Shawano Speedway: Anvelink leads every lap in late models

The IMCA Stock car series headlined the July 20 races at the Shawano Speedway with a 28-car field, along with increased pay for the Late Model division and the Mighty 4s.

The program battled a threat from Mother Nature the entire night as storms were in the area. All was OK until the final feature of the night rolled out, and the track couldn’t be saved, ending one feature short on the night.

The late models led off the features. In a green to checkers feature, Nick Anvelink led all 20 laps on the night and take home the $1,500 check. Anvelink was in control and didn’t face a serious challenge the entire event.

Pole sitter Lucas Postl crossed the checkers in the second spot with the 99 of Mike Mullen of Seymour placing third. The race for this through fifth was the one to watch with Mosinee’s Andy Karl and Shawano’s Troy Springborn battling in the latter half of the event. Karl held to fourth place with Springborn taking fifth.

The IMCA stock car 25-lap race was next. The final 24 cars would be set through a B feature run earlier in the night with Wyatt Block taking that win.

Mitch Stankowski and Shawn Wagner started on the front row of the 25-lap event. It was Stankowski with the 1M of Dan Michonski dueling for the lead before a lap 6 caution. The field was reracked with Stankowski at the point and Michonski along with Travis VanStraten in tow.

Hard racing at the front and some traded paint yielded the 2T of VanStraten the top spot, which he would go on to take the top prize on the night.

The race for the top five was far from over behind VanStraten as deep in the field starters Trent Nolan, Dylan Stedjee, Nate Michonski, and Block from the B feature win joining in the fun at the front.

When the checkered dropped, Nitro Michonski moved up nine spots to claim fifth place just behind pole sitter Stankowski. Stedjee claimed third, with Nolan up nine as well in second, VanStraten claimed the top prize on the night.

The Mighty 4s were up next.

Kaitlyn Pingel of Tigerton started on point and led the feature until the yellow flag waved on lap 3. Resetting the field, Shawano’s Dalton Nelson and Clintonville’s Brad Wedde joined in going three wide into the first turn and continued for several laps, swapping the lead and dropping Pingel back into the field.

Tanner Pari, Carl King, and Tanner Westphal worked their way through the field and into the top five, putting on a show for the crowd for the remainder of the 15-lap race. At the drop of the double checkered flags, Wedde claimed the top spot, with Pari, Nelson, Westphal and King making up the top five. Pari was the big mover, up six spots.

The 20-lap IMCA modified main made its way to the speedway next.

Nick Holtger and Kevin Feck started up front for the main event. Feck found a groove right at the drop of the green and never gave up the spot, leading all 20 laps.

An early incident bunched up the field, but Feck again jumped out to a sizable lead. Behind Feck were Lucas Lamberies and Marcus Yarie slicing their way through the field to challenge Feck on the final three laps of the event, but Feck was strong down the stretch and took the win. Derek Janke and Block rounded out the top five for the night.

The IMCA sport mod feature was slated to wrap up the busy night, but Mother Nature had other plans.

Racing continues each Saturday night at 6 p,m. Up next is the Gehm’s Club 117 Dirt Kings event on July 27.