Apel has emotional win at Slinger Speedway

While Steve Apel has been to victory lane at the Slinger Speedway many times, Sunday night’s win in the Elite Eight Super Late Model Series Keith’s Marina Race Against Cancer 75 was special considering what the five-time track champion’s family has recently been through.

During the offseason it was discovered Apel’s 6-year-old son, Cameron, needed a bone marrow transplant and his 4-year-old brother, Harrison, was a perfect match. Cameron received the life-saving transplant in April, and both he and Harrison took part in Sunday night’s celebration.

“It’s so good to be back with my kids, and I can’t put into words what we’ve been through in these last two months. These kids are the reason we get up every morning. They’re brave, they’re strong and they are my heroes,” an emotional Apel said from victory lane.

“When we were in the hospital for a month there, Cam kept asking when we could go back to the racetrack. We didn’t know if we would be back at all this year, and he’s done such an awesome job going through all the stuff that he has gone through. With the bravery that a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old showed, a lot of people look up to different people as heroes, and I’m raising two of them.”

Apel’s victory was in dominating fashion as he raced to a sizeable lead after taking command from early leader Ryan DeStefano, then held off Alex Prunty on a late restart to capture the win.

Prunty finished a strong second just ahead of R.J. Braun in third while Dennis Prunty overcame an early spin and a late-race bobble to finish fourth.

Jacob Nottestad was fifth, followed by Brad Keith, Ryan DeStefano, Nick Egan, Jerry Mueller and Brad Mueller.

• Nick Egan won the 20-lap super late model feature over Lowell Bennett and Dave McCardle. Jerry Mueller was fourth and Ryan Farrell finished fifth

• Dennis Prunty won the Mac Tools fast dash, and Braun was the fastest qualifier with a lap in 11.288 seconds.

• Braden Berge won the 40-lap Uptown Pro Late Model feature after turning in a thrilling run in the outside groove, but an issue in post-race technical inspection resulted in a disqualification so second-place finisher Ryan Gutknecht being credited with the victory. Then came Jesse Bernhagen, Jeff Holtz, Zach Prunty and Tyler Hromadka.

•ν Pro Late Model heat races were won by Brad Hetzel and Jack Stern while Ryan Craine was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 12.139 seconds.

• Paul Wagner edged Dale Lecus Jr. to cross the finish line first in the 35-lap Sportsman feature, but an issue in post-race technical inspection resulted in a disqualification. Lecus was credited with the victory over Alex Lopacinski and Andrew Meyerhofer. Brian Holtz finished fourth and Brandon Tackes was fifth.

• Lecus also won a Sportsman heat race while Dan Calhoun was the winner of the other Sportsman heat event. Paul Wagner was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 12.774 seconds.

• Brian Hillringhouse edged Tracy Neu to win the 25-lap Slinger Bees feature. Brandon Mennicke finished third, followed by Tom Elsinger Jr. and Scott Emric.

Slinger Bees heat races were won by Brian Stanczyk and Al Strobel. Tom Elsinger Jr. was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 15.202 seconds.

• Nick Ostberg won the 10-lap Figure 8 event over Rick Bruskiewicz and Ryan Lovald.

The Plymouth Dirt Track races were canceled again due to damage in turn three from an accident the week before.

Fan appreciation night has been moved to July 9.