The Vault
SMITS TOPS LATE MODELS – HAFEMAN TOPS 141 MODIFIEDS
Posted on: Thursday February 27, 2025
(Pulled from a June, 1986 edition of the Checkered Flag Racing News. Perhaps one of the earliest race recaps penned by yours truly.)
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SMITS TOPS LATE MODELS; HAFEMAN TOPS 141 MODIFIEDS by Joe Verdegan
De Pere’s Steve Smits won the late model feature at 141 Speedway. (Al Fortner photo)
(Francis Creek, WI) June 7 – It was by far the best racing of the season here tonight at 141 Speedway, Saturday as Steve Smits and Kelly Hafeman won their respective feature races.
Appleton’s Jerry Quella paced the opening seven circuits of the 25-lap late model main before he surrendered the lead to Ron Bomber on lap 8. He was overtaken by Rod Wheeler on the next go-round, followed by Pete McVey, Steve Smits, Bomber, and Russ Wagner. Smits wrestled the lead from Wheeler on lap 13.
Quella looped his Ventura in turn four, bringing out the first yellow of the race. Smits gradually pulled away from the rest of the field, but the real race was for second between Wheeler, McVey and Wagner. Those three battled to the finish, with Wheeler coming home in second and McVey running the finest race of his career placing third.
Brad Rohloff of Pulaski paced the opening two circuits of the 25-lap IMCA modified feature before Billy Fitzgerald Jr. took over. Kelly Hafeman slipped into second on lap 7. Hafeman then chased down Fitzgerald in the next several laps. Hafeman got his break as Fitzgerald looped his Chevy Cavalier in the infield on lap 14.
After that, Hafeman kept all challengers at bay as he claimed his third feature flag of the season.
In the hobby stock division, the dominance of Mike Rahn came to a halt as Two Rivers’ Donnie Kracht took advantage of an electrical short in the car of Rahn to break Rahn’s streak of three wins in a row.
Mini Champs in action. (Al Fortner photo)
Pete Shambeau also took advantage of another driver’s misfortune when Hank Calmes spun in turn three to claim his first mini-champ feature of the season. Calmes recovered for a third place finish.
RACE SUMMARY
LATE MODEL
Fast Time: Gary Stankevitz, Green Bay 13.23
Dash – Rod Wheeler, Appleton’s
Heats 1st) Pete McVey, Appleton; Randy Rassmusen, Little Chute 2nd) Russ Wagner, Little Suamico; Stankevitz
Feature – Steve Smits, De Pere; Wheeler; McVey; Jack Hardy, Appleton; Rasmussen
IMCA MODIFIED
Fast Time – Brian Reif, Shoto 13.52
Heat – Kelly Hafeman, Green Bay; Billy Fitzgerald Jr, Manitowoc
Feature – Hafeman; Fitzgerald; Reif: Rick Schuh, Kellnersville; Brad Rohloff, Pulaski
HOBBY STOCK
Fast Time – Mike Rahn, Reedsville 14.93
Heats 1st) Jeff Beschta, Appleton; Joel Schmidt, Green Bay 2nd) Donnie Kracht, Two Rivers; Rahn
Feature – Kracht; Jeff Sachse, Cascade; Scott Fabian, Two Rivers; Dave Bauknecht, Reedsville
MINI CHAMP
Fast Time – Billy Daul, Freedom 13.22
Heats 1st) Larry Daul, Freedom; Ken Zelten, De Pere 2nd) Mike Martell, Two Rivers; Mike Springstroh, Freedom 3rd) Hank Calmes, Freedom; Pete Shambeau, Two Rivers
Semi-feature – Jeff McCormick, Darboy; Larry Daul; Dave Eggert, Appleton
Feature – Shambeau; Russ Popp, Brillion; Paul Baroun, Two Rivers; Mark Schisel, Manitowoc