The Year of Estey: Luck and Talent push modified veteran to 2009 Como Modified Series Championship after Ashland, WI, washout
Posted under Headlines, Press by admin on October 9th, 2009
Duluth, MN (October 9th, 2009) – The Como Modified Series presented by Lake Country Chevy Dealers closed the annals on the 2009 season this past weekend not on the track, but in the pits– a party at that, for the 2009 Champion Kelly Estey of Kelly Lake, MN. Rainy and unseasonable weather forced the last race of the season to be canceled, therefore crowning Estey the new champion and the only driver in series history to grab the title more then once (Estey also picked up the 2007 championship).
Estey drove his Como Oil and Propane sponsored #37 to two victories in the 2009 season, including trips to Hibbing and recently at Superior that helped push him ahead of early season point leader #44 Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, MN.
In a series like Como, one must not only be dominating but also have a bit of luck on their side as Estey did at the Silver 1000 in Proctor, MN, on September 3rd. Estey, who had an engine expire in hotlaps, was able to borrow the 999 mount of John Carpenter, slap on a duct-taped 37, and narrowly transfer to the feature event with the borrowed machine. Estey championship hopes hinged on that transfer as he used a provisional start at the previous event in Ashland, WI. The combination of sportsmanship from Carpenter and top finishes from Estey proved to be the determining factor in winning the 2009 Championship that sports a “who’s who” of talent in the Upper Midwest.
The 2009 Como Season included five different winners in seven races with Estey taking event wins at Hibbing, MN and Superior, WI. Knapp, WI, pilot Craig Thatcher taking wins at Ashland, WI, and Hibbing, MN. Darrell Nelson capturing the season opening win at Proctor, MN. Aurora, MN, driver Duane Dale winning the second round at Proctor while Duluth, MN, native Greg Chesley shocked the crowd at Superior, WI, on July 29th with a breakthrough first-ever Como Modified Series win.
The $42,000 total year-end purse was boosted by presenting sponsorship from the Lake Country Chevy Dealers, a group of Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin-based Chevrolet dealers that helped secure the Como Modified Series year-end winnings as the highest paying modified racing series in the United States. Estey, by virtue of being crowned the 2009 champion, claimed $10,000 in addition to a brand new J-Car Chassis, cash from XR Apparel for Dash finishes and wins, $250 from GRP Motorsports for the High 5 bonus, and a generous amount of product certificates from the contingency sponsors of the Como Mod Series.
Como Modified Series Point Standings and Winnings (After 8 of 8 Events):
1.37 Kelly Estey (Kelly Lake, MN ) – 351 Points – $10,000
2.91 Craig Thatcher (Knapp, WI) – 341 Points – $7,000
3.44 Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN) – 339 Points – $5,000
4.63 Rick Kobs (Deer Park, WI) – 303 Points – $4,000
5.55 Jeff Wood (Chisholm, MN) – 302 Points – $3,000
6.12M Jason Miller (Osceola, WI) – 295 Points – $2,000
7.98 Al Uotinen (Superior, WI) – 288 Points – $1,600
8.24D Duane Dale (Aurora, MN) – 284 Points – $1,350
9.11 Jody Bellefeuille (Duluth, MN) – 283 Points – $1,300
10. 45 Bob Broking (Grand Rapids, MN) – 257 Points – $1,225
11. 97 Greg Chesley (Duluth, MN) – 257 Points – $1,225
12. V2 Joey Jensen (Forest Lake, MN) – 252 Points – $1,150
13. 57 Mike Anderson (Colfax, MN) – 250 Points – $1,100
14. Dave Cain (Corcoran, MN) – 246 Points – $1,050
15. Jeff Hart (Hibbing, MN) – 230 Points – $1,000
DirtHead.com Hard Charger Standings (After 8 of 8 Events):
1.11 Jody Bellefeuille (Duluth, MN) – 44 Points
2.37 Kelly Estey (Kelly Lake, MN) – 38 Points
3.00 Robby Bunklemen (Abbotsford, WI) – 29 Points
4.12M Jason Miller (Osceola, WI) – 29 Points
5.44 Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN) – 29 Points
GRP Motorsports “High 5” Bonus Standings (After 5 of 5 Events, first 5 Como Events)
1.97 Greg Chesley (Duluth, MN) – $750
2.37 Kelly Estey (Kelly Lake, MN) – $250
Contingency Winners
QA1 Shocks will be giving the following:
1.Champion of the Series: Receives a set of 21 series QA1 shocks. Kelly Estey
2.Series Hard Charger #1: Receives a certificate for “Buy 2, Get 2 Free” of the 21 series QA1 shocks and “Buy 10, Get 10 Free” of QA1 rod ends **free products to be of equal or lesser value. Jody Bellefiulle
3.Series Hard Charger #2: Receives a certificate for “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” of the 21 series QA1 shocks and “Buy 10, Get 10 Free” of QA1 rod ends **free product to be of equal or lesser value. Kelly Estey
4.Contingency Runners: All drivers that run a set of QA1 shocks and display a decal on both sides of the car and race in all 8 events will be placed in a drawing for a pair of QA1 21 series shocks. Mike Anderson
Wehrs Machine and Racing Products – Newly Designed Bird Cages
12M Jason Miller
Quality Fabricating Inc. – $500 Gift Certificate towards a full body
9 Nick Lavato
Speciality Fabracating J-Car – New 2010 Chassis
37 Kelly Estey – Point Champion
More TBA
Mirror Images Day Spa – You Pick Em’ Contest Winners
Not only were the drivers racing for prizes, but the fans could pick up cash prizes with our interactive contest aimed at picking the top three of each Como Modified Series race sponsored by Mirror Images Day Spa of Duluth, MN. Nathan Erickson was the lucky fan to win $250 with his top points of 24 coming after Race #7 in Superior, WI.
Nathan Erickson – 24 Points – $250
Randy Gafner – 21 Points – $150
Melissa Estey – 20 Points – $33.33
Randy Molner – 20 Points – $33.33
Scott Paulson – 20 Points – $33.33
The Como Oil & Propane Modified Series presented by Lake Country Chevrolet wishes to thank the fans, drivers, and our generous sponsors for helping make the Como Mod Series the success that it is and has been for over 4 years. We look forward to hosting and entertaining the legion of hardcore dirt fans in 2010 during the 5th running of the Como Modified Series. Keep checking back for more information on the series by logging on to: www.comomodseries.com
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), 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, XR Apparel
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
