By Dave Buss Special to the Leader
Contributed Photo Nick Anvelink hung on late and picked up a win in the Late Model feature at Shawano Speedway on Saturday.
A day that started with uncertainty as to whether races would be held ended with a lot of definitive results on the track.
The dominating performance on the track were just a compliment to the dominating presence of the two new Hall of Fame inductees, Gary Roehrborn and Tom Naeyaert. Joined by fellow members, Roehrborn and Naeyaert were inducted into the Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame during a ceremony at intermission.
The IMCA Modifieds led the night off with Jerry Wilinski skating by Tim Rothe on the second lap to grab the lead. Wilinski then checked out from the field until a lap nine caution brought the pack back together.
The caution flag was the only thing that slowed Wilinski as he again jumped to a dominating lead on the restart. Wyatt Block, Rothe and Konnor Wilinski were left to sort things out for second at the line, with Block grabbing the spot followed by Rothe and Konnor Wilinski in the top four.
Not to be outdone, Dan Michonski got by polesitter Asa Doxtator on lap one of the IMCA Stock Car feature and proceed to disappear from the pack on his way to a dominate green to checkers win.
While Michonski enjoyed his Saturday night drive, Travis VanStraten made his way forward. Starting in the seventh position, VanStraten charged forward to a second-place finish. Doxtator finished a strong third with Chummy Arneson grabbing fourth after starting 21st.
Brand-new Hall of Famer Naeyaert rolled out sixth in the Late Model feature event with Luke Postl on the point. Trouble found Ron Berna and Joel Bennett before one lap could be completed, ending both their nights.
Once the race got rolling, Nick Anvelink began his pursuit of Chris Engels for the lead. Despite his best efforts, Engels relinquished the lead to Anvelink near the halfway point of the race.
Troy Springborn began to track down Engels for second after a great three-wide battle with Postl and Joe Reuter. Springborn grabbed second and began his attempt to catch Anvelink but with no success as laps wound down.
Anvelink grabbed the win with Springborn, Brett Swedberg and Engels rounding out the top four.
The IMCA Sport Mods also got rolling with the 98 of Dustin Wudstrack grabbing the lead after a lap-three caution. Wudstrack began to pull away as Kevin Bethke and Matthew Radtke went side-by-side in a great battle for third. Bethke eventually grabbed that spot and then got by Jeffery Teske for second.
Brock Saunders joined the top three by the halfway point, with Vince Engebregtsen moving to fourth by lap 15. A late caution changed everything as Engebregtsen had a great restart and charged to the lead, capturing the win. Bethke came in second, Jordan Bartz third and Wudstrack fourth.
Jason Cornelius took charge of the first half of the Mighty 4’s feature event, with Jason Stueck tracking his every move. With laps winding down, it was the hard-charging Lucas Hacker joining the battle.
With two laps remaining, Hacker placed his claim on the top spot and went on to win. Cornelius, Stueck and Brad Nelson completed the top four.