Scott Owen, Special to the Leader
The second-to-last night of the 2014 racing season saw five drivers make return trips to victory lane Saturday at the Shawano Speedway.
Nick Anvelink, who started in 10th place, won his fifth Late Model feature, and Travis VanStraten secured win number eight in IMCA Stock Car action. It was VanStraten’s fourth consecutive victory.
Matt Oreskovich scored his second IMCA Modified win, and Jason Jach earned his second IMCA Sport Mod feature. Jasper Drengler raced to win number three in the Mighty Four division.
Late Models
Josh Moesch led the opening lap of the Late Model feature before giving way to Aaron Holiday on lap two. Lap three saw Troy Springborn power to the lead after starting in seventh.
By lap five, ninth-place starter Ron Berna moved into second, while Anvelink, who started 10th, raced to third.
On lap eight, Anvelink went to the inside of Springborn to grab the lead. Springborn continued to chase Anvelink until lap 16 when mechanical woes ended Springborn’s night. This moved Berna to second.
Anvelink cruised to his fifth win of the year. Coming to the race, Berna held a 1-point lead over Springborn, but he was able to extend his lead with the second-place finish and Springborn’s problems.
IMCA Modifieds
John Peters led the opening lap of the IMCA Modified feature before the race was stopped for a rollover by Chad Olson in turns three and four. Also involved in the wreck were point leader Marcus Yarie, Derek Kozak, Mitch Stankowski and Mike Bailey.
When the race resumed, Oreskovich took the lead and quickly distanced himself from the rest of the field.
Oreskovich was relatively unchallenged as he won his second race of the year. Jerry Wilinksi took second. Eddie Muenster finished in third. Points leader Marcus Yarie fought back from the early caution to take fourth.
IMCA Stock Cars
Jake Lunderby grabbed the lead at the start of the IMCA Stock Car feature and led the first six laps before a yellow flag slowed the race.
Following the restart on lap seven, Kyle Frederick took the lead from Lunderby.
Frederick would hold the lead for only one lap, though, as VanStraten took the lead on lap eight.
VanStraten cruised to his eighth victory and fourth in a row, extending his point lead over eventual runner-up Mike Schmidt. Justin Jacobsen finished third after starting the race 20th.
IMCA Sport Mods
Wyatt Block raced into the lead on the opening lap of the IMCA Sport Mods feature and held the point position until a caution on lap three.
On the restart of the race, Block, Jach and Jake Solin went three wide for the lead into turn one.
Jach emerged as the leader exiting turn two. Jach would lead the rest of the race for his second win of the year.
Jordan Bartz raced past points leader Lucas Lamberies to finish second. Lamberies finished third and sits atop the point standings entering the final night of racing.
Mighty Fours
Brad Wedde led laps one and two of the Mighty Four feature until Grant Kastning flew into the lead on lap three. Kastning was soon pressured by Drengler.
A lap 10 caution set up a two-lap dash to the finish.
Drengler took the lead from Kastning on the restart and went on to his second straight win. Kastning held on to second.
Josh Slewinski took third in the race and also took over the points lead. Slewinski and Dalton Nelson entered the night tied for the points lead. Nelson’s night ended early, though, after he was caught up in an opening lap incident.
Spectator Eliminators
Brian Welch and Dave Stoffer took home Spectator Eliminator victories.
This week
Races will start at 6 p.m. Saturday as part of the Shawano County Fair. Champions will be crowned in all five divisions. The Shawano Speedway will be busy next weekend with the annual enduro race at 7 p.m. Friday; the trailer race, spectator eliminators and tag race at 1 p.m. Sunday; and the demolition derby at 1 p.m. Monday.
More information is available online at www.shawanospeedway.net.