The Scoop
RAAB GETS 5TH SPORTMOD WIN OF ’23 – REGIONAL DIRT FEATURE TOTALS & MORE
Posted on: Sunday August 6, 2023
Antigo’s Zack Raab picked up his 5th IMCA northern sportmod feature win of the year at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour Friday. (danlewisphoto.net)
As hard as it may be to believe, the racing season is already into the dog daze of summer. August traditionally sees weekly car counts take a bit of a nosedive (with an exception here and there). When Green Bay Packer training camp also underway and the heat of the summer, track promoters and operators (there is a difference) also see a dip in the front gate numbers (spectator paid attendance). Families try to squeeze in another vacation or two prior to the kids going back to school.
At any rate it’s now as important as ever to get out and support your local racetrack in person whenever possible. Drivers continue in many cases to opt to travel to special events versus supporting their weekly shows. Anyways here’s a brief recap of the weekend and a look ahead.
BY THE NUMBERS – Paul Diefenthaler’s utter dominance in the Unified Dirt street stocks continues across northeastern Wisconsin. With his feature win at The ‘Burg Speedway Sunday night, the Manitowoc Ace has netted 16 feature flags in the division so far in ’23.
5 is the number of IMCA northern sportmod feature wins earned by Antigo’s Zack Raab so far in ’23. Raab’s latest victory came Friday night at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour.
Also, after not racing for nearly two months, Luxemburg native Chris “Dr. Love” Budzban picked up his 21st career IMCA northern sportmod feature win at The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg Sunday.
83 is the number of IMCA modified feature wins earned by Algoma’s Todd “Felix” Dart in his career after his Sunday night win at Luxemburg.
Horicon’s Jeremy Christians wins IMCA stock car career feature win number 105 following his victory qt Shawano Speedway Saturday night. 74 is the number of career feature wins earned by Luxemburg’s Dave “The Hammer” De Grave after his street stock feature win at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday. The victory was De Grave’s 33rd overall at the Sturgeon Bay oval.
Malone’s Tim Warner scored his 7th sportmod feature win of the season at Plymouth Dirt Track Saturday. 3 is the number of divisions Seymour’s Mike Mullen has scored feature wins in 2023. As of this past weekend the second-generation driver has picked up 5 IMCA modified wins, 3 late model feature victories and a solo $10,000 IMCA stock car win.
FIRST TIME WINNERS – A number of drivers scored their first feature wins of 2023 this past weekend. Among them are Seymour’s Jerry Wilinski (IMCA modified, Shawano Speedway), Manitowoc’s Zach Spangenberg (stock car, The Hill Raceway), Green Bay’s Hunter Parsons (modified, Gravity Park USA), Kewaunee’s Tyler Derenne (141 Speedway, IMCA stock car) Manitowoc’s Shawn Schmitt (141 Speedway, grand national) Oneida’s Kyle Jorgenson (Outagamie Speedway, IMCA sport compact).
PAVEMENT PONDERINGS – The TUNDRA super late model series swings into State Park Speedway in Wausau for the Rib Mountain Rumble Sunday, August 13. Joining the super late models on the north central Wisconsin quarter mile will be the WIR quarter-mile late models, sport trucks and the Dairyland Vintage racers. Qualifying is at 1:30 p.m. with the first green flag flying at 3 p.m.
WIR – After two weeks of no racing on the half-mile (at least on Thursday nights) action resumes at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Thursday, August 10. Last week water seepage from late afternoon storms forced Fox River Racing Club officials to cancel the half-mile portion of the show. The quarter-mile races went on without a hitch.
The week prior the program was canceled in the afternoon with projected rain in the forecast. Action at WIR gets underway at 6:30 p.m.
STURGEON BAY FAIR RACE – A Thursday night special will be run during the Door County Fair at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Thursday, August 10 at John Miles Park. The modifieds will join the track’s regular, weekly divisions. Racing gets underway at 6:30 p.m.
OUTAGAMIE SPEEDWAY – IMCA northern sportmods will battle for a $1,000-to-win top prize at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour Friday, August 11. All the track’s other divisions will also be in action beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds.
THE ‘BURG – It will be back to school/backpack giveaway night at The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg Sunday, August 13. The program, presented by Carter Construction, commences at 5 p.m. at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.
KARTING KORNER – It will be “Grip and Rip” Motorsports Night at GSR Kartway in Clintonville Wednesday August 9. The program consisting of kart and lawn mower racing gets underway at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile at Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park driver introductions are scheduled to take place for the Animal Pro division during Danielson Racing night at the Cecil clay oval beginning at 7 p.m.
2O23 NORTHEAST WISCONSIN DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (after August 6, 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
Nick Anvelink 4 (Cedar Lake)
Mike Mullen 3
Taylor Scheffler 3 (Farmer City)
Todd Frank 3
Ron Berna 2
Mitch McGrath 2
Lukas Postl 2
Gunnar Frank 2
Brad Mueller 1
A.J. Diemel 1 (Red Cedar, DK)
Justin Schmidt 1
Joel Bennett 1
MODIFIED
Johnny Whitman 5
Mike Mullen 5
Brandon Schmitt 5
Benji LaCrosse 5
Marcus Hoeppner 4
Steve Mueller 4 (Wilmot)
Matt Klenz 3
Jordan Bartz 3
Jesse Cullen 3
Jeff Schmuhl 3
Todd Dart 3
Lucas Lamberies 2
Cole Czarneski 2
Steve Schneider 2
Marcus Yarie 2
Joel Seegert 2 (Wilmot)
Mike Wedelstadt 2
Shawn Kilgore 2
Will Garceau 2
Joel Crowbridge 1 (Wilmot)
Kevin Feck 1
Tim Ward 1
Wyatt Block 1
Brian Crapser 1
Tyler DeBouche 1
Don Scheffler 1
Randy Markwardt Jr. 1
Scott Barnharst 1
Dave Schoenberger 1
Hunter Parsons 1
Jerry Wilinski 1
STOCK CAR
Kenny Richards 7
Tyler Wilson 6
Mitch Meier 6
Luke Lemmens 5
Travis Van Straten 4
Tim Warner 3
Eric Mahlik 3
Jared Siefert 3 (Jackson)
Eric Arneson 2
Brett Wenzel 2
Tim Mueller 2
Nick Strobbe 2
Trent Nolan 2
Brandon Czarapata 2
Caden LeMieux 2
Kyle Frederick 2
Jeremy Christians 2
Devin Snellenberger 1
Dylan Stedjee 1
Travis Stadler 1
Chase Parker 1
Logan Rhode 1
Aaron Stolp 1
Troy Muench 1
Cole Czarneski 1
Rod Snellenberger 1
Nick Buckarma 1
Brady Polcen 1
Vern Stedjee 1
Dan Sell 1
Aiden Gretz 1
Mike Mullen 1
Mitch Stankowski 1
Josh Mroczkowski 1
Jonathan Charles 1
Zach Spangenberg 1
Tyler Derenne 1
SPORTMOD
Tim Warner 7 (Escanaba)
Tyler Sobiesczyk 6
Skyler Woods 5
Zach Raab 5
Jake Carpenter 4
Coy Vlies 4
Brady Hashbarger 3 (Iowa)
Randy LeMieux Jr. 3
Cody Rass 3
Cory Kemkes 3
Jimmy Berkevich 2
Nick Schultz 2
Tom Schneider 2
Jeffrey Teske 2
Jeff Vlies 2
Eric Craine 2
Colton See 2
Jonathan Baumann 2
Ryan Schmidt 2
Michael Plate Sr. 2
Matt Radtke 2
Doug Maurer 1
Sean Falk 1
Tim Sheppard 1
Elijah Koenig 1
Tony Gates 1
Mason Woods 1
J.J. Vanderloop 1
Craig Dorner 1
Derek Fehling 1
Colton VanHierden 1
Andy Welter 1
Dylon Waldvogel 1
Kolton Roehl 1
Nick Kresbach 1
Hunter Larson 1
Jeff Steenbergen 1
Barry Maas 1
Max Oreskovich 1
Reagan May 1
James Dahlstrom 1
Chris Budzban 1
STREET STOCK
Paul Diefenthaler 16
Jesse Krahn 6
Shaun Bangart 5
Ed Anschutz 3
Justin Jacobsen 3
Cody Potter 2
James Fletcher 2
Jon Schultz 2
Brian Gundrum 2
Presley Harrington 2
Dan Van Pay 2
Jared Spaulding 2
Larry Richards 2
Courtney Atkinson 2
Nick Wunrow 1
Parker Derks 1
Travis Zirbel 1
Matt Warner 1
Trey Van Straten 1
Justin Jacobsen 1
Jason White 1
Garrett Geyer 1
Phillip Weusthoff 1
Russ Davison 1
Kelly Brown 1
Dave De Grave 1
GRAND NATIONAL
T.J. Smith 5
Will Source 4
Jeff Richards 3
Nick Schumacher 2
Brad Weiss 2
Derek Schrauth 2
Dustin Weiss 2
Dan Schumacher 2
Maverick Ruh 2
Justin Pearson 2
Aaron Streblow 1
Chad Espen 1
Daryl Traber 1
Mark Bailey 1
Ethan Beattie 1
Mike King 1
Bristol Hitsman 1
Ryan Minster 1
Nicholas Goeman 1
Shawn Schmitt 1
FOUR CYLINDER
Trevor Cronick 7
James Reese 6
Calvin Stueck 5
Scott Schlafke 5
Adam Broehm 4
James Riske 4
Tanner Westphal 3
Thomas Schulte 3
Roman Blank 2 (Wilmot)
Justin Finlan 2
Nathan Lisowe 2
Brian Watzka Jr. 2
Kenneth Becker 2
Brad Wedde 2
Carl King 1
Bailey Tate 1
Matt Brehmer 1
Tanner Pari 1
Noah Peschke 1
Brett Deprez 1
Jeremy Czarapata 1
Cody Booth 1
Lucas Hacker 1
Braidyn Cady 1
Kyle Jorgenson 1
Neil Watzka 1