Special thanks to Dale Erdmann who has
written all the following articles.
Johnson Sweeps the LCNSTC Minimods Events at Rockford Speedway!
SEPTEMBER 28, 2002 - Rockford, IL - Eight different champions were crowned at the Rockford Speedway during the Little Car National Short Track Championships. The event hosts different "little car" divisions, which make appearance at the speedway during the season. Sunny skies during the afternoon qualifying helped qualifying speeds. Park Ridge's racing dentist; Ken Johnson broke his own four-year-old record for the Mini Modifieds with a 14.581 lap.
Johnson completed a clean sweep by picking up the trophy dash, qualifier race and 25-lap main event.
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Dr. Ken 2th Johnson Wins the 2002 Championship!
September 27, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was a great night for stock car racing and the annual small car world championships had a special added attraction this year. It was the Herbs mini modified championship night Friday at Lake Geneva Raceway. Dr.Tooth Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake went into the program afew points ahead of Jeff Schultz. After setting fast time winning his heat and taking third place to race winner Phil Schultz of Silver Lake, Ken Johnson won his third LGR title in three years.
Joe Marinello moved in front of the mini modified feature for just one lap before Bill Trusky shot by with Phil Schultz, Hermie Schultz and Joe Miller following him. for the next four laps it was a dicing see saw battle for the top spot as Phil Schultz and Trusky put on a show for the crowd. On lap seven Schultz secured the front spot but the race wasnt going to end there.
Quickly Father Hermie moved in to challenge his son for the lead. By lap eleven Ken Johnson joined the fight for the top. No one gave an inch of pavement but with three laps to go Hermie Schultz and Johnson bumped together coing down to the wire as the crowd went wild. Both continued but were never again a determining factor as Phil Schultz won his second feature of the season his brother Jeffs car. Hermie took second Johnson third with Trusky next and 2002 IMCA Modified Wilmot Speedway champion Scott Kuxhouse fifth in this close race.
Johnson Holds on to the Lead in Herb's Mini-Mods!
August 30, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - The non stop mini- modified feature brought Bill Trusky in front for just one lap before Hermie Schultz flew by. Quickly Ken Johnson grabbed second on lap three and the sprint was on. Jeff Schultz moved around Trusky on lap five and there was a new three way battle for first place. Hermie Schultz and Johnson put on a show from lap six to eight before Johnson dove into turn three quicker than the cluster around him and there was a new leader. Jeff Schultz secured second on lap eleven but there would be no challenge for the top spot that Johnson held for another win. Jeff and Hermie Schultz were next with Trusky and Mike VanHouten completing the top five.
The next Friday night show is September 27th. with the annual Small car world championships.
Johnson Clean Sweeps Herb's Mini-Mods!
August 23, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - Defending division champion Doctor Tooth Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake serviced notice that he wants to win another Herbs mini modified title as the veteran driver took fast time won the dash and by just a few feet won the 15 lap feature race.
Rookie Curt Thomazin slipped in front of the mini modified feature with Chris Marinello, Joe Miller, and Bill Trusky glued to his back side. Miller trussled with Thomarin for just two laps before moving in front of the field.Quickly Hermie Schultz crept into third with his son Jeff Schultz and Ken Johnson storming through the pack.
On lap five Jeff took over the lead with as Johnson caught Miller before the lap ended. Schultz, Johnson, and Miller were too close to call as the laps began to disappear. On lap nine Johnson dove into third hard enough to make his pass stick and until the caution came out as Mike VanHouten spun with just two laps to go it looked like Johnson would easily win the event. But Schultz who held the point lead until last week wanted the win. When racing resumed Schultz didnt let the leader gain any pavement and with the white flag out coming off turn four Schultz tried his patented move diving deeply into the corner but then bobbled coming off the turn and Johnson inched back ahead and won the race over Schultz. Hermie Schultz nipped Miller for third Wilmot IMCA modified point leader Scott Kuxhouse in the VanHouten back up car was fifth and Trusky sixth in a finish that had the crowd on their feet for the checkered.
The class will hold their championship on Friday September 27th. at the small car world championships at Lake Geneva Raceway.
Johnson Takes Point Lead at LGR!
August 16, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - Defending Herbs mini modified champion Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake was on fire tonight setting fast time finishing second in the dash and running away with the 15 lap feature. Johnson for the first time with just two Friday nights to go and then their championship on September 27th. took over the point lead by 25 points.
Ken Johnson started last in the second largest field of the season but took less than one lap to secure the lead and the win in the mini modified feature.The race for second through eighth was great as Roy Morrison took second Bill Trusky third with former point leader Jeff Schultz who nipped Johnson by less than a few inches was next and Joe Miller fifth.
Hermie Schultz Wins Second LGR Feature!
August 10, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - With just three more Friday nights of weekly racing at Lake Geneva Raceway Hermie Schultz of Silver Lake won his second career feature in the Herbs mini modified feature for 15 laps. After the event Schultz said "it sure feels great to be racing with my children tonight and being able to beat the best" (referring to both point leader Jeff Schultz other son Phil and defending track champion of the division Ken Johnson who finished second.
The mini modified feature got off to a rocky start when Mike VanHoutens throttle stuck going into turn three on the opening lap.VanHouten got the mount into the oil dry from the previous event and luckly spun around before getting into the wall at full speed.
There was a complete restart as VanHouten still shaken from the incident elected to start in the rear. As the green flag appeared Hermie Schultz went from sixth to first before the race had one lap in.Point leader Jeff Schultz made his move one lap later taking second from first year driver Curt Thomazin and then set out to get the lead. This never happened as fast timer Ken Johnson stayed at his side until lap five when the veteran driver moved into second Hermie Schultz remained in firm command of the top spot but with five laps to go Rick Lambert got lapped and didnt move to the inside so Schultz went high and Johnson went low as a three deep situation was created. Everyone got through that scare and Schultz held back numerous challenges from Johnson to win the race. Johnson was second with Jeff Schultz next Bill Trusky at his side in fourth Phil Schultz was fifth.
Joe Miller of Kenosha won his second 15 lap Herbs mini modified feature this season.
August 3, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - Bill Trusky charged out front of the mini modified feature with Mike VanHouten, Joe Miller, and Hermie Schultz at his side. No one could get past the lead and by lap ten it looked like it would be another win for Trusky. With just three laps to got Miller got his second wind and the lead changed hands many times during the final laps. Coming off turn four for the checkered it was a four way battle for the lead with Miller crossing the line first.Trusky, Schultz and point leader Jeff Schultz were next with Lee Morrison fifth.
Schultz Wins First Career Feature at LGR!
July 26, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was another extremely hot night at Lake Geneva Raceway Friday night as 1996 Wilmot speedway champion Phil Schultz of Silver Lake got into the Roy Morrison mount and won his first 15 lap Herbs mini modified feature of his career. Schultz won the 1996 championship when he was a senior at Wilmot High school at the age of 17.
The mini modified feature was just one lap old when Hermie Schultz kicked rocks on the track after getting off the rumble strip trying to take over fifth with Joe Miller out front. On the restart it took Phil Schultz only two more laps to get to the front and into the lead. Quickly Bill Trusky who has already won two features slipped into second and didnt let Schultz run away and hide.
The last caution came on lap nine when Curt Tomazin and Rick Lambert got together while running mid pack. The next six laps were tight as Schultz won the event after holding back the challenges of Trusky who took second and third place at his side Ken Johnson. Point leader Jeff Schultz was fourth with Hermie Schultz recovering for fifth and Miller finishing sixth.Phil said this about his win,they keep saying tires win the race,but I feel it was patience. Then adding its my first time in the car and it felt good to win this one after waiting six years.
Bill Trusky of Silver Lake won his second Herbs Mini modified of the season. The event saw a season high number of race cars but a lap two racing incident sent over half the field to the pits but no one was injured.
July 12, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - With a season high fourteen race cars the mini modified feature was marred by a lap two incident as 1993 champion Glen Vernezze got hit from behind sending his car into the wall full throttle. After impact with the wall the Vernezze car veered left collecting Hermie Schultz, Rick Lambert, Curt Thomarin, Joe Marinello and Jeff Schultz.
No one was injured but only Marinello would return for the next green. The remainder of the event was caution free as Bill Trusky in the former Vernezze championship car took the lead at the drop of the green and held off six laps of challenges from Ken Johnson who would take a very close second.Trusky won his second feature of the season with the return of Joe Miller in third.Lee Morrison Roy Morrison and Scott Kuxhouse (driving the VanHouten car #24) in his first appearance of the year in sixth.
Defending track champion Ken Johnson of Paddock,IL. won his second 15 lap Herbs mini modified feature in a row moving him into second place in the 2002 point battle.
July 5, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - Lee Morrison led the opening lap of the mini modified feature before Ken Johnson flew by. The race was behind the leader as the father and son of Hermie and point leader Jeff Schultz displayed a see saw dicing battle for the runner up spot. Lapped traffic played into the factor as first Jeff got caught behind one of the cars not moving down as the leader went by. Later Hermie Schultz nearly got under Johnson but another lapped car nearly took him out of the event. After that incident Johnson moved to a clear cut win over Hermie and Jeff Schultz, Bill Trusky, Roy Morrison, and Mike VanHouten.
Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake the defending champion in the Herbs mini modified 15 lap feature the dash and fast time for a clean sweep.
June 21, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - Ken Johnson (#2th) uses the inside groove on his way to winning the mini-modified feature Friday at Lake Geneva. Bill Trusky held on the lead of the mini modified feature for three laps before Ken Johnson flew by then winning the race.Trusky stayed ahead of point leader Jeff Schultz, Hermie Schultz and Mike Van Houten.
Rain Cancels All Races
June 14, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - All races at LGR were cancelled due to inclement weather.
Well Deserved Win for Hermie Schultz at LGR!
June 7, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - Hermie Schultz of Silver Lake received a standing ovation after winning his first career feature on the asphalt in the Herbs mini modified 15 lap feature. After the emotion victory Schultz said when you can beat the tooth (Ken Johnson) youve beat the best. I hope I can continue to beat the rest. The mini modifieds are celebrating their 10th. anniversary this season, Schultzs last feature win was at Wilmot back in 1998. Since 2000 the mini mdifieds home track is LGR. Mike VanHouten slipped in front of the mini modified feature with Hermie Schultz who started in the third row outside glued to his side. Two laps later Schultz stormed in front but never saw a big advantage as defending champion Ken Johnson moved into second on lap five. Point leader Jeff Schultz was right on his bumper as last weeks feature winner joined this cluster one lap later. With three brand new drivers in the field the first one was lapped on the eleventh go round with this foursome trying not to get caught up with any of these cars. With just three laps to go Schultz came up on a slower car and choose the inside as Johnson had to go real high. That would help the leader as for the first time since lap three there was a small margin of comfort.With the white flag out Schultz stayed in his groove and Johnson tried everything to get by. Schultz picked up the win with Johnson, J.Schultz, Trusky, and VanHouten close. Hermies wife Karen told the biggest crowd of the year Hermie works on all these cars and finally he gets to win.
The Herbs mini modified feature went to Bill Trusky of Silver Lake his first career win.
May 31, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - The non stop mini modified feature brought Bill Trusky to the front after a three deep battle ensued the first green. Joe Miller looked like hed give the leader a challenge on lap ten. This never happened with Jeff Schultz nipping Miller at the wire as Trusky won the event. Duck Wack in the championship car was fourth with Hermie Schultz next.
Joe Miller won the non-stop Herbs mini modified feature for 15 laps in his first win this season.
May 24, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - The mini modifieds were short on cars but not on action as Bill Trusky slipped in front of the field as the double greens appeared. Hermie Schultz put the pressure on the leader until problems put his mount in the pits on lap five for some unknown reason. Joe Miller shot into third then second within two more laps and in just one more there was a new leader. Before the checkered Phil Schultz the 1996 champion in his brother Jeffs car grabbed second with Trusky third fast timer Mike VanHouten and Lee Morrison nearly in a dead heat for fifth.
Johnson Scores First Mini-Modified Win of year in Friday Opener at LGR!
May 17, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - With spring just alittle less than one month old race fans who braved the weather saw over 135 race cars in the pit area and temperatures less than 40 degrees at race time for the first Friday night weekly program at Lake Geneva raceway. Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake the defending Herbs mini modified champion scored the first win of the season in the non stop 15 lap feature race. Bill Trusky held the lead just two laps before Ken Johnson got the break he needed to secure the top spot and go on to finish three lengths ahead of fast timer qualifier Jeff Schultz a closing Mike VanHouten Roy Morrison Trusky and Hermie Schultz.
