May 2, 2004; Kaukauna, WI -  A solid showing of dedicated race fans braved some cool conditions on a crisp afternoon, as the Fox River Racing Club presented their 30th Anniversary Season Opener at Wisconsin International Raceway.  The afternoon provided fans with thrilling racing action as two track records were set and the feature contests went down to the wire in several event.  The afternoon started off with track records being established in both the Late Model and Street Stock divisions.   Mike Gardner turned in a blistering lap of 19.393 seconds, establishing a new Fox River Racing Club standard.  The time eclipsed the mark of 19.413 seconds set by Terry Korth.  Interestingly the track record of Korth's, was also set on opening day... just one year ago.   During the 2004 season, Street Stocks will also qualify, and the day's fast time effort by Andy Casavant of 16.204 seconds broke a record established for the class back in 1991.

While qualifying provided it's thrills, the intense racing action kept fans on the edge of their seat throughout the day.  Jeff Van Oudenhoven, last season's point runner-up, collected the victory in the Late Model class by slipping past Terry Korth on lap 23 of the 30 lap contest.  Van Oudenhoven then was able to fend off 30 year veteran racer J.J. Smith for the victory.  10-time track champion Terry Baldry would cross the stripe in third.

The Limited Model models saw a pack of cars duel for the win over the closing laps of their 20 lap main event, with Chris LaRocque, fending off last seasons Rookie of the Year, Tom Gee Jr., for the victory.

Karl Moderson would work past Jason Vanhandel in the closing laps of the Wisconsin Sport Track feature for the win, while Terry Miller would prove victorious in the Street Stock contest.  Nathan Van Wychen rounded out the afternoon with a win in the figure eight contest. Brandon Wittman captured the Sizzlin 4 contest over Chris Potter.

After several years of limited racing activities, Don Dix sat on the pole of the Late Model feature contest, sharing the front row with Pete Vandermolen.  At the drop of the green Vandermolen established himself as the leader in the contest, while Dix would battle with Robb Vanderloop and Terry Korth for second during the opening circuits before falling back in the field. Vandermolen would stretch out a small lead by five, while Vanderloop would be overtaken during the next several laps by Korth, Van Oudenhoven and Smith who would occupy the top five spots. 

Korth closed quickly on Vandermolen working to his inside in turn one on lap eight to steal away the top spot, Van Oudenhoven also took advantage of Vandermolen's slip to the outside line and secured the second spot. Korth running some smooth laps was able to keep Van Oudenhoven at bay as the race approached the halfway point.  Smith meanwhile began his surge forward sneaking past Vandermolen on lap 11 and closing in on the lead duo.

A multi car gathering which included Bob Danes, Chris Grimes and Troy Nelson in turns one and two on lap 12 would present the only caution flag of the contest.

On the restart Korth again took control of the contest, with Van Oudenhoven nipping at his heels.  Smith, John Meidam and defending track champion Terry Baldry occupied the top five when the green flag returned. Van Oudenhoven searched both high and low for a way to the lead, but Korth's rapid pace kept Van Oudenhoven in the runner-up spot until lap 23 when Van Oudenhoven managed to find room at the bottom of the track for what would be the race winning pass.  Smith followed in Van Oudenhoven's tire tracks to secure second before the completion of the round. 

Korth's solid run in the top five ended as he got stuck in the high groove allowing several other competitors to pass including Baldry and Meidam.  Over the remaining distance Van Oudenhoven showed the way winning by a dozen car lengths over Smith.   Smith successfully fended off a last lap challenge, relegating the defending champion Baldry to third.  Meidam would earn fourth and dash winner Mark Schroeder made a late race charge into the top five claiming fifth.

In Limited Late Model action, it was Chris LaRocque bolting ahead of sophomore Limited Late Model campaigner Callin Harrell for the initial lead.  Tom Gee Jr., would wheel in alongside Harrell at the conclusion of the first lap and secure the runner-up spot.   LaRocque would open a small lead over Gee Jr., during the opening laps as Jay Kassera, Tom Spierowski and Harrell would settle into the top five spots.

Spierowski opted for the high line on lap four and successfully worked past Kassera into the third position before running down the lead duo. While LaRocque would lead, both Gee Jr., and Spierowski searched for a weakness in his line and a path to the lead.   Spierowski worked the outside lane with some success to temporarily maneuver past Gee Jr., and actually moved alongside LaRocque on lap six, before falling back into line.

The top four cars of LaRocque, Spierowski, Gee Jr., and Kassera were nose to tail as the race past the halfway point.  On lap 14, Spierowski slipped slightly allowing Gee Jr., a way past into the runner-up spot.  On the very next lap rookie Jim Ebben looped his machine on the backstretch forcing the only slowdown of the contest.

Racing resumed for a six lap sprint to the checkered with LaRocque successfully defending all challenges from Gee Jr., for the victory.  Spierowski would settle for the third spot.  Brent Strelka, last season's "co-rookie of the year", in the late model division, made a return to the limited lates with a successful late charge to finish fourth.  Kassera would complete the top five runners at the checkered.

A field of 18 cars took the green flag for the start of the Street Stock contest.   Eric Hopfenspreger was the initial leader of the contest while Terry Miller and Tim DeGroot dueled for the runner-up spot.  Miller would secure the position and set out after Hopfenspreger.  Miller's climb to the front concluded on lap six when he motored to the lead.  DeGroot would follow into second before the only slowdown then rookie Mike Van Groll expired and engine leaving fluid on the racing surface.

After a brief cleanup the race resumed and Miller was able to lead the remaining distance for the win.  Dylan Wenzel worked into third on the final laps but ran out of time to run down the leaders.  Fast qualifier and new division qualifying record holder Andy Casavant finished fourth with Sarah Blashe rounding out the top five runners.

Like each of the prior feature contest the Wisconsin Sport Trucks had only a single caution period to slow their race.  Karl Moderson had enjoyed a comfortable lead over Jason Vanhandel and Tyler Lind prior to the yellow, but when the green flag returned Vanhandel bolted into the lead.  Moderson however was able to rally, and with a handful of laps remaining reassumed the lead of the event cruising to a comfortable victory.  Vanhandel would lay claim to second while Lind, Brandon Kucksdorf and Nate Ortlieb completed the top five runners.

The 30th Anniversary season of the Fox River Racing Club at Wisconsin International Raceway will continue next Sunday afternoon the program hosts another six divisions of racing. Featured are the Late Model and Limited Late Model presenting action on the uniquely shaped half-mile paved oval, while Wisconsin Sport Trucks, Street Stocks and Sizzlin Fours compete on the smaller inner quarter-mile oval.  The afternoon will again conclude with the Figure Eight program.  As a special, all Mother's will be admitted for just $5 during next weeks race program.

The following week on May 16th, the Fox River Racing Club is off as the track presents it's own special event.  The club show wall return on May 23rd for the final Sunday Afternoon show of the year, as the program then switches to the traditional Thursday evening timeslot known as Thursday Night Thunder timeslot on June 3rd.

Wisconsin International Raceway the host track of the Fox River Racing Club is located near the intersection of Hwy. 55 and KK just south of Kaukauna. For additional information consult the club website at www.frrc.net or call (920) 766-5577 or (920) 766-5575.

For complete RACESAT computer results click here

Results:

Late Models
30 Lap Feature: 1.) Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Kimberly; 2.) J.J. Smith, Appleton; 3.) Terry Baldry, Omro; 4.) John Meidam, Appleton; 5.) Mark Schroeder, Green Bay; 6.) Tim Rothe, Appleton; 7. Mike Gardner, Gladstone, MI; 8.) Jamie Iverson, Escanaba, MI; 9.) Terry Korth, Appleton; 10.) Jim Duchow, Appleton
15 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Duchow; 2.) Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; 3.) Tom Hockers DePere; 4.) Dan Hienritz, Kewaunee; 5.) Blake Bjorklund
First 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Rod Wheeler, Appleton; 2.) Hockers; 3.) Troy Nelson, Antigo.
Second 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Andy Monday, Appleton; 2.) Korth; 3.) Don Dix, Kaukauna
6 Lap Dash: 1.) Schroeder; 2.) Baldry; 3.) Van Oudenhoven
Fast Qualifier: Gardner, 19.393 seconds (new track record)

Limited Late Models
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Chris LaRocque, Appleton; 2.) Tom Gee Jr., Sobieski; 3.) Tom Spierowski, Neenah; 4.) Brent Strelka, Freedom; 5.) Jay Kassera, Little Chute; 6.) Callin Harrell, Harrison; 7.) Gary Natrop, Kaukauna; 8.) A.J. Miller, Bear Creek; 9.) Gary Bock, Little Chute; 10.) Jerry Van Handel, Appleton
12 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Nate VanWychen, Kaukauna; 2.) Chad Smith, Appleton; 3.) Doug Carpenter, Appleton; 4.) Brandon Conad; 5.) Ron Lehman
First 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Dan Hanson; 2.) VanWychen; 3.) Mike Held, Slinger
Second 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Dan Petermann, Brillion; 2.) Kyle Calmes, Freedom; 3.) Gee Jr.
6 Lap Dash: 1.) Bock; 2.) Strelka; 3.) Van Handel
Fast Qualifier: Van Handel  20.284 seconds

Wisconsin Sport Trucks
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Karl Moderson, Neenah; 2.) Jason Vanhandel, Freedom; 3.) Tyler Lind, Grand Chute; 4.) Brandon Kucksdorf; 5.) Nate Ortlieb, Chilton; 6.) Todd Schuette, Menasha; 7.) Scott Bolmquist, Green Bay; 8.) Kyle Quella, Appleton;
12 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Charlie Haven, Kaukauna; 2.) Jim Kraft, Appleton; 3.) Pete Zarnoth, Brillion; 4.) Jeff Vanhandel, Freedom.
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Brandon Wurzer, Appleton; 2.) Tim Yaeger, Appleton; 3.) Haven.
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Moderson; 2.) Schuette; 3.) Jason Vanhandel.
Fast Qualifier: Lind 16.572 seconds

Super Stock
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Terry Miller, Neenah. 2.) Tim DeGroot, Appleton; 3.) Dylan Wenzel, Freemont; 4.) Andy Casavant, Two Rivers; 5.) Sarah Blashe, Appleton; 6.) Larry Raygo, Omro
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Raygo; 2.) Tim Arnoldussen, Neenah; 3.) Ken VanWychen, Kaukauna
Second 8 Lap Heat: 1.) DeGroot; 2.) Miller; 3.) Casavant
Fast Qualifier: Casavant 16.204 seconds (new track record)

Figure Eight
10 Lap Feature: 1.) Nate Van Wychen, Kaukauna; 2.) Jeff Beschta, Darboy; 3.) Terry Van Roy, Darboy; 4.) Jeff Zwiers, Kaukauna; 5.) Willy Van Camp, Appleton