Hold your breath! - It's the action on the last lap that counts!

Story & photos by John Nuttall
LAKE GENEVA, WI - Everyone knows that in racing, it is only the last lap that counts. This was borne out again at the 6th stop of the 2001 Burris Circle Tour on July 1, 2001 at Lake Geneva Raceway. In all of the Sr. Briggs classes, a lead change on the last lap set up some exciting finishes. The Sr. Lite class got off to the usual start with the karts going six wide through turn one. The pack spread out to a lead group of five karts with Joe Moser, Ryan Rockhold, Josh Stahl, Ricky Johnson and Cale Wyse moving away from the rest of the field. Joe Moser had his hands full with Ryan Rockhold the entire race and Rockhold passed in the last corner to win. Moser moved into the overall points' lead for the season because Jacob Humphries was on vacation and missed this week's race. Rockhold and Humphries are now tied for second overall.

Josh Stahl beat out Jay Gough on the last lap to take the lead coming down the front stretch in the Sr. Medium's. Mark Johnson was third and Brandon Hill was fourth after having mechanical problems all day. Denise Kruse also made a last lap dash to take the victory away from Scott Henry in the 4-Cycle Sportsman feature. Stan Guess finished third.

Rick Simpson led twelve of the last thirteen laps in the Heavy class. Anthony Danta led the one that counted, again racking up a last corner pass to cross the finish line inches ahead of Simpson. Dave Budres beat out Bob Chatten for third place and Scott Mayborne took home fifth.

Billy Hulbert and Adam Carlson continued their season long duel in Jr. I, drafting nose to tail for the entire fifteen laps. This week Carlson took the win, moving five points ahead of Hulbert for the season. Tanner Bohlen and Jordon Thiel fought for the third and fourth positions. Karisa Rhodes had a great day rounding out the podium in fifth.

One of the few classes with a dominant kart in the feature races this week was in the Jr. III's. Jeff Everts jumped out to a big lead ahead of second place finisher Matt Atkinson. Peter Byrne drove the wheels off his kart to finish within a few kart lengths of Atkinson for third. Amy Ghilsen was within inches of Byrne for fourth.

Jay Gough continued his winning ways in the Yamaha Sportsman Lite class, mixing it up with Eric Freiberg. Dustin Columbi, Jake Mogan and Mike James rounded out the top five. Carly Mandarino gave it all she had and was right behind Clay Kliem in the Jr. Yamaha race. She made a move to pass, but Clay held on for the win.

Champ Kart action was fast and furious. Mike Slabenak won his third feature of the year. Johnathan Foster showed patience and determination beating Mark Kuzniar and Jason Krage for second through fourth respectively. Jack Benson, the class points leader, lost a tire in the closing laps. This really tightened up the points' race with six drivers within 30 points. In other Champ Kart Action, Gina Mooi won the Jr. Champ Kart; Frank James Slabenak won the Jr. Sportsman Champ. Jessica Kudlicki finished second in Jr. Sportsman Champ.

Ryan Jolly has dreamed of being a flagman for years. He comes to the stock car races every Saturday night at Lake Geneva Raceway with his grandpa. Today, this talented seven year old got his chance to move into the flag stand as the guest flagman for the Kid Kart feature race. The five-to-seven year old drivers, Alex Stumpf, Mackenzie Pillar, Derrick Gough, Ryan Winchester and Michael Jessup put on a great show for the crowd.

Check out all the racing action at the Burris Circle Tour's website at www. karts.net/burriscircle/.

RESULTS:
Jr. Yamaha: 1.) Clay Kliem Elgin, IL, 2.) Carly Mandarino, Glen Ellyn, IL, 3.) Amanda Preo, Lomira, WI, 4.) Brian Ellis, Orland Park, IL, 5.) Clint Kliem, Elgin, IL

Sr. Heavy: 1.) Anthony Danta, Orland Park, IL, 2.) Rick Simpson, 3.) Dave Budres, Beloit, WI, 4.) Bob Chatten, E. Peoria, IL, 5.) Scott Mayborne, Belvidere, IL, 6.) Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, WI

4-Cycle Sportsman: 1.) Denise Kruse, Bridgeview, IL, 2.) Scott Henry, Batavia, IL, 3.) Stan Guess, South Elgin, IL, 4.) John Ehlers, Burlington, WI, 5.) J.J. Adams, Wonder Lake, IL

Jr. Champ Kart: 1.) Gina Mooi, New Lennox, IL

Jr. Sportsman Champ Kart: 1.) Frank James Slabenak, Palos Park, IL, 3.) Jessica Kudlicki, Glendale Heights, IL

Sr. Medium: 1.) Josh Stahl, Sandwich, IL, 2.) Jay Gough, Roscoe, IL, 3.) Mark Johnson, Plano, IL, 4.) Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, WI, 5.) Anthony Danta, Orland Park, IL, 6.) Jamie Rediehs, Hinsdale, IL, 7.) Dave Budres, Beloit, WI, 8.) Rick Simpson

Jr. I Lite (Purple): 1.) Adam Carlson, Lisle, IL, 2.) Billy Hulbert, Chanahon, IL, 3.) Tanner Bohlen, Hortenville, WI, 4.) Jordon Thiel, Appelton, WI, 5.) Karisa Rhoades, Green Bay, WI, 6.) Ben Stumpf, Menasha, WI, 7.) Cody Potter, Genoa City, WI, 8.) Ryan Marshall, Kanasasville, WI, 9.) Mason Hadley, Channahon, IL, 10.) Tyler Peterson, Lake Gevena, WI, 11.) Marly Mooi, New Lennox, IL, 12.) Dylan Hobbs, Sterling, IL

Yamaha Sportsman Lite: 1.) Jay Gough, Roscoe, IL, 2.) Eric Freiberg, Lockport, IL, 3.) Dustin Colombi, 4.) Jake Mogan, Wonder Lake, IL, 5.) Mike James, Saukville, WI, 6.) Joe Kliem, Elgin, IL, 7.) Shane Reinink, Sycamore, IL, 8.) Seth Lootans, Bristol, WI

F200-OHV: 1.) Steve Palgreene, 2.) Regan Vehring, Milwaukee, WI, 3.) Sheldon Gecker, 4.) Ryan Vehring, Milwaukee, WI

Sr. Lite: 1.) Ryan Rockhold, Pekin, IL2.) Joe Moser, Elkhorn, WI, 3.) Josh Stahl, Sandwich, IL, 4.) Ricky Johnson, Lincolnshire, IL, 5.) Cale Wyse, Evansville, WI, 6.) Richard McGill, Chicago, IL, 7.) Paul Weter, River Grove, IL, 8.) Kelsi Guess, South Elgin, IL, 9.) Bobby Atkinson, Morris, IL, 10.) Jacob Finney, Sycamore, IL, 11.) Jackie Hagen, Franklin Park, IL, 12.) T.J. Mertes, Sheboygan Falls, WI, 13.) Mike Kann, Arlington Heights, IL, 14.) Kevin Pearson, Elgin, IL

Jr. III Lite (Gold): 1.) Jeff Everts, Channahon, IL, 2.) Matthew Atkinson, Morris, IL, 3.) Peter Byrne, Shullsburg, WI, 4.) Amy Ghislain, Twin Lakes, WI, 5.) Jimmy Johnson, Lincolnshire, IL, 6.) Matt Vice, Woodale, IL, 7.) Raymond Mooi , New Lenox, IL, 8.) Kyle Rhoades, Green Bay, WI, 9.) Brian Freiberg, Lockport, IL

Star Champ Kart: 1.) Mike Slabenak, Jr., Cicero, IL, 2.) Johnathon Foster, Sycamore, IL, 3.) Mark Kuzniar, Hanover Park, IL, 4.) Jason Krage, Addison, IL, 5.) James Maher, Downers Grove, IL, 6.) Phil Kuzniar, 7.) Nicole Phillips, Sycamore, IL, 8.) Jack Benson, Hoffman Estates, IL