TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Week two at the Merrill Ice Drags was People’s Choice Day. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, dawned bright with more amazing, beautiful weather that led to another day of record attendance, Merrill Ice Draggers reported, along with special guests attending from SEGA (South East Gassers Association). “Five cars drove from as far as Tennessee to try their luck at the World Championship Merrill Ice Drags,” Merrill Ice Draggers President Cindy Opichka said. “Several others came from Indiana, Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin.”
“One hard core SEGA fan drove his ‘51 Chevy from Toronto, Canada, to help with the races and helped the club line up cars. Thank you, Rich!” she said.
“As always, there was a bit of extra excitement when Scott Butler (SEGA) rolled his car,” Opichka said. “There were no injuries, but for the loss of the race. Driver was fine, the car … needs a bit of repair.”
Numerous drivers made their way into the 100 + MPH clubs, she said.
“Thank you to all our sponsors,” Opichka said. “We can’t do this without you and your support! Thank you, Nicolet Bank, for sponsoring the day and doing the arm drop lottery race for extra cash!”
In the Outlaw class, Ron Krueger of Rhinelander clocked in at an amazing 130.75 miles per hour (MPH) driving a 486 big block Chevy with 1471 blower. The fuel-injected vehicle runs on alcohl and was a Willy’s Jeep turned Mud Bogger then Ice Dragger, Opichka said. Ron and Keith Krueger alternate driving each year and their fastest pass on record was 134 MPH, she said.
The Merrill Ice Drags track record is 141.64 MPH, a record set by Rick Miles in 2010, Opichka said. The record for E.T is 5.431 sec, set by Keith Krueger in 2010, she said.
“It was a stellar day at The World Championship Merrill Ice Drags!” Opichka said.
Week two Merrill Ice Drags results:
2wd
First place: Emma Meyer – 16.725
Second place: Linda Krebsbach – 16.882
4×4
First place: Jay Dietzler – 12.779
Second place: Travis Smith – 14.685
11.0
First place: Mike Trudell – E.T 11.084
Second place: Steve Traeger – E.T 11.224
Easy Street II
First place: Mandy Herning – R.T .001 E.T 8.311
Second place: Scott Stricklin – R.T .527 E.T 8.035
10.0
First place: Chris Huitfeldt – E.T 9.913
Second place: Shyana Finck – E.T 9.589
Ultimate Street
First place: Gary Harris – E.T 6.926– MPH 112.62
Second place: Todd Weisenfeld – E.T 8.229 MPH– 91.97
9.0
First place: Travis Arndt – E.T 9.085
Second place: Hunter Diels – E.T 8.982
Modified
First place: Kyle Bohman – E.T 8.212–MPH 94.08
Second place: Adam Reich – E.T 8.270_ MPH 92.60
8.5
First place: Duston Keoning – E.T 8.717 MPH 94.08
Second place: Joel Frisch – E.T 8.640 MPH 89.88 (R.L)
Altered
First place: Ryan Blake – E.T 6.849 MPH 113.06
Second place: Mike Bohman – E.T 7.322 MPH 100.47
8.0
First place: Jeff Stricklin – E.T 8.181 MPH 88.34
Second place: Adam Reich – E.T 8.982 MPH 91.40
7.0
First place: Mike Bohman – E.T 7.496 MPH 93.26
Second place: Stephan Pophal – E.T 7.571 MPH 101.50
Open Door
First place: Peter Vogels – E.T 7.137 MPH 95.67
Second place: Mike Bohman – E.T 7.181 MPH 102.03 (R.L)
Outlaw
First place Ron Krueger – E.T 5.966MPH 130.75
Second place: Mike Bohman – E.T 7.604 MPH 95.91 (R.L)
E.T=Elapsed Time
R.T=Reaction Time (R.T .001 is a near perfect light; perfect is .000, meaning the driver took off exactly as the light turned green. It’s a tricky balance because, if a driver jumps the light, they get an R.L, or red light, meaning the driver left before the light was green which is an immediate loss.)
R.L=Red Light (see above)