Top Milwaukee Area Ace Russ Scheffler Commits to Luxemburg's "Battle of the Berg"! By Joe Verdegan

May 28, 2002; Luxemburg, WI. - One of the Milwaukee-area's top dirt late model stars will give eastern Wisconsin's best a run for their money at Luxemburg Speedway's "Battle of The 'Burg" 50 lap dirt late model feature special on Friday, June 7.

Nine time Hales Corners Speedway track champion Russ Scheffler has committed to the $1,500-to-win special event, the first appearance of late models at Luxemburg's third-mile, clay oval in more than ten years. Scheffler will wheel the Gracy's Auto Body/Woody's Signs sponsored Rayburn chassis. "To get thrown into a new car at a new track will be the ultimate challenge, no doubt," said Scheffler. "I've run Rayburn's before. And I've run against the eastern guys years ago up at Seymour. The track's layout is real close to what I run weekly at Hales Corners so it should be a real good challenge."

Scheffler has piled up more than 80 feature wins during his 15 year career. In addition to the nine titles at Hales Corners Scheffler was also the 1990 titleist at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway. His biggest career win came in 1999 when he emerged triumphant in the 200 lap Kevin Roderick Memorial event at LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway, paying a handsome $10,000.

Scheffler competes weekly at Hales Corners under the United Midwest Promoters (UMP) banner. Those cars feature often bigger, more powerful aluminum engines. The "Battle of the 'Burg" special features WISSOTA-style rules, using the smaller, cast iron motors. "I'm used to a car with a lot of horsepower, a lot of snap," said Scheffler. "But on a track that size and if everyone's running the same stuff it should even out pretty well."

More than twenty of eastern Wisconsin's top dirt late model drivers are expected, including two time WISSOTA national champion Pete Parker of Kaukauna, Gracyalny, 2001 Wisconsin state WISSOTA late model champion Troy Springborn, Former Shawano Speedway and Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway champion Tom Naeyaert of Shawano and many more. IMCA modifieds and IMCA stock cars will also be on the special Friday night card.

Late model teams are welcome for a pair of hot lap sessions at the speedway on Friday night, May 31.

The pit gates open at 5 p.m. with the late model draw cutoff on June 7 at 6:20 p.m. Racing starts at 7 p.m. For more information call 920 863 8446 or 920 490 0120. The track's website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com. Luxemburg Speedway is located 15 minutes east of Green Bay off highway 54 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. The track phone number is 920 845 2300.