2009-10 Round 9

Raven 250 - Raven Raceway

Round 9 of 14

February 4, 2010

FAST FACTS

The Raven 250

WHAT: The Raven 250

WHERE: Brookfield, Wisconsin, Raven Raceway

WHEN: Thursday, February 4, 2010- 7pm

U.S. TELEVISION SCHEDULE: YouTube.com and indyslotcarseries.com

2009 CHAMPION: Mark Walczak

2009 POLESITTER: Mark Walczak

TRACK LAYOUT: Permanent Road Course

RACE LENGTH: 250 laps

TRACK RECORDS: Qualifying - 2009, Larry Rotter, 56.453

Race – 2002, Larry Rotter, 21:470

Fast Lap – Mark Walczak in 2009, 4.281

ROUND: 9 of 14 in the 2009-2010 HO Indy Slot Car Series

INSTANT REPLAY:

The second half of the season would begin with the renamed Raven 250. Many drivers were hoping with a new year would come a change of fortune. Good luck for them, and bad luck for Mark Walczak.

The first heat of the night would be a battle between Dan Margetta and Chris Spehert. Both driver would take time at the front of the field, throughout a majority of the race. But in the end it would be Margetta taking the win by one lap. Chris Spehert would settle for second and have to wait to see of he could hold on to the coveted transfer spot. Rookie John Wiedemann would finish third while Andy Spehert would finish fourth.

The second heat would feature points leader Mark Walczak, Ev Kamikawa, rookie Mike Lack, and Dean Strom. Walczak would jump out to an early lead in this race. He would hold a five lap lead at the halfway point, and would grow that to eight laps over Kamikawa at the finish. Attention would turn to see if Kamikawa could gather enough laps to knock Chris Spehert out of the transfer spot. Ev would easily take over that spot passing Chris’ lap total with 40 seconds left. Mike lack would finish third with Dean Strom bringing up the rear.

The third and final heat race had pole sitter, and hometown favorite Larry Rotter, Mike Fitzlaff who was coming off three consecutive DNFs, Tom Spehert, and Mike Kristof. Extensive knowledge of the track payed off for Rotter as he was never really challenged in the race. The battle for the transfer spot. Mike Fitzlaff would tangle multiple times with teammate Tom Spehert, and in the end that would be his downfall. When it was all said and done, Fitzlaff would miss by one lap, giving Kamikawa the last spot in the finals.

In the finals Rotter, Walczak and Margetta would mix it up between the three of them early on with Ev Kamikawa lurking in the weeds close by. At the halfway point, Rotter who had the pole money on the line would lead Walczak by two laps, Kamikawa by four laps and Margetta who would have speed issues by twelve laps. Due to having speed issues Margetta would actually get out of the car multiple times to retrieve rice crispy treats for himself and the corner marshals. The cause of the speed drain was found out to be grass in the motor and radiator from an earlier off road excursion. Rotter’s lead would disappear with late spins, leaving Walczak and Kamikawa to battle for the win. Walczak would collect his fifth win of the season in nine races, extending his points lead over Larry Rotter.

THE QUIZNO’S 250 HISTORY (9 events, 2001 - Present)

Year Race Winner

2001 John Shea

2002 Chad Sorce

2003 Phil Cianciola

2004 Larry Rotter

2005 Phil Cianciola

2006 Dan Margetta

2007 Dan Margetta

2008 Mark Walczak

2009 Mark Walczak

2010 ????????????