Race Reports
and Photos of the Season 2006
July 4, 2006
RACEWAY PARK JULY 4’TH ENDURO RESULTS
By Kevin Busse
There were fireworks on and off the track this Independence Day as the Miller Lite Enduro Series made it’s return to Raceway Park in Shakopee. The near record crowd in attendance filled the stands and were not disappointed with the nonstop excitement.
In 4-cylinder Enduro action, Rob Asselestine of Chaska was the man to watch for much of the 100-lap event, as his #10 Team O.H.V. Honda worked it’s way through the traffic, passing cars to take the lead and the checkered flag at the finish. A close battle for second and third resulted between the 20 of Corcoran’s Jerry Schoepke and the 35 of Apple Valley’s Brian Stejskal, with Schoepke second at the checkers. Darrel Wold of Hudson, Wisconsin, finished fourth, with Bloomington’s Patrick Bennett rounding out the top five.
In the 8-cylinder class, 200-laps of non-stop racing took it’s toll on many cars throughout the evening, with Brooklyn Park’s James Schoepke putting his #48 in victory lane. Close behind the 420 of William Esnough IV of Coon Rapids had to settle for second at the finish, with Oak Grove’s Scott Sandler a close third. Todd Wilson finished fourth following an earlier spin, which he made up for doing 17-second laps throughout the race to move towards the lead group of cars. Rockford’s Mark Bronstad, who won the previous 8-cylinder event at Raceway Park, finshed fifth.
In spectator drags, 20 “daily drivers” brought their cars to the track to see who had the fastest vehicle. It came down to Chris Hayford of Cannon Falls, driving a ’95 Monte Carlo, against Anoka’s Alan Warneke, driving a new Pontiac GTO. Both drivers avoided the wall and each other in a best two out of three finish, with Warneke having the fastest car. He’ll advance to the championship round later in the season.
Raceway Park’s infamous Trailer Race highlighted everything from boat and snowmobile trailers, to full size campers. The mission is to dislodge the other drivers trailer, while protecting yours. If you lose your trailer, you’re out of the race. Nick Novitsky of Columbia Heights was the last to hold onto his trailer and it’s contents… a snowmobile piloted by a large stuffed toy duck, defeating 10 other drivers to get the win.
Up next at Raceway Park in
Shakopee, Sunday, July 9’th, it’s the Mid-Season Championships, a night with the
Raceway Park legends, the ASA Minnesota Late-Model Challenge Series, and the
regular NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action. For more information call Raceway
Park at 445-2257.
Results of the July
4th races