Gregorich wins wild Late Model Feature

By: Sandy Shultz
June 4, 2009

(KAUKAUNA, WI) Eugene Gregorich Jr. of Kewaunee won the Fox River Racing Club thirty lap late model feature at Wisconsin International Raceway. Gregorich started the race from the eleventh position, advancing to the lead on lap twelve, after a multi car pile-up coming out of turn four. Rookie Kevin Eggert jumped out to the early lead and battled with Maxwell Schultz, for the first seven laps , when Tim Rothe passed the two for the lead. Rothe and Schultz raced side by side for the next several laps until lap twelve when the two tangled coming out of turn four. Rothe and Schultz made contact, sending Schultz spinning and collecting several top contenders, including Andy Monday and Nate Van Wychen, who were running in third and fourth positions at the time. The red flag was quick to follow while the track was cleared. Eleven cars were involved in the accident and Rothe was sent to the back of the field, which gave the lead to Gregorich.

On the restart, Gregorich was followed by Kyle Calmes and Lowell Bennett. Calmes and Bennett brought out the third caution just two laps later when the two touched coming out of turn one. Gregorich held the lead on the restart and Mark Schroeder was in second position. Jeff Van Oudenhoven, who had come into the pits during the first caution on lap seven, had worked his way to the third position, and passed Schroeder with just ten laps to go. VanOudenhoven was closing in on Gregorich, but wasn’t able to take advantage of the restart with just four laps to go. Gregorich held on for the win, followed by VanOudenhoven, Schroeder, Bennett and Tom Gee Jr. After two weeks, VanOudenhoven leads the point standings by 26 points over Bennett.

Kris Kelly once again took home the checkered flag in the limited late model feature. Kelly started the twenty lap feature from the tenth spot and had climbed his way to the third position by lap six. Jeff Tisler took the early lead followed by Andrew Kluck. Kelly battled with Kluck on lap ten, eventually passing him on the backstretch on lap eleven and passing leader Tisler coming out of turn four the same lap. Meanwhile, fast qualifier Jim Duchow, had worked his way up to the fourth position. One lap later, caution slowed the field. Duchow jumped to second position on the restart, but was never able to challenge Kelly for the lead. Kelly won his second feature of the season; Duchow was second, followed by Todd Verhagen, heat race winner Randy Van Roy, and Gary Natrop. Kelly leads the point standings by just 4 points over Duchow.

Corey Manders of Hilbert started on the pole and led every lap of the Super Stock feature. Manders was followed by Sawyer Effertz, David Hoerning, Todd Baumann, and Dylan Wenzel. Effertz is leading the point standings by seven points over team drivers Greg Hauser and Dan Gracyalny.

In Sport Truck action, Ron Magdanz, of Fremont was the feature winner. Magdanz passed Josh Jeske for the lead on lap nine. Magdanz pulled away from the rest of the field, surviving a late race caution to take the checkered flag. Jeske finished second, followed by Dan Vixmer, Reagan May and Jason Plutz. Magdanz leads Vixmer by just one point in the Championship standings.

Tom Schweitzer won the 15-lap Sizzling Four feature event. Schweitzer held off Tim Richter, Keith Bumstead, Wayne Sonkowsky, and Bill Bruehl. Richter and Schwietzer are tied for the top spot in the point standings, while Leah Zwiers is in third, just seven points back.

Jared Baughman won the Figure Eight feature. The win elevates him to first place in the championship standings with a 50 point lead over Ken Van Wychen and Willy Van Camp.

Next Thursday is the first race in the Red, White & Blue State Championship Series. The Red Race features a 75-lap late model event with a full night of racing for all other divisions.
 

The next FRRC event is June 11th 2009