Scott Owen, Special to the Leader
Highway 22 Shell night at the races proved to be a historic night Saturday at Shawano Speedway, with Lucas Lamberies becoming the first racer this season to succeed in the Challenge (opting to start in last place).
Lamberies picked up not only his first win of the year in the IMC Sport Mod feature at the Speedway, but also took home an extra $250 for winning the Challenge. The Clintonville teenager is the first driver this year to win the Challenge in any class.
In the Late Model feature, Paul Parker took the lead after a restart on lap four and held off Nick Anvelink in a side-by-side battle in the final lap for the win, his first of the season at Shawano Speedway.
Also, Travis Vanstraten (IMCA Stock Car) won his fourth feature in a row, Matt Oreskovich (IMCA Modified) won his first feature of the year, and Josh Slewinski (Mighty Four) came from last to win his second straight feature.
Late Models
Outside pole sitter Michael Stangl led the first three laps of the Late Model feature. Parker took the lead after a restart on lap No. 4, while Doug Blashe moved into the second position.
On lap No. 9, with Parker still leading, Nick Anvelink passed Justin Hirt to move into third. After a lap No. 13 restart, Anvelink passed Blashe to take second.
The race stayed green the rest of the way. As the laps ticked off, Parker continued to lead with Anvelink right on his back bumper looking for a way around.
As the race for the lead was taking place, Blashe and Troy Springborn locked horns in a battle for third. As the white flag waived, Anvelink took to the inside of Parker and the pair raced side by side down the back straight away and into turn three. They crossed under the flag stand still side by side with Parker winning by the slimmest of margins. Blashe held off Springborn to take third.
IMCA Modifieds
Mark Weisnicht battled his nephew Chad Olson on the opening laps of the IMCA Modifieds feature.
Eddie Muenster passed Olson for second on lap four, with Weisnicht still leading. Weisnicht led the first 12 laps of the race before Oreskovich wrestled the lead from him on lap No. 13.
Oreskovich held off Weisnicht and Eddie Muenster to win his first feature of the year. Muenster passed Weisnicht on the final lap to finish second.
IMCA Stock Cars
Nate Michonski led the first three laps of the IMCA Stock Car feature before being overtaken by VanStraten, who started the race in eighth place.
VanStraten would lead the rest of the way to win his fourth feature race in a row. Michonski held off Mike Schmidt to finish in second. Shawn Wagner took the Challenge and finished in eighth after starting in last.
IMCA Sport Mods
In the IMCA Sport Mod feature, Lamberies took the Challenge, electing to start in last place.
Lamberies didn’t take long getting to the front of the field, though. He took the top spot from early race leader Brandon Nygaard on lap five.
Lamberies looked like he would run away with the race, while Jordan Bartz and Jason Jach tried to run him down.
A lap 13 caution wiped away the Lamberies lead.
On the restart, though, Lamberies quickly began to pull away again. Bartz did not give up. She quickly reeled the leader back in on the ensuing laps.
The pair of second-year racers battled it out over the final laps with Lamberies prevailing. Bartz raced to a solid second-place finish. Jach took third.
Lamberies took home an extra $250 for winning the Challenge.
Mighty Fours
In Mighty Four action, Grant Kastning led the opening lap before giving way to Tanner Westphal. Westphal then led the race until Scott Blanke made a pass for the lead on lap nine.
Meanwhile, Slewinski had worked his way through the field to take second on lap 10 after starting 17th. On lap 11, Slewinski overtook Blanke for the lead and went on to win his second feature in a row.
Eliminators
Matt Congos put an end to Brian Welch’s undefeated streak to win the four- and six-cylinder Spectator Eliminators. Dave Stoffer beat Mike Sortino to take the V8 finale.
This week
Racing will continue at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the fourth annual Racing for a Reason night. More information is available at www.shawanospeedway.net.