Lemirande Leads Northern Surge Into Luxemburg June 11! By Joe Verdegan

June 2, 2004; Luxemburg, WI. - Although he lives in Cross Plains near Madison, Oconto Falls native Tim Lemirande considers himself a "northerner" when the dirt late models will converge at Luxemburg Speedway  Friday, June 11 for the third annual "Battle of the 'Burg" sponsored by Seubert Calf Ranches of  Dorchester, WI.

The event marks the first time the fledgling Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association (WDLMA) will make a stop at Luxemburg Speedway. Lemirande captured the series first race at Powercom Speedzone in Oshkosh May 18. The series features a blend of Milwaukee-area drivers that competed at the now defunct Hales Corners Speedway in Franklin and several WISSOTA late model drivers from eastern Wisconsin who compete regularly at ovals in Shawano, Antigo and Seymour.

"I really like what these guys are trying to do with this series," said Lemirande, who's competed and won at Luxemburg a few years back in a street stock and an IMCA stock car. "This series has a lot of potential. There is a myth that the UMP-type cars have some sort of a motor advantage. With the rear tires we've gotta run the cars are about as evenly matched as you can get."

Joining Lemirande in the northern contingent of eastern late model pilots are three drivers who've won features at Luxemburg's third-mile, clay oval during the past two seasons. The most successful of them has been 39-year veteran MJ McBride of Shawano, who's scored two wins, including the inaugural "Battle of the 'Burg" in 2002.

The other former winners are Oostburg's Gordie Seegert and Troy Springborn of Shawano. Other top contenders include one of Wisconsin's winningest dirt late model drivers, Pete Parker of Kaukauna; Green Bay's Ron Berna; the father and son duo of Terry and Nick Anvelink of Navarino; third generation drivers AJ Diemel of Bonduel and Luke Roffers of Oneida; Tom Naeyaert of Shawano; MJ Hintz of De Pere; Tim Buhler of Glenbeulah; Cody Grosskruetz of Clintonville and Horicon's Lonnie Hoeft.

"This race has got the potential for 40 late models," said series director Brian Konopka. "With us paying out $1,750 to win and $200 to start, the payout is real solid down the middle." The feature will be 40 laps in length and a passing points system will be used to determine the feature lineup.

Along with the WDLMA racers will be the regular weekly program of IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars and IMCA hobby stocks. The pits open at 4 p.m. while the grandstand opens at 5:45 p.m. Racing gets underway at 7 p.m. For more information call 920 863 8446. For information on the WDLMA series  call 414 839 4945. The track phone is 920 845 2300. The track website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com. The series website is www.widirtlm.com.

Luxemburg Speedway is located 15 minutes east of Green Bay off highway 54 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.