Raddant wins slugfest with Naeyaert

Kyle Raddant outdueled Tom Naeyaert in an exciting, down to the wire race for his first Late Model win of the year Saturday at Shawano Speedway.

Brad Wedde prevailed in a three-car Mighty Four battle, while it almost felt like déjà vu as Konnor Wilinski, Chucky Forstner and Jayden Schmidt returned to victory lane for the second week in a row.

Raddant started on the pole of the Late Model feature, took the lead at the drop of the green, and immediately began to receive pressure from Naeyaert and Brett Swedberg. The trio in fact battled three-wide for the lead.

Raddant had his car on the high side of the track the entire race. Swedberg soon faded as Justin Ritchie moved to third.

By lap eight, it was a two-car battle for the lead as Raddant and Naeyaert raced side by side lap after lap. Naeyaert was able to pull ahead of Raddant numerous times upon corner entry, but Raddant used the high side momentum to pull back ahead of Naeyaert.

Nick Anvelink raced his way past Ritchie for third on lap 13 and set his sights on the leaders. Raddant and Naeyaert continued to duke it out.

As the white flag waved, Anvelink caught the leaders to make it a three-car battle. Raddant ran the last lap just as he had the previous 19, right up by the wall, and held on for his first win of the season. Naeyaert settled for second, Anvelink third, Ritchie fourth and Swedberg fifth.

Lap one of the IMCA Modified feature saw Kevin Feck go from third to first to lead the field. As Feck led, Wilinski began to work through traffic after starting in 10th place.

A caution after lap six bunched the field up. Wilinski capitalized as he went from his third-place restart position to the inside of Feck to snag the lead.

Wilinski wouldn’t look back as he drove to his second win of the year. Feck finished second. Marcus Yarie raced all the way from 18th to finish third. Matt Oreskovich and Jordan Bartz rounded out the top five.

Jeremie Hedrick led the early stages of the IMCA Stock Car feature while being pressured by Gary Kasperek and Forstner.

The trio went three-wide for the lead on lap four of the race. Hedrick still held the lead until lap six when Forstner utilized the inside groove of the track to make the pass for the lead.

Kasperek slipped past Hedrick to move to second. Kasperek continued to chase Forstner, but it wouldn’t be enough.

Forstner went on to score his second win of the year. Kasperek, Mike Schmidt, Travis VanStraten and Dan Michonski completed the top five.

In IMCA Sport Mod action, Max Oreskovich led until lap four when 10th place-starting Schmidt grabbed the lead. Schmidt quickly set sail and left the rest of the field behind.

Tyler Sobiesczyk raced his way to second on lap 12. Schmidt was just too much though as he won his fifth feature. Sobiesczyk, Bryce Clements, Oreskovich and Zackery Raab completed the top five.

Wedde held off Calvin Stueck and Lucas Hacker to go wire to wire for his second win of the year. Stueck, Hacker, Clint Malueg, and Scott Blanke rounded out the top five.

Racing continues Saturday night as Corny Schmidt and Gary Springborn will be honored as the newest members of the Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame. Racing starts at 6 p.m. More information can be found online at shawanospeedway.net.