By Scott Owen Special to the Leader
Contributed Photo Jordan Bartz used a last lap pass to snag her second win in the IMCA Sport Mod feature at Shawano Speedway on Saturday.
Former track champions Troy Springborn (Late Model) and Brad Nelson (Mighty Four) each notched their first feature wins of the Shawano Speedway 2019 season, but it was Sport Mod ace Jordan Bartz who stole the show with a last lap pass for her second win of the year on Saturday.
Bartz, racing without a left-side door panel after surviving a multi-car pileup on lap one, came from the back of the pack after repairs were made to the car by her pit crew.
IMCA Modified rookie Lucas Lamberies continued to amaze with his second win in a row in only his third night in the division. Dan Michonski also made it two wins in a row in the IMCA Stock Car class.
Jared Siefert and Springborn battled side-by-side on the opening lap of the Late Model feature, with Siefert leading the lap. Springborn made the pass on Siefert though on lap two. Springborn led the duration of the race for the win.
Siefert stayed with Springborn, but cold do no better than finishing second. Brett Swedberg made a last lap pass on Chris Engels to finish third. Engels and Derek Janke rounded out the top five.
Jerry Wilinski snagged the lead to open the IMCA Modified feature before quickly putting some distance between himself and the remainder of the field.
Mark Weisnicht soon began to close the gap on Wilinski, utilizing the outside groove of the track, inches from the concrete wall. Lance Arneson, Lucas Lamberies and Konnor Wilinski each began passing cars as well. On lap eight, Weisnicht pulled even with Wilinski before passing him on the next lap.
Lamberies soon moved to second before going to the inside of Weisnicht on lap 12 to take the lead and never look back. Weisnicht eventually fell victim to Arneson late in the race.
At the end it was Lamberies winning after starting tenth, Arneson second after starting eighth, Weisnicht in third, Konnor Wilinski coming from nineteenth for fourth and Jerry Wilinski finishing fifth.
Nate Michonski led the opening lap of the IMCA Stock Car feature. Lap two was a family affair as Nate’s brother, Dan Michonski, pulled alongside for the lead.
Trent Nolan moved to second, with Mike Schmidt third on the track. Late in the race, Travis VanStraten worked past Schmidt for third. At the end it was Dan Michonski the winner, being chased across the finish line by Nolan, VanStraten, Schmidt and Vern Stedjee.
The start of the IMCA Sport Mod feature was marred by an incident entering turn one at the start of the race in which most of the 24-car field was involved. Once the cars were removed from the track, a handful went to pit lane for repairs.
When the race resumed, it was Teagan Wudstrack grabbing the lead on the opening lap. Jason Jach went to the high line to take the lead on lap three. With Jach leading, Bartz began working her way through traffic towards the front of the field.
A late race caution brought about a one-lap shootout to decide the race. Jach was committed the high side, as he had been all race long. Bartz got to the inside entering turn three. The pair were even up exiting turn four, with Bartz winning the drag race to the checkered flag. Jach, Wudstrack, Jeffery Teske and Bryce Clements completed the top five.
In Mighty Four action, it was Jason Cornelius taking the lead at the start and holding it until lap four when Jason Stueck took over the top spot. Lucas Hacker and Nelson then battled Stueck for the top spot.
Hacker would pass Stueck on lap seven, with Nelson moving past Stueck as well. Hacker led the race until turn four on the final lap when Nelson got underneath Hacker and beat him to the checkered flag. In the end the top five was Nelson, Hacker, Brad Wedde, Stueck and Dalton Nelson.
Racing continues next Saturday with a 6 p.m. start time. It is Hall of Fame night, during which former track champions Tom Naeyaert and Gary Roehrborn will be honored. More information can be found online at www.shawanocountyfair.net.