Snellenberger snags $1K IMCA win at Eagle River

Former track champion Rod Snellenberger of Pulaski passed Junior Karcz for the lead on Lap 8 and kept hometown driver Jason Zdroik at bay long enough to capture the IMCA Stock Car feature win at Eagle River Speedway Tuesday, July 1. The victory, No. 232 in Snellenberger’s IMCA Stock Car career, was worth $1,000.

Algoma’s Dave Bouche jumped into the lead from his pole position at the drop of the green of the 20-lap contest. Bouche mixed it up with Karcz in the first few circuits until a caution flew when Wausau’s Mitch Stankowski stalled on the frontstretch.

On the restart, Cole Czarneski blasted into the second spot, and a three-car duel ensued for the lead between Bouche, Czarneski and Snellenberger. After another yellow, Karcz would regain the top spot with Snellenberger hot on his heels. Snellenberger motored past Karcz on the eighth lap. Meanwhile Zdroik, who started 10th, stormed his way up into the top three, and broke into the second spot on Lap 10.

Zdroik tried to keep Snellenberger within his sights, but it wasn’t enough as Snellenberger picked up the win. Zdroik hung on for second place money, followed by Czarneski. Marcus Yarie sliced his way into fourth from his 12th starting spot and Jeff Nowak rounded out the top five.

Tomahawk’s Travis Friske led wire-to-wire, leading all 20 laps and beating his son, Zack Friske, at the line to score the USRA Late Model feature. Jesse Aho took third, followed by Jason McFadden and Lucas Peterson.

Ontonagon, Mich.’s Dave Dishaw picked up the B-modified feature win. Dishaw fought off hometown racer Dustin White in the final laps to get the victory.

Hometown driver David Blackberg survived a last-lap scrum with Rhinelander’s Jeremy Joslin to pick up the caution-filled, street stock feature win.

Elsworth’s Jackson Geragi scored the caution-free, 600 Micro Sprint feature. Cooper Aho of Twin Lakes, Michigan scored the Pro 300 Micro Sprint feature while Beaver Dam visitor Kaides Coombs won the Semi-Pro 300 Micro Sprint feature.

Action was halted as the checkers flew in the first Street Stock heat. Mass City, Mich.’s, Caleb Joliff flipped his mount in turn two. Joliff emerged unhurt, but his car suffered some damage.

A total of 93 drivers representing four different states took part in the racing program.

Racing resumes at Eagle River Speedway Tuesday, July 8.