Opportunistic LaCrosse tops IMCA Modified feature at 141

Modified, Northern SportMod, Results, Sport Compact, Stock Car

Benji LaCrosse raced to his first Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win of the season, and career 140th in the class, Saturday at 141 Speedway. (Photo by Dan Lewis, www.danlewisphoto.net)

By Greg Aregoni

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (April 20, 2024) – On a cold night with hot racing, Benji LaCrosse used some misfortune of the leader to take home the checkered flag at 141 Speedway. 

Rob Charapata put himself up front right off the bat in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature while LaCrosse and Brandon Schmitt made their respective ways toward the front from mid-pack starting spots, with Schmitt getting to the leader first.

Schmitt made quick work of Charapata and set sail with LaCrosse making his way to second.  Schmitt seemed to be destined for the checkered flag even after he entered lapped traffic but made contact with another car and bent up his front suspension.

He was able to maintain the lead until LaCrosse came storming past.  A caution before the final flag set up a dash to the finish. Cole Czarneski used the final restart to his advantage and stay with LaCrosse for the lead.

The two would put on a great battle over the final two laps with LaCrosse edging Czarneski.  Johnny Whitman ran out of time for the win as he finished third after starting 19th. Brian Mullen finished fourth. 

Phil Mott used a power move to take the lead from third on the opening lap of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature and led until Dave Bouche came calling.  The number 21 cars had a small battle with Bouche taking the lead down low on lap five. 

Bouche would never relinquish the lead but that isn’t to say he wasn’t hounded by Luke Lemmens, who had the faster racer but never could take control as Bouche ran the bottom like the seasoned veteran he is.

LaCrosse was able to make a play on the leaders in the late going.  He used the top of the speedway but was never able to make the winning charge.  Bouche held on to the win in front of Lemmens.  LaCrosse and Paul Diefenthaler.

Jonathon Baumann was Captain of the Creek early on in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature with Shane Bahr charging to second from fifth.  Bahr used his rocket ship to make a successful bid for the lead up top on lap nine.

A caution on the final lap restacked the field. Bahr bobbled on the restart at the same time Matthew Radtke found a head of steam.  Radtke used his second chance and outdueled Bahr over the final two laps to take the win. Bahr finished second. Jake Carpenter finished third and after an opening night win, Robert Wittkopf was fourth.

Adam Broehm went unchallenged in picking up the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact win.  Brandon Goeser started 14th on the field and finished second in the caution-free race.  Chris Peterson finished third.  Brian Watzka finished fourth after starting 16th. Thomas Schulte finished fifth after starting 19th.

One hundred and eighty-six cars vied Saturday at 141.

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