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Business 29, Shawano, WI

Racing The Big Half-Mile Oval Track Every Saturday Night!

ATTENTION: SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS

By: Bert Lehman

Ritchie leads flag-to-flag to win WISSOTA Late Model feature at Shawano

Shawano, WI (July 11, 2009) - Another beautiful night of racing graced Shawano Speedway Saturday night. Justin Ritchie won his second WISSOTA Late Model feature, while Lance Arneson won his first-ever IMCA Modified feature at the Speedway. Rod Snellenberger found himself in victory lane again, winning his fifth feature in the IMCA Stock division, while Jason Jach won his first-ever IMCA Sport Mod feature at the Speedway. A.J. Diemel cruised to his fourth Fastrak Late Model feature win.

Justin Ritchie used his front row starting spot to grab the quick lead over Mark Mitchell, Troy Springborn, Tom Naeyaert and A.J. Diemel in the WISSOTA Late Model feature. Diemel grabbed the fourth spot a couple laps later as Ritchie pulled out to a slight lead. Mitchell fell to fourth on the sixth lap with Springborn and Diemel each moving up a spot.

Midway through the race Nick and Terry Anvelink joined the top five. Nick Anvelink made his way by Diemel with eight laps remaining and set his sights on Springborn. He pulled alongside Springborn three laps later and made the pass by driving almost as low on the track on the frontstretch as possible. But with the laps winding down, and Ritchie having a big lead, it was Ritchie cruising to the win over Nick Anvelink, Springborn, Terry Anvelink and Diemel.

In the IMCA Modified feature Jerry Wilinski led the first four laps before Lance Arneson grabbed the top spot. Wilinski, Eddie Muenster, Jason Czarapata and Dave Diemel were all in pursuit. Arneson built himself a slight lead over the several laps.

With eight laps remaining Muenster and Czarapata engaged in a side-by-side battle when the only caution of the race took place. Arneson continued to lead on the restart with Muenster moving to second, followed by Wilinski, Czarapata and Tim Van De Hei. Muenster challenged Arneson for the lead immediately after the race was restarted, but Arneson was up to the challenge, taking the win. He was followed by Muenster, Wilinski, Czarapata and Mike Mullen.

Scott Stewart led the first lap of the IMCA Stock Car feature, only to give it up to Devin Snellenberger on the second lap. The two battled side-by-side for the next two laps with Stewart claiming the top spot and Greg Gretz moving to second. After a caution, the race was restarted with Stewart maintaining his lead with another caution flag waving a couple laps later.

One lap after the race was restarted Gretz took over the top spot only to retire to the pits in a hurry on the very next lap. This gave the lead back to Stewart with Rod Snellenberger, Nate Michonski, Larry Karcz Jr and Greg Gutt following. On a restart with three laps remaining, Rod Snellenberger took the lead from Stewart and went on to the victory over Michonski, Karcz Jr., Devin Snellenberger and Gutt.

Using a high-side pass, A.J. Diemel moved into the lead on the second lap of the Fastrak Late Model feature. Dan Wanta, Joel Bennett, Mike Stangl and Justin Hirt were all in pursuit. Diemel extended his lead with the passing of each lap, as Hirt was making his way through the top five. With Hirt firmly planted in second, Joe Reuter joined the top five.

Just past the midpoint of the race, Brett Swedberg also joined the top five as Diemel continued to build his lead. When the checkered flags waved, it was Diemel winning by half-a-lap over Hirt, Wanta, Reuter and Swedberg.

In the IMCA Sport Mod feature Jason Jach jumped out to the lead over Clint Forstner, Tom Natzke, Aaron Holiday and Johnny Whitman. Whitman moved to third on the next lap with Matt Oreskovich also joining the top five. By lap six Forstner pulled up to Jach’s rear bumper and pressured Jach for the next five laps.

With five laps remaining, Jach continued to lead as Forstner, Oreskovich, Whitman and Tracy Wassenberg all raced in a pack. Forstner continued to apply pressure for the lead, but there was no denying Jach, as he won his first ever feature at the Speedway. He was followed by Forstner, Wassenberg, Oreskovich and Whitman.

Racing action continues Saturday, July 18 with racing getting underway at 6 p.m. For more information about Shawano Speedway, visit www.shawanospeedway.net.

RACING SUMMARY

WISSOTA LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)Justin Ritchie, 2)Nick Anvelink, 3)Troy Springborn, 4)Terry Anvelink, 5)A.J. Diemel, 6)Mark Mitchell, 7)Tom Naeyaert, 8)Gordie Seegert, 9)Ron Berna, 10)Craig Bartz. FIRST HEAT: 1)Springborn, 2)Bartz, 3)Naeyaert. SECOND HEAT: 1)N. Anvelink, 2)Diemel, 3)Ritchie.

IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE: 1)Lance Arneson, 2)Eddie Muenster, 3)Jerry Wilinski, 4)Jason Czarapata, 5)Mike Mullen, 6)Tim Van De Hei, 7)Jared Siefert, 8)Brad Rohloff, 9)Dave Diemel, 10)Jerry Muenster. FIRST HEAT: 1)Siefert, 2)John Peters, 3)J. Muenster. SECOND HEAT: 1)Wilinski, 2)Czarapata, 3)Van De Hei. THIRD HEAT: 1)Arneson, 2)E. Muenster, 3)Mike Knapp.

IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE: 1)Rod Snellenberger, 2)Nate Michonski, 3)Larry Karcz Jr., 4)Devin Snellenberger, 5)Greg Gutt, 6)Barry Van Straten, 7)Mitchell Stankowski, 8)Alan Gast, 9)Vern Stedjee, 10)Mike Asenbrener. FIRST HEAT: 1)Greg Gretz, 2)R. Snellenberger, 3)D. Snellenberger. SECOND HEAT: 1)Van Straten, 2)Karcz Jr., 3)Gutt.

FASTRAK LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)A.J. Diemel, 2)Justin Hirt, 3)Dan Wanta, 4)Joe Reuter, 5)Brett Swedberg, 6)Mike Weisnicht, 7)M.J. McBride, 8)Aaron Wickersheim, 9)Zack Barrow, 10)Joel Bennett. FIRST HEAT: 1)Reuter, 2)Diemel, 3)Wanta. SECOND HEAT: 1)Dave Fieber, 2)Mike Stangl, 3)Hirt.

IMCA SPORT MOD FEATURE: 1)Jason Jach, 2)Clint Forstner, 3)Tracy Wassenberg, 4)Matt Oreskovich, 5)Johnny Whitman, 6)Travis Van Straten, 7)Tim Jorgenson, 8)Aaron Holiday, 9)Tom Natzke, 10)Chad Jaje. FIRST HEAT: 1)Jaje, 2)Whitman, 3)Natzke. SECOND HEAT: 1)Jach, 2)Jorgenson, 3)Wassenberg.