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”Doctor tooth” Ken Johnson
out of Park Ridge, Illinois won his fifth title in the Luisa’s pizzeria mini modifieds
October 9, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - The
non stop mini modified feature brought Hermie Schultz into the lead with rookies Scott McCarthy and Gerardo Giuliano next.Lap
three Glen Vernezze was on the move running third on lap one,second on lap two and in the lead on lap four.
The next two
laps Schultz and Ken Johnson fought for second with Mike VanHouten looking for an opening.Johnson moved in on the leader and
just as the midway signal was shown it was a new show as the lead changed for the final time.Vernezze had big problems on
lap fourteen dropping out with engine problems.At the checkered Johnson was clearly the winner,with VanHouten second,Andy
Krueger third,as Curt Thomzazin, Phil Schultz and Hermie Schultz all within inches of each other.
Click Here to See The Race Results
Rockford Speedway's 2004 Little Car National's Mini-Mod Title belongs to Ken Johnson
Saturday, October 2nd - Rockford, IL - The 25 lap Mini-Modified feature was
led by Silver Lake, Wisconsin's Blazing Bill Trusky for nearly 15 laps before the unthinkable...Blazing Bill's Big Bertha
blubbered coming out of turn four and forced a yellow flag.
The restart saw Salem's Glen EZee Vernezze stay ahead of Dr. Tooth inspite of the doctor's
questionable restart tactics. EZee's lead lasted for one and a half laps before his engine expired and completely
oiled the entire outside lane.
Before the track officials realized the race surface had been destroyed, Silver Lake's
Hermy Schultz pulled off what might have been the ultimate "slick" move of the year when he passed the the top three
running cars as they were all forced to slow because of Vernezze's sudden loss of power.
Because the Herminator passed the car's of Vernezze, Johnson and Elkorn's Crazy Curt
Thomazin before the stripe and because the Herminator led the field around for another full circuit before the caution appeared
he would be restarted on lap 17 as the leader.
There was a lengthy caution period in an attempt to return the track to race condition
and this is where the controversy began. The flagman asked for a thumbs up or thumbs down from the drivers regarding the track's
condition. Johnson repeatedly showed a thumb's down trying to contradict the lucky leader's thumbs up. All the fans present
saw that Schultz was trying to pull a fast one, he was trying to get the race going while there was barely one lane to
race on. The wise old veteran knew that as long as the oil dry and oil remained in the outer groove no one would be able to
pass.
With fresh oil dripping down the outer groove of turns 3 and 4 and boatloads of
oil dry in turns 1 and 2 the Herminator got his way and the flagman showed one to go before the green. Johnson waved
no, no, no please 2 more laps to try to work in the oil dry to no avail. Before the green flew to restart on lap 17 Hermy
Schultz mashed the gas from his low line in turn 3 and leaped to an enormous lead.
Going into turns 1and 2 saw Schultz slipped on his cold tires up into the outer groove
for the first and last time. For the next 8 circuits Schultz would keep his car low in the only clean racing lane. Johnson
persistently pursued the bottomfeeding veteran from the oily outer groove. When the white flag was shown Dr Tooth demonstrated
to the fans and Schultz that his dirt track experiences were not forgotten. In a World of Outlaw caliber pass from out
of the "cushion" in turns 1 and 2 Johnson shot past Schultz on the back straightaway and sealed the pass in turns 3 and 4.
Awestruck fans and a bewildered Schultz watched Johnson cross the stripe ahead of Schultz,
Curt Thomazin, Chris Marinello, Jerry Giuliano, Chris Thomazin, Scott McCarthy, Glen Vernezze, Bill Trusky and John DeMay.
Curt Thomazin of Elkhorn won his first
career feature in the Luisa’s pizzeria mini modifieds!
September 11, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - The
mini modified feature brought Curt Thomazin from his second row starting berth in front of the field, as Sonny Schoffen
in the Glen Vernezze spun off turn two.A caution came one lap later for another racing incident. When the green came back
out, Thomazin scooted back in front, with Phil Schultz at his side, Mike VanHouten the quick qualifier next and John DeMay.
Birthday driver Andy Krueger slipped into fourth on lap five,as the field remained extremely close. Schoffen a lap down was
running right behind VanHouten. Time ran out for VanHouten as Thomazin was scored the winner, Phil Schultz was third, with
his Father Hermie Schultz fourth,Denny Norton Jr. in the Ken Johnson mount and Krueger.
"Doctor Tooth” Ken Johnson took
fast time and won the 15 lap feature for the Lusia’s pizzeria mini modifieds
September 3, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - The
mini modified feature saw Gerardo Giuliano in front for the first two laps, even with a spin by Hermie Schultz and a caution
flag on lap one. That was all best timer Ken Johnson needed and on lap three there was a new leader.Phil Schultz chased Johnson
the entire race,but again the defending champion was too much for his fellow drivers and scored back to back wins over Schultz,
Mike VanHouten, Glen Vernezze, Curt Thomazin and Andy Krueger.
Glen Vernezze of Salem won his second
Lusia’s pizzeria mini modified 15 lap feature
August 27, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - The
mini modified feature saw Jesse Johnson move in front with Gerardo Giuliano, Glen Vernezze and Andy Krueger all trying to
be the leader. Johnson had problems coming off turn four slipping just slightly and Vernezze quickly charged in front on lap
three, just before the John DeMay went around in turn four and the rare caution appeared. Two laps later an even rarer sight
was a Hermie Schultz spin in the same spot for the final caution of the race.
All out racing ensued for the final
nine laps,Vernezze now had Johnson back on his bumper, with Mike VanHouten a very close third and Phil Schultz fourth.Giuliano
retired to the pits on lap eleven, with problems while running eighth. VanHouten got stuck behind a lapped car,as time ran
out. Vernezze breezed to a safe margin of victory, VanHouten was second, with Phil Schultz, Johnson, quick qualifier and point
leader Ken Johnson fifth and Krueger completed the top six.
James Swan of Lake Geneva got behind
the wheel of Ken Johnson’s Car and easily ran away with the feature race
August 13, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - It
took James Swan just two laps to charge to the front, after taking quick time and grab the lead from Curt Thomazin,
then breeze to large margin of victory over Mike Van Houten, who took some time to get through the field, Phil Schultz was
third, Thomazin, Bill Trusky in the Gerardo Giuliano mount and Sonny Schoffen subbing for Glen Vernezze, in mini modified
action.
Mike VanHouten won his 2nd Luisa’s
Pizzeria mini modified 15 lap feature of the season
August 7, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - Glen
Vernezze moved in front of the mini modified feature with Curt Thomazin, Jesse Johnson and Mike VanHouten all over the leader.Van
Houten was on the Move, smoothly moving into second on lap five. Fast qualifier Ken Johnson joined the cluster up front on
lap ten,with Phil Schultz moving past Thomazin.
Vernezze looked like a sure winner,but on lap fourteen the veteran
driver veered To the right, then the left and spun around as Van Houten went by to win the race, Ken Johnson was second, with
Schultz, Tomazin, Andy Krueger and Gerardo Giuliano sixth.
Ken Johnson Takes the Feature Event
in the Lusia's Pizzeria Mini-Modifieds!
July 29, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - The
mini modified feature was another intense battle for the top spot at the drop of The green flag, when Curt Thomazin slipped
in front, as a cluster of cars tried to over take the leader. On lap three, the first Yellow Book USA caution period was seen
after John DeMay lost traction, then slipped right, then left and smacked the wall hard, coming to rest in front of the field,
that did everything to miss him.
DeMay escaped injury,but his car received some damage. On the restart Thomazin darted
back in front, with Jesse Johnson, Glen Vernezze and Andy Krueger all over each other for the same spot. By lap eight Ken
Johnson was in second some distrance behind the leader. Last weeks feature winner Mike VanHouten spun in turn one on lap eleven
and the second caution was thrown. Thomazin march right out front, as Ken Johnson, Jesse Johnson and Krueger.
Until
lap thirteen it looked like Thomazin would win the race,but something happened to his car causing it to not handle. Holding
the lead two more laps with his ill handling Car gave Ken Johnson the opportunity to move in and take over the lead. Thomazin
dropped out two laps later, with Johnson breezing to a big lead and win over Vernezze, Krueger, Jesse Johnson, Hermie Schultz
and a recovering VanHouten.
Mike VanHouten Bad Streak Broken in
the Lusia's Pizzeria Mini-Modifieds!
July 22, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - The non
stop mini modified feature brought hometown driver Andy Krueger out front, with Curt Thomazin, Jesse Johnson and Glen Vernezze
trying to move up. Mike VanHouten who started near rear of the field got a big break early and was up
To third by lap
seven.
It looked like that would be the way it would end,it with the white flag out, Van Houten caught Krueger for
the win. Point leader and quick qualifier Ken Johnson nipped Jesse Johnson for third, Vernezze was fifth and Hermie Schultz
sixth.
Sonny Schoffen Scores Sweep in the Lusia's
Pizzeria Mini-Modifieds!
July 2, 2004; Lake Geneva,
WI. - Schoffen got into “Doctor Tooth” Ken Johnson’s car and
took fast time,won the dash and survived the out of control 15 lap feature, to take a clean sweep of mini modified competition. The mini modified feature didn’t
even have three quarters of a lap in, when a three deep situation turned ugly. Mike VanHouten, Gerardo Giuliano, Bill Trusky
and Curt Thomazin got together, causing the first Yellow Book USA caution period. No
one was injuried, but for those four the evening was over.
Phil Schultz led the first lap,but
Glen Vernezze was the driver getting the breaks and flew into the lead on lap two,in a race that would now go non stop. But
just eight lap later, Sonny Schoffen was a driver on a mission, securing the top spot and went on to win the race over Vernezze,
Schultz, Chris Thomazin, John DeMay and Hermie Schultz.
"Doctor Tooth" Clean Sweeps Mini-Modifieds!
June 26, 2004; Lake
Geneva, WI. - Ken Dr.Tooth Johnson from Park Ridge,IL. took a clean sweep in the Lusias pizzeria
mini modifieds. The defending champion took fast time, easily won the dash and ran away with the 15 lap feature.
Glen Verneeze Takes a Clean Sweep for the Luisa's Minimods!
June 4, 2004; Lake Geneva,
WI. - Glen Vernezze took a clean sweep of the Lusias pizzeria mini modifieds
by winning the dash after taking fast time then going on to win the feature ahead of Ken Johnson who nipped Curt Thomazin,
Mike VanHouten was fourth with Andy Krueger fifth and rookie Gerardo Giuliano next.
Ken Johnson Takes the Feature Event
May 28, 2004; Lake Geneva,
WI. - Defending champion Ken Dr.Tooth Johnson out of Paddock Lake started
off just where they ended last season. He won the feature. Johnson in the 15 lap Luisas Pizzeria mini modified event,
driving the Glen Vernezze car after the engine let loose in the his regular car during hot laps. Second place went to Phil
Schultz from Silver Lake and third to Curt Thomazin of Elkhorn.
Ken Johnson Sweeps Opening Night for the Luisa's Minimods!
May 8, 2004; Lake Geneva,
WI. - Doctor Tooth Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake, the defending champion,
had a clean sweep in the Luisas Pizzeria mini modifieds,by taking fast time, winning the dash for 4 laps and then the 20 lap
feature race.
Second year racer Jesse Johnson
moved in front of the mini modified feature with Hermie Schultz moved in front on lap four. By lap six Mike VanHouten was
moving around Johnson and looking at the leader. Glen Vernezze was right behind them, with Ken Johnson third by lap eight.
VanHouten
caught the leader on lap nine and secured the lead two laps later. But Johnson pulled off a slick move on lap twelve and Schultz
fell to the defending champion one lap later. A lapped car gave Johnson his big break as VanHouten
lost the lead on lap
fourteen.
Johnson easily sailed to a big win in another non stop event .Vernezze was a close second with VanHouten
third,Hermie Schultz fourth,Phil Schultz fifth after problems early with side by side traffic and Jesse Johnson sixth.
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