Auto Select is sponsoring the Hard Charger Award this season, recognizing the drivers who gained the most spots in their respective classes’ feature races. Here are winners of the award from both days of the Larry Detjens Memorial this past weekend:
July 24th
Big 8 Late Models: 23-Steve Schultz
Schultz traveled from Webster, Minn., and started 11th of 16 cars in the 58-lap Big 8 feature Friday but came all the way up to a third-place finish with his No. 23 car in his first-ever visit to State Park Speedway.
Snap-on Mini Mods: 22-Greg Blount
Blount started eighth in the feature but took over the lead on lap 13 and led the rest of the way in the 20-lap main for his second feature win of the season.
Rockstar Mini Stocks: 57-Tyler Custer
Custer started 11th in the feature but raced his way up to a fourth-place finish in the 25-lap race for his fifth top-five finish of the season.
Ropa’s Pizza Bandoleros: 901-Alex Hartwig
Hartwig came from the eighth starting spot to win the 15-lap Bandos feature, the 2019 class champion’s second feature win of the season.
July 25
ARCA Midwest Tour Super Late Models: 7-John DeAngelis Jr.
Justin Mondeik picked up 12 spots in going from a No. 13 starting position to the win in the 125-lap Larry Detjens Memorial, but it still wasn’t the biggest move. DeAngelis started way back in the field, 24th of 27 cars, but stayed on the lead lap and finished eighth, picking up an impressive 16 spots to gain a solid top 10 finish.
Advance Auto Parts Pure Stocks: 19-Kyle Genett
Genett took the helm of the 19th Hole car this week and started ninth in an 11-car feature field but worked through traffic all the way to a runner-up finish behind race winner Dave Cabelka.
Snap-on Mini Mods: 22-Greg Blount
Blount again started eighth in the feature but came through the pack for his third straight feature win and third straight Hard Charger Award.
Rockstar Mini Stocks: 14-Eric Breitenfeldt
Breitenfeldt made a charge through the field for his first-ever State Park Speedway feature win, starting 11th but coming all the way up to first to also take the Hard Charger Award for the first time.
Ropa’s Pizza Bandoleros: 901-Alex Hartwig
Hartwig once again came from the eighth starting spot to win the 15-lap feature, his second feature win in two days and his third SPS feature win this season.