Czarapata's Departure Leaves Luxemburg IMCA Stock Car Title Chase Wide Open! By Joe Verdegan

April 9, 2004; Luxemburg, WI. - Brandon Czarapata's decision not to defend his 2003 IMCA stock car championship at Luxemburg Speedway has got his foes licking their chops.

The Horicon driver became a father during the off season, and it's that family time that will curtail his Friday night racing for much of the upcoming 2004 season. "I'll be at Luxemburg the first few weeks," said Czarapata, who beat out Pulaski's Rod Snellenberger by a mere three points despite not qualifying for a feature race one night last year. "I'll hit a couple of the big money specials they'll put up. But I've gotta curtail my racing a little bit right now."

In a division that boasted nearly 40 cars strong on a weekly basis and had only one driver (Tim Van De Hei) who qualified for every feature, 2004 has a number of variables that will likely turn this year's title chase into a virtual crapshoot. Of the top twenty drivers in last season's point standings just thirteen will be returning on a weekly basis, while others like Van De Hei move up to the IMCA modifieds. Still others have indicated they will make occasional visits to Luxemburg, while others plan on taking the year off.

Still, several talented driver's will have a fighting shot for the crown, including Snellenberger and last year's third place finisher Shawn Kilgore of Kewaunee. "If I had to pick somebody to be the top dog it would be (Shawn) Kilgore," said Czarapata. "He really had his car hooked up well at Luxemburg and he'll be tough. Craig Paque (Algoma) runs tough as well as my cousin Jason (Czarapata, Pulaski). Those guys should all be there at the end of the year."

In addition, Kewaunee's Brian Bruechert and son Derrick could very well be in the thick of things this season, along with Gillett's Kyle Frederick, Hortonville's Travis Van Straten, Junior Karcz of Pulaski, Greenleaf's Jamie Colwell, Kewaunee's Greg Gretz, Luxemburg's Pat Davister, Brussels Jeff "PePe" Vlies and Algoma driver's Dave and Tony Bouche.

"Our car counts in this division will still remain solid," said track manager Rick Goral. "Each year you lose a fewguys and pick up a few new ones." This season Goral will be adding cars to each feature race for those classes in which the car count exceeds 40. "If the car count is between 40-44 we'll start 22 instead of 20. If it's 45 and up we'll start 24. It gives a few guys an extra chance of getting into the main when the car count is really high."

Luxemburg Speedway's season opener is Friday night, April 30 at 7 p.m. IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars, IMCA hobby stocks and sport fours will compete weekly at the third-mile, clay oval. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track phone is 920 845 2300. The track website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com.

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