Scott Owen, Special to the Leader
The final races of the season Saturday night made lasting memories for drivers earning victories and feature titles at Shawano Speedway.
Ron Berna wrap up his seventh Late Model track title to tie him with Terry Anvelink and MJ McBride for the most Late Model titles. It was also his 10th title overall at Shawano.
Jerry Wilinski won his second IMCA Modified title. Travis VanStraten won the IMCA Stock Car title for the second year in a row. Lucas Lamberies also made it two in a row in the IMCA Sport Mods. Brad Wedde won his first career title in the Mighty Fours.
In the final night’s features, Mike Mullen won his third Late Model feature of the year, Lance Arneson scored his first IMCA Modified win of the year, VanStraten won his 15th IMCA Stock Car race, Jordan Barkholtz won his fourth IMCA Sport Mod feature, and Grant Kastning scored win number three in the Mighty Fours.
Late Models
Mike Stangl raced from his outside-front row starting position on the opening lap of the Late Model feature to grab the lead, though Brett Swedberg immediately began to apply pressure. On lap eight, Swedberg got to the inside of Stangl and took the lead away exiting turn four. Mullen also worked past Joe Reuter to move into third and then passed Stangl for second on lap 11. A lap 12 caution flag put Mullen right on Swedberg’s back bumper on the restart. Mullen chased Swedberg until lap 15 when he went to the high side of the track entering turn three to make the pass for the lead. Mullen wasted no time pulling away once in front to win the race. Swedberg held off Troy Springborn for second. Berna finished fourth to secure the point title, while Doug Blashe was fifth in the race and second in the point standings.
IMCA Mods
Kevin Feck led lap one of the IMCA Modified feature before succumbing to Arneson on the second lap. Arneson had advanced from sixth to the lead in two laps and was the driver to beat. Even a lap 15 caution couldn’t slow Arneson on his way to victory lane as he remained relatively unchallenged. Marcus Yarie took second, Wilinski took third and won the track championship. Feck and John Berna rounded out the top five.
IMCA Stock Car
In the IMCA Stock Car feature, Chris Loewenhagen led the opening lap, but his lead would only last one lap as Dustin Loberger took it away on lap two. On lap three, VanStraten raced his way to second, and on lap six, VanStraten pulled to the inside of Loberger. The pair raced door to door for the lead through lap 13 with Loberger leading all but lap 12. On lap 14, VanStraten found the advantage and pulled ahead of Loberger by a car length. VanStraten would hold on to win the race over Loberger and also win the track championship. Shawn Wagner, Tom Riehl and Dan Michonski completed the top five.
IMCA Sport Mods
The IMCA Sport Mod feature was plagued by numerous cautions. Brandon Nygaard led until lap eight when Barkholtz took the top spot away. Barkholtz led the rest of the race. Brock Saunders finished second. Jason Jach took third, Nygaard fourth, Jake Solin fifth and track champion Lamberies finished sixth.
Mighty Fours
Lucas Hacker took the lead on lap one of the Mighty Four feature and led the race until lap four when a flat tire forced him to pit lane. Hollie Welch then assumed the lead and led until lap seven when a hard-charging Kastning wrestled the lead away. Kastning led the rest of the race. Welch, Calvin Stueck, track champion Wedde and Jasper Drengler rounded out the top five.
Race Summary
SHAWANO SPEEDWAY
Sept. 5
Late Model Feature: 1) Mike Mullen, 2) Brett Swedberg, 3) Troy Springborn, 4) Ron Berna, 5) Doug Blashe, 6) Joe Reuter, 7) Michael Stangl, 8) Aaron Holiday, 9) Jeremy Kazynski, 10) Matthew Radtke.
Heat 1: 1) Stangl. 2) Springborn, 3) Swedberg.
Heat 2: 1) Tim Rothe, 2) Nick Anvelink, 3) Mullen.
IMCA Modified Feature: 1) Lance Arneson, 2) Marcus Yarie, 3) Jerry Wilinski, 4) Kevin Feck, 5) John Berna, 6) Jason Czarapata, 7) Jerry Muenster, 8) Eddie Muenster, 9) Mark Weisnicht, 10) Chris Engels.
Heat 1: 1) Feck, 2) Jerry Muenster, 3) Yarie.
Heat 2: 1) Berna, 2) Matt Oreskovich, 3) Weisnicht.
IMCA Stock Car Feature: 1) Travis VanStraten, 2) Dustin Loberger, 3) Shawn Wagner, 4) Tom Riehl, 5) Dan Michonski, 6) Trent Nolan, 7) Mike Schmidt, 8) Gary Kasperek, 9) Harley Simon, 10) Matt Alvey.
Heat 1: 1) Riehl, 2) VanStraten, 3) Loberger.
Heat 2: 1) Jerry Winkler, 2) Chris Loewenhagen, 3) Schmidt.
Heat 3: 1) Michonski, 2) Scott VanProoyen, 3) Luke Uttecht.
IMCA Sport Mod Feature: 1) Jordan Barkholtz, 2) Brock Saunders, 3) Jason Jach, 4) Brandon Nygaard, 5) Jake Solin, 6) Lucas Lamberies, 7) Wyatt Block, 8) Kevin Bethke, 9) Brianna Ambroziak, 10) JJ Anderson.
Heat 1: 1) Block, 2) Bethke, 3) Solin.
Heat 2: 1) Barkholtz, 2) Saunders, 3) Jach.
Heat 3: 1) Nygaard, 2) Lamberies, 3) Jordan Bartz.
Mighty Four Feature: 1) Grant Kastning, 2) Hollie Welch, 3) Calvin Stueck, 4) Brad Wedde, 5) Jasper Drengler, 6) Carl King, 7) Matt Hatterman, 8) Dalton Nelson, 9) Lewis Jepson, 10) Shaun Olson.
Heat 1: 1) Kastning, 2) Lucas Hacker, 3) Hatterman.
Heat 2: 1) Stueck, 2) Welch, 3) Drengler.