Hales Corners Speedway, 05-17-2003, Complete Story

Scheffler Crushes UMP LM
Foes At Hales Corners
By John Shea
    Franklin, Wis., May 10--On an extremely dry, black-slick racing surface 
which left others struggling for traction, nine-time track champ Russ 
Scheffler used his years of experience at the third-mile oval to romp away to 
an uncontested flag-to-flag victory on Saturday night at the Hales Corners 
Speedway.
    After winning his heat race, Scheffler started the night's 30-lap feature 
from the pole and simply disappeared up the road from his pursuers in the 
non-stop event.  Scheffler's brother Rick followed in second throughout the 
event, but without the aid of a caution flag to tighten the field back up, he 
could make no measurable dent in Russ' commanding lead.
    With the fight at the front basically over, the fight for third 
intensified between Dan Sorce, Chris Carlson and Scott Specht.  The trio 
battled two and three-wide for much of the event's middle stages, all three 
looking for bite anywhere they could find it.  Specht finally secured the 
spot with eight laps remaining and trailed the two Schefflers to the 
checkered flag.  Carlson was next in fourth, with Sorce fifth.
    The night's 20-lap sportsmen feature was a bit more competitive as Brian 
Blake led the first three circuits before Mike Marshall took command using 
the high side in turns one and two.  Marshall's time at the front was up two 
laps later as defending sportsmen track champ Don Sorce Jr. used the outer 
lane in turn two to take command going down the backstretch.
    The event was slowed on two occasions, the first when Joe Altenhofen 
looped his car in  turn four on lap 11, and the second with two laps 
remaining when Mike Borchardt Jr. spun and stalled in turn two.  The second 
yellow set up a two-lap dash for the win with Sorce Jr. out front ahead of an 
aggressive Don Scheffler, with Roger Lee, Dave Gorny and Blake in tow.
    When the green flag waved, Sorce made an excellent getaway while 
Scheffler suddenly found himself under attack from Lee.  As the two drivers 
disputed the runner-up spot, Sorce Jr. pulled away to take the win.  The 
fight for second was decided in Scheffler's favor, with Lee third, Gorny 
fourth and Blake fifth.
    Jim Zdroik won the night's 20-lap modified feature over the ageless 
veteran Everette Fitch.  Brian Crapser placed third, with Mike Conn fourth 
and Jimmy Muth Jr. fifth.
    The opening round of the popular annual N&S Towing Hales Whales Triple 
Crown was won by J.J. Weickowski, who bounced back from a hard crash two 
weeks ago with Jim Reinhardt.  Barry Cates was second, while Reinhardt used 
last week's rainout to repair his car good enough to score a solid third 
place result.  Ken Fleury Jr. and Don Cates rounded out the top five.
    Aaron Stolp won the night's 4-cylinder Mud Puppies nightcapper.
    On Saturday night, May 17, stock car racing continues at Hales Corners 
Speedway with a full program of UMP late model, sportsmen, modified and Hales 
Whales racing, plus the 4-cylinder Mud Puppies.  Time trials are at 6:15 
p.m., with racing immediately following qualifying.  Hales Corners Speedway 
is located on Hwy. 100, one half-mile south of Forest Home Avenue in 
Franklin, next to Hiller Ford.  For more information, call (414) 778-4710 
during regular business hours, or (414) 425-4700 on race day.  Information 
can also be accessed on the track website, www.halescornersspeedway.com
SUMMARY
UMP LATE MODEL
    30-lap Feature--1. Russ Scheffler, Waukesha; 2. Rick Scheffler, Waukesha; 
3. Scott Specht, Sheboygan Falls; 4. Chris Carlson, South Milwaukee; 5. Dan 
Sorce, Franklin..
    8-lap Heats--First: 1. Russ Scheffler; 2. Sorce.  Second: 1. Bret 
Sievert, Franklin; 2. George Scheffler, Waukesha..
    6-lap Dash--Frank Reaber, Chicago, Ill.
    Fast Qualifier--Sievert.
SPORTSMEN
    20-lap Feature--1. Don Sorce Jr., West Allis; 2. Don Scheffler, 
Wauwatosa; 3. Roger Lee, Wind Lake; 4. Dave Gorny, West Allis; 5. Brian 
Blake, New Berlin..
    8-lap Heats--First: 1. Scheffler; 2. Jeff Tondryk, Milwaukee.  Second: 1. 
Sorce Jr.; 2. Lee.
    Fast Qualifier--Sorce Jr.
MODIFIED
    35-lap Feature--1. Jim Zdroik, Big Bend; 2. Everette Fitch, Racine; 3. 
Brian Crapser, Milwaukee; 4. Mike Conn, Big Bend; 5. Jimmy Muth Jr., 
Greenfield.
    12-lap Semi-Feature--1. Ralph Schneider, Hartland; 2. Larry Walter Jr., 
New Berlin; 3. Mike Bodendorfer, Waterford; 4. Dan Tafelski, West Allis.
    8-lap Heats--First: 1. Tafelski; 2. Walter Jr.  Second: 1. Joe McGrath, 
Neosho; 2. Fitch.  Third: 1. Crapser; 2. Zdroik.
    Fast Qualifier--Crapser.
HALES WHALES
    20-lap Feature--1. J.J. Weickowski, Waukesha; 2. Barry Cates, Greenfield; 
3. Jim Reinhardt, Milwaukee; 4. Ken Fleury Jr., Franklin; 5. Don Cates, 
Claflin, Kan..
    8-lap Heats--First: 1. Weickowski; 2. Chris Hoedel, Greenfield.  Second: 
1. Fleury Jr.; 2. David Paskiewicz, Franklin.
    Fast Qualifier--D. Cates.
4-CYLINDER MUD PUPPIES
    Feature--1. Aaron Stolp, Milwaukee; 2. Al Bundy, Chicago; 3. Kevin 
Kuehnke, South Milwaukee; 4. Shay Bushnell, Milwaukee; 5. Todd Wokiecjowski, 
Mequon.

This is the Hales Corners (Wis.) Speedway media mailing list.  You have been 
added to this list as a Media Professional.  If, at anytime, you would like 
to be removed from this list, simply reply with the words "Remove Me" in 
either the Subject Line or the Body of your mail.  You will then be removed 
permanently.  To get back on the list, you will need to send a request to 
this address.  Thank you for your interest in the Hales Corners (Wis.) 
Speedway and see you at the races!!!