Thatcher becomes winner number four at ABC

Posted under Headlines, Press, Results by admin on August 2nd, 2009

The 2009 Como Modified Series presented by Lake Country Chevrolet dealers made it’s first appearance of the season at the ABC Raceway in Ashland, WI Saturday night. At the end of the night’s A-main feature event it was Knapp, WI legend Craig Thatcher taking home the victory and the $1,000 top prize. The 2009 edition of the Como Mod Series as yet to see a repeat winner. Darrell Nelson opened up the season with a win at Proctor while Kelly Estey reigned victorious over the field at Hibbing’s Governor’s Cup event. Greg Chesley picked up his first career Modified win at the third series stop in Superior followed by Thatcher’s triumph Saturday night at ABC. Thirty-eight drivers signed in for battle during stop one of two for the Como Modified Series this season at the ABC Raceway.

The thirty-eight drivers were divided into five heat races with the top four in each qualifier transferring on to Saturday night’s main event. Heat one was dominated by Osceola, WI pilot Jason Miller. Miller started in the third position but quickly moved out front on the strength of a power move that catapulted him by Rick Kobs and Darrell Nelson into the lead. Nelson and Kobs battled the remainder of the event while Miller stretched his lead out front. In the end it was Miller scoring the win ahead of Kobs, Nelson and local product Scott Hudack.

Heat two proved to be a battle of attrition. An altercation on the front-stretch on lap two claimed Robbie Bunkelmen, Ryan Aho and Steve Roseen. Order was restored and the green flag flew once again over the field. Joey Jensen wasted little time as he climbed the ladder in turn one and blasted by the remaining four competitors into the lead. Jensen was absolutely bolted out front while sixth starter Al Uotinen moved up three spots into third. Out front it was all Jensen as he went on to score the mighty impressive win ahead Kent Baxter. Uotinen and Jeff Wood also qualified for the A-main as well finishing third and fourth respectively.

Nick Lavato took the lead early on in heat number three. Lavato led the first two circuits before Dave Cain made a power move to the outside taking the lead off of turn two. Eighth starter Duane Dale found the bottom of the speedway to his liking as he moved up six positions into second ahead of Lavato at the line. Cain was joined in the top four by Dale, Lavato and speedway regular Steve Lavasseur.

ABC Raceway’s all time wins leader in the WISSOTA Modified division Dean Yrjanainen led wire to wire in heat four. Fourth starter Craig Thatcher moved into second behind Yrjanainen early on but was unable to mount a serious challenge to Dean’s lead. Rick Rivord and Bill Byholm battled for the third spot in the remaining laps with Rivord ultimately holding the position. Yrjanainen crossed the line first followed by Thatcher, Rivord and Byholm.

The fifth and final heat race was dominated by Grand Rapids, Mn invader Paul Schultz. Schultz blasted off from his inside row one starting position taking the early lead while Jeff Hart found the second groove to his liking. After starting sixth, Hart moved up to second with three laps to go before engaging in a battle with Greg Chesley. At the conclusion of the eight lap affair it was Schultz being followed to the line by Hart, Chesley and Ross Lightner.

2009 Series contenders Bob Broking and Jody Bellefeuille each qualified for the night’s A-main event by finishing first and second respectively in B-main #1. Mike Anderson and Jeff Broking qualified through B-main #2 while Kelly Estey received the series provisional.

With all the qualifying events in the books, the WISSOTA Modifieds rolled out onto the speedway. The field stacked up two by two behind front row starters Dave Cain and Craig Thatcher as the green flag dropped. Yellow flags plagued the beginning of the race before Thatcher brought the field around and led lap one. The field remained in tact until lap three when the yellow flag waved once again. Three laps in it was Thatcher ahead of Cain, Jason Miller, Joey Jensen and Rick Kobs. On the restart Thatcher ran the middle groove in turns one and two with Cain on the bottom. On lap six, the caution flew once again with Joey Jensen tagging the end of the field after slight contact with Jason Miller. Thatcher brought the field around once again as the battles for position were hot and heavy. Eleventh starter Darrell Nelson entered top five on lap eleven while Thatcher continued out front. Two laps clicked off the board before it was more than apparent that the #57 of Mike Anderson was on the move. Anderson, who started in the 22nd position, moved into seventh on lap thirteen using the top of the speedway to do so. After being sent to the back early on, Jensen was on the march once again. Jensen sliced and diced his way back through the field cracking the top five with just three circuits to go. With two laps still up on the board, Thatcher encountered a lap car which gave Cain the opportunity to sneak up on the backside of Thatcher’s #91 machine. On the final trip around Cain made a power move to the inside of Thatcher as the duo entered turn one. Thatcher, however, used his high side momentum to bolt back past Cain into the lead going down the backstretch. Thatcher made no mistakes through turns three and four and went on to score the win. Cain had a stellar run in the second spot followed by Kobs, Miller and Jensen.

The Como Modified Series presented by Lake Country Chevrolet dealers will have nearly a month off before the series heads to Proctor on September 3rd for the annual Silver 1000. For more information regarding the Como Modified Series log onto their website at www.comomodseries.com

RICK GONDIK LAW OFFICES HEAT RACES:

Heat 1
1. 12m Jason Miller
2. 63 Rick Kobs
3. 44 Darrell Nelson
4. 00 Scott Hudack
5. 37 Kelly Estey
6. 57 Mike Anderson
7. 5 Jeff Broking
8. 85 Jamie Davis

Heat 2
1. V2 Joey Jensen
2. 95x Kent Baxter
3. 98 Al Uotinen
4. 55 Jeff Wood
5. 22 Jeff Spacek
6. 44R Steve Roseen
7. 71A Ryan Aho
8. 00 Robbie Bunkelmen

Heat 3
1. 2c Dave Cain
2. 24 Duane Dale
3. 9 Nick Lavato
4. 99 Steve Lavasseur
5. 45 Bob Broking
6. 54L Jayme Lautigar
7. 10 John Frydrych
8. 38 Rick Cannata

Heat 4
1. 84 Dean Yrjanainen
2. 91 Craig Thatcher
3. 95 Rick Rivord
4. 4 Bill Byholm
5. 12s Wayne Stricker
6. 64 Kelly Checkalski
7. 22B Mark Baxter

Heat 5
1. 101 Paul Schultz
2. 20 Jeff Hart
3. 97 Greg Chesley
4. 37jr Ross Lightner
5. 11 Jody Bellefeuille
6. 999 John Massengill
7. 21 Jerry Hartman

MIRROR IMAGES DAY SPA B MAINS:

B Main 1
1. 45 Bob Broking
2. 11 Jody Bellefeuille
3. 54L Jayme Lautigar
4. 71A Ryan Aho
5. 999 John Massengill

B Main 2
1. 57 Mike Anderson
2. 5 Jeff Broking
3. 00 Robbie Bunkelmen
4. 12s Wayne Stricker
5. 85 Jamie Davis

RACEMN.com POLE DASH:
1. 91 Craig Thatcher
2. 2c Dave Cain
3. 12m Jason Miller
4. V2 Joey Jensen
5. 63 Rick Kobs
6. 84 Dean Yrjanainen
7. 20 Jeff Hart
8. 95 Kent Baxter
9. 101 Paul Schultz
10. 24 Duane Dale

FORTUNE BAY CASINO A-MAIN FEATURE:

1. 91 Craig Thatcher
2. 2c Dave Cain
3. 63 Rick Kobs
4. 12m Jason Miller
5. V2 Joey Jensen
6. 44 Darrell Nelson
7. 57 Mike Anderson
8. 97 Greg Chesley
9. 98 Al Uotinen
10. 24 Duane Dale
11. 11 Jody Bellefeuille
12. 95x Kent Baxter
13. 37 Kelly Estey
14. 20 Jeff Hart
15. 4 Bill Byholm
16. 00 Scott Hudack
17. 95 Rick Rivord
18. 37jr Ross Lightner
19. 9 Nick Lavato
20. 101 Paul Schultz
21. 55 Jeff Wood
22. 5 Jeff Broking
23. 84 Dean Yrjanainen
24. 45 Bob Broking
25. 99 Steve Lavasseuer