Raab, Stedjee get first career feature wins at Shawano Speedway

The future of racing was on display as go karters were honored in prerace ceremonies at the Shawano Speedway on June 12.

Former karter Marcus Yarie grabbed a feature win along with Zackary Raab, Brett Swedberg, Dylan Stedjee and Jason Stueck.

The IMCA Sport Mods took the green flag first for their feature event with Andrew Engels and Raab leading them to the line. Raab put his car into the top spot on lap one and began to leave the pack in the rearview mirror.

Kevin Bethke charged to the second spot and began his attempt at running down the leader. By lap five, Raab was leading by nearly five seconds. Bethke maintained the runner-up spot with Dylon Waldvogel moving into third.

Caution eliminated Raab’s huge advantage on lap eight. The restart saw Waldvogel jump to the second spot as Raab again powered away.

Jeffery Teske moved his machine to fourth from 11th as the halfway point hit the field. A caution set up another restart and give Waldvogel and Tyler Sobiesczyk the break they needed as they once again closed on the leader.

Raab was just too strong as he drove off once again and grabbed the win. Sobiesczyk took the second spot with Teske third. Waldvogel held off Jayden Schmidt for fourth.

The IMCA Modifieds had sevens wild on their front row with 07 of Mike Schmidt and the 7H of Marcus Hoeppner setting the pace early.

Brekken Kleinschmidt grabbed the top spot on lap three with Hoeppner sliding back to second. Kleinschmidt saw his lead evaporate when his dad Kevin Kleinschmidt spun, bringing out the yellow flag on lap six.

On the restart, Lance Arneson chose the high side in the second row. While Kleinschmidt tried to hold off Arneson, Konnor Wilinski tried unsuccessfully to sneak by on the low side.

Kleinschmidt was up to the challenge and began to rebuild his lead. Caution again eliminated his lead just before the halfway point.

Jerry Wilinski found himself in the second spot on the restart and jumped to the lead on the ensuing lap. Kleinschmidt wouldn’t let Wilinski escape as he moved into the tire tracks of the leader.

With seven laps remaining, Yarie moved into contention as he grabbed the third spot. Yarie took the lead out of corner four with five laps remaining.

Yellow again set up a five-lap shootout as Yarie brought the field back to green. He used his experience gained from his days in go karts to drive to the win. Jerry Wilinski and Kleinschmidt put on a great battle for second, with Kleinschmidt taking the spot. Jerry Muenster showed that he still has it with a fourth-place finish.

Hall of famer Tom Naeyaert brought the Late Models to the line in their feature event. Todd Frank challenged Naeyaert in the early laps as Swedberg held the third spot.

Nick Anvelink, coming off a feature win last week, charged forward and grabbed third by lap five. Frank spun to bring out the caution and reset the field. Naeyaert led, with Swedberg and Anvelink lining up behind him.

The green flag wouldn’t be out long as another caution slowed the field two laps later with Naeyaert still showing the way. This time he had Swedberg and Troy Springborn behind him.

Swedberg slid past Naeyaert on lap nine and began to build his lead. Swedberg dominated the second half of the race to pick up the win. Anvelink took second with Naeyaert third and Springborn fourth.

The IMCA Stock Cars rolled to the track looking to carry on their weekly feature that just about anyone could win if they survive the action for 20 laps.

Stedjee led Chummy Arneson for the early few laps until caution flew, bringing the rest of the field to their back bumpers. Chucky Forstner joined the battle for the top spot on lap five with Stedjee continuing to hold the top spot.

As the race neared the halfway point, Forstner began to cut into the Stedjee lead. Meanwhile, Kyle Frederick settled into third with Tom Riehl sitting fourth. Forstner rode in the tire tracks of Stedjee for the second half of the event just waiting for Stedjee to bobble. Mechanical problems ended the night for Arneson.

Stedjee maintained the top spot to pick up his first feature win of the year. Forstner took second with Frederick third and Tom Riehl fourth.

The Mighty 4s concluded the night with Alexis Michonski jumping to the lead with Bo White and Lucas Hacker giving chase.

Brad Wedde made it a three-wide battle for second and then for the lead. Hacker came out with the lead on lap five. Hacker saw Stueck get by for the lead on lap 10.

Stueck grabbed the win with Hacker second and William Hoefs third.