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LACROSSE NETS IMCA MOD WIN NO. 140 AT 141

By Greg Aregoni

(Francis Creek, WI) On a cold night with hot racing, Benji LaCrosse used some misfortune of the leader to take home the checkered flag at 141 Speedway in the IMCA Modifieds.

186 cars over six divisions kept the fans as warm as possible with exciting finishes. Winners on the evening included: Dave Bouche(IMCA Stockcars) Matthew Radtke(IMCA Sport Mods) Travis Zirbel(Street Stocks) Dan Schumacher(Grand Nationals) and Adam Broehm(IMCA Sport Compacts)

Rob Charapata put himself up front off the bat in the IMCA Modified Feature. Charapata cruised with a few attempts at the lead but nothing he couldn’t handle.  Benji LaCrosse and Brandon Schmitt would make their respective ways to the front from their midpack starting spots with Schmitt getting to the leader first.  Schmitt would make quick work of the leader and set sail from the field with LaCrosse making his way to second.  Schmitt seemed to be destined for the checkered flag even after he entered lapped traffic.  Schmitt would make contact with a tire and bend up the front suspension.  He was able to maintain the lead until LaCrosse came storming passed.  A caution before the final flag would setup a dash to the finish.  Cole Czarneski used the final restart to his advantage and was able to stay with LaCrosse for the lead.  The two would put on a great battle over the final two laps with LaCrosse edging Czarneski.  Johnny Whitman ran out of time for the win as he finished third after starting 19th.  Brian Mullen finished fourth ahead of Markwardt.

Phil Mott used a power move to take the lead from third on the opening lap of the IMCA Stockcar Feature.  Mott would lead until Dave Bouche came calling.  The 21’s had a small battle with Bouche taking the lead down low on lap five.  Bouche would never relinquish the lead but that isn’t to say he wasn’t hounded by Luke Lemmens.  Lemmens had the faster racer but never could take control as Dave Bouche ran the bottom like the season veteran he is.  Benji LaCrosse was able to make a play on the leaders late.  LaCrosse used the top of the speedway but was never able to make the winning charge.  Dave Bouche held on to the win in front of Lemmens.  LaCrosse would finish third in front of a very strong run race by Paul Diefenthaler.  Brandon Schmitt would round out the top five.

Jonathon Baumann was Captain of the Creek early on in the IMCA Sportmod Feature with Shane Bahr charging to second from fifth.  Bahr used his rocket ship to make a successful bid for the lead up top on lap nine.  Bahr would go untouched and on his way to a win when a caution on the final lap would restack the field.  Bahr would bobble on the restart at the same time Matthew Radtke would find a head of steam.  Radtke would use his second chance and out duel Bahr over the final two laps to take the win.  Bahr finished second.  Jake Carpenter finished third.  After an opening night win, Robert Wittkopf would finish fourth with Cody Rass in fifth.

Courtney Atkinson put her racer up front in the Street Stock Main event.  She kept her distance from the field with everyone battling behind her.  On lap 13, the leader would spin after contact and stallded on the infield.  Opening night winner Travis Zirbel was in an early caution. He had restarted in the rear of the field and used all race to get back to the front.  Zirbel used the caution to make quick work of Tony Everard who had inherited the lead after the Atkinson spin. Zirbel would pull away on the green, white, checkered finish to go two for two in feature wins on the season.  Everard had a great race to finish second.  Austin Steinke rode home to third.  Brooke Diefenthaler won the battle for fourth over Shannon Guelette.

Ryan Minster was looking for the clean sweep in the Grand Nationals.  He took to the lead and drove a smooth race up front.  Daniel Schumacher would find speed in his #93 and start reeling in the leader.  Schumacher would track down Minster and ultimately take the top spot. Schumacher would pick up his first win of the season. A great race for second was had with Taylor Rahn grabbing the second spot late over a third place finishing Joshua Pierce.  Minster fell to fourth with Rick Gustavson rounding out the top five.

Adam Broehm went unchallenged in picking up the IMCA Sport Compact Feature win.  A guy that can win from anywhere would catch lapped traffic but never sweat.  Brandon Goeser would start 14th on the field and finish second in the caution free race.  Chris Peterson finished third.  Brian Watzka would finish fourth after starting 16th.  Thomas Schulte finished fifth after starting 19th.

IMCA Modified Feature- 1. Benji LaCrosse 2. Cole Czarneski 3. Johnny Whitman 4. Brian Mullen 5. Randy Markwardt Jr

B Main #1 Adam Crapser

 #2 Kyle Kudick

Heats # 1. Brandon Schmitt 2. Josh Long

 #2 1. Czarneski 2. Jeff Bodendorfer

 #3 1. Rob Charapata 2. Travis Hansen

IMCA Stockcar Feature- 1. Dave Bouche 2. Luke Lemmens 3. Benji LaCrosse 4. Paul Diefenthaler 5. Brandon Schmitt

B Main #1 Czarneski

 #2 Todd Augustian

Heats #1 1.Ryan Besaw 2. Phil Mott

 #2 1. Tyler Wilson 2. Alex Crapser

 #3 1. LaCrosse 2. Diefenthaler

 #4 1. Chase Parker 2. Eric Mahlik-Lewiston

IMCA Northern Sportmod Feature- 1. Matthew Radtke 2. Shane Bahr 3. Jake Carpenter 4. Robert Wittkopf 5. Cody Rass

B Main #1 Brady Harshberger

 #2 Colton See

 #3 Coy Vlies

Heats- #1 1. Bahr 2. Bruce Belland

 #2 1. Dylon Waldvogel 2. Rass

 #3 1. Jonathon Baumann 2. Radtke

 #4 1. Dakota Johnson 2. Cole Thomas

 #5 1. Logan Theys 2. Carpenter

Street Stock Feature- 1. Travis Zirbel 2. Tony Everard 3. Austin Steinke 4. Brooke Diefenthaler 5. Shannon Guelette

Heats- #11. Guellete 2. Courtney Atkinson

 #2 1. Steinke 2. James Fletcher

 #3 1. Zirbel 2. Dylan Breit

Grand National Feature- 1. Dan Schumacher 2. Taylor Rahn 3. Joshua Pierce 4. Ryan Minster 5. Rick Gustavson

Heat- 1. Minster 2. Collin  Skindzeleski

IMCA Sport Compact Feature- 1. Adam Broehm 2. Branden Goeser 3. Chris Peterson 4. Brian Watzka 5. Thomas Schulte

B Main #1 Watzka

                #2 Cody Bierman

Heats #1 1. Broehm LeMay 2. Chris Peterson

              #2 1. James Riske 2. Trever Cronick

              #3 1. Andon Meunler 2. Nathan