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MCGRATH TOPS LUXEMBURG WDLMA HEADLINER

(Luxemburg, WI – June 3, 2016) Mitch McGrath scored a feature win at the Luxemburg Speedway thanks, in part, to the old racing adage – in order to finish first, first you must finish.

That was the case for two strong contenders as McGrath held on for the Late Model win in dramatic fashion Friday in the division’s only visit to the Speedway this season.
Joining the Waukesha racer in victory lane in the Speedway’s weekly classes were Benji LaCrosse in the IMCA Modifieds, Evan Madden in the IMCA Stock Cars, Randy LeMieux, Jr in the IMCA Northern Sport Mods and Street Stocker Dan VanPay.

The Late Models were on hand Friday night as part of the Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association (WDLMA) Lucky 7 series that competes at various tracks through the summer. While many of the series regulars have made infrequent visits to Luxemburg, the early favorite on the night appeared to be someone very familiar with the third mile oval; Jared Siefert.

Siefert’s Luxemburg resume includes successful stints in both the Street Stock and Modified classes, so it came as no surprise that he would be strong in the Late Model as well.
After winning the WDLMA dash to claim the feature pole position, he was off and running early in the 40 lap headliner. McGrath tried a few inside moves early, but Siefert steadily began to edge away in the early stages.
But in just seven laps, the big night ended abruptly as he suddenly slowed on the front stretch, making a direct exit to the pits.

McGrath inherited the point, but it was a short stay, as Mike Mullen swung to the outside to take over after two laps.

The two pulled away, with Brett Swedberg and Nick Anvelink a bit further back in a contest for third
McGrath appeared to gain momentum as the green laps ticked off, and at the halfway mark, he slipped to the inside of Mullen to retake the lead.

Anvelink had displaced Swedberg by then and began to rapidly close on Mullen and the runner-up spot. With 16 to go, he made a dive to the inside of Mullen through 3 & 4, but contact sent the two into a slide, producing the event’s lone caution.

Mullen was granted his spot back, with Anvelink sent to the back of the field and out of contention.

Mullen didn’t waste the opportunity, using the outside line again to pass McGrath for first. Then it happened again. After just three laps back out front, Mullen slowed on the front stretch, and like Siefert before him, headed to the pits done for the night.

To claim the trophy, McGrath still had to endure a late charge from Taylor Scheffler, who caught him with two to go. Some contact between the two set the stage for a dramatic last lap, with McGrath crossing the line first and Scheffler following in his shadow.

Swedberg completed the podium finishers with a solid third place run. Russ Scheffler edged Brad Mueller for fourth after dueling most of the way.

While the Modified feature didn’t sport any last lap pass attempts, it did provide plenty of excitement up front just the same.

LaCrosse started back in the sixth row, but caught a perfect seem early and jumped to third by only the fourth lap. There he joined Josh Lambert and Jeremy Jacobs in a high speed chess match over the course of the next 10 laps.

The lead would revolve back and forth between the three, with LaCrosse either trying to slip between the two, or swing to the outside. He finally gained enough momentum on the outside to power past Lambert for the lead on the 14th lap, with no more serious challenges to contend with the rest of the way.

After racing nearly side by side for the entire event, Lambert would claim second from Jacobs to record his best finish since moving up from the Sport Mod class.

Point leader and two-time winner Shawn Kilgore closed late to place fourth with Mike Mashl rounding out the top five.

Madden outdueled veteran John Heinz to take top Stock Car honors. Heinz passed Larry Karcz, Jr for second on lap five, and then caught Madden up front four laps later.

The two broke from the field, and over the course of the next 11 laps, Heinz stalked Madden looking for the mistake that would open the door to the inside line to let him by. But the mistake never happened, with Madden showing the way from green to checker.
Shawn Havel passed Karcz in the late stages of the event for third with Rod Snellenberger posting the final top five spot.

If fans were looking for passing, they needed to look no further than the Sport Mod feature as the top four finishers all came from the fifth row on back.

Craig Dorner, rookie Gabe Zellner and Vince Engebretsen were in the hunt early. Dorner took the lead from Zellner on the seventh lap, with the charge from mid-pack on behind him. LeMieux set his course on the outside line, roaring up to take 2nd on the 10th lap.

Todd Wiese was right there with him producing a three car battle for the lead with Dorner. LeMieux emerged from the group to take control two laps later, with Dennis Meisler and Chris Budzban then joining the fray.

Meisler established himself as the prime contender for the win, maneuvering to the low line as LeMieux forged ahead on top.

The final lap proved to be a drag race out of four and down to the line. Meisler edged ahead through the corner, but LeMieux had just enough thrust on the higher line to charge back and score the win by a bumper.

Budzban, Wiese and Dorner crossed the stripe next in close quarter, with Dorner scoring his first top five finish after crossing over from the Stock Car class.

It took a bit for the Street Stock lead pack to sort out, with Jason Kostichka, Mike Carter, Brandon Fuhrmann, Dean Anhalt and Matt Kaye all in the hunt early.

After a series of cautions, VanPay moved into contention, passing Anhalt for the lead on the 8th lap.

Carter joined the lead duo and it was close quarters racing the rest of the way. Despite constant pressure, VanPay held the lead to the checker to pick up his first win in the division after several successful seasons in the Hobby Stocks.

Anhalt’s strong run went for naught as he spun almost midway down the front stretch on the final lap. Carter snuck by for second, followed by Bill Hayes, Kostichka and Justin Mahlberg who had started the race way back in the 9th row.

The night also featured the induction of the Luxemburg Speedway Hall of Fame class of 2016. All former track champions, the inductees were Street Stock and IMCA Modified racer Roy Ihlenfeld, Late Model ace Jerry Jonet and IMCA Stock Car star John Gregorich, the 1993 National IMCA Stock Car champion.

Racing resumes this Friday night with the Speedway’s regular five divisions on the card. Vandeyacht Well Drilling will host the annual Keeter Tebon Memorial, including the Showcase Kitchens Street Stock Special.

The Luxemburg Speedway is located at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg, with racing each Friday night through the summer at 7:00PM. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.luxemburgspeedway.com.

Luxemburg Speedway Results 6/3/2016
WDLMA Late Model 40 Lap Feature: 1-Mitch McGrath, 2-Taylor Scheffler, 3-Brett Swedberg, 4-Russ Scheffler, 5-Bradley “JJ” Mueller, 6-Justin Ritchie
B-Main: 1-Ritchie, 2-Tom Naeyaert, 3-Rick Scheffler, 4-Joe Reuter
Heat 1: 1-Justin Hirt, 2-Nick Anvelink
Heat 2: 1-McGrath, 2-Jared Siefert
Heat 3: 1-Mike Mullen, 2-Dave Fieber
Heat 4: 1-Swedberg, 2-Russ Scheffler
Dash: 1-Siefert, 2-McGrath
IMCA Modified Feature: 1-Benji LaCrosse, 2-Josh Lambert, 3-Jeremy Jacobs, 4-Shawn Kilgore, 5-Mike Mashl, 6-Rob Charapata
B Main 1: 1-Sean Jerovetz, 2-Luke Lemmens, 3-Tyler Hackett, 4-Mike Mullen
B Main 2: 1-Russ Reinwald, 2-Brian Mullen, 3-Eddie Muenster, 4-Dave Zeitler
Heat 1: 1-Jacobs, 2-Brian Joski
Heat 2: Charapata, 2-Brad Lautenbach
Heat 3: 1-Mashl, 2-Brad Theys
Heat 4: 1-Lambert, 2-LaCrosse
IMCA Stock Car Feature: 1-Evan Madden, 2-John Heinz, 3-Shawn Havel, 4-Larry Karcz, Jr, 5-Rod Snellenberger, 6-Jamie Suchocki
B Main 1: 1-Dylan Heilmann, 2-Bob Czarapata, 3-Paul Holschuh, 4-Chris Malfroid
B Main 2: 1-Brain Ambrosius, 2-Barry VanStraten, 3-Kelly Rabe, 4-Rick Dix
Heat 1: 1-Troy Muench, 2-Tom Brumlic
Heat 2: 1-Madden, 2-Heinz
Heat 3: 1-Dave Reinhardt, 2-Suchocki
Heat 4: 1-Karcz, 2-John Anschutz
IMCA Northern Sport Mod Feature: 1-Randy LeMieux Jr, 2-Dennis Meisler, 3-Chris Budzban, 4-Todd Wiese, 5-Craig Dorner, 6-Vince Engebretsen
B Main 1: 1-Race VanPay, 2-Sawyer Haese, 3-Marcus Moede, 4-Shawn Umentum
B Main 2: 1-Jacob Zellner, 2-Hunter Parsons, 3-Wayne Haines, 4-Doug Maurer
Heat 1: 1-Engebretsen, 2-Troy DeGrave
Heat 2: 1-Budzban, 2-Dorner
Heat 3: 1-Scott Boyea, 2-Cody Rass
Heat 4: 1-LeMieux, 2-Gabe Zellner
Street Stock Feature: 1-Dan VanPay, 2-Mike Carter, 3-Bill Hayes, 4-Jason Kostichka, 5-Justin Mahlberg, 6-Scott Boulanger
Heat 1: 1-Carter, 2-VanPay
Heat 2: 1-Kostichka, 2-Boulanger
Heat 3: 1-Craig Vanderwettering, 2-Hayes

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