Block, Van Straten capture first feature wins of season

Memorial Day weekend brought cool temps and hot action to Shawano Speedway for the unofficial start of summer.

Wyatt Block, Travis Van Straten, Nick Anvelink, Tyler Sobiesczyk and Jason Stueck got their summer’s off to the best start of everyone with feature wins.

Early action saw Jerry Wilinski jump to the early lead in the IMCA Modifieds feature and begin to build a big lead. Caution flew on lap four, bringing the field to his bumper. On the restart, Wilinski again scooted away, only to have a debris bring out another caution.

Block and Andy Karl filled the second row on a lap six restart. Wilinski again extended his lead, with Karl and Block fighting it out for the runner-up spot. Block took the second spot and begin to reel in the Wilinski machine at the halfway point.

On lap 15, Block moved past Wilinski and took the lead. Block cruised to victory, with Wilinski second. Jordan Bartz charged to third, with Karl fourth.

Josh Mroczkowski powered to the early lead in the IMCA Stock Car feature event. Tom Riehl moved to the runner-up spot, with Dan Michonski and Kyle Frederick completing the top four.

Trent Nolan came from the 11th starting spot to try and grab a top-five spot as lap six hit the board. Mroczkowski held that top spot as action was fast and furious behind him.

Nolan eventually grabbed the lead but that was short lived as Van Straten snuck into the picture late and stole the lead with two laps remaining. A caution as the leaders took the white flag ended the event under yellow. Nolan was second and Mroczkowski was third.

Brett Swedberg jumped to the lead on lap one of the Late Model feature and began to extend his lead while Luke Postl and Kyle Raddant gave chase.

Swedberg saw Anvelink move to second on lap 12 and start to carve into the lead. Swedberg hit lap traffic on lap 15 and that was his ultimate demise as contact with a lap car caused the Swedberg machine to spin moving him to the back.

Anvelink was the benefactor of that action as he assumed the lead. Anvelink wouldn’t look back as he led the final laps for the win. Postl grabbed second with Raddant third and Ron Berna fourth.

The IMCA Sport Mods took the track with Ryan Besaw grabbing the lead from Jason Jach. Jach began to feel pressure from Jayden Schmidt as they neared the halfway point.

Jach maintained the runner-up spot as caution hit the speedway. Besaw brought the field back to the green on lap six. Sobiesczyk made his way to seventh from 17th by lap seven.

Jach continued to fend off Schmidt, but it was Jeffery Teske he should have been watching as the Teske machine was powering forward. Schmidt hit pit lane on a lap nine caution, sending him to the back of the pack.

Teske brought out caution a few laps later, taking two contenders out in just a couple laps. Sobiesczyk grabbed the lead on lap 13 and led the rest of the way for the win. Zackery Raab grabbed second from Besaw by an inch or two. Jach finished fourth.

William Hoefs took the lead from his front row starting spot in the Mighty 4 feature. Stueck kept the pressure on for the lead as Hoefs did his best to hold him off.

Clint Malueg moved to third and tried to use the battle for the lead to his advantage. Stueck grabbed the lead on lap six. Stueck saw his lead disappear as caution hit the track.

The restart saw Brad Wedde power to second and begin his chase of the leader. That chase came to an end as caution again flew. Stueck got the win with Wedde second and T.J. Everard third.