Lucky Bob's Challenge - Lucky Bob's Raceway - Milwaukee, WI

November 21, 2019

Round 6 of 16

Wiedemann Wins!

(Milwaukee, WI) -- The only story of the 2019-20 IndySlotCar season has been the surprising domination my Matt Hayek, his fellow competitors looked to change the narrative at a track that no one had driven on before the Lucky Bob's Challenge at Lucky Bob's Raceway in Milwaukee. John Wiedemann did just that with a solid win ahead of Hayek who stayed in front of Mike Lack.

The night started out with what appeared to be an opening as second year driver Joe Heitz did what he became well known for in his rookie season, scoring pole position. Heitz lined up along side Mike Kristof locking out the top three in points from the front row. The heats opened with three of the four fastest drivers, Wiedemann was that third fastest qualifier but it was his solid work in the tight inside lane that allowed the #19 Angry Squirrel Speedsport driver to advance to the final. Heitz challenged for the lead and sat on the transfer position for most of the evening, but the #22 PenskeHO driver would settle for fifth on the night with his teammate Ev Kamikawa right behind in a solid showing in sixth, while Kristof went straight backwards and finished last in tenth.

In the second heat it was a duel between a brand new driver and an up and coming veteran that had the crowd captivated. Hiro Kamikawa made his IndySlotCar debut in the #2 PenskeHO car prepared by his father, Ev, challenged Black-Atom Racing's Pete Dorn and it came right down to the finish with the second generation driver holding a small lead over the #5 Arrow car but a late spin by the rookie allowed Dorn to advance. Hiro would finish behind dad in seventh, while Dean Strom struggled to eighth place.

The final heat featured the top two in points and it was a battle throughout as Hayek and Lack traded the lead while trying to avoid the moving chicane that was Bill Black, ultimately Lack would grad the lead and for the first time all season Hayek would make the final without winning a heat race.

The final looked to be a rematch of the final heat, but John Wiedemann made an early statement that said he would decide how the Lucky Bob's Challenge would be decided, and it was decided in the first rotation as he started his #19 Angry Squirrel Speedsport car in the difficult inside yellow lane and as he had done in his heat, ran perfectly and took the early lead, from there the lead would continue to build as his pursuers would have to move into that yellow lane and each would struggle. The real battle on track again would be between Hayek and Lack for second place, ultimately Hayek would finish just ahead for second and keep his points lead almost identical to the 77 point gap he entered the race with. While Pete Dorn made his first final since the Larry Rotter Memorial GP last season, he would have to settle for fourth but it was good enough to move him from seventh to fifth in the Husarsbilt Cup standings.

It would be Wiedemann's 24th career win, breaking him out of tie with Hall of Famer Jim Kaehny and move him into seventh on the all time wins list. Wiedemann also leapfrogs his Angry Squirrel Speedsport teammate, Lack, to move to second in points, 76 behind Hayek and five ahead of Lack. Hayek finishing second was the difference, had Lack finished second they would have been tied.

In two weeks the series returns to the Road Course at Badger Raceway for the second time this season, but this time, teams and drivers will prepare their own cars for the Duane Sweeney Memorial Grand Prix. Mike Lack won the "club car" Fall Brawl at the track earlier this season and he's the defending Sweeney Memorial GP winner.

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Lucky Bob’s Challenge Fast Facts

Race date: Tuesday, Nov 19

Track: Lucky Bob’s Raceway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Race distance: 20 minutes

Entry List: Lucky Bob’s Challenge

Twitter: @indyslotcar

IndySlotCar Website: indyslotcar.com

2017 race winner: Dan Margetta (No. 3 PenskeHO Dallara-Chevrolet)

2017 Firestone P1 Award winner: John Wiedemann (No. 19 JAM Racing Dallara-Honda)

Qualifying record: new track

Race record: new track

YouTube Broadcast: IndySlotCar Channel

At-track schedule (all times local):

6:30 – Driver introductions

7:00 – IndySlotCar Series Practice

7:25 – Qualifying for the Firestone P1 Award (Three groups of qualifying)

7:45 – Heat races

8:30 – Lucky Bob’s Challenge

Race Notes:

• Matt Hayek has opened up a 77 point lead over Mike Lack after the first five races.

• Dan Margetta scored his 48th pole position at the Turkey Trot, drawing even with Series’ founder and five time Husarsbilt Cup champion Phil Cianciola for the most poles all-time. This gives Margetta the record or a share of the record in every major statistical categories.

• Matt Hayek has moved into a tie for 11th in all-time wins with his 15th at the Turkey Trot, equal with John Shea, he has also pulled even with Dave Austin with 54 final four appearances, good for 12th and also moved into 11th in total laps with 32,131.

Lucky Bob’s Challenge PRE-EVENT QUOTES:

Matt Hayek No. 15 Alter Ego Racing: I will have to have this quote cleared with my attourneys.

Dan Margetta No. 88 Hardly Steinbrenner Margetta Racing: As usual I am on a plane that is landing an hour after the race starts.

Bill Black No. 7 Black-Atom Racing: I guess I stayed away long enough to learn how to make a final.

LUCKY BOB’S HISTORY (4 events, 2004 – 2006, 2017)

Date Race Winner Event Name Track

2/19/2004 Larry Rotter Lucky Bob’s Challenge Scorpion

2005 Dan Margetta Lucky Bob’s Challenge M-T Track

1/18/2006 Larry Rotter Lucky Bob’s Challenge Scorpion

3/21/2017 Dan Margetta Lucky Bob’s March Madness Bonsai