Dan Lewis Photo - danlewisphoto.netBy: Sandy Shultz
August 13, 2009 (KAUKAUNA, WI) Kevin Eggert took home his first checkered flag in the 75-lap Blue race at Wisconsin International Raceway. Eggert passed Tom Gee Jr., on lap 68, for the lead and never looked back. Eggert had started the race from third position, following Gee Jr., Kyle Calmes, with John Meidam passing him for third spot on lap two. Gee Jr. pulled away from the field as Lowell Bennett, winner of the Red and White races, worked his way from twelfth position to the front pack. Eggert passed Calmes for third position as Bennett passed Robb Vanderloop for sixth position on lap 17. As the field began to spread out, Gee Jr. pulled ahead for a half straightaway lead on Meidam and Eggert.

On lap 25, Bennett passed Maxwell Schultz for fifth spot, pulling alongside him in turn one. Bennett moved to fourth position on lap 31, as he passed Calmes coming out of turn four. The top four remained the same for 20 laps, until Bennett was challenged by Steve Holzahusen. Holzhausen, who started the race from 11th position, passed Bennett in turn two, after pulling alongside him on the front stretch. The first caution of the race came out a few laps later on lap 59 when Frank Nitzke spun on the backstretch.

The restart allowed the rest of the field to close in on Gee Jr, who was nearly a half lap ahead of second place Meidam. Eggert moved to second spot, passing Meidam on the inside and Holzhausen following to third. Holzhausen passed Eggert on lap 64 and set his sights on Gee Jr, but a caution on lap 67 slowed the field. On the restart, Eggert jumped to the lead and maintained his position, even when Gee Jr. and Steve Holzhausen got together in turn one, bringing out the third and final caution of the race with just four laps remaining. The caution sent both cars to the back of the field, but also allowed Andy Monday and Bennett a chance to challenged Eggert. Eggert pulled away on the restart and went on to win his first late model feature. Monday finished second, followed by Bennett, Jeff Van Oudenhoven, and Mark Schroeder.

Dan Lewis Photo - danlewisphoto.netBennett was crowed the 2009 Red, White & Blue Champion, finishing 11 points ahead of Van Oudenhoven. With three weeks remaining in the 2009 season, Van Oudenhoven remains the point leader over Bennett, leading by just 5 points.

Kris Kelly won his sixth limited late model feature of the season and was also named the Red, White & Blue Champion. Kelly started the 30-lap race from ninth position, working his way through the field to fifth position on lap five. Randy Van Roy started on the pole and lead until Kelly passed him on the restart on lap 18, after Tim Springstroh spun in turn three. Kelly remained unchallenged at the front of the field, leading the remaining 12 laps. Van Roy finished second, followed by Brandon Conrad, Gary Natrop and Tanner Bohlen. Kelly finished just seven points ahead of Natrop in the Red, White and Blue standings and currently holds a 149 point lead over Van Roy in the 2009 points standings.

Dan Vixmer won his second Sport Truck feature of the season. Vixmer took the lead on lap two from Jeff VanHandel and never looked back, leading the remaining 19 laps. A caution with just two laps to go allowed Ron Magdanz and Jacob Boldig to close in on Vixmer, but Vixmer was able to hold them off. Magdanz finished second, followed by Boldig, Josh Jeske and Brandon Kucksdorf. Jeske was named the 2009 Red, White, & Blue Champion, finishing 11 points ahead of Magdanz. In the season-long point battle, Magdanz remains atop the standings by 62 points over Vixmer.

In Super Stock action, Dylan Wenzel won the 25-lap feature. Wenzel passed Denny Crass for the lead on lap eleven, going into turn one. Wenzel pulled away from the field and went on to lead the rest of the way. On the white flag lap, Crass and Effertz spun in turn two battling for second position. Todd Baumann finished second, followed by Mike Meyerhofer, Terry Van Roy, and Brandon Wittmann. Baumann won the Red, White & Blue Championship by three points over Wenzel. Baumann remains the point leader in the 2009 points championship by 33 points over Wenzel.

Dave Wacek won the first Sizzling Four feature of the evening. Wacek took the lead from Jeff Zwiers on lap four and led the remaining 11 laps to win his third feature of the season. Tim Richter finished second, followed by Randy Sonkowsky, Kyle Fink, and Bill Bruehl. Tom Schweitzer won the second Sizzling Four feature of the evening. Schweitzer led all 15 laps, taking his second feature win of the season. Richter finished seconde, followed by Andy Kleczka, Roger Braun, and Wayne Sonkowsky. Richter was crowned the Red, White & Blue Champion and continues to lead Schweitzer in the season-long point battle, extending his lead to 86 points.

Jeff Beschta won the 15-lap Figure Eight feature. Willy Van Camp finished second, followed by Jared Baughman, Terry Van Roy, and Ken Van Wychen. Van Camp was named the Red, White & Blue Champion, finishing 10 points ahead of Van Roy. Van Roy remains the leader in the season-long points chase, ahead of Baughman by 25 points.

Just three weeks remain in the 2009 season! Join us next Thursday for a full night of racing sponsored by Weld Supply.