By Joe Verdegan
FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (Oct. 11, 2024) – 2024 track champion Cole Czarneski stormed past Shawn Kilgore on a lap nine restart into the lead and cruised to victory in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at 141 Speedway’s Car Wars curtain closer.
The victory was worth $2,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility for the second-generation ace.
Kilgore swapped the lead with fellow front row starter Cody Apfelbeck for the first several circuits. While that scrum was going on up front, Czarneski, who started 10th on the grid, quickly threaded his way through traffic, jumping into the third spot on lap four.
Czarneski quickly closed in on the lead duo and a three car duel quickly evolved for the lead.
Czarneski worked the high line inches from the concrete retaining wall and the lead trio began weaving through lapped cars by lap eight.
A lap nine yellow tightened up the field and when racing resumed, Czarneski made his move. Czarneski skillfully weaved his way through those lapped cars and fought off a late-race surge by Kilgore to hold him off for the win.
Kilgore settled for runner-up money at the pay window. Apfelbeck finished third, followed by veteran Brian Mullen and Randy Markwardt Jr.
Mike Mullen proved to be the class of the field in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, leading wire-to-wire in the $1,500 to win feature.
The race was plagued by five yellow flags and Mullen’s most serious threat came late in the race from Nick Buckarma, who started sixth in the contest.
Mullen’s win came with B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Buckarma would take second place, with Luke Lemmens, Kyle Frederick and Czarneski placing third through fifth, respectively.
Cory Kemkes fought off a pesky challenge from Coy Vlies and went on to win a hard-fought Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature and $1,200. The former pavement star led every lap in the contest and faced heavy pressure from Vlies in the waning laps to seal the deal.
Brian Watzka Jr. charged from his 11th starting spot through the field to collect the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature win.
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