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Big Payday
For Mullen at Luxemburg!
By Tom Wagner |
September 3, 2004;
Luxemburg, WI. - While not intended for racing, the famous quote from
legendary baseball personality Yogi Berra is perfect for describing Friday night's
modified feature at the Luxemburg Speedway. The quote: "It ain't
over...'till it's over."
Such was the case for Scott Mullen, as the recently crowned track
champ saw a huge lead wiped away by caution, then needed to fight off a determined Jeremy
Jacobs to win the Prestige Custom Cabinetry 40 lap modified special taking home $1,500 in
the process. The night proved to be an encore performance for two other 2004 track
champs, Shawn Kilgore in the stock cars and Tyler Smith in the Sport Fours, as both were
also feature winners. In the hobby stocks, it was second year pilot Dave Lane
capturing his second trophy in a row.
With points out the window for the open special, starting feature spots were determined by
the luck of the draw. And Mullen had the best luck of all. Picking the pole
position, he quickly parlayed the good fortune into a commanding lead. Aiding his
escape from the rest of the pack, was a torrid battle for second, featuring Brad Rohloff,
Todd Dart, Mike
Klenz, Jay Matthias, R.M. VanPay, Brian Mullen, Sean Jerovetz and Jacobs.
With that position contested, Mullen was able to fly to a solid half-lap advantage,
lapping over half of the 24 car starting field in the process. Dart finally won the
war for second after 24 straight green flag laps, but had no chance what-so-ever of
catching Mullen. But in just four laps, the complexion of the race changed entirely.
Flying down the front-stretch, Billy LeMieux's left rear wheel popped free, sending
it bouncing into the first turn. The resulting yellow flag meant that Mullen's
insurmountable advantage was washed away to nothing.
Not only was the lead gone, but the contenders suddenly back in the mix included five area
past or present track champs (Jacobs, Dart, VanPay, Jared Siefert and Scott's brother
Brian), plus other veterans all with feature winning credentials.
The first of the all-star pack to take a shot at the leader was Dart. After a good restart
from Scott Mullen, Dart closed and began to work the low line. On the 31st circuit,
Dart made a dive to the inside between one and two, briefly pulling even with Mullen.
But the car came around, sending Dart into a slide. Yellow flew again,
signaling another cease fire and an end to Dart's shot at the win. With Dart
relegated to the back of the field, the next challenger to the plate was Jacobs.
With Brian Mullen, Matthias and VanPay running side by side for third behind him, Jacobs
was able to concentrate on Scott Mullen. He too tried to gain the inside edge,
probing several times, but could never drive in deep enough to wrestle the preferred line
from the Mullen. On the final turn of the final lap, Jacobs finally gained the
footing and was able to get his front bumper just about up to Mullen's door panel. But the
last ditch effort fell just short, sending Mullen to the big score by less than a car
length.
Establishing the outside line, VanPay secured third with two laps to go. He was
chasing down the lead duo as the checkers flew. Brian Mullen, Matthias and Siefert
completed the top six.
Kilgore also picked a good starting spot for the stock car feature. In just two
laps, he moved from the second row past Shawn Havel into the lead for good. Settling
in up front, it appeared like Kilgore could cruise home to the win. However, the
stock car feature story followed the same script as the modified headliner.
Jason Czarapata shadowed Kilgore early, but left pretty much alone running for second.
Travis VanStraten had taken third from Laurel Ettien on the 12th lap, but would
have had trouble catching Czarapata. That's when the cautions started flying and
things got interesting again. Despite not causing the first amber, VanStraten was
dropped from contention after being send to the pits under caution to remove the front
cowling which had been torn loose after a brush with an infield tire.
Any hope of an easy win was gone at that point, as incidents stopped things with four laps
and only two laps to go. Czarapata and Ettien stayed close, as did Troy DeGrave.
Joining them for the late push were two drivers who came from deep in the field.
Kyle Frederick drove to the front despite an eighth row starting spot, and Joe
White advanced from dead last on the 20 car starting grid to challenge for the win at the
final sprint.
The laps green-white-checker segment saw Kilgore take the win, with Czarapata, White,
DeGrave, Ettien and Frederick closely in tow.
A late caution kept things interesting for Lane in the hobby stock feature. He
grabbed the point from Duane Mertens on lap three, but was forced to fend off Tom Brumlic
for the second straight week following a restart on lap 13.
Brumlic pressured to the wire, but it was Lane recording his second career Luxemburg win,
going back to back in the process. Derek Moede, Ed Anschutz, Dan Davister and track
champ Keith Kickbusch rounded out the top six.
Just like the hobby stock finale, the Sport Four feature was a carbon copy of the previous
week's finish. Smith, starting from the pole, was chased to the wire by Greg Banker.
Banker had a couple shots at the inside, but Smith was able to fend him off each
time en route to the win.
Racing takes a break at the Speedway until the rescheduled Battle of the Burg III takes to
the clay as part of the two-day Fall Spectacular October 1&2. The Wisconsin Dirt
Late Model Association will headline the Friday night slate, joined by modifieds, stock
cars and street stock running a complete show featuring qualifiers and features. The
mods, stocks and streets will be back Saturday with hobby stocks and Sport Fours also on
the card. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track's website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com.
MODIFIED
40 LAP FEATURE: Scott Mullen, Seymour - Jeremy Jacobs, Algoma - R.M. VanPay,
Green Bay - Brian Mullen, Seymour - Jay Matthias, Green Bay - Jared Siefert, Green Bay.
Semi-Feature: Sean Jerovetz, Little Suamico - Tim VanDeHei, Green Bay - Danny Deau,
Suamico - James Tebon, Algoma
Heat 1: Siefert - Eric VanIten, Green Bay
Heat 2: Brad Rohloff, Pulaski - Matthias
Heat 3: Jacobs - Billy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
STOCK CAR
25 LAP FEATURE: Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee - Jason Czarapata, Kewaunee - Joe
White, Oconto Falls - Troy DeGrave, Green Bay - Troy Muench, Sturgeon Bay - Kyle
Frederick, Gillet
Sem-feature: Frederick - Jeff Vlies, Kewaunee - Muench - Brandon Mindak, Casco
Heat 1: Czarapata - Dave Davister, Luxemburg
Heat 2: Mike Wietor, Green Bay - Craig Paque, Algoma
Heat 3: Shawn Havel, Brussels - Kilgore
HOBBY STOCK
18 LAP FEATURE: Dave Lane, Green Bay - Tom Brumlic, Denmark - Derek Moede,
Casco - Ed Anschutz, Algoma - Dan Davister, Luxmeburg - Keith Kickbusch, Kewaunee
Heat 1: Brumlic - Mike Mueller, Green Bay
Heat 2: Anschutz - Jesse Behnke, Mishicot
SPORT FOUR
15 LAP FEATURE: Tyler Smith, Luxemburg - Greg Banker, Bonduel - D.J.
Jorgenson, DePere - Jim Roffers, DePere - Bruce Sand, Two Rivers - Pokey Schlise, Shawano
Heat 1: Sand - Smith
Heat 2: Greg Gawryleski, Green Bay - Schlise |