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SPANGENBERG AMONG FIRST TIME ‘HILL WINNERS’ – DEGRAVE PULLS STREET STOCK HAT TRICK
Posted on: Sunday July 11, 2021
HAT TRICK FOR DEGRAVE PLUS THREE NEW WINNERS AT THE HILL
by Tom Wagner
(Sturgeon Bay, WI – 7/10/2021)
Unified Dirt Street Stock veteran Dave DeGrave notched his third feature win of the season, while Zach Spangenberg (Stock Cars), Jarred VanLaanen (Sport Mods) and Kyle Jorgenson ( 4 Cyl) won for the first time to highlight action Saturday night at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay.
For the most part, the night was incident free, the exception being the Stock Car finale.
On the very first lap, the “big one” hit exiting turn four as six cars stacked up with others swerving to avoid. Three of the top four drivers in the standings – leader Brett Wenzel, Billy LeMieux and Shawn Klapps, Jr were collected, along with Scott Reinhardt Dwayne Mertens and Tom Brumlic.
It took several minutes to pry the cars of Wenzel, LeMieux and Klapps apart, but remarkably, all three were able to continue.
Under green, Tony Bouche led early with Spangenberg getting by on lap three.
He built up a comfortable lead as Dan Sell, Jr and Charlie Kroll dueled for second behind him. Dave Bouche and John Anschutz raced along next.
The late stages saw several twists of fate hit many of the frontrunners. Anschutz was a victim of the second turn infield retaining tire that cost him a top five run. With just two laps to go, Bouche and Brett Koehler had a run-in that ended the night for both, with the ensuing caution setting up a two lap sprint to the checker.
Spangenberg was able to hold off both Sell and Kroll to the line, with Sell claiming runner-up honors. Kroll crossed the line third, but officials ruled a sportsmanship disqualification post-race.
The ruling advanced Wenzel to third and LeMieux to fourth, both rebounding from the first lap wreck with their damaged race cars. LeMieux finished one spot ahead of son Caden, with Klapps also coming back from the lap one melee to place sixth.
The Sport Mod headliner turned into a match race up front between VanLaanen and Cody Rass.
VanLaanen shot to the inside of Sean Falk on a lap three restart. He built what appeared to be a comfortable lead, but that began to change on lap seven when Rass shot the gap between Rick LeMieux and Falk, passing the two in one move to take over second.
Rass quickly closed on VanLaanen, and five laps later, worked the inside line to take over the top spot.
Rass began to pull away, but then lost his momentum as he was caught behind a car at the tail end of the lead lap. That gave VanLaanen the opportunity to close back up, swing to the outside, and retake the lead.
Rass was able to stay close the rest of the way, but couldn’t repeat the earlier move on VanLaanen.
Craig Dorner, Randy LeMieux Jr, Rick LeMieux and Falk rounded out the top six.
The run from Randy LeMieux was huge. Having to start 19th on the grid after failing to finish his heat, the Sturgeon Bay veteran climbed to fourth, passing Jeff Vlies in the process. Vlies came into the night as the point leader by one. LeMieux’s effort allowed him to leap frog Vlies to take a two point lead in the division.
While the Street Stocks managed to only get a single lap in the books before a quick yellow flew, the lap was packed with plenty of up front movement.
Chad Naze was scored as the leader on the lap, advancing up from his third row starting spot. Jason Geyer (4th row), DeGrave (5th row) and Shannon Guelette (6th row) were all in the lead pack after that single circuit as their inside line starting position proved to be the fast track to the front.
Under green, DeGrave took over the lead on lap three, with the other staying close racing in a tight pack.
Despite a late caution, DeGrave was able to retain the top spot to the line for the second week in a row, and third time this season. Fighting back into contention after a week two DNF, he wasn’t able to make up much ground on Guelette who placed second and points leader Troy Muench who came on for third.
Naze, Geyer and Dan VanPay completed the top six.
Jorgenson used an outside move to pass Thomas Schulte on the 8th lap en route to his first win of the season in the 4 cylinder class.
Schulte did close back but couldn’t quite get into position for a pass back attempt.
Scott Schlafke was third, picking up a point on leader Tony Everard. The 5-time 4 cylinder champ holds a slim three point edge on Schlafke going into the next race.
The Hill’s next event is slated for Saturday night, July 24thwith a 6:00PM start time. Joining the regular four divisions will be the Modifieds for their second appearance of the season.
Also on the card, the Street Stocks will be the featured Busch Shootout class.
The Hill Raceway is located at The John Files Fair Park, 812 North 14tht Ave in Sturgeon Bay, WI. All track information can be found on our Facebook @hillraceway or contact 920-495-6631 Regular night pricing: Pit pass $25, crew members 17 and under $15. Grandstands $10, 12 and under free. Service members are free with ID.
The Hill Raceway results 7/10/2021
Stock Car Feature: Zach Spangenberg, Manitowoc – Dan Sell, Jr, Suring – Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc – Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay – Caden LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay – Shawn Klapps, Jr, LaCrosse
Heat 1: Caden LeMieux – Scott Reinhardt, Baileys Harbor
Heat 2: Billy LeMieux – Dave Bouche, Algoma
Heat 3: Dwayne Mertens, New Franken – Charlie Kroll, Forestville
Stock Car Shootout: Wenzel – Sell – Spangenberg – Klapps
Sport Mod Feature: Jarred VanLaanen, Luxemburg – Cody Rass, Sturgeon Bay – Craig Dorner, Luxemburg – Randy LeMieux, Jr, Brussels – Rick LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay – Sean Falk, Bonduel
Heat 1: Jeff Vlies, Kewaunee – Randy Theys, Algoma
Heat 2: Rick LeMieux – Dennis Miesler, Luxemburg
Heat 3: Roger LaViolette, Forestville – Chris Budzban, Luxemburg
Unified Dirt Street Stock Feature: Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg – Shannon Guelette, Luxemburg – Troy Muench, Brussels – Chad Naze, Green Bay – Jason Geyer, Brussels – Dan VanPay, Denmark
Heat 1: Guelette – Kody LaViolette, Appleton
Heat 2: DeGrave – Muench
Heat 3: Naze – Tyler Fox, Brussels
Baby Bomber Feature: Kyle Jorgenson, Oneida – Thomas Schulte, Kaukauna – Scott Schlafke, Cleveland – Tony Everard, Green Bay – TJ Everard, Green Bay – David Cox – Seymour
Heat 1: Schulte – Jorgenson