New drivers enter the mix as the series heads to Ashland
Posted under Headlines, Press by admin on August 1st, 2009
Wednesday night the Como Modified Series presented by Lake Country Chevrolet Dealers made it’s first stop of the season at the Superior Speedway in Superior, WI. Forty-two of the finest Modified drivers in the area converged to try their luck on the steeply banked 3/8 mile oval located on the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Superior, WI. At the end of the night’s events, it was Duluth, Mn mudslinger Greg Chesley scoring the win in dramatic fashion. The talented drivers of the series will experience their quickest turn around to date as the series shifts to the ABC Raceway in Ashland, WI Saturday night.
One year ago, the Series made it’s first of two stops at the ABC Raceway in Ashland, WI on July 3rd. At the conclusion of the night’s festivities it was Forest Lake, Mn gunner Joey Jensen scoring the win. Jensen, who currently sits sixth in series points, has always been a threat to win at Ashland in the past. With the likes of Al Uotinen, Jody Bellefeuille, Jeff Spacek and Bill Byholm being speedway regulars each and every Saturday night, it’s a good possibility we could see another first time winner.
Going into Wednesday night’s event at Superior Speedway, Abbotsford, WI driver Robbie Bunkelmen sat in the ninth position in series points. On the strength of his second place finish, however, he now sits in a fourth place tie with series regular Jody Bellefeuille. So far in 2009 only three drivers have finished all three series events in the top ten. Those drivers include Bellefeuille, Nelson and Estey. The battle for the points lead has turned into an absolute war between past series champions Darrell Nelson and Kelly Estey. Deer Park, WI veteran Rick Kobs moved up four positions in the standings after a mighty impressive fourth place finish in Wednesday night’s A-main feature event as well. Kobs now sits in the ninth position in Como Mod Series Point Standings.
Como Modified Standings (After 3 Events):
1. Darrell Nelson #44 162
2. Kelly Estey #37 160
3. Bob Broking #45 142
4. Robbie Bunkelmen #00 136
4. Jody Bellefeuille #11 136
6. Joey Jensen #V2 133
6. Craig Thatcher #91 133
8. Mike Anderson #57 132
9. Rick Kobs #63 123
10. Al Uotinen #98 121
Jason Miller currently sits atop the DirtHead.com Hard Charger standings. Miller was one of the cars to watch at Superior moving from his seventeenth starting position to finish sixth. Miller moved up ten positions as well at the Hibbing event giving him twenty-one points overall. Robbie Bunkelmen trails Miller by just one point entering Saturday’s event while Bill Byholm sits in third. Byholm punched his ticket to the dance on Wednesday night via a B-main qualifier. That garnered him the 22nd starting spot for the night’s 30-lap A-main. When the dust settled at the conclusion of the event it was Byholm finishing a very strong eighth. Those fourteen points put Byholm a mere three markers behind Miller. Jody Bellefeuille and Joey Jensen each sit in the top five as well with fifteen and fourteen points respectively. Thanks to everyone at DirtHead.com for sponsoring this fine promotion in 2009!
DirtHead.com Hard Charger Award (After 3 Events):
1. Jason Miller #12m 21pts
2. Robbie Bunkelmen #00 20pts
3. Bill Byholm #4 18pts
4. Jody Bellefeuille #11 15pts
5. Joey Jensen #V2 14pts
The fourth leg of the tour at ABC Raceway will mark the fourth and final night of the “GRP High 5″ bonus. Drivers tally points by finishing in the top three in Como Modified series events. After Wednesday’s night main event in Superior, Darrell Nelson holds a slim one point advantage over Kelly Estey. The five drivers who accumulate the most points will compete for a $750 cash prize on night two of the Silver 1000 at Proctor. Out of the five drivers that qualify for the bonus, the one that finishes closest to the front with receive $750. The second eligible driver who finishes closest to the front will receive $250. Thanks to Greg at GRP Motorsports for putting on this great promotion. (For more information regarding the High 5 Bonus log onto www.comomodseries.com)
GRP Motorsports High 5 Bonus Standings (After 3 of 4 Events):
1. Darrell Nelson #44 10pts
2. Kelly Estey #37 9pts
3. Greg Chesley #97 5pts
4. Robbie Bunkelmen #00 4pts
4. Mike Anderson #57 4pts
4. Rick Kobs #63 4pts
The RACEMN.com pole dash has been collected by three different recipients thus far in 2009. Rick Jacobson picked up the award at the series lid-lifter at Proctor before Darrell Nelson reigned victorious at Hibbing. Rick Kobs proved to be the third winner in as many events by tallying the win in impressive fashion during action at Superior. Thanks to the fine folks at RACEMN.com for sponsoring the pole dash for 2009!
RACEMN.com Pole Dash Winners (After 3 Events):
Proctor – Rick Jacobson #7j – Wilton, Mn
Hibbing – Darrell Nelson #44 – Hermantown, Mn
Superior – Rick Kobs #63 – Deer Park, WI
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COMO MODIFIED SERIES TITLE SPONSOR
Como Oil & Propane is a full-service heating fuel supplier providing propane, oil and related services to Northland customers. The company has nine local offices in Duluth, Barnum, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Grand Marais, Tower, Ashland, Cable and Minong. For more information, please visit www.comooilandpropane.com.
COMO MODIFIED SERIES PRESENTING SPONSORS
The Lake Country Chevrolet Dealers are an eight-team group of dealers in the Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin that include: Sonju Two Harbors (Two Harbors, MN), Ranger Chevrolet (Hibbing, MN), Grand Rapids Chevrolet (Grand Rapids, MN), Kolar GM Center (Cloquet, MN), Luther Family Chevrolet (Duluth, MN), Calumet Chevrolet (Calumet, MN), Iron Trail Motors (Virginia, MN), Don Johnson Motors (Hayward, WI)
COMO MODIFIED SERIES PARTNER SPONSORS
Bills Diesel Repair, Black Bear Casino, Construction Services, Inc.
Cost Cutters, Den’s Auto Body, Duluth Lawn & Sport, Elite Tinting & Graphics, Fortune Bay Casino, FOX 21 KQDS, GRP Motorsports, Lucky Seven General Stores, Miller Hill Machine Shop, Mirror Images Day Spa, Murphy Oil, RACEMN.com, Rick Gondick Law Office, Scott Didrikson Construction, The Shack
COMO MODIFIED SERIES CONTINGENCY SPONSORS
Chris Burback Photography, DirtHead.com, Intercomp, Motorstats.com, QA1 Motorsports, Specialty Fabricating J-Car, Elite Shock Services, Quality Fab Inc, Dirt Modified Magazine, Wehrs Machine, Archer Dirt Track Supply
