LeMieux doubles up at Thunderhill

By Ed Anschutz

STURGEON BAY, Wis. (June 7) – With the pressure on, Billy LeMieux rose to the occasion Satur­day night at Thunderhill Raceway.

Not only did he win in the street stocks, raising the bounty to $300 he also won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature at Sturgeon Bay, a feat very few have done.
Like Babe Ruth, LeMieux called his shot early in the week, saying he would make it four wins in a row in the Street Stocks and he didn’t disappoint. Aaron Thornton raced past Corey Sampone on lap five for the lead of the 15-lap main event.

Thornton looked to have the upper hand as LeMieux struggled in traffic early. Out of nowhere with five to go LeMieux muscled his way into the runner-up spot and set his sights on Thornton. With two laps remaining, LeMieux snatched the lead away working the low groove and took the win in the caution-free event.
In the Stock Car main it was LeMieux jumping to huge lead early on with Bret Koehler giving chase. LeMieux checked out but a caution with seven laps remaining set up a dash to the check­ers. Koehler used this to his advantage working down low and to the lead.

LeMieux came charging back on the outside to reclaim the top spot. LeMieux went unchallenged the remainder of the event to score his second feature win of the night. Koehler came home se­cond.

It was all clear sailing up front for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod driver Cody Rass. Rass jumped to the lead and never let go, leading all 20 laps en route to his first career feature win in only his second year in the class. Co-point leader Chris Budzban made a late race charge in the closing laps on Rass but had to settle for second in the caution-free event.

Tyler Hackett was able to power by Greg Gretz for the lead early in the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature. His reign up front wouldn’t last long as multi-time champ Todd Dart came slic­ing by down low taking the lead.

Dart then went to the top and pulled away for the win in another caution-free contest. It was Dart’s 49th victory in the Modifieds at Thunderhill.

Dave Schmidt worked the high side to perfection in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature as he dominated the event, winning by half a lap. The win was his first of the season in the caution-free race. Point leader Jeremy Jauquet rallied late to place second.