SLINGER, WI. – Defending track champion Steve Apel drove to a convincing victory in the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Sunday on Keith’s Marina Race Against Cancer night at the Slinger Super Speedway. The win was Apel’s first in the prestigious super late model race.
“It’s been a long time coming.” Apel stated reflecting on the important victory, “It’s been a tough start to the season with last week where the car was a rocket ship and we just got caught up in somebody else’s mess, but this week we bought a house, sold our old house, and fixed the race car and we did it.”
Apel started from the third position and watched as Nick Wagner and Rich Loch traded the lead in the early laps while Luke Fenhouse, Alex Prunty, and Brad Keith all raced in tight formation at the front of the field. The lone caution flag of the event waved early on lap six when Conrad Morgan’s car suddenly snapped to the right and struck the wall hard in between turns three and four. Morgan emerged from his wrecked car on his own and was checked by the medical crew as a precautionary measure.
As racing resumed, the battle between Loch and Wagner for the lead stabilized which allowed Apel to slice his way forward, taking the top spot on lap 12 as Brad Mueller joined the front running pack. Mueller muscled his way around Prunty for second place as Fenhouse held down fourth as Apel began to streak away with the lead. Apel’s lead stretched out during the mid-stages of the race as Prunty was able to work his way back around Mueller for second and Fenhouse followed suit a few laps later to take third. Fenhouse then dogged Prunty hard for the second spot as Apel maintained his comfortable lead. Apel had the field covered and he drove to the victory while Prunty held off a hard charging Fenhouse for second. Brad Mueller and Brad Keith completed the top five finishers in fourth and fifth respectively.
“It was pretty good running there with Luke (Fenhouse) as he had a fast car and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to hold him off,” Prunty said after following up his win last week with a runner-up finish, “I don’t know if we wouldhave had anything for Steve (Apel) but I have to thank the crew and my sponsors as we have started the year with a first and a second and we will just keep rolling.”
“The car was really good tonight, “ Fenhouse stated after his impressive third place finish, “It was really rolling in turns one and two but in turns three and four it was a little tight. It was a good night and I really have to thank everyone who has helped me out.”
Mike Held finished in sixth place followed by Nick Wagner and Rich Bickle in seventh and eighth respectively. Chris Blawat and Rich Loch rounded out the top ten finishers.
Nick Wagner won the super late model fast dash and Brad Keith was the evening’s fastest qualifier after circling the speedway in 11.248 seconds.
For more information on Slinger Super Speedway visit slingersuperspeedway.com
Qualifying Results
1) #48K Brad Keith
2) #11P Alex Prunty
3) #4F Luke Fenhaus
4) #51A Steve Apel
5) #55L Rich Loch
6) #38W Nick Wagner
7) #72H Mike Held
8) #92B RJ Braun
9) #89M Brad Mueller
10) #14N Austin Nason
11) #45B Rich Bickle
12) #92M Conrad Morgan
13) #17G Grant Griesbach
14) #26B Chris Blawat
15) #15S Gabe Sommers
16) #2B Lowell Bennett
Feature Results
1) #51A Steve Apel
2) #11P Alex Prunty
3) #4F Luke Fenhaus
4) #89M Brad Mueller
5) #48K Brad Keith
6) #72H Mike Held
7) #38W Nick Wagner
8) #45B Rich Bickle
9) #26B Chris Blawat
10) #55L Rich Loch
11) #14N Austin Nason
12) #15S Gabe Sommers
13) #17G Grant Griesbach
14) #92B RJ Braun
15) #2B Lowell Bennett
16) #92M Conrad Morgan
17) #84V Jacob Vanosky
Slinger Super Speedway Press Release
