LaCrosse Sweeps Luxemburg IMCA Modified Action! By Joe Verdegan

August 20, 2004; Luxemburg, WI. - Hometown driver Benji LaCrosse won both his heat and the 25 lap IMCA modified feature at Luxemburg Speedway Friday night, giving him a clean sweep for the evening.

Photo Highlights

Benji LaCrosse scores his second clean sweep of the year in the IMCA modified division. Benji LaCrosse (54) zips past Jared Siefert (66) in the IMCA modified feature. Gillett's Kyle Frederick mastered the high line en route to victory in the IMCA stock car feature. Tony Schlei of Zion Illinois in the IMCA hobby stock feature win. Schlei scoots past Duane "Mad Mert" Mertens for the IMCA hobby stock feature win. Pulaski's Rick Naparella wins a street stock heat. Forestville's Von Echenson won both the street stock feature and the series title at Luxemburg Speedway. Freddie "Andretti" Davister shows off his hardware after a top three points finish in the street stock series. Bonduel's Greg Banker chalked up yet another sport four feature win.

A total of 31 IMCA modifieds were on hand, along with 28 IMCA stock cars, 22 street stocks, 18 IMCA hobby stocks and 21 sport fours.

De Pere's Dean Maurer jumped into the lead from his front row starting spot at the drop of the green in the IMCA modified contest. Bob Waechter drew the first yellow of the race with a solo spin on lap four. Maurer kept the top spot on the restart, which lasted just two laps before Brad Rohloff and Danny Deau tangled in turn two.

When racing resumed Jared Siefert darted underneath Maurer for the lead, with Benji LaCrosse passing Maurer on the high side for second. LaCrosse committed to the top with Siefert's racer clinging to the lower groove through the rest of the contest. Siefert's racer suffered a breakdown on lap 11, handing the lead to LaCrosse. A lap 16 yellow tightened the field again, with Seaon Jerovetz moving into second on the restart. LaCrosse fought off Jerovetz in the final laps to score his second feature win of the season. Brian Mullen, who qualified into the feature from winning a semi-feature, nipped Jerovetz at the line for second. Jerovetz took third, followed by RM Van Pay and Todd Dart.

Gillett's Kyle Frederick used the tacky high line to his advantage to win the crash filled 22 lap IMCA stock car feature. The victory was Frederick's first of the year. Jeff "PePe" Vlies took second, followed by Jason Czarapata, Travis Van Straten and Rod Snellenberger.

Forestville's Von Echenson took the lead with five laps to go and won the 25 lap street stock feature. Echenson also accumulated enough points to win the five race street stock series points title.

Oshkosh's Jerry Kope passed Darren Otto for the lead on lap 10. Echenson passed Otto for second on lap 12 and the pair chased down Kope.An Allen Schlueter spin on lap 17 tightened the field. On the restart Kope had his hands full with the pair with Echenson passing Kope for the lead on lap 20. Echenson was never headed as he captured the feature and the division's series points title. Otto, Harley Simon, Fred Davister and Mike Pierarrd placed second through fifth, respectively.

Zion, Illinois' Tony Schlei grabbed the lead on a lap 3 restart and cruised to a full straightaway victory in the 18 lap IMCA hobby stock feature. Tom Brumlic, Keith Kickbush, Dave DeGrave and Dave Lane followed.

Bonduel's Greg Banker won his third sport four feature of the season. Banker also won his heat, scoring a sweep for the evening.

.Next Friday night August 27 Tri County Heating will sponsor the season championship night. Champions will be crowned in the four weekly divisions. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track phone number is 920 845 2300. The track's website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com.

RACE SUMMARY

25 lap IMCA modified feature - Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg; Brian Mullen, Seymour; Sean Jerovetz, Suamico; RM Van Pay, Green Bay; Todd Dart, Algoma; Dean Maurer, De Pere

12 lap semi features - 1st) Brian Mullen; Jeremy Jacobs, Kewaunee; Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; Scott Derenne, Luxemburg 2nd) Eric Van Iten, Green Bay; Doug Maurer, De Pere; Dan Ratajczak, Frog Stastion; Chris Derenne, Luxemburg

10 lap heats 1) Van Pay; Jay Matthias, Luxemburg 2) Mike Klenz, Sobieski; Danny Deau, Little Suamico 3) Brian Drexler, Oshkosh; Dart 4) LaCrosse; Randy LeMieux Jr., Sturgeon Bay

22 lap IMCA stock car feature - Kyle Frederick, Gillett; Jeff Vlies, Kewaunee; Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; Travis Van Straten, Hortonville; Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee

12 lap semi feature - Craig Paque, Algoma; Laurel Ettien, Luxemburg; Chris Van Iten, Green Bay; Dave Davister, Luxemburg

10 lap heats 1) Cory Suchoski, Bolt; Brandon Mindak, Casco 2) Greg Gretz, Kewaunee; Dave Bouche, Algoma 3) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; Troy DeGrave, Green Bay 4) Kyle Frederick, Gillett; Jason Czarapata, Pulaski

25 lap street stock feature - Von Echenson, Forestville; Darren Otto, Pulaski; Harley Simon, Seymour; Fred Davister, Luxemburg; Mike Pierrard, Green Bay; Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh

10 lap qualifying heat-1) Simon; Jerry Kope, Oshkosh

18 lap IMCA hobby stock feature - Tony Schlei, Zion, IL; Tom Brumlic, Denmark; Keith Kickbush, Kewaunee; Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg; Dave Lane, Green Bay; Evan Madden, Algoma

10 lap heats Joe Hegnet, Sturgeon Bay; Mike Mueller, Green Bay 2) Duane Mertens, Casco; Derek Moede, Casco

15 lap sport four feature - Greg Banker, Bonduel; Tyler Smith, Luxemburg; Kenny Malcore, Algoma; DJ Jorgenson, Oneida; Tim Jorgenson, Oneida; Jim Roffers, De Pere

8 lap heats 1) Dave Schlise, Shawano; Tyler Smith 2) Bruce Sand, Two Rivers; Malcore 3) Banker; Todd Welsing, Denmark

Powder Puff race winners - Cindy Van Pay, Amanda Johnson, Sue Cherney and Any Bruechert