No Holds Barred in Slinger, Andretti Wins!

The Superstar Racing Experience makes its next stop to the Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin in what is sure to be another Saturday night full of fireworks on the track. Ernie Francis Jr comes off winning last weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis and looks to continue his hot streak. Hailie Deegan made another appearance in the SRX, subbing in for Tony Kanaan. Marco Andretti got the pole for Heat Race #1 with Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte starting up there with him as well. Greg Biffle and the local star, Luke Fenhaus, 17-year old Slinger Nationals winner, are in the race too. Michael Waltrip comes in as the only driver in the field who has competed at Slinger before.

Andretti pulled away to an early lead as Tony Stewart jumped into second. Luke Fenhaus and Hailie Deegan battled for position early on as they made contact. Fenhaus worked his way up to fifth with about six minutes left in Heat 1. The fun flag came out which would bunch the field back up. The heat resumed with about two and a half minutes to go with Andretti and Stewart on the front row. Andretti took off right at the green flag but Stewart held on, right behind Andretti. Paul Tracy got spun around by Ernie Francis Jr right after that to bring the caution back out. When Tracy was able to get back going, he sent Ernie Francis Jr a little “message” in the way of a love tap. At the restart, Tracy went straight into the wall and the yellow has to come out before Tracy was able to get to the pit exit. A tire went down after retaliation with Francis Jr. On the restart with two laps to go, Andretti once again cleared Stewart as Fenhaus and Labonte fight for third. Marco Andretti went on to win Heat 1.

Heat 1 Results:

1. Marco Andretti
2. Tony Stewart
3. Luke Fenhaus
4. Bobby Labonte
5. Helio Castroneves

The field inverted for Heat Race 2 which gave the pole to Willy T Ribbs and Bill Elliott started next to him. Willy T Ribbs then went around in turn two to bring out the caution from getting loose. Deegan and Elliott led the field to the restart as Deegan battled hard on the outside to take the lead. Troubles for Michael Waltrip to bring out another caution. Waltrip had damage that caused his tire to go down after contact with Helio Castroneves. Deegan went for the lead on the next restart and was able to pull away. The fun flag comes out to bunch up the field again with Deegan leading. At the restart, Greg Biffle in the #69 edged out Deegan for the lead with Ernie Francis Jr entering the picture. Francis and Deegan battled side-by-side for second with Biffle trying to hang on. On the final lap, Biffle and Deegan got to the line almost dead even as Biffle edged out Deegan to win Heat Race #2.

Heat 2 Results:

1. Greg Biffle
2. Hailie Deegan
3. Ernie Francis Jr
4. Luke Fenhaus
5. Tony Stewart

Marco Andretti will have the pole for the 150-lap feature race with Luke Fenhaus starting in second. Willy T Ribbs and Paul Tracy tangled a couple of times on the opening lap as the beef continued. Fenhaus challenged Andretti for the lead on lap 13 as they go side-by-side. While they battled, Tony Stewart waited to pounce as he was right behind in third. By lap 31, Luke Fenhaus and Tony Stewart fight for the lead with Marco Andretti behind as the top three swap spots. Bobby Labonte was behind Andretti in fourth. Fenhaus hung on for the time being. The caution came out on lap 45, the fun flag, as Stewart and Fenhaus were putting on a show for the fans in Slinger. The race resumed on lap 54 with Fenhaus still leading. By lap 84, Stewart and Fenhaus were side-by-side again battling for the lead like it’s the last lap every race. Labonte and Andretti were right behind, waiting to pounce. Coming to lap 90, Fenhaus lost a little bit of ground and would lose the lead to Tony Stewart. Marco Andretti attempted to go three-wide in the middle but it doesn’t work. The caution would then come out. On the restart, it was back to the Stewart vs Fenhaus show, but Michael Waltrip had some trouble off of turn two to bring the caution back out. On the next restart, Paul Tracy got payback on Ernie Francis Jr as he turned him into Hailie Deegan. Francis almost got him back but Deegan bumped him out of the way. Everyone was ok and they continued racing for now. On lap 121, Stewart used the high line to try and get around Fenhaus but Fenhaus remained side-by-side with Stewart with the upper hand. Hailie Deegan almost took Tracy out on lap 131 as she got sideways and kept going. Marco Andretti was knocking on Tony Stewart’s door for second place, then the caution came out with 15 laps to go. The caution came out with Biffle and Castroneves getting together into turn one as they raced for fifth and sixth. They try again with 12 laps to go as Fenhaus fought Stewart for the lead. Paul Tracy found his way to fourth as Marco Andretti charged to second and Fenhaus’ bumper. A huge wreck occurs as Fenhaus took the white flag when Deegan spun Paul Tracy, who threw his hands up in frustration as he spun, Michael Waltrip, Willy T Ribbs, and Helio Castroneves. As for Tracy? He wasn’t too pleased. The race will end under green as part of the SRX rules. We try again with two to go. Marco Andretti jumped ahead of Luke Fenhaus and Marco Andretti picked up a signature win at Slinger Speedway!

Final Results:

1. Marco Andretti
2. Luke Fenhaus
3. Tony Stewart
4. Hailie Deegan
5. Bobby Labonte
6. Ernie Francis Jr
7. Willy T Ribbs
8. Greg Biffle
9. Bill Elliott
10. Helio Castroneves
11. Paul Tracy
12. Michael Waltrip