The Scoop
POSTL PUTS NO. 5 BACK INTO SHAWANO VICTORY LANE – WHITMAN’S 10K REDEMTPION, REGIONAL FEATURE TOTALS & MORE
Posted on: Sunday June 18, 2023
Hometown driver Lukas Postl scored a popular win Saturday, earning his first career late model feature flag at Shawano Speedway Saturday. (Back Country Captures photo)
It was a popular win for Lukas Postl at Shawano Speedway Saturday night during the popular “Racing For A Reason” event.
Postl earned his first career late model feature – a popular win at his home track.
Lukas’ dad Tom Postl was a long time pit crew member of the legendary Shawano Hall of Famer M.J. McBride. When Lukas’ career took off he sought permission from McBride’s widow Marilyn McBride to sport the No. 5.
Kewaunee native Luke Lemmens made the trip to Shawano a profitable one. The second-generation driver picked up the $4,000 IMCA stock car win. 32 cars were in attendance in that class.
HITMAN’S REDEMPTION – When De Pere native Johnny “Hitman” Whitman led the caution free 50 lap, $10,000-to-win Clash At The Creek it was redemption of sorts for the multi-time track champion.
De Pere native Johnny “Hitman” Whitman captured the $10,000 Clash At The Creek at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek last week. (danlewisphoto.net)
Last year after crossing the finish line first, Whitman suffered a DQ in the track’s biggest race following a post race rules infraction involving his tires. Whitman topped the 63 car field. Within the top ten finishers six of them were from out of state. In addition to Whitman Brillion’s Travis Hansen gave the local fans something cheer about with a sixth place finish.
For his top ten finish Hansen pocketed $1,500 in prize money. At the end of the day after pit passes, entry fees, tires, fuel, etc. were added up Hansen figured he was $100 in the black, boosted mainly by t-shirt sales.
Fall River’s Jeff Schmuhl placed seventh while Francis Creek’s Will Garceau was the only other local to crack the top ten when the dust settled.
A LOOK AHEAD – It’s a doubleheader this coming weekend for the Dirt Kings late model tour. The Battle of the Bullring will take place at Bob Schneider’s Gravity Park USA in Chilton Friday, June 23. The action at the tight, quarter-mile clay oval. It will mark the fourth ever series visit to the Chilton oval. Past tour winners at Chilton include Shawano’s Kyle Raddant, Abrams’ Ron Berna and the series all time winner Nick Anvelink of Bonduel.
The following night the tour swings into 141 Speedway in Francis Creek for the Diamond 45 June 24.
(Opinion here) I will put this disclaimer in before I continue to opine. The Dirt Kings Tour is a great series which provides opportunities for local dirt late model racers to race at different venues.
Shawano Speedway is the ‘lone wolf’ so to speak when it comes to weekly late model racing on the eastern half of the state. Plymouth Dirt Track has it’s “Super Six” series hosting the division six nights on Saturdays. But Shawano’s weekly gig has been (for several decades) Saturday night.
I think it’s a crying shame that Dirt Kings went ahead and scheduled against Shawano’s regular Saturday night show at 141. Since Dirt Kings inception and in recent years it’s been the Shawano Speedway regulars who have by and large been the core of the Dirt Kings regular roster. The teams are forced to make a choice.
With the 141 show scheduled against Shawano odds are most of the top Shawano regulars who also support Dirt Kings will likely head to 141 for more money. To me, it’s a proverbial kick in the groin to Shawano. A classic case of biting the hand that feeds you? I think so. Whether Shawano hosts a six, seven or eight car late model field Saturday remains to be seen.
I am a fan of the Dirt Kings Tour. But I do sincerely hope that looking ahead to 2024 scheduling snafus like this can be avoided in the future.
LUXEMBURG HALL OF FAME NIGHT – Two former drivers and a longtime wrecker provider to the racetrack will be inducted into the 2023 Luxemburg Speedway Hall of Fame at The ‘Burg Speedway Sunday, June 25.
Former IMCA stock car champion “Smokin’ Joe” White of Oconto Falls will be inducted, along with a former street stock champion from Seymour, Dennis Young. Gene Rollins, best known as the owner/operator of Gene’s Deep Rock, will be the third inductee.
The Vintage Modifieds will also be on hand, joining the track’s regular five division program. A 5 p.m. start time is set for action at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.
NORWAY HALL OF FAMERS – Five former racers will be inducted into Norway (MI) Speedway’s Hall of Fame Friday, June 23. The inductees include Menominee, Michigan’s Don Anderson, Vulcan’s Tim Schultz Sr., Marquette, Michigan’s Don Britton, Norway’s Terry Mott, and the youngest ever inductee at 35 – Bonduel’s Dillon Kralovetz.
The action gets underway at 7 p.m.
KARTING KORNER – Karters and Lawn Mower racers will have some hefty hardware to race for at GSR Kartway in Clintonville Wednesday, June 21 courtesy of the Kim Parsons Memorial Trophy Tour. Fairchild Equipment sponsors the nights activities which will commence at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile Arrow Auto will sponsor the night’s activities at Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park in Cecil. Rookie Box Stock drivers will be introduced to the crowd prior to their feature. Action at the Cecil karting oval begins at 7 p.m.
Get out and support your local racetrack IN PERSON. NOTHING beats being there.
2O23 NORTHEAST WISCONSIN DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (after June 18, 2023)
(Divisions include late model, modified, sportmod, stock car, grand national and four cylinder. Tracks included will be Seymour, Chilton, Francis Creek, Shawano, Sturgeon Bay, Luxemburg, Plymouth and Beaver Dam. It will include IMCA sanctioned and non-sanctioned classes)
LATE MODEL
Taylor Scheffler 2 (Farmer City)
Ron Berna 2
Nick Anvelink 2 (Cedar Lake)
Brad Mueller 1
Gunnar Frank 1
A.J. Diemel 1 (Red Cedar, DK)
Mike Mullen 1
Mitch McGrath 1
Lukas Postl 1
MODIFIED
Johnny Whitman 4
Marcus Hoeppner 4
Mike Mullen 3
Brandon Schmidt 3
Matt Klenz 3
Jesse Cullen 2
Lucas Lamberies 2
Jeff Schmuhl 2
Cole Czarneski 2
Benji LaCrosse 1
Steve Schneider 1
Steve Mueller 1
Joel Crowbridge 1 (Wilmot)
Todd Dart 1
Kevin Feck 1
Shawn Kilgore 1
Marcus Yarie 1
Tim Ward 1
Jordan Bartz 1
Wyatt Block 1
Will Garceau 1
STOCK CAR
Mitch Meier 5
Tyler Wilson 4
Travis Van Straten 3
Kenny Richards 3
Tim Warner 3
Luke Lemmens 3
Jared Siefert 2 (Jackson)
Eric Arneson 2
Kyle Frederick 1
Jeremy Christians 1
Brett Wenzel 1
Eric Mahlik 1
Tim Mueller 1
Devin Snellenberger 1
Dylan Stedjee 1
Brandon Czarapata 1
Travis Stadler 1
Chase Parker 1
Caden LeMieux 1
Nick Strobbe 1
Logan Rhode 1
Aaron Stolp 1
Troy Muench 1
Cole Czarneski 1
SPORTMOD
Skyler Woods 4
Jake Carpenter 3
Zach Raab 3
Brady Hashbarger 3 (Iowa)
Randy LeMieux Jr. 3
Tyler Sobiesczyk 3
Coy Vlies 3
Jimmy Berkevich 2
Nick Schultz 2
Tim Warner 2
Cody Rass 2
Doug Maurer 1
Jeff Vlies 1
Sean Falk 1
Tim Sheppard 1
Elijah Koenig 1
Tony Gates 1
Mason Woods 1
J.J. Vanderloop 1
Craig Dorner 1
Jeffrey Teske 1
Derek Fehling 1
Tom Schneider 1
Cory Kemkes 1
Ryan Schmidt 1
Eric Craine 1
STREET STOCK
Paul Diefenthaler 7
Jesse Krahn 3
Cody Potter 2
James Fletcher 2
Justin Jacobsen 2
Jon Schultz 2
Brian Gundrum 2
Mike Zitzer 2
Ed Anschutz 2
Nick Wunrow 1
Parker Derks 1
Travis Zirbel 1
Matt Warner 1
Trey Van Straten 1
Shaun Bangart 1
Justin Jacobsen 1
Dan Van Pay 1
Jared Spaulding 1
Jason White 1
Garrett Geyer 1
Larry Richards 1
GRAND NATIONAL
T.J. Smith 3
Nick Schumacher 2
Brad Weiss 2
Derek Schrauth 2
Aaron Streblow 1
Chad Espen 1
Will Source 1
Maverick Ruh 1
Dustin Weiss 1
Dan Schumacher 1
Jeff Richards 1
Justin Pearson 1
FOUR CYLINDER
Trevor Cronick 5
Adam Broehm 4
Tanner Westphal 3
Roman Blank 2 (Wilmot)
James Riske 2
Thomas Schulte 2
James Reese 2
Scott Schlafke 2
Brian Watzka Jr. 1
Carl King 1
Nathan Lisowe 1
Bailey Tate 1
Justin Finlan 1
Brad Wedde 1
Matt Brehmer 1
Tanner Pari 1
Noah Peschke 1
Brett Deprez 1