SCHRAUFNAGEL’S
MOTOR LASTS JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR OSHKOSH TRIUMPH
OSHKOSH,
WI
– Jay Schraufnagel appeared to have everything in control
during the late stages of the modified feature event Friday at
the Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway.
Well out in front of the field, Schraufnagel’s car
began to lose power and slow dramatically. Coming
to the white flag, the motor in his mount faltered
dramatically giving a fast closing Aaron Rake a chance at
victory.
It wasn’t to be for Rake, though, as Schraufnagel had
built enough of a lead to hold on and capture his first
feature win of the season at the track and maintain his point
lead.
Paul Parker captured his second consecutive FASTRAK
Late Model feature win while it was Dan Schumacher winning his
first ever feature event in the Grand National division.
Frank Foremiller came back after losing a motor the
week before to win the street stock finale and Chris
Quaintance topped the Dirt Devils for the second straight
week.
After rain late Thursday night and into Friday morning
the track surface remained fast during the entire program.
A total of 93 cars checked in to compete. The
modified car count was 34 while there were 19 street stocks,
16 Grand Nationals, 9 FASTRAK Late Models, and 15 Dirt Devils.
Jeremy Christians led the 20-car starting field from
the drop of the green flag in the modified feature.
Mike Rettler, Rick Robbins, and Ben Brinkman gave chase
early before the caution came out for Brinkman when his mount
came to rest in turn two.
Back to green the fans focused on the march of
Schraufnagel, who started 10th, and Julie McDermid,
winner from the previous week, who began the race in the 16th
spot. Moving into second and third,
respectively, at the halfway point, the top three of
Christians, Schraufnagel, and McDermid pulled away and began
their battle for the lead.
Eric Scribner brought out the caution on lap 13 when
his car stalled just off the backstretch. During
the clean-up, McDermid was forced to take her car pit side.
She would return but at the rear of the field and would
eventually drop out.
Schraufnagel and Rake would both blast around
Christians when the green flag flew. Schraufnagel
would drive away from Rake only to see the gap close at the
end with the motor failing.
“It’s always good to win,” said Schraufnagel from
victory lane. “I have to thank everyone
that helps on the car. We lost the motor
and have some work to do.”
Parker started last in the field for the 25-lap late
model feature event but he would have the top spot before 10
circuits were put in the books. Early
leader Rocky Miller could do nothing as Parker drove past.
The race would not be a runaway for Parker, though, as
Brett Swedberg raced through the pack and tracked down the
leader just before a caution on lap 18. Parker
maintained his advantage over the final seven laps to take
home the win.
Swedberg finished second over Jay Crichton, Miller, and
Ron Paulick.
Several drivers took a shot at Schumacher during the
20-lap Grand National feature event but none could dethrone
the driver that led every circuit.
First it was Brian Monday who threw it all at
Schumacher from his second row starting spot. Monday
would run in the top five until he fell from the race at the
halfway point.
Tim Doehling appeared poised to take the lead from
Schumacher but his mount suffered a breakdown on the 13th
lap and he went to the pit area. It was
then up to Terry Van Roy to try and stop Schumacher but he
fell just short at the line.
Adam Pugh, T.J. Smith, and Don Schumacher completed the
first five finishers.
Foremiller started the street stock feature from the
front row and never looked back in taking the win.
Contenders fell by the wayside in this race as well.
Former track champions Jerry Kope and Jerry Winkler
were both charging to the front when they were forced to pull
off the track with mechanical problems.
Late in the race it was Shawn Hayden who gave Formiller
a run for the first place money. The pair
would battle side-by-side on the white flag lap only to see
Formiller hang on. Hayden finished second
over Brian Drexler, Tim Reichenberger, and Brandon Paitrick.
Quaintence led the Dirt Devil feature, lost the lead,
but then regained it late to garner the win. Tyler
Lind finished second over and Robert Callies.
Racing action continues at the Oshkosh Speedzone
Raceway on Saturday night, June 8, with a special appearance
by the Interstate Racing Association sprint cars. The
track’s Grand National, street stock, and Dirt Devil
divisions will all be in action. The
Speedzone is located just off of Highway 41 on Highway 76
north of Oshkosh .
