared like that would be the case.  Despite a string of cautions, Rass continued to hold the spot, although lurking in his shadow was Plate.

On what would be the second to last caution restart, the scenario changed.  Instead of pulling away again, Rass found himself under pressure from Plate for the lead.  And with five to go the longtime veteran Plate took it away from Rass for the first time.

Down but not out, Rass fought back.  Through the last corner on the last lap, Rass tried to slip through between Plate and the infield tire but he clipped the tire sending him into a spin.  The reward for Plate was his third career feature victory at Sturgeon Bay.  The battle within the battle was between title contenders Craig Dorner and Jeff Vlies.  With second place Alec Wery missing the show, it gave Vlies the opportunity to leap frog into second and try and close the gap on Dorner.

Dorner posted one of those nights that leads to championships, steadily advancing from his fifth row starting position to gain third by the 11th lap.  While he didn’t win, he finished one place ahead of Vlies to maintain a slim six point advantage with just three point nights left.

Much like the Stock Cars, a couple title contenders took a big blow early in the Street Stock headliner.  With Devin Yaeger out front, front runners just behind him were caught up in a melee on the 8th lap.  Included in the incident were Dan VanPay and Garrett Geyer who entered the night tied for second in the standings, just five points back of leader Jason Geyer.  The crash sent VanPay to the pits along with Chad Naze, and Garrett Geyer to the back of the field with Matt Hanson.  Guelette worked his way quickly to the lead, but steadily gaining ground was defending champ Ed Anschutz.  Anschutz, clawing his way back into contention for the championship after a tough point night at the opener, eventually caught the leader.  Looking inside and out, Anschutz was able to pull alongside Guelette with just three laps to go.  But contact between the two sent Guelette sliding.  The ruling on the track was that Anschutz initiated contact in close quarters, sending him to the back of the field with Guelette regaining his lead.  And that’s where he stay, leading Yaeger to line for the win.  Behind the lead duo was Tyler Fox in third with Jason Geyer fourth.  Fox was the beneficiary of VanPay and Garrett Geyer’s early misfortune as he was able to jump to second in points, ten back of Jason Geyer.

After three point nights, Everard was finally able to stop the Scott Schlafke express in the 4 Cylinder class.  Schlafke had won the previous three straight features.  Everard led the 20 lapper from green to checker, and was able to pick up one point in the title chase.  He now trails the defending champ by just five markers.

With round one rained out, the Modifieds were included on the card for what was technically round 2 of their three race mini-series.

Racing for the first time this season, Ratajczak was able to fend off a determined Chris Pigeon to take the win.

A one-time regular in Sturgeon Bay when the Modifieds were a weekly class, Ratajczak stands second in wins in the division behind Todd Dart’s insurmountable tally of 63.  The victory was his 28th, and first since June 9, 2013.

Kicking off the night was the induction of the 2024 class into the Raceway’s Hall of Fame.  The new members:

Harvey Trader (deceased):  IMCA modified car owner back to the early days of the division in Wisconsin.  Several top drivers raced for him at Sturgeon Bay, as well as Seymour and Luxemburg.  He was also a class representative and tech inspector.

Tim McCormick:  Longtime supporter and participant at the track in a career that dates back to the early 80s.  Champ in the Sportsman’s class in 1983.  Raced (and won) in the current era in multiple classes including IMCA Modifieds.

Gary (Tuner) and Armand (Chum) Nault:  Prominent figures in the early days of racing’s return to the Door County Fairgrounds during the days of the Door County Stock Car Association, as well as coordinating financial support for the track during the Thunderhill era.  Collectively, they provided leadership and were car owners for the likes of Hall of Famer Joe Haferkorn and nationally recognized snowmobile racer Jeff May.

The Hill’s next event is Saturday July 27th, The Raceway’s four regular divisions will be in action, plus it will be the Stock Car’s turn to take center stage with the Busch Shootout.  Racing gets underway at 6:00pm.

The Hill Raceway is located at the John Miles Fair Park, 812 North 14th Ave in Sturgeon Bay, WI. All track information can be found on the track’s Facebook page @hillraceway.

The Hill Raceway results 7/20/2024:

Stock Car Feature:  Dan Sell, Jr, Suring – Barry VanStraten, Shiocton – Troy Muench, Brussels – Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc – Bill LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay – Jeremy Anschutz, Brussels

Heat 1:  Cody Patten, Egg Harbor – Zach Spangenberg, Manitowoc

Heat 2:  Sell – Van Straten

Heat 3:  Jeremy Johnson, Gills Rock – Wenzel

Sport Mod Feature:  Mike Plate, Valders – Craig Dorner, Brussels – Jeff Vlies, Casco – Scott Howe, Appleton – Bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay – Dennis Miesler, Luxemburg

Heat 1:  Cody Rass, Sturgeon Bay – Vlies

Heat 2:  Plate – Dorner

Heat 3:  Miesler – Aaron Butterbrodt, Hubertus

Unified Dirt Street Stock Feature: Shannon Guelette, Luxemburg – Devin Yaeger, Menasha – Tyler Fox, Brussels – Jason Geyer, Brussels – Bailey LaViolette, Sturgeon Bay – TJ Everard, Green Bay

Heat 1:  Travis Zirbel, Green Bay – Guelette

Heat 2:  Chad Naze, Green Bay – Ford Malvitz, Sturgeon Bay

Heat 3:  Yaeger – Amber Delsart, East Maplewod

Busch Shootout:  Garett Geyer, Brussels

Modified Feature:  Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station – Chris Pigeon, Allouez – Clint Parsons, Green Bay – Dean Maurer, Greenleaf

Heat:  Pigeon – Maurer

4 Cyl Feature:  Nick Everard, Green Bay – Scott Schlafke, Cleveland – Ben Schulte, Kaukauna – Tom Schulte, Appleton – Barney DeVares, Kewaunee – James Riske, Newton

Heat 1:  Schlafke – DeVares

Heat 2:  Everard – Tom Schulte