Luedke wins shortened EWSC Sprint Car Main

MANITOWOC – Gorgeous weather brought out some awesome racing at Manitowoc County Expo Speedway.

The night was sponsored by Pepsi/Lakeside Bottling Company of Sheboygan and the trophy sponsor was Jim Rychtik Construction of Port Washington. EWSC showed their appreciation to all police/fire/paramedics and all emergency personnel in uniform were admitted free to the races.

TJ Luedke (Plymouth) took the lead of the 30-lap MSA, presented by Image l Motorsports, 30-lap Sprint Car A-Main from his outside front row starting position.

The race was stopped on lap four for the car of Joe Wipperfurth (Columbus) flipping in turn four. On the restart, Luedke paced the field only to be slowed on lap seven for the car of Marlin Bowers (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) spinning in turn four. On the restart, Bowers spun in turn one and retired to the pits for the rest of the night due to the two spin rule.

Lapped traffic came into play on lap 14. Tim Haddy (Waupun) found himself upside down on lap 18 after an altercation with Shane Wenninger (Kewaskum) and Tony Wondra (Campbellsport). Charging his way to the front from his 18th place starting position was Jeremy Schultz (Beaver Dam).

As the field crossed the line on lap 19, Schultz was in 3rd place, chasing down Terry Marten (Sheboygan Falls) to take second place. The race was slowed once again on lap 20 for the car of Lance Fassbender (Burnett) stopping in turn two with a flat tire and Wondra stopping on the front stretch. Fassbender and Wondra both made it back out to join the back of the field for the restart.

As the white flag flew for the leader, Jay Riemer (Sheboygan Falls) lost the handle of his ride in turn two. Since the white flag was out, the race was complete.

Finishing behind Luedke was Marten, Schultz, Paul Pokorski (West Bend), and Wondra.

The 25-lap Late Model feature saw Gordie Seegert (Oostburg) take control of the race from the drop of the green flag. Tim Buhler (Glenbeulah) quickly jumped into second on lap five and was chasing Seegert to try to make it back-to-back wins. Seegert and Buhler encountered lapped traffic on lap six.

The only caution of the race came on lap seven for the car of Jim Rychtik (Port Washington) stopping in turn three. Seegert continued to pull away from Buhler and went the rest of the way to the checkered flag.

Crossing the line behind Seegert was Buhler, Randy Markwardt (Sheboygan), Chris Carlson (Union Grove) and Ted Dolhun (Milwaukee).

Bob Peter (Howards Grove) jumped out to the lead of the 20-lap Krajnik Chevrolet Grand National feature. The only caution of the race came on lap one for debris in turn three.

Peter and Brian Gilles (Plymouth) exchanged the lead several times. On lap five, Gilles crossed the line ahead of Peter to be scored in first. Peter wasn’t surrendering that easy and took the lead back on lap eight.

Peter put a few car lengths between himself and Gilles for a few laps. Gilles passed Peter on lap 17 and led the race the rest of the way to the finish.

Finishing behind Gilles was Peter, Jason Winkler (New Holstein), Jason Dyer (New Holstein) and Chad Kistner (New Holstein).

Greg Herrmann took the lead of the caution free 15-lap Hobby Stock feature for the first seven laps. On lap eight, Josh McDonald passed Herrmann to take the lead.

Bradley Ruh (Elkhart Lake) and Adam Krepline (Manitowoc) were making their way to the front and on lap nine both were in the top five. McDonald took home the trophy and was chased to the line by Herrmann, Ruh, Krepline and Jeff Leonhard (Sheboygan).

Join EWSC Friday, Aug. 7, for a complete race program. Racing starts at 7 p.m.