
By Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Aug. 28— Just a few weeks after capturing his
first career super late model feature win, Gary LaMonte was back in victory
lane for win #2 Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway following the 60-lap
main event while just five points now separate Steve Apel and Chris Blawat in
the battle for the track championship with just one night remaining.
“Ever since the Nationals we’ve had something figured out
and it’s giving me tons of rear grip at the end and we just kill them off the
corners,” LaMonte told the crowd from victory lane, “And now that we’ve got the
bugs worked out of me we’ve got a great car and have tons of confidence so we
can go out and have some fun.”

Grant Griesbach assumed the lead for the restart and chose
the inside lane, leaving second place Rob Braun to take the top side with Brad
Mueller, Gary LaMonte, and Alex Prunty doubling up behind them. Griesbach held
the lead as racing resumed but was pressured heavily by Braun from the high
lane while LaMonte used the outside lane to edge into third place ahead of
Prunty and Mueller. Griesbach and Braun battled side by side for several laps
before Braun eased ahead from the top groove as Griesbach’s car began to dance
slightly off the corners. LaMonte also worked his way around Griesbach for
second place just before the caution flag waved again on lap 14 when Fred
Winn’s car went for a spin after racing with Mitch McGrath for position farther
back in the field. Braun held the lead from the inside lane on the restart
while LaMonte quickly fell into line behind him a lap after the green flag
waved as Prunty, Mueller, and Blawat all went to work on getting by Griesbach
for third. LaMonte’s car cut off the turns better than Braun’s and on lap 17 he
was able to duck to the inside exiting turn two to take the lead as Prunty also
worked his way past Braun for second. Both Mueller and Blawat also passed Braun
for position before he left the speedway with mechanical issues as LaMonte
continued to lead over Prunty. Prunty kept LaMonte honest as the leaders worked
their way through lapped traffic with Blawat sitting third while Mueller exited
the race after cutting down a tire while running fourth. Prunty closed in
slightly in traffic but LaMonte proved to be too strong as he drove to his
second career super late model feature victory. Alex Prunty finished a close
second while Chris Blawat finished third and closed to within five points of
Steve Apel in the battle for the track championship with just one week
remaining. Brad Keith overcame mechanical problems earlier in the night to
finish a strong fourth while Kelsey Dassow posted her career best finish with a
fifth place run. Lowell Bennett finished sixth ahead of Nick Wagner and Tim
Lampman while Jerry Eckhardt and Brad Mueller rounded out the top ten.
Super late model heat races were won by Mike Egan, Grant
Griesbach, and Alex Prunty while Gary LaMonte was the fastest qualifier with a
lap at 11.308 seconds.