Oreskovich gets 1st career sport mod feature win

Feck, Van Straten, Berna, Hacker win other features
By: 
Dave Buss
Special to NEW Media

Halloween came early at the Shawano Speedway as Halloween on the half mile made its return July 17.

Kids donned costumes and prizes were awarded to the some of the best. While kids waited to go trick or treating in the pits after the races, drivers were hoping for more treats than tricks on the track.

Finding a treat, in the form of a feature win, in their bag would be Kevin Feck, Travis Van Straten, Ron Berna, Max Oreskovich and Lucas Hacker.

Feck led the entire IMCA Modified feature event with an impressive run. Feck dominated most of the event, but caution flags provided a little drama throughout the event.

Late in the race, Marcus Yarie and Jordan Bartz joined Feck for an intense battle. The three drivers fought it out, with Bartz and Yarie swapping the runner-up spot lap after lap.

Bartz drove hard into three and four on the last lap, making it three wide for the lead. Bartz slid up the track, and for a moment, it looked like she would collect Feck and end both their nights. Amazing car control by all the drivers provided a fantastic finish with Feck leading Bartz and Yarie across the line.

The IMCA Stock Car feature had Darren Otto jump out to the top spot in the early going. Tom Riehl provided the early competition before fading to the seventh spot later in the race. Meanwhile, Dan Michonski, piloting his band new car for the first time, powered past Otto for the lead.

Otto suffered mechanical issues and had to retire early from the race. Michonski was joined at the front by Trent Nolan and Jeremy Christians providing attacks from the high and low side. While Michonski fought to keep the top spot, Van Straten was making his way into the battle.

Van Straten made his way to second and set his sights on another feature win as he tracked down Michonski. Van Straten grabbed the top spot and cruised to victory lane. Michonski placed second, with Nolan and Christians in the top four.

Rocket Ron Berna lived up to his nickname and rocketed to the front out of corner two on lap one of the Late Models feature event. While Berna was running away, Todd Frank and Luke Postl were battling for the second spot.

Caution flew as Frank found trouble and had to limp his damaged machine to the pits for the night. When the race continued, current points leader Kyle Raddant powered to the second spot, getting by Troy Springborn on the high side.

Another caution opened the door for Nick Anvelink to grab third from Springborn as the top two got away. Berna notched another win with Raddant, Anvelink, Springborn and Joel Bennett in the top five.

Oreskovich has been on the cusp of a feature win for some time in the IMCA Sport Mod division. Oreskovich grabbed the early lead and quickly found his preferred line on the low side of the track. While Oreskovich was setting the pace out front, Jeffery Teske moved into the second spot and started his pursuit of another checkered flag.

Teske closed the gap working the high side only to have Oreskovich pull away on the back stretch. Lap traffic helped Teske get right to the back bumper of the leader in the closing stages of the event. Nothing would deny Oreskovich his trip to victory lane as he held off Teske for the win. Jayden Schmidt grabbed third with Tyler Sobiesczyk fourth.

Hacker once again showed his dominance in the Mighty 4s division as he grabbed the lead from the start and never looked back. Hacker cruised to his third win this year.

Tony Everard and Carl King grabbed second and third.