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MASHL TOPS STELLAR MOD FIELD IN LUXY OPENER

(Luxemburg, WI – 6/1/2018)

It took just shy of a full month from the originally scheduled opener, but the Luxemburg Speedway was finally able to defeat Mother Nature and get its first official championship point show in the books Friday night.

For Mike Mashl, it was worth the wait.

He parlayed a front row starting into a wire to wire victory, besting a loaded field of 32 cars to in the tough IMCA Modified class.

Joining Mashl in victory lane on the night were Eric Arneson in the IMCA Stock Cars, Lucas Lamberies in the IMCA Sport Mods, Dave DeGrave in the Street Stocks and DJ Jorgenson in the Sport Compacts.

A season’s first point night means that starting line-ups are set by the luck of the draw. And that means some drivers that normally carry high point averages through the year get the opportunity to start closer to the front of the field than they usually do.

Such was the case Friday as Mashl started on the front row alongside multi-time 141 Speedway champ Johnny Whitman. Mashl took control early, but before he could get any separation, a four car wreck in corner one on the third lap brought the feature to a standstill.

Brian Mullen, Jay Matthias and Brandon Long were all knocked out of the race, with Brekken Kleinschmidt returning with a damaged racer.

Back under green, Mashl was able to build a cushion over the pack as several teams vied for second. By lap seven, three emerged as the prime candidates for the spot; Whitman, Benji LaCrosse and Russ Reinwald. Reinwald started deepest on the grid, in the fourth row, passing Brad Lautenbach and Tony Wedelstadt to gain a top five running position.

In just a couple laps, Reinwald was able to dispense with Whitman and LaCrosse, but by that time Mashl had already built a sizeable advantage. Turning slightly faster laps, and aided somewhat by lapped traffic, Reinwald was able to consistently cut into the lead, but without the help of a late caution, he was never able to mount a serious pass attempt on the 1997 Luxemburg track champ.

At the line, it was Mashl by about five car lengths for the win. LaCrosse passed Whitman on the last lap to capture third. After qualifying for the feature via a last chance B-Main, Mike Mullen charged from the 9th row to register an impressive 5th.

Multiple restarts in the second half of the IMCA Stock Car feature didn’t deter Arneson from winning that division’s main event.

He took the lead from Billy LeMieux at the initial drop of the green, but unlike Mashl’s feature win, he never able to cruise out to a large margin over the rest of the field.

Midway through, four racers emerged as likely contenders for the lead; Shawn Havel, Trent Nolan, Luke Lemmens and Kyle Frederick.

A caution on lap 12, then another two laps later, gave his foes opportunities to pass, but Arneson was glued to the preferred line and no one could pull even.

After hounding the leader for most of the race, Havel and Nolan drifted back slightly during the last few laps, allowing Arneson to pull away for his first Luxemburg Stock Car class win.

Havel held the second spot as Frederick nipped Nolan on the last lap for third. Lemmens placed fifth.

Lamberies left little mystery in his wake as he dominated the IMCA Sport Mod headliner. Sharing the front row with two-time defending champ Randy LeMieux, Jr, he took the lead at the drop of the green and was never seriously challenged.

Cody Schroeder grabbed second from LeMieux, and while he was able to solidly secure the runner-up spot, he was never able to reel in Lamberies despite heavy lapped traffic in the closing laps.

The “best of the rest” proved to be Chris Budzban who made steady progress forward through the event up to third. LeMieux and Dennis Miesler completed the top five.

There was no lack of mystery in the Street Stock feature as DeGrave was forced to fend off a determined Kevin Hebbe to get the win.

Hebbe was first to take the lead, with DeGrave moving in to challenge from the outside on lap five. He edged ahead one lap later, but Hebbe refused to go away, battling back on the inside to reclaim the lead a few laps down the road.

From that point on it was a see-saw affair as first place bounced back and forth with the duo racing side by side for the duration.

With a bit more momentum on the high line, DeGrave was able to edge ahead just enough on the final lap to claim the win. Dan VanPay was third, Jesse Krahn came from the back of the field to finish fourth, with Chad Naze fifth.

DJ Jorgenson left no doubt as to who the winner of the Sport Compact feature would be. He set sail from the first row, winning in convincing fashion.

Kyle Jorgenson worked his way from the third row to second, followed by Matt Brehmer, Anthony Fletcher and defending champ Nick Everard.

This Friday night will be a busy one at the Speedway as the Dirt Kings Late Model tour will invade Luxemburg; lead by current point leader Nick Anvelink. Showcase Kitchens will present the show, which will also feature all five of the Speedway’s regular divisions. The first green flag at 7:00pm.

The Luxemburg Speedway is located at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg, WI. Visit the track’s website at www.luxemburgspeedway.com for updates and more information, or follow the Speedway’s most current postings via your favorite social media source.

Luxemburg Speedway results 6/1/2018

Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service IMCA Modified 20 Lap Feature: Mike Mashl, DePere – Russ Reinwald, Horicon - Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay – Johnny Whitman, DePere – Mike Mullen, Suamico – Tony Wedelstadt, New London

B Main 1: Mullen – Brad Theys, Suamico - Josh Lambert, Casco – Mark Joski, Denmark

B Main 2: Jay Matthias, Green Bay – Josh Long, Suamico - Brandon Long, Suamico – Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg

Heat 1: Mashl – Kelsy-Ann Hayes, Hobart

Heat 2: Jacob Zellner, New Franken – Kyle Kudick, Mishicot

Heat 3: LaCrosse – Whitman

Heat 4: Shawn Kilgore, Kew Franken – Brad Lautenbach, New Franken

Quietwoods RV IMCA Stock Car 20 Lap Feature: Eric Arneson, Oconto Falls - Shawn Havel, Algoma – Kyle Frederick, Oconto Falls - Trent Nolan, Shawano – Luke Lemmens, Kewaunee - Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski

B Main: Dave Bouche, Algoma – Eric Malfroid, Luxemburg – Barry VanStraten, Shiocton - Aaron Karcz, Pulaski

Heat 1: Lemmens - Snellenberger

Heat 2: Havel – Kyle Resch, Manitowoc

Heat 3: Nolan- Larry Karcz, Jr, Pulaski

Busch Light IMCA Sport Mod 20 Lap Feature: Lucas Lamberies, Clintonville – Cody Schroeder, Manitowoc - Chris Budzban, Luxemburg – Randy LeMieux, Jr, Sturgeon Bay – Dennis Miesler, Luxemburg – Troy DeGrave, Luxemburg

Heat 1: Lamberies - Miesler

Heat 2: Budzban - Schroeder

Heat 3: Sawyer Haese, New Franken - DeGrave

Showcase Kitchens Street Stock 20 Lap Feature: Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg – Kevin Hebbe, Neenah – Dan VanPay, Denmark – Jesse Krahn, Beaver Dam – Chad Naze, Green Bay – Brian Krejcarek, Manitowoc

Heat 1: Krahn - Hebbe

Heat 2: DeGrave – Rusty Campo, Luxemburg

Sport Compact 15 Lap Feature: DJ Jorgenson, Oneida – Kyle Jorgenson, Oneida - Matt Brehmer ,Pulaski – Anthony Fletcher, Greenleaf - Nick Everard, Green Bay – Tony Everard, Green Bay

Heat 1: Kyle Jorgenson – TJ Everard, Green Bay

Heat2: DJ Jorgenson - Brehmer

For more photos or to purchase any of the pics seen here, go to: http://danlewisphoto.net/

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