Shawano, WI - Nick Anvelink was crowned King of the DiscountShopTowels.com Dirt Kings Late Model Tour Gehm’s Club 117 Spring Thaw at Shawano Speedway to start the 2021 season. Anvelink started second in the 25-lap race with defending DiscountShopTowels.com Dirt Kings Late Model Tour Champion Justin Ritchie earning the Out-Pace Racing Products Pole Award, after the re-draw. Anvelink raced side-by-side with Ritchie from the green flag through turns one and two and then ascended to the lead spot. Anvelink held the lead as caution slowed the field just before halfway. Ritchie had to battle with Troy Springborn on the restart for second position but was able to hold off Springborn, while Anvelink continued to pull away and extend his lead. Anvelink went on to lead every lap and was crowned King of the Gehm’s Club 117 Spring Thaw in Mueller’s Sales & Service Victory Lane, in front of a huge crowd of fans on opening night at the legendary half-mile track. Ritchie finished second, followed by Springborn, Ron Berna and Mike Mullen.

Before the start of the feature, the DiscountShopTowels.com Dirt Kings Late Model Tour paid tribute to Diamond Jim Letizia. Letizia’s familiar D7 led the traditional four-wide salute to the fans before the race and stopped on the front stretch for a moment of silence. Letizia passed away unexpectedly earlier this week and was a beloved part of the Dirt Kings Tour Family.

Dan Schlieper wheeled the D7 to victory in the 12-lap Kirkpatrick Law Office B-Main, advancing to the A-Main along with Todd Frank, Aaron Wickersheim, and Lukas Postl. Schlieper led lap 7 and earned an additional $50 from Kirkpatrick Law Office in memory of Diamond Jim Letizia.

Anvelink also took home an additional $150 for leading lap 7 of the Gehm’s Club 117 Spring Thaw, sponsored by HobbyTown USA Green Bay, Bill Holland, and Tony Iczkowski in memory of Diamond Jim Letizia.

The DiscountShopTowels.com Dirt Kings Late Model Tour will honor Diamond Jim Letizia at the Diamond 43 at Wilmot Raceway on Sunday, May 16, 2021. The 43-lap race will pay $4300 to the King and $430 to start and is the crown jewel of the 2021 DiscountShopTowels.com Dirt Kings Late Model Tour season.

A Main Official Finish - Gehm's Club 117 Spring Thaw
1 15 Nick Anvelink
2 70 Justin Ritchie
3 81 Troy Springborn
4 66 Ron Berna
5 99 Mike Mullen
6 3 Brett Swedberg
7 20 Joe Reuter
8 10s Taylor Scheffler
9 7 Joel Bennett
10 89 Brad Mueller
11 9 Tom Naeyaert
12 d7 Dan Schlieper
13 27dj Derek Janke
14 33e Chris Engels
15 03r Kyle Raddant
16 5 Lukas Postl
17 95w Aaron Wickersheim
18 21 Todd Frank
19 7b Tim Buhler
20 74 Butch Thiel
21 90 Joel Willman
22 25 Jared Siefert

Kirkpatrick Law Office B Main Results
1 d7 Dan Schlieper
2 21 Todd Frank
3 95w Aaron Wickersheim
4 5 Lukas Postl
5 74 Butch Thiel
6 45 Scott Blanke
7 d1 Turk Letizia
8 25T Paul Thorpe
9 90 Joel Willman

Heat 1 - Pro Power Racing Engines - Results
1 81 Troy Springborn
2 99 Mike Mullen
3 10s Taylor Scheffler
4 7b Tim Buhler
5 66 Ron Berna
6 03r Kyle Raddant
7 45 Scott Blanke
8 90 Joel Willman
9 5 Lukas Postl

Heat 2 - Mueller's Sales & Service - Results
1 15 Nick Anvelink
2 7 Joel Bennett
3 89 Brad Mueller
4 20 Joe Reuter
5 9 Tom Naeyaert
6 d7 Dan Schlieper
7 21 Todd Frank
8 74 Butch Thiel
9 87 Adam Janke

Heat 3 - Wehrs Machine & Racing Products - Results
1 3 Brett Swedberg
2 25 Jared Siefert
3 70 Justin Ritchie
4 27dj Derek Janke
5 33e Chris Engels
6 d1 Turk Letizia
7 95w Aaron Wickersheim
8 25T Paul Thorpe
9 21F Gunner Frank

Aeromotive Full Power Move of the Race: Dan Schlieper
Allstar Performance Hard Charger Award: Ron Berna
Freedom Synthetics / Amsoil Certificate: Mike Mullen
Freedom Synthetics / Amsoil Mudslinger: Troy Springborn, Nick Anvelink, and Brett Swedberg
Autometer Certificate: Justin Ritchie
Behling Racing Products Certificate: Mike Mullen
DiscountShopTowels.com Gift Cards: Nick Anvelink, Justin Ritchie, Troy Springborn
HobbyTown USA Green Bay A-Main Lap 7 Leader: Nick Anvelink
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Certificate: Chris Engels
Kirkpatrick Law Office Long Haul Award: Gunner Frank
Kirkpatrick Law Office B-Main Lap 7 Leader: Dan Schlieper
Out-Pace Set the Pace Pole Award: Justin Ritchie
QuarterMaster Hard Luck Award: Turk Letizia
Speedwerx Performance Exhaust Headers Award: Nick Anvelink
Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race: Joel Willman
Wehrs Machine Certificate: Nick Anvelink
Wilwood Lucky 13: Derek Janke