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Hanestad, Bellefeuille, Myers are First-Time Red Clay Classic Champs
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, September 29 -- First-time winners, great battles and incredible charges to the front highlighted the action at the 32nd annual Red Clay Classic at the ABC Raceway on Friday and Saturday.
Rick Hanestad of Boyceville was the biggest winner of the AmsOil Dirt Track Series program in the WISSOTA late models, weaving his way through traffic and past leader Paul Brust with 12 laps remaining to collect the $4,000 first-place check after the 50-lap main event. It was Hanestad's fourth career feature win at Ashland but first in a late model and first since June 1, 2002, in a street stock.
Jody Bellefeuille of Duluth, MN, may have been the most emotional, pumping his fist and hollering cheerfully in Victory Lane after collecting just his second career WISSOTA modified feature win and first win ever at ABC. Bellefeuille survived a clean, heated battle with Doug Gustafson throughout the second half of the 35-lap run and collected a winner's share of $3,000.
The mod main also capped off the Como Oil & Propane Modified Series, with Kelly Estey of Kelly Lake, MN, sealing the eight-race Series championship to take home a seven-foot trophy and $7,500 check after his second-place heat run on Friday.
Curt Myers of Cameron had his hands full with a charging Mike Bellefeuille in the closing laps of the WISSOTA super stock 30-lap A-main, but he held on for the $1,500 win - his third feature win this year at Ashland and eighth ever here.
All three features were fast-paced, with only six caution flags thrown over the 115 laps run. Polesitter and two-time RCC champ Steve Laursen led the late model field to the green and built a strong early lead, while divisional rookie Kyle Peterlin slipped past Caley Emerson into second three laps in. Darrell Nelson took advantage of an Emerson bobble to take third three laps later, but he lost that position to an inside move by Steve Isenberg during the next circuit.
Laursen's lead had grown to half a straightaway before the race's lone slowdown occurred on lap 11, for Jeff Broking's spin. Over the next half-dozen laps after the green flag reappeared Brust flexed his car's muscle, working the outside line to get around Isenberg and Peterlin on consecutive laps and then challenging leader Laursen for nearly three turns of the oval before taking over the top spot on lap 16. During the same laps Hanestad, who started the race tenth, had clipped his way through to fourth, with 12th-starting Joel Cryderman following into sixth.
With Brust cruising along, Peterlin threatened on several occasions to take second from Laursen. This allowed Hanestad to close the gap, set up on the high line and sweep by Peterlin into third at mid-race, with Cryderman overtaking Nelson for fifth.
Then Brust began catching the backmarkers on lap 29, which forced him to slow his pace and cost him his healthy lead. This worked to Hanestad's advantage, as he maintained a patient, steady line around Peterlin and then Laursen and drew on Brust over the next nine laps. When Hanestad finally had an opening he drag-raced Brust under the flag stand for the winning pass as the field completed lap 38.
From there Hanestad surgically maneuvered through the slower traffic until he found some open-field running over the final five laps to get to the checkered flag first. With four to go Peterlin worked through the lapped cars to overtake Brust for second, while Laursen and Cryderman held firm to fourth and fifth for the duration.
"My car really worked well on this track," Hanestad understated after the race. "There was a lot of room to run, and I could go pretty much wherever I wanted. The track prep people did a great job."
Twentieth-starting Pat Doar's impressive run to the front ended in a sixth-place effort, ahead of Nelson, five-time RCC champ Tom Nesbitt (who started 22nd), Isenberg and 21st-starter Gordie Seegert.
Kent Baxter outran polesitter Scott Hudack through the first two turns of the mod main event and captured an early advantage, but Gustafson quickly wrestled the lead away a lap later. With five laps in Dave Cain ran at a distance behind the lead pair, just before a Larry Prochnow spin slowed the pace for the first time. During the lap after the restart Cain got by Baxter and challenged Gustafson for the lead, and then Baxter's car slipped out of the racing groove and bobbled, forcing Nelson to spin trying to avoid contact and bringing about a quick second caution flag.
From there the race ran uninterrupted, and this worked right into Jody Bellefeuille's favor. Restarting third, he took second away from Cain on lap 8 as Gustafson began building a significant lead over the next three circuits. Cain and Doar maintained their top-four runs, while the 16th-starting Estey snuck by Bill Byholm for fifth.
Bellefeuille worked the outside groove to perfection, cutting into Gustafson's lead noticeably on every lap, until he had pulled alongside the leader on lap 15. It took three more laps for Bellefeuille to clear Gustafson, while Estey worked the inside line to slip past Doar for fourth. Bellefeuille kept a steady pace to maintain his lead, and Gustafson stayed right with him but could not recapture the lost ground as the laps quickly clicked off. Meanwhile, Doar's car came to life over the final 12 laps, picking off Estey and then Cain to move to third.
Bellefeuille completed his run by putting a couple of cars a lap in arrears for the very popular win, with Gustafson directly in his wake. Doar was a distant third but had perhaps the fastest car over the final laps, while Cain and 19th-starting Craig Thatcher completed the top five. Estey led the second five, ahead of Byholm, Don Copp, 22nd-starting ABC mod champ Dean Yrjanainen, and Jayme Lautigar, who used a Como Series provisional to start dead last on the 26-car grid.
"This is fantastic!" Bellefeuille gushed in Victory Lane. "I can't believe it! I want to thank all the fans for sticking around. This is great!"
Lautigar's effort also helped him hold off Cain for second in the final Como Series standings.
Myers started on the pole of the super stock A-main but had nothing resembling a runaway win. In fact, he had to retake the lead away from fellow front-row starter Randy Spacek after two laps. A circuit later Dave Emerfoll looped his ride to bring about the first of only three caution stops.
Two laps after the restart, surprising divisional rookie Kevin Eder brazenly challenged the veteran Myers and took over at the front, while Mike Bellefeuille raced side by side with Spacek for third and Trevor Wilson battled with Ken Truscott for fifth. But on lap 10 Myers charged back around Eder and pulled dead even with the Ashland rookie under the flag stand, and Bellefeuille claimed third just before defending event champion Tim Johnson was spun for the race's second yellow flag.
On the restart Bellefeuille stole second from Eder and immediately pressured Myers for the lead as the two pacesetters pulled away from a heated battle for third. Included in that battle was Joe Oliver, who started dead last on the 25-car grid but restarted 13th. Within four laps of the restart Oliver had swept around eight cars to appear in the top five for the first time, and he didn't stop there.
On lap 15 Eder retook third from Spacek, and a circuit later track champ Scott Lawrence knocked Spacek back another spot. On lap 18 Lawrence went after Eder and claimed third, but all this was well back of the heated battle up front between Myers and Bellefeuille.
The big lead margin disappeared when Emerfoll spun for the second time on lap 21, but the lead pair pulled away again to another strong lead over the nail-biter battle for third. Oliver, who had grabbed fourth from Eder just before the final caution slowdown, slipped to the inside to pass Lawrence for third to complete his incredible run. Meanwhile, Myers stayed steady and true to his line as he held off the determined Bellefeuille over the final nine laps for the impressive win.
Myers was generous with his complements of the race, the track and his fellow drivers. "It's really great when you can race 30 laps with 20-some other super stocks on a track and not get all beat up. Mike raced me really clean. I enjoy racing here, and now I can get my name on the back of one of those t-shirts!" he told the packed-house crowd, referring to the commemorative shirts that are sold at invitationals.
Lawrence, who started 18th, and Eric Olson, who began the race 24th, joined Oliver as top-five drivers with unbelievable to-the-front efforts. Spacek, Eder, Truscott, Brian Mikkonen and Wilson completed the top ten and a strong showing by ABC Raceway regulars.
Two frightening crashes punctuated the preliminary events. During Friday's third heat of late model action, Keane Laakson and Nick Musel were battling for a feature transfer position when they made contact coming out of turn 4. Musel's car turned sideways in front of Laakson's, began to barrel-roll and then stood up on end before landing on its roof on the front straight. Musel was a little shaken but otherwise uninjured, and, with help from the Darrell Nelson race team, he was able to get the car repaired and came back out for Saturday's semi-feature, where he finished 14th.
Also on Saturday, during the first modified B-main, Jeff Wood and Bryan Nayes were also dueling for a spot in the feature when they collided coming out of turn 4. The impact caused Nayes' car to turn sideways and roll onto its driver's side; Wood's car literally drove up and over Nayes' upended passenger-side and planted itself nose-first into the red clay, held up in the air by Nayes' car. Wood was able to extricate himself, but it took several minutes to lift his car up before Nayes could exit his. Again, neither driver was injured.
After 187 racers ran through their paces in the 21 heat races on Friday, the Saturday portion of the program was delayed nearly 2-1/2 hours by light rains. But once the sprinkles subsided, some intense track-prep work produced a wide, smooth racing surface that was lightning-fast and provided plenty of traction for the remaining preliminary events and the three features in unseasonably comfortable temperatures under cloudy skies.
The total car count included 75 super stocks, 73 modifieds and 39 late models. A record total purse of just over $70,000 was paid out.
Mid-States Equipment A Feature
Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Doug Gustafson, Frederic; Pat Doar, New Richmond; Dave Cain, Corcoracn, MN; Craig Thatcher, Knapp; Kelly Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Bill Byholm, Glidden; Don Copp, Brule; Dean Yrjanainen, Lake Nebagamon; Jayme Lautigar, Superior; Jason Miller, Osceola; Scott Hudack, Ashland; Ricky Roche, International Falls, MN; Duane Dale, Aurora, MN; Brad Hanson, Mountain Iron, MN; Jeff Hart, Hibbing, MN; Jerry Weigel, Abbotsford; Shawn Kreyer, Hayward; Kent Baxter, Dorchester; Paul Niznik, Medford; Wayne Stricker, Highbridge; Robby Bunkelman, Abbotsford; Scott Duval, Bloomer; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Larry Prochnow, Menomonie; Al Uotinen, Superior.
Rick Gondik Law Office Heats
Heat 1: Gustafson; Niznik; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls; Kevin Monteith, Thunder Bay, ON; David Baxter, Eau Claire; L Prochnow; James Cimfl, Clayton; Mark Baxter, Dorchester; Mike Goodremote, Sand Creek.
Heat 2: Bellefeuille; Bunkelman; Rick Cannata, Hibbing, MN; Rick Rivord, Superior; Bob Broking, Grand Rapids, MN; Dan Sellung, Mason; Weigel; Jad Carlson, Duluth, MN; Brent Prochnow, Menomonie.
Heat 3: Hart; Doar; Uotinen; Kreyer; Steve Isenberg, Marshfield; Shawn Polonoski, Thunder Bay, ON; Charlie Hillukka, Elk River, MN; Bruce Belland, Eagle River; Shawn Kelley, Somerset.
Heat 4: Cain; Duval; Hanson; Steve Wik, Downsville; Roche; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN; Lautigar; Kelly Checkalski, Poplar; Aaron Wilson, Menomonie.
Heat 5: K Baxter; Nelson; Ken Hron, Nashwauk, MN; Rich Lofthus, Bloomer; Jerry Hartman, Marenisco, MI; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Jeff Wood, Chisholm, MN; Marc Damjanovich, Hibbing, MN; Kevin Rogers, Unity.
Heat 6: Byholm; Copp; Yrjanainen; Mark Hessler, Menomonie; Tim Alexander, Stanchfield, MN; Ross Lightner, Washburn; Ross Prochnow, Knapp; Joe Olson, Superior; Mike Sauvola, Iron River.
Heat 7: Dale; Stricker; Mike Mueller, Wyoming, MN; Thatcher; Mickey Nosser, Phillips; John Frydrych, Butternut; Mike Anderson, Colfax; Darrel Hazelton, Chippewa Falls; Fred Aschenbauer, Deerwood, MN.
Heat 8: Hudack; Estey; Miller; Bryan Nayes, Chippewa Falls; Tim Jackson, Bemidji, MN; Don Brightbill, Hudson; John Carpenter, Hibbing, MN; Paul Knauf, Marshfield.
Taco Johns Pole Dash
Pole Dash: Hudack; K Baxter; Gustafson; Cain; Bellefeuille; Dale; Byholm; Hart.
Fortune Bay & Casino B-Mains
Semi-Feature 1: Weigel; Hanson; L Prochnow; Aschenbauer; Alexander; Lavasseur; Lofthus; Rivord; Belland; Isenberg; Frydrych; Wood; Nayes; Olson; Brightbill; Mueller; Goodremote; Jensen; Wilson.
Semi-Feature 2: Miller; Roche; Kreyer; Cannata; R Prochnow; B Prochnow; Spacek; D Baxter; Hron; Rogers; Checkalski; Hessler; M Baxter; Nosser; Hazelton; Sellung.
Semi-Feature 3: Thatcher; Yrjanainen; Uotinen; Lautigar; Broking; Hartman; Anderson; Jackson; Lightner; Polonoski; Damjanovich; Wik; Carlson; Monteith; Cimfl; Sauvola; Carpenter; Kelley.
ESTEY EXTENDS COMO MODIFIED SERIES LEAD WITH DOMINATING RUN
By Jerry O'Brien
9-8-07
The 19th Annual Northern Nationals wrapped up its three-day run as it started, fighting the
weather. Despite a couple of rain shower delays and a persistent on and off again sprinkle, the
program was completed.
Kelly Estey won the 30-lap Como Modified Series event starting on the outside of the front
row. It was the pole sitter Jerry Hartman who got the jump and led four cars including Estey; Jeff
Wood and Jayme Lautigar away from Bob Broking in fifth. On lap six the first of two caution
flags flew when Marc Damjanovich spun wildly off turn two after contact with Joey Jensen with Jensen getting the ticket for the incident. At the green flag Wood got the jump on Estey and took second put Estey fought back and set out after Hartman who had several car lengths on the field. With ten laps in Hartman led Estey, Wood; Lautigar and Jody Bellefeuille in the top five. Estey closed in on Hartman and at the half way point Hartman led Estey; Lautigar; Wood and Bellefeuille in the top five. Broking; Ricky Roche; 2006 champion Darrell Nelson; Don Copp and Pat Doar rounded out the top ten. Estey ran down Hartman and took the lead with a strong move with a dozen circuits remaining. Estey pulled out a four car length lead and he and Hartman were three quarters of a straight away ahead of Lutigar when the margin was erased due to a caution flag for debris on the track. Estey led the final nine laps for the win worth $2,000. Lautigar, Hartman, Wood and Doar rounded out the top five.
Results: Como Modified Series Race #7
Rick Gondik Law Office Heats
Heat 1: Jeff Wood; Ricky Roche; Rick Rivord; Kelly Checkalski; Shaun Kelly; Doug Gustafson;
Jeff Hart; Erik Bjorkland
Heat 2: Jerry Hartman; Don Copp; Pat Doar; Dave Cain; Shawn Kreyer; Jeff Spacek; Steve
Lavasseur; DNF: Duane Dale
Heat 3: Kelly Estey; Shawn Polonoski; Darrell Nelson; Steve Wik; Dean Yrjanainen; Scott
Hudack; Ross Lightner; Ruben Thomas
Heat 4: Jayme Lautigar; Bob Broking; Bill Byholm; Al Uotinen; Don Brightbill; Tim Van Meter;
DNF: Rick Cannata; DQ: Kevin Montieth
Heat 5: Marc Damjanovich; Jody Bellefeuille; Joey Jensen; Mark Johnson; Nick Nelson; John
Carpenter; Mike Goodremote.
Taco Johns Pole Dash
Pole Dash: Hartman; Estey; Wood; Lautigar; Broking; Polonoski; Roche; Copp; Bellefeuille;
Doar
Fortune Bay Casino B-Mains
B Feature #1: Yrjanainen; Hudack; N Nelson; Lightner; Carpenter; Bjorkland; DNF: Nontieth;
Kelley; DNS: Thomas; Hart
B Feature #2: Spacek; Cannata; Kreyer; Brightbill; Goodremote; Van Meter; Lavasseur DNS:
Gustafson; Dale
Mid-States Equipment A-Feature
Feature: (30 laps) $2000 to win (1-10) Estey; Lautigar; Hartman; Wood; Doar; D Nelson;
Bellefeuille; Byholm; Broking; Roche (11-25) Cain; Copp; Spacek; Rivord; Jensen; Wik;
Cannata; Johnson; Uotinen; Damjanovich; N Nelson; Hudack; Yrjanainen; Polonoski;
Checkalski
ESTEY CAPTURES THIRD COMO MODIFIED SERIES EVENT
By Jerry O'Brien for the Daily Telegram - 7-24-07 Superior, WI
Kelly Estey of Kelly Lake won his third Como Oil & Propane Modified Series feature of the season Tuesday night at the Superior Speedway. The event heralded the mid point of the eight race series that boasts a $30,000 plus point fund with the winner taking home $7500. Estey put on a driving clinic as he won every race he entered including the first of four heats, the Pole Dash that set the first four rows for the 30 lap feature. Winning the dash put the number 37e on the pole for the $1000 to win feature flanked by Jody Bellefeuille. At the green flag Bellefeuille got the hole shot and led the first circuit by a whisker. Close behind was Pat Doar in Bill Byholm's back up car and Dave Cain while Jayme Lautigar and Scott Hudack skirmished for fifth. Estey stayed on Bellefeuille and it was a great battle for the lead that came to a halt when the red flag flew stopping the cars on the speedway due to a multi-car pileup in the first turn which resulted in Darrell Nelson's number 44 turning wheels up. Also involved was Rick Cannata, Dean Yrjanainen and Ross Lightner. All drivers were ok and Nelson, after hasty repairs, rejoined the fray at the back of the pack. The Como Modified Series uses the so called Delaware restart putting the leader in front by himself with the second place car having the choice of starting inside or outside. With five laps in the books and, as fog began to creep in, Bellefeuille maintained the lead but Estey got a good run and got by as Doar, Lautigar and Cain were close behind. Estey and Bellefeuille began to put some distance on the rest of the field but another incident in turn one involving Shaun Kreyer and Don Copp again allowed the pack to catch up. At the green flag with 23 circuits remaining Doar got a run on Bellefeuile and suddenly the battle for the lead was between Estey and Doar. Cain slipped by Bellefeuille but the leaders had moved out to a ten car length lead on third place. Again the pack benefitted from the yellow flag caused by a tangle between Travis Zollar and Ross Lightner. Lightner was given the ticket for the incident. With one third of the laps complete Doar tried for the pass on Estey at the green flag but couldn't quite get there as it continued to be a two horse race. At the 15 lap mark Estey led Doar with Cain several car lengths back. Joey Jensen moved into fourth after starting in the fifth row and Bellefeuille held on to fifth. With ten laps remaining Cain and Jensen began to close up on the lead duo while Estey and Doar now ran wheel to wheel. With six laps remaining Doar finally edged past Estey as Cain began to lose touch with the leaders. Estey returned the favor and regained the point and held on for win number three in the Como Series. Doar, Cain, Jensen and Bellefeuille finished in the top five. Nelson was able to get his battered racer as far as 13th in the final rundown.
Earlier in the evening the DTRA Late Models ran their 25 lap feature event and, with nine laps complete, the lights on the front stretch went out. Reported problems with a fuseable link in a transformer on the fairgrounds cut power the lights as well as some concessions on the grounds. Around 60 minutes later the lights came on and Steve Laursen who had led the first nine circuits resumed the lead. Still hounding him were Pat Doar and Brent Larson but Laursen was equal to the task. Despite one more caution flag when pole sitter Mike Nutzmann's ride failed him on the back stretch, Laursen kept the rest behind him to the checkered flag. Doar, Larson, Darrell Nelson and Kelly Estey rounded out the top five.
Following the Late Model feature the Pure stocks took to the track for their 12 lap event. The 26 car field took the green flag with Pete Ciurleo out to a slim lead over Rick Kesty but a bumper was ripped off someone's car bringing the field to a hlt. At the restart Ciurleo had the lead over Kesty by a nose at the stripe with Tristan LaBarge, Jeff Christman and Glen Dammer close behind. There was a huge pack of cars from sixth on back in the early going and the whole thing was soon brought to a halt when Rich Dezlak stalled on the front stretch and was narrowly missed by the oncoming thundering herd. At the restart Ciurleo and Kesty again battled for the lead as Ciurleo had the point on the front stretch but Kesty had the advantage on the back stretch and completed the pass. At the six lap mark it was kesty leadin Ciurleo, LaBarge, Christman and Pat Van Ert. The caution flag flew a lap later when Tim Carlson stopped on the front stretch with a flat tire. Kesty got a good restart as the front runners shuffled behind him. Van Ert jumped up to fourth and the battle for second heated up as LaBarge took the position and closed on Kesty and, on the final circuit, nipped him at the line with a great move off turn four. Van Ert finished third and Tony Ciurleo nipped Christman for fourth.
Como Oil & Propane Modified Series race #4 (29 cars) (top five in heats to feature, top two to Pole Dash)
Rick Gondik Law Office Heats
Heat 1: Kelly Estey; Jeff Spacek; Scott Hudack; Jeff Hart; Duane Dale; Dean Yrjanainen; Jeff Wood; Ricky Roche
Heat 2: Jeff Bellefeuille; Kelly Checkalski; Joey Jensen; Don Copp; Rick Rivord; Darrell Nelson; Al Uotinen
Heat 3: Dave Cain; Nick Nelson; Shaun Kreyer; Travis Zollar; Marc Damjanovich; Mike Sauvola; Paul Schultz
Heat 4: Pat Doar; Jayme Lautigar; Erik Bjorkland; Bill Byholm; Rick Cannata; Jon Carpenter
Fortune Bay Casino B-Main
B Feature: (Top four to the feature) D Nelson; Yrjanainen; Uotinen; Lightner; Wood; Roche; Carpenter; Sauvola; DNS: Schultz
Taco Johns Pole Dash
Pole Dash: (sets first four rows of 30 lap feature) Estey; Bellefeuille; Cain; Doar; Lautigar; N Nelson; Spacek; Checkalski
Mid-States Equipment Feature
Feature: (30 laps) (1-10) Estey; Doar; Cain; Jensen; Bellefeuille; Byholm; N Nelson; Lautigar; Rivord; Spacek (11-19) Yrjanainen; Uotinen; D Nelson; Copp; Hart; Dale; Wood (provisional starter); Lightner; Checkalski; DNF: Zollar; Damjanovich; Hudack; Kreyer; Bjorkland; Cannata
DTRA Late Model (19 cars)
Heat 1: Brent Larson; Tom Nesbitt; Tim McMann; Joey Ogston; Darrell Carlson; Aaron Lillo; DNF: Caley Emerson
Heat 2: Eric Breeschoten; Steve Laursen; Darrell nelson; Nick Musel; Don Copp; Kevin Carlson
Heat 3: Pat Doar; Kelly estey; Mike Nutzmann; Darin Meierotto; Ron Schreiner; Jeff Lien
Feature (25 laps) (1-10) Laursen; Doar; Larson; Nelson; Estey; Nesbitt; Breeschoten; Musel; Schreiner; D Carlson (11-19) McMann; Emerson; K Carlson; Lien; Ogston; DNF: Nutzmann; Lillo; Copp; Meierotto
Pure Stock (27 cars)
Heat 1: Dan Larsen; Tony Ciurleo; Paul Gucinski; Zene Anderson; LeRae Ralidak; Matt Hammitt; Ashley Smith; Dale Reynolds; DNF: Al Rapp
Heat 2: Pete Ciurleo; Rick kesty; Pat Van Ert; Tristan LaBarge; Karri schultze; Rich Dezlak; Jake Morinville; Chris Johnson; Caitlyn carlson
Heat 3: Glen Dammer; Scott Larsen; Jeff Christman; Jeff Tormondson; Caroline Kresal; DNF Tim Carlson; Chad carlson; Cory Lonetto: DQ: Tim Ayers
Feature (12 laps) (1-10): LaBarge; Kesty; Van Ert; T Ciurleo; Christman; D Larsen; P Ciurleo; Schultz; Ralidak; Anderson (11-19) Tormondson; Rapp; Hammitt; Dammer; Smith; Morinville; Reynolds; Kresal, Caitlyn Carlson; DNF: S Larsen; Chad Carlson; Tim Carlson; Johnson; Ayers; Gucinski; Dezlak:DNS: Cory Lonetto
Thatcher Dominates, Lawrence Cruises in ABC Special Wins Tyykila earns first win in four years
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, July 3 -- Knapp's Craig Thatcher swept by Robby Bunkelman just after the mid-point of the WISSOTA modified feature and ran off with his tenth career win at the ABC Raceway Tuesday night, while Scott Lawrence of Superior collected his first feature win of the season at Ashland in WISSOTA super stock action.
The special three-division event, which also saw Iron River veteran racer Ken Tyykila hold on for his first six-cylinder feature win in nearly three years, was run as a unique program that included the third stop of the eight-race Como Oil & Propane Modified Series and the second round of the Bad River Lodge & Casino Modified Triple Header series, as well as the FastLane Motorsports Super Stock Challenge. The program was capped off by a fireworks display.
As Thatcher started his charge from his outside-sixth-row start, Jody Bellefeuille led the 25-car field from the pole and pulled away to an impressive lead over the first five laps ahead of Bunkelman. After Bill Byholm's ride broke in turn 4, the "Delaware double-file" restart allowed Jerry Hartman to slip past Bunkelman into second. Jeff Wood followed Hartman closely into third but attempted an inside move on Hartman going into turn 3 and made contact, spinning himself out and forcing another yellow-flag slowdown on lap 6.
Bunkelman took advantage of the two-wide restart to move under Hartman for second and squeeze past Bellefeuille for the lead on lap 8. Jeff Spacek came from seemingly nowhere to take over second at the same time, and that's when Thatcher made his presence felt, running the rim of the smooth, wide, fast red-clay track to sweep around to third on lap 9.
Bunkelman looked to be in command until lap 13, when Steve Lavasseur spun. The field was again realigned two-wide behind the leader, and Thatcher worked his way back up to the high groove after one circuit to fly around Bunkelman, who was hugging the inside line. From that point on there was no catching the former national WISSOTA champion, who ran off to an impressive $1,000 straightaway win.
Further back, Dean Yrjanainen snuck past Spacek into third but finished a ways back of runner-up Bunkelman, and Hartman followed Spacek to the checkered flag to complete the top five. Defending Como Series champion Darrell Nelson led the second five, ahead of Rick Rivord and Don Copp, who clawed his way from a 23rd-place start to eighth. Scott Hudack, who won a semi-feature and started the 30-lap A-main 22nd, finished ninth, and Kelly Estey, who had won the first two Como Series events in Proctor and Hibbing, was docked two spots in the final running order for a jump on a restart and was awarded tenth.
Estey will retain the Como Series points lead as the tour continues in Superior on Tuesday, July 24.
Dave Cain, who won the first round of the Triple Header Series here on June 16, had to use a Como Series provisional to make the main event and started dead-last on the grid but finished 11th. Thatcher took the Triple Header series points lead from Cain with his win, while Yrjanainen extended his track points advantage over Hartman to 25.
While Lawrence has been the most dominant super stock driver at Ashland in recent years, his first feature win here this season wasn't without drama. The three-time defending track champion and current points leader started from the pole and survived several early-race restarts and challenges from Brian Mikkonen and Jeff Tardy. But it wasn't until Ryan Aho - the three-time defending national WISSOTA super stock champ and current national points leader - worked his way past Mikkonen into second on lap 5 that Lawrence received a serious threat.
A lap 8 caution for a two-car tangle drew the field back to Lawrence, and on the restart Aho drove around the top groove of the track while Lawrence stayed tucked to the bottom. After one last delay for a Don Koivisto spin on lap 9, Lawrence fended off Aho's high-side threats for the first 11 of the 16 non-stop laps to the finish - often racing side-by-side - before building a six car-length cushion to the $750 win. Aho finished second for the seventh time in his last eight features but was comfortably ahead of Darin Meierotto, who was penalized two positions at the pay window. This moved Eric Olson and Tardy up to third and fourth in the final rundown.
Randy Spacek beat Mikkonen to the line for sixth, ahead of Paul Erikson. Joe Oliver came from a 21st-place start to earn ninth, ahead of Rick Przybylski.
Tyykila started outside on the front row and outran rookie Zack Pagels to the first corner of the six-cylinder feature to gain the lead, which he would hold for all 15 laps. Behind him was a wild battle for second, as Chuck Hawkinson, Shawn McFadden, Jr, Dale Coddington and Travis Swanson exchanged the position with every lap.
Tyykila was able to build a little cushion between himself and the field until he reached slower traffic in the closing laps. At the same time Swanson established himself as the top challenger, and the rookie drew to within a car-length of the veteran with the white flag in the air but could get no closer. Tyykila held on for his sixth career win at Ashland and first since July 10, 2004, while McFadden, Hawkinson and Coddington completed the top five. Scott Ovaska finished seventh and took over the top spot in the division's point standings from Steve Stuart, who wound up 11th.
Action at the 3/8th-mile red clay oval continues on Saturday, July 7, and will include kids' bike races, presented by County Market of Ashland. Hot laps will begin at 6:15 pm and the first green flag will drop at 7.
The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990, or log on to the track's website, www.abcraceway.com. "Racenight" will air Saturday on WJJH, 96.7 & 102.3 FM, from 4:30-6 pm with up-to-date track news and weather information.
ResultsWISSOTA Modifieds
Rick Gondik Law Office Heats
Heat 1: Robby Bunkelman, Jerry Hartman, Jeff Spacek, Darrell Nelson, Pat Doar, Andy
Miskowic, Ross Lightner, Dave Cain, Mike Sauvola, Marc Johnson.
Heat 2: Dean Yrjanainen, Jody Bellefeuille, Tim Alexander, Al Uotinen, Steve Lavasseur, Bill
Byholm, Bruce Belland, Marc Damnjanovich, John Hettinga, Nick Nelson.
Heat 3: Jeff Hart, Jeff Wood, Justin Jones, Jayme Lautigar, Paul Niznik, Don Copp, Paul Schultz,
Rick Cannata, Jason Miller, Kelly Estey.
Heat 4: Ricky Roche, Rick Rivord, Craig Thatcher, Joey Jensen, Shawn Kreyer, Scott Hudack,
Dan Sellung, Tyler Keyser, Mark Baxter.
Fortune Bay Casino B-Features
Semi-Feature 1: Estey, Copp, Cain, Miskowic, Lightner, Cannata, Johnson, Schultz, Sauvola,
Miller.
Semi-Feature 2: Hudack, Byholm, N Nelson, Sellung, Hettinga, Belland, Keyser, Baxter,
Damnjanovich.
Taco Johns Pole Dash
Dash: Bellefeuille, Bunkelman, Wood, Hartman, Yrjanainen, Hart, Rivord, Roche.
Mid-States Equipment Feature
Feature: Thatcher, Bunkelman, Yrjanainen, Spacek, Hartman, D Nelson, Rivord, Copp, Hudack,
Estey, Cain, Bellefeuille, Hart, Kreyer, Lautigar, Doar, Jensen, Uotinen, Jones, Roche,
Lavasseur, Alexander, Niznik, Wood, Byholm.
WISSOTA Super Stocks
Heat 1: Randy Spacek, Brian Mikkonen, Eric Olson, Kevin Eder, Larry Haderly, Joe Oliver, Dave
Elliott.
Heat 2: Curt Myers, Scott Lawrence, Ken Truscott, Trevor Wilson, Ron Hmielewski, Tom Karis,
Charlie Anderson, Todd Bonney.
Heat 3: Ryan Aho, Dave Flynn, Paul Erikson, Darin Meierotto, Bryan Lund, Cy Hoaglan, Destin
Lorimor.
Heat 4: Jeff Tardy, Don Koivisto, Rick Przybylski, Tom Treviranus, Duane Dunbar, Nick
Oreskovich, Andy Grymala, Wayne Stricker.
Semi-Feature: Oliver, Karis, Oreskovich, Bonney, Stricker, Elliott, Hoaglan, Grymala, Lorimor,
Art Hyde, Jake Hiatt, Anderson.
Feature: Lawrence, Aho, Olson, Tardy, Meierotto, Spacek, Mikkonen, Erikson, Oliver,
Przybylski, Hmielewski, Karis, Koivisto, Truscott, Eder, Dunbar, Treviranus, Wilson,
Flynn, Lund, Bonney, Oreskovich, Myers, Haderly.
Six-Cylinders
Heat 1: Chuck Hawkinson, Steve Stuart, Greg Jaeger, Dan Moncher, Jonathon Popp, Don
Livingston, Myron Basina, Bob Thoreson.
Heat 2: Shawn McFadden, Jr, Dale Coddington, Travis Swanson, Jim Anderson, Forrest Schultz,
Don Muzzy, Jim Pelto.
Heat 3: Scott Ovaska, Ken Tyykila, Zach Pagels, Pat Cook, Adam Traaholt, Kenny Tyykila, Jr.
Feature: Tyykila, Swanson, McFadden, Hawkinson, Coddington, Jaeger, Ovaska, Cook,
Anderson, Pelto, Stuart, Pagels, Muzzy, Livingston, Popp, Traaholt, Schultz,
Basina, Moncher, Tyykila, Jr, Thoreson.
Estey Goes Two for Two in Hibbing
By Greg Anderson
Hibbing, MN- The Como Oil and Propane Modified Series stormed into Hibbing with one race complete and high hopes from all 69 drivers in attendance for the two classes on hand. In the end, only two would experience triumph while others would be left thinking of what could have been and how to go faster next time. The two drivers that were left with no questions when the final checkered flag waved were Kelly Estey in the Como Modifieds and Greg Chesley in the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds. Both drivers "doubled up" in their own way on Tuesday. For Estey, it was his second win in as many Como Series Modified races after winning the opener at Proctor. For Chesley, it was his second win in the only two appearances the Midwest Modifieds have made in Hibbing.
The Midwest Modifieds were the first feature event to run. Troubles occurred before the race even began as scheduled front row starter Mark Kangas had to scratch from the event due to mechanical issues. With Kangas sidelined, the new front row duo of Mark Heinle and Duane Pihulak paced the field of 25 cars as they raced to the green flag. Former National Champion Shane Sabraski immediately pounced on the front row, charging from his third spot to the early lead. Sabraski looked stout out front early as he led the first several circuits. Behind Sabraski, positions were changing every lap as Bill Matzdorf and previous Hibbing winner Greg Chesley were on the move. After a brief caution, Chesley was able to turn up the heat on front running Sabraski and had begun looking to the inside of the Rice hot shoe. Just as Chesley appeared to take the lead, another caution appeared; handing the lead back to Sabraski. On the restart, Sabraski altered his line and moved down to thwart the advancements of Chesley. The efforts were unsuccessful though as Sabraski was unable to keep his car glued to the bottom of the track. As Sabraski slipped up the race track, Chesley motored past. Bill Matzdorf also slipped past Sabraski as he tried to keep the new leader in his sights. Matzdorf was able to keep Chesley within striking distance but was unable mount a challenge for the lead. Chesley then survived another restart and held strong the rest of the way to maintain his title of the only Midwest Modified feature winner in Hibbing Raceway history. Matzdorf fended off a furious late race charge by Don Smith to finish second with Nick Lavato and eighteenth starting Skeeter Estey rounding out the top five.
Following out of car driver introductions, twenty five of the best Modifieds in the area strapped in to do battle. Leading the charge by virtue of their Taco John's pole dash performances were traveling star Dave Cain and local hard charger Jeff Wood. Before the field could even reach the first corner, Wood and Kelly Estey had both blasted past Cain as they raced door to door up front. Cain appeared to have missed the set-up as he immediately found himself trying to fend off challenges from Al Uotinen and Bill Byholm. Up front, Wood used the middle of the newly watered surface to race out to a two car length advantage over Estey. Estey kept the heat on Wood as he continually looked to the inside of the Chisholm driver. Wood appeared to be unfazed by Estey's advances as he held strong lap after lap. With twelve laps in the books, Estey turned up the wick just a little bit more finally Wood succumbed to Estey's constant pressure. At the same time, Jayme Lautigar was mounting a charge from his ninth starting spot as he raced through the upper part of the speedway. Just before the halfway point a caution came out for a car spinning over the turn one banking. As cars slowed for the yellow flag, Marcus Damjanovich and Bill Byholm made contact on the backstretch. The contact resulted in a flat tire for Damjanovich who was already challenging for a top five position after starting twenty-first on the field. Damjanovich was forced pit-side, ending the early stages of an amazing run while Byholm was able to continue from the fifth position. On the ensuing restart, Lautigar swept past Wood into second and set his sights on fellow Como driver Estey. Estey hugged the bottom of the race track while Lautigar raced through the middle and appeared to be gaining traction in his efforts. On lap twenty, Lautigar jumped to the outside of Estey in the turns but Estey would win the drag race down the straight-aways to remain the official leader. After multiple unsuccessful challenges for the lead, Lautigar's line appeared to be fading as he struggled to maintain the same pace with the race winding down. With only a handful of laps remaining, Wood moved back in on Lautigar and ultimately took second back with two laps to go. Estey cruised to his second straight Como Modified Series win which certainly stretched his point advantage in the series. Byholm and Uotinen rounded out the top five respectively.
The Como Modified Series now shifts its focuses to the ABC Raceway in Ashland, Wisconsin while the Hibbing Raceway returns to regular racing action on Saturday, June 23. Children's bicycle races will be featured during intermission. Racing gets underway at 6:30. For more information, please visit www.hibbingraceway.com or call (218) 262-5823 or (218) 262-2324
SUMMARY:
Como Oil and Propane Modifieds:
Mid States Equipment A-Feature
Kelly Estey, Jeff Wood, Jayme Lautigar, Bill Byholm, Al Uotinen, Dave Cain, Rick Roche, Darrell Nelson, Joey Jensen, Paul Schultz, Tim Alexander, Marc Damjanovich, Nick Nelson, Jeff Spacek, Jody Bellefeulle, Pat Doar, Jeff Hart, Andy Miskowic, Rick Cannata, Jason Miller, Travis Zollar, Jeff Ruzich, Bob Broking, Tyler Keyser, Brad Hanson
Rick Gondik Law Offices Heats
Heat 1- Miskowic, Wood, Miller, Bellefeulle, Copp, Johnson, Reini, Hron, Blood Heat 2- Cain, Byholm, Hart, Roche, Nelson, Keyser, Doar, Spacek, Carlson Heat 3- Uotinen, Estey, Hanson, Cannata, Damjanovich, Knauf, Jones, Jonson Heat 4- Lautigar, Alexander, Ruzich, Zollar, Sabraski, Olson, Dale, Anderson, Jacobson Heat 5- Jensen, Broking, Nelson, Schultz, Gavel, Sorenson, Carpenter, Rivord
Fortune Bay & Casino B-Mains
Semi Feature 1- Damjanovich, Keyser, Copp, Jones, Anderson, Gavel, Carpenter, Blood, Spacek, Olson, Reini Semi Feature 2- Nelson, Doar, Sabraski, Carslon, Rivord, Dale, Johnson, Sorenson, Hron, Jonson, Knauf
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds:
Feature- Greg Chesley, Bill Matzdorf, Don Smith, Nick Lavato, Skeeter Estey, Shane Sabraski, Mark Heinle, Loren Inman, Taylor Leuthner, Chais Eliason, Steve Inman, Adam Archer, John Sertich, Tim Swanson, Jerry Inman, Chuck Lambert, Dwayne Pihulak, Marc Miller, Ken Perry, Cory Jorgenson, John Hettinga, Doug Voss, Andrew Inman, Jori Hughes, Mark Kangas, Deven Vanhouse
Heat 1- Lavato, Heinle, Archer, St.Inman, Leuthner, Voss, Hughs, Miller, Sertich Heat 2- Kangas, Chesley, Sabraski, Vanhouse, Jorgenson, Swanson, Lambert, An.Inman, Lo.Inman Heat 3- Matzdorf, Pihulak, Smith, Perry, Eliason, Estey, Hettinga, Je.Inman
Estey Wins Round One Of Como Modified Series
By Jerry O'Brien for the Daily Telegram —
Kelly Estey rebounded from a difficult time the night before and won the first race of the
$30,000 Como Oil & Propane WISSOTA Modified Series Monday at the Proctor Speedway.
Estey started the 30 lap main event on the pole position leading the 25 car field to the green flag.
Estey grabbed the lead over Jason Miller and pulled away. Jayme Lautigar was third ahead of Jeff
Hart and Duane Dale. Miller and Lautigar battled for second with Miller finally breaking free.
Miller then set out to track down Estey and began to reel him in. As the event proceeded with no
stoppages, Miller drew ever closer until he was right on Estey's tail and when Estey committed a
slight bobble it was enough for Miller to slip by. The event proceeded past the half way point
without a caution flag until lap 18 when Andy Miskowic's number 27x shucked the drive shaft
out in turn two bringing out the first yellow flag. The restart was single file with Miller leading
Estey and Lautigar with Hart and Jacobson running fourth and fifth. Dale, Wood, Schultz, Darrell
Nelson who had worked his way forward from his 18th starting slot, and Tyler Keyser were the
top ten at this point. The caution flag again appeared when it appeared that the number 55 of
Wood was tapped in traffic and spun into the infield off turn two. Dale was tagged with the
incident and sent to the back of the field. At the green the order remained the same and further
back Keyser tried the high side to gain an advantage but lost 8th to Nelson. Miller continued to
lead with Estey right on his bumper poised to regain the lead should Miller make a mistake. On
lap 21 the opening Estey was looking for materialized and he drove through to take the lead and
went on to take the win and the lead in the Como Modified Series points. Miller,
Lautigar, Jacobson and Hart finished in the top five. 2006 Series Champion Nelson came home
seventh.
Jeff Tardy raced his way forward from the fifth row to grab the 20 lap WISSOTA Super
Stock feature victory. At the green flag it was a mad scramble up front amongst six cars. Mike
Bellefeuille took the initial lead from the pole with Sunday night's winner Butch Butcher
blasting up from the third row to second. Sam Skalsky, Steve Estey and Jay Kintner were in the
mix. A tangle off turn two saw Eric Nelson forced off the track. The restart saw an attempt by
several drivers to occupy the same space resulting in Estey sliding off turn three. At the green
flag Bellefeuille continued to lead Butcher and Skalsky while John Copp, Scott Lawrence and
Ryan Aho battled for position. Butcher made the pass for the lead but another caution flag flew
for debris on the front stretch. On the ensuing restart there was a scramble for the lead resulting a
punctured tire for Butcher resulting in his retirement. Skalsky came out of the turmoil with the
lead while Tardy moved up to fourth. Just at the half way mark the order stood at Skalsky,
Bellefeuille, Lawrence, Copp and Aho. With three laps remaining the final caution flag appeared
and on the restart Tardy was able to take over the lead and pulled away from Skalsky for the win.
Bellefeuille, Lawrence and Aho finished in the top five.
Andrew LaBarge and Scott Larsen ran wheel to wheel for the lead at the beginning of the 15
lap Pure Stock feature with Larsen leading lap one and LaBarge the second circuit. The top six
ran in a pack and Andrew Jarvi quickly moved from fifth to second. Just as the crossed flags
signaled the half way point, a tangle in turn four slowed the action. At the restart LaBarge held
the lead over Jarvi, Rick Kesty, Larsen and Jeremy Fink. At the green flag Jarvi squeezed into the
lead only to have what would prove to be tha final caution flag appeared for a multi-car tangle in
turn four. When racing resumed LaBarge was back on top and held off Jarvi for the win. Kesty,
Sunday's winner Tony Ciurleo and LaRae Ralidak finished in the top five. It was a great drive
for Ralidak who had begun the event from the 15th starting spot. Early leader Scott Larsen
finished sixth and Isaac hudson, Al Rapp, Chad carlson and Jon McKinnon rounded out the top
ten.
Results Proctor Speedway Monday May 28th
Como WISSOTA Modified Series (46 cars)
Gondik Law Office Heat races
Heat 1: Jeff Wood, Tim Alexander, Bob Broking, Jodi Olson, Don Copp, Marc damjanovich,
Kevin Adams, Kyle Gavel, Dano Ostrander DNF Marc Johnson
Heat 2: Rick Jacobson, Jad Carlson, Paul Schultz, Jeff Spacek, Joey Jensen, Scott Hudack, John
Carpenter, Travis Zollar DNF Mark blood
Heat 3: Tyler Keyser, Duane Dale, Jody Bellefeuille, Darrell Nelson, Nick Nelson, Pat Doar, Jim
Chyba, Ricky Roche, Skeeter Estey
Heat 4: Jeff Hart, Jayme Lautigar, Andy Miskowic, Brad Hanson, Dave Cain, Rick Cannata,
Dean Yrjanainen, Steve Lavasseur, Ross Lightner
Heat 5: Kelly Estey, Jason Miller, Bill Byholm, Justin Jones, Al Uotinen, Eric Bjorkland, Jeff
Ruzich, Rick Rivord
Fortune Bay Resort & Casino B Mains
B Main N Nelson, Copp, Uotinen, Cannata, Chyba, Hudack, Ruzich, Ostrander, Lavasseur,
Zollar, S Estey, Adams DNF Checkalski
B Main Cain, Doar, Jensen, Rocche, Damjanovich, Lightner, Yrjanainen, Carpenter, Rivord,
Johnson Gavel, Blood DNF Bjorkland
Taco John's Pole Dash: Estey, Lautigar, Miller, Dale, Hart, Wood, Keyser, Jacobson, J Carlson,
Alexander
Provisional: Al Uotinen
Mid States Equipment 30 lap Feature: Estey, Miller, Lautigar, Jacobson, Hart, Schultz, D Nelson,
Wood, Broking, Cain, Keyser, Alexander, Bellefeuille, Byholm, Spacek, Copp, Jones, Uotinen,
Doar, Dale, N Nelson DNF J Carlson, Hanson, Miskowic, Olson
WISSOTA Super Stocks (44 cars)
Heat 1: Jay Kintner, Eric Nelson, Bobbie carlson, Zach Wohlers, Jeremy snow, Jay Kuras, Art
Hyde, Bryan Lund DNS Frank Befera
Heat 2:Jeff Tardy, Steve Estey, Robbie Cooper, Mark Keppel, Gary Cornelison, Kevin Eder,
Dennis German, Adam Long DNF Mike Vajdl
Heat 3: Scott Lawrence, Butch Butcher, Wayne Striker, Tom Treviranus, Donnie Lofdahl,
Ronnie Malecki, Luke Strandlund, Louis meglen, Steve carlson
Heat 4: Sam Skalsky, John Copp, Bruce Shouvelle, Bruce Johnson, Todd Carlson, Andy Davey,
Shane Hawkinson DNF Dave Flynn, Andy Grymala
Heat 5: Ryan Aho, Mike Bellefeuille, Tyler Kintner, Dody Evenson, Derrick Vesel, Tridell
Champlin DNF Kevin Salin, Scott Sertich
B Main: Treviranus, Kuras, Hawkinson, Malecki, Lund, Evenson, German, Meglen, Cornelison,
Champlin, T Carlson, Wohlers, Grynmala, Sertich, Vajdl
B Main: Vesel, Davey, Johnson, Lofdahl, Eder, Hyde, Flynn, Strandlund, Keppel, Long, Carlson
DNF Salin DNS Snow, Befera
Feature (20 Laps): Tardy, Skalsky, Bellefeuille, Lawrence, Aho, B Carlson, Hawkinson, J
Kintner, T Kintner, Copp. Davey, Nelson, Vesel, Kuras, Treviranus, Striker, Johnson, Shouvelle
DNF Butcher, S Estey
Pure Stock (29 cars)
Heat 1: Jon McKinnon, Jeremy Fink, scott Larsen, Tim carlson, Zene Anderson, Dan larsen, Rick
Cornelison, Jeff Engelmeier, James Armstrong Tasha Rapp
Heat 2: Tony Ciurleo, Al Rapp, Andy LaBarge, Richard Dezlak, Dale Reynolds, Jeff
Tormondson, Pete Ciurleo, Marke Korte, Caitlyn Carlson, Dan Follett
Heat 3: Andrew Jarvi, Troy Wiseth, Rick Kesty, Isaac Hudson, LeRae Ralidak, Chad carlson,
Jacob Morinville, Matt Hammitt, Frank Westlund
B Main: P Ciurleo, Chad Carlson, Tormondson, D Larsen, Korte, Armstrong, Westlund,
Engelmeier, Follett, Morinville, Cornelison, Caitlyn Carlson, T Rapp DNS Hammitt
Feature (15 Laps): LaBarge, Jarvi, Kesty, T Ciurleo, Ralidak, S Larsen, Hudson, Rapp, Chad
carlson, McKinnon, Dezlak, P Ciurleo, Fink, Anderson, T Carlson, D Larsen, Korte,
Tormondson, Wiseth DNF Reynolds