Lepak, Freimund, Swan, Goetzke, Welter, Wagner

Written by: Todd Thelen and Gregg Paul
(Slinger, WI) January 31, 2011 – The Slinger Speedway awards banquet was held Saturday January 28 at the Schauer Arts Center in Hartford, Wisconsin. Drivers, car owners, crews, fans and track staff were on hand to honor the champions and all the racers in each division. There was an added treat with the new venue at the Schauer Center it also allows fans to take in the SE Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame, housed in the same building. LeRoy Meats of Horicon catered the evening’s dinner.

Long time Slinger Speedway Announcer and Host of The LTN Hour Todd Behling was the MC for the event, and he got things going by introducing Slinger Speedway MRO Track Chaplain Jim Zierke. Jim opened with a prayer and asked to remember Tom Powell, Wes Biswell and others we lost during 2011.

Opening Ceremonies with the Fast Qualifiers (All Photos By speedgraphicscompany.com)By Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Sept.18—Brad Hetzel took top honors in the 30-lap Thunderstock feature and Cory Talaska scored the victory in the Legends main event just before persistent rain showers washed out the rest of the scheduled events during The Futures races Sunday afternoon at the Slinger Super Speedway.

Hetzel took the lead of the Thunderstock main event from Carl Benn on lap 13 and then proceeded to work lapped traffic flawlessly as he drove to the victory, holding off Benn at the finish. Carl Benn took the checkered flag in second place just ahead of Nate Fick while John Daley and Bernie Leonard rounded out the top five. Carl Benn was the winner of the opening Thunderstock heat race over John Daley and Nate Fick while Adam Peschek and Brad Hetzel were fourth and fifth respectively. Josh Fischer captured the win in the second Thunderstock heat race over Bernie Leonard and Vincent Heywood. Josh Fehrman and Jeff Alendorf completed the top five. Brad Hetzel was the Thunderstock fastest qualifier.

By Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Sept.11—Steve Apel survived a tough battle with Conrad Morgan and held off Brad Mueller en route to his third super late model feature win of the season in the Bob Fish 80-lap main event Sunday afternoon at the Slinger Super Speedway.

Jon Reynolds Jr. and Jeremy Lepak raced door to door for the lead from the front row at the start of the event with Rob Braun and Conrad Morgan tucked in line behind them. Lepak eventually prevailed from the outside lane, edging out front as Morgan advanced from the high lane to race alongside Reynolds for second, leaving Braun to race with Steve Apel, Lowell Bennett, and Brad Mueller. Morgan also was able to use the outside to get around Reynolds by lap six just before the first caution flag flew when Braun tried an inside run on Apel into turn three and in an effort to avoid hitting him, Braun’s car spun around where it was tagged slightly by Lowell Bennett. Lepak led the restart from the inside lane over Morgan and the two raced alongside each other momentarily before Morgan was able to duck back to the inside groove directly behind Lepak and just ahead of Reynolds and Apel. As Morgan looked for a way around Lepak on the inside, Brad Mueller and Dennis Prunty joined the battle for third with Apel and Reynolds as Bennett left the speedway with a severe tire rub, the result of the previous incident with Braun.

Sunday Afternoon September 11th, Bob Fish Season Championships

(Slinger, WI) Slinger Speedway will be honoring the fallen hero’s and victims of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks this Sunday afternoon September 11th during pre race activities. Police Officers and Firefighters that attend the event will be admitted free with a paid adult and they are welcome trackside to take part in the pre race activities as we honor those that tragically lost their lives.

Super Late Model Feature Winner Michael Bilderback with Brandon from Russ Darrow of West BendBy Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Sept.4—Michael Bilderback drove to his first super late model feature victory Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway, taking the checkered flag in the Russ Darrow 100 nearly a half lap ahead of point leader Jeremy Lepak.

“I still can’t imagine it, this is awesome,” Bilderback told the crowd from victory lane, “The wasn’t the best in practice and we did some fine tuning before the dash race and then did a little bit more before the feature and it was a rocket.” Bilderback battled with pole-sitter Jeff Holtz for the lead during the opening laps before tucking in line behind Holtz while Rob Braun, Conrad Morgan, and Steve Apel raced nose to tail behind them. Just beyond the top five, Lepak raced with Lowell Bennett for sixth while the leaders remained lined up on the bottom of the track. Holtz and Bilderback continued to race tightly together as Morgan looked for a way around Braun on the inside while at nearly the same time, Apel darted the nose of his car to the inside of Morgan, allowing Holtz and Bilderback to ease ahead slightly. Morgan was finally able to work to the inside of Braun and with the run, quickly took over third while Braun slid out of the top five as Apel, Bennett, and Lepak all raced by in the low line. After following Holtz for several laps, Bilderback made his move on lap 33, taking the lead on the inside following a slight nudge to the left-rear corner of Holtz’s car in between turns one and two.

By Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Aug. 28—Jeremy Lepak picked up his seventh super late model feature win of the season in the Pepsi Championship Round 75 Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway and in doing so, claimed the overall three-race Pepsi Challenge Series Championship over Jeff Holtz.

“It’s just unbelievable, man these guys just give me great race cars,” Lepak stated from victory lane, “I think anybody could drive these cars, that thing was just unbelievable…I didn’t even break a sweat out there.”

Lowell Bennett Super Late Model Feature Winner with Derek from Ellison Technology (Speed Graphics Photos)By Dan Margetta

Slinger, Wis., Aug. 21— Lowell Bennett survived an intense Pomp’s Fan Appreciation Night 70-lap super late model feature Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway to capture his first main event victory of the season.

“It’s been such a long time and this team of mine has tried so hard,” Bennett told the crowd from victory lane after recovering from an earlier incident that sent him to the back of the field before driving to the win, “Tonight I just counted it out and said ‘there’s no way we’re going to get back up there’ and attrition took its toll and we had a pretty good race car.” “I think it’s got to do with this old race suit,” Bennett continued, explaining why he donned an old driving suit for the evening, “I forgot my race suit at home and dug this one out of the closet from the nineties and maybe I ought to wear this next week.”

By Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Aug. 15—Jeremy Lepak drove to his third consecutive win after an eventful Netwurx 70-lap super late model feature Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway, leading the final 42 circuits en route to his sixth main event victory of the season.

Super Late Model Feature Winner Jeremy Lepak with Car Owner Gerry GundermanBy Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Aug. 7—After leaving the familiar blue #40 car at home this week, Jeremy Lepak promptly drove the red one to victory lane after passing Dennis Prunty on the outside with seven laps to go in the 60-lap super late model feature Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway to notch his fifth main event win of the season.

“It’s unbelievable to bring out a totally different race car and be this good,” Lepak said afterwards, “It was just unbelievable and scary fast.” “The blue car doesn’t like the outside,” Lepak continued, “but with this one here, I was a little nervous about going up there and trying it but when I went up there I couldn’t believe the grip I had with this car and I don’t have that with the blue car. That definitely was a key to the win.”

Jeremy Lepak Super Late Model Feature Winner"Jeremy Lepak has been hard to catch this season at the Slinger Super Speedway. Despite an unusually poor qualifying session, Lepak was able to outrun Lowell Bennett and Jon Reynolds Jr. to score his fourth victory of the season, in taking the checkers in the Suburban Motors Harley Davidson 70.

“It’s about time we had some luck to go our way,” said Lepak from Victory Lane. “Last week ended a three week string where I was leading with two different race teams and something broke. I just kept telling these guys to keep their heads up and the luck was going to turn around for us. These guys do everything for me and I really appreciate it.”

Randy Schuler and Chris Blawat led the field to the green flag. Schuler would get the advantage at the drop of the green flag, but wouldn’t make it around to complete the first lap. Blawat nudged Schuler in turn four causing Schuler to spin and bring out the first yellow. Since the lap was not completed, it was decided to start the race from the top. However, Schuler would restart from the rear due to having to pit to repair the cosmetic damage to his car. Rob Braun also suffered cosmetic damage and returned with Schuler to the rear of the field.