The Creme De-La Creme of race teams checked in at the pit gate to do battle on the high-banked clay oval at Ogilvie Raceway as the COMO Modified Series rolled into town presented by East Central Energy. Corporate officials were on hand to assist the flagman and to present trophies in victory lane.

A stellar field of Modifieds were on hand as 53 cars competed in the electrifying action. That required six heats sponsored by Rick Gondik Law Offices. Jeff Spacek took Heat 1 as he led it start to finish as so did Dave Cain in Heat 2 and Craig Thacher in Heat 3. Heat 4 saw a few lead changes as Rick Kobs and Ryan Aho duked it out with Aho coming out on top. Paul Knauf checked out on the field to win Heat 5 and Jeff Broking copied him in Heat 6.

Three B-Mains sponsored by Mirror Images Day Spa were needed to determine the final six quallifiers for the main event. Inside pole position was the place to be as all three B-Mains were won by the pole-sitter from start to finish. Those winners were Jody Bellefeuille, Ron Jones and Andy Jones. Joining them on the A-Main grid were Greg Chesley, Jamie Davis and Keith Tourville. Also starting the A-Main in the 25th position was the Provisional starter Bill Byholm.

All six heat winners brought their hotrods out onto the front straight and chose frisbees to determine the starting line-up for the Tim’s Automotive Machine Pole Dash. Spacek drew the inside pole position. After the grid was set the drivers autographed their frisbees and sailed them into the crowd. The finishing order of this critical race sets the position of the first three rows in the A-Main. The order was Cain, Spacek, Thatcher, Knauf and Broking.

Leading the field to the green flag for the Subway Restaurants A-Main were the top two finishers in the Pole Dash, Cain and Spacek. Cain had apparent issues with his car in the parade laps, but was able to make the start and lead lap 1. He dropped off the pace on lap 2 while Spacek took the lead for laps 2 through 4.

A caution came out on lap 4 when three cars had a meeting in turn 3. As a result Andy Jones was sent to the back and retired from the race with mechanical problems. The second yellow of the race was dropped on lap 5 as the leader, Spacek encountered difficulties with his machine.

Joey Jensen placed a bid for the win as he took over the lead from Spacek and was out front for the ensuing restart on lap 6. Cain bounced back from earlier issues and grabbed the lead on lap 7. On lap 10 Kobs and Broking got together in the trench of turn 2 catapulting a retaining tire down the back straight. Kobs was sent to the back. Another caution was drawn by Chesley on lap 12 as he was also claimed by a retaining tire in turn 2 and sent to the back.

A battle royal broke out for the next few circuits as a few drivers took a shot at Cain for the front position. Cain did a masterful job as he commanded the lead through lap 23. Scot Danzeisen reeled in Cain as he worked his way up through traffic from a row 6 start to take the lead on lap 24 as Cain briefly encountered the retaining wall in turn 2. A final caution came out on lap 25 for debris in turn 2, but Danzeisen held of all challengers in his Danzeisen built and powered modified sponsored by Meixell Truck Sales to take the top prize. Behind him at the finish line were Cain, Trent Follmer, who started 14th, Jensen and Eric Martini, from a row 7 start.

Results:

Como Oil & Propane Modifieds presented by SUBWAY

SUBWAY A-Feature: Scot Danzeisen, Dave Cain, Trent Follmer, Joey Jensen, Eric Martini, Ryan Aho, Clayton Wagamon, Rick Kobs, Dean Yrjanainen, Greg Chesley, Jeff Broking, Bill Byholm, Keith Tourville, Darrell Nelson, Ron Jones, Kelly Estey, Paul Knauf, Robby Bunkelman, Craig Thatcher, Jody Bellefeuille, Erik Bjorklund, Jeff Spacek, Andy Jones, Jamie Davis, Don Eischens

Tim’s Automotive Pole Dash: Cain, Spacek, Thatcher, Knauf, Broking, Aho

Mirror Images & Day Spa B-Feature 1: Bellefeuille, Chesley, Terry Engebretson, Wayne Stricker, Dustin Nelson, Jeff Hart, Jeremy Houle, Brad Hanson, Tony Proell, Paul Schultz, Scott Heikkinen, Byholm

Mirror Images & Day Spa B-Feature 2: R. Jones, Davis, Jason Voigt, Gavin Paul, Rick Rivord, Duane Dale, Carter Gerlach, Tridell Champlin, Jeff Provinzino, Justin Jones, Brett Johnson, Jacob Wildman

Mirror Images & Day Spa B-Feature 3: A. Jones, Tourville, Shane Sabraski, Jayme Lautigar, Nick Lavato, Al Uotinen, Tim Alexander, Jaime Lemke, Kelly Checkalski, John Carpenter, Steve Stuart

Heat 1: Spacek, Bjorklund, Martini, Bellefeuille, Chesley, Houle, Proell, Heikkinen, Hart

Heat 2: Cain, Jensen, Follmer, R. Jones, Voigt, Paul, J. Jones, Champlin, Wildman

Heat 3: Thatcher, Eischens, Wagamon, A. Jones, Lavato, Uotinen, Stuart, Sabraski, Tourville

Heat 4: Aho, Kobs, Darrell Nelson, Engebretson, Dustin Nelson, Stricker, Hanson, Byholm, Schultz

Heat 5: Knauf, Danzeisen, Yrjanainen, Davis, Rivord, Dale, Provinzino, Gerlach, Johnson

Heat 6: Broking, Estey, Bunkleman, Lautigar, Lemke, Alexander, Checkalski, Carpenter

Hibbing, MN- After having the previous three events canceled due to inclement weather, racers and fans alike were relieved the 2nd Annual Governor’s Cup was not negatively impacted and the two-day program proceeded as scheduled. The second running of the event once again featured the highly regarded Como Modified Series. Forty-seven of the top Modified drivers from around the Upper Midwest competed and only one would leave with the ultimate prize.

Jody Bellefeuille and Rick Kobs paced a talent laden field of Modified drivers to kick off the thirty lap feature event with Kobs taking command around the top of the race track. Joey Jensen and Darrell Nelson both turned up the heat on Bellefeuille and eventually slipped past for second and third. Jensen then moved in to challenge Kobs for the lead by working to the inside and sliding across to the cushion. On several occasions, Jensen pulled alongside Kobs but was unable to complete a pass. Kobs then moved down to take Jensen’s line away and began to drive away up front. Jensen tried to keep pace as Darrell Nelson raced closely behind but Kobs was too strong and built a ten car length advantage through traffic. Several laps clicked off with little change to the appearance of the outcome. That all changed with two laps remaining. Kobs continued to work through traffic and looked to make a routine pass around the outside of some lap cars but slipped over the edge of the race track entering turn three. By the time he was recover and re-enter the racing surface, Jensen and Nelson had both went past. Jensen cruised to the improbable win in the final lap with a stunned crowd looking on.

The next Como Modified Series event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21st as the series makes their first visit to the newly built Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minnesota. Along with a strong field of Como regulars, many top drivers from central Minnesota and Wisconsin are expected to make a stellar field even more star-studded.

WISSOTA Modifieds:

Feature- Joey Jensen, Darrell Nelson, Rick Kobs, Andy Jones, Dave Cain, Jody Bellefeuille, Craig Thatcher, Jeff Broking, Dean Yrjanainen, Jamie Davis, Jayme Lautigar, Al Uotinen, Robby Bunkelman, Trent Follmer, Brent Larson, Bill Byholm, Kelly Estey, Jeff Spacek, Gavin Paull, Kelly Checkalski, Paul Knauf, Paul Schultz, Duane Dale, Ryan Aho, Steve Stuart

Heat 1- Cain, Knauf, Dale, Uotinen, Olson, Wood, Mosteller, Zollar, Lavato, Gavel
Heat 2- Yrjanainen, Kobs, Byholm, Paull, Roche, Sersha, Cannata, Heikkenen, Rivord, Chesley
Heat 3- Stuart, Jones, Aho, Lautigar, Lautigar, Estey, Hron, Larson, Provinzino, Carpenter
Heat 4- Jensen, Thatcher, Broking, Checkalski, Schultz, Hanson, hart, Spacek, Stricker
Heat 5- Bellefeuille, Nelson, Bunkelman, Davis, Damjanovich, Follmer, Truscott, Tourville, Champline
Dash- Bellefeuille, Kobs, Jensen, Nelson, Stuart, Jones, Cain, Yrjanainen, Thatcher, Knauf

Perhaps the most important preliminary event was the Pole Dash that pitted the top two finishers in each of the five ten car heat races in an eight lap race to determine the first five rows for the feature. When the dash was done a pair of familiar faces graced the front row with Kelly Estey on the pole and Darrell Nelson to his outside. Lurking behind this pair were the likes of Craig Thatcher, Ryan Aho, Jeff Spacek and a very fast Gavin Paul. Buried deep in the field was Joey Jensen starting seventeenth and Keith Tourville in twenty-third.

At the initial green flag Estey got the jump off turn two with Nelson challenging on the outside. Aho and Thatcher skated away from the pack in the early going and joined Estey and Nelson to make it a thrilling four car battle. A bit further back Spacek and Andy Jones skirmished for the fifth spot. Spacek captured the spot leaving Jones to fight off Paul and Jason Grimes for sixth. With the long green flag stretch, it was not very long before the lead pack encountered traffic. The halfway point was quickly reached and Thatcher began to lag back several car lengths behind the lead trio. Try as he might Estey could not shake the dogged Nelson as the pair, just ahead of Aho, flew through traffic putting car after car a lap down. Thatcher continued to fall back by as much as ten car lengths, but he was not finished by any means as he began to slowly gain back the lost territory. Meanwhile almost unnoticed, Joey Jensen mounted a charge toward the front arriving to battle with Jones and Grimes for the fifth spot. Nelson finally gained the upper hand as Estey began to fade a bit. Aho swooped in to grab second from Estey and Thatcher rebounded to rejoin the fray making it once again a four car race as the laps wound down headlong toward that white flag signal for the final circuit. The final order at the checkered flag in the lead five was Nelson, Aho and Estey while Jones charged past Jensen for fifth. It was a sweep for Nelson who won the fifth heat race.

Proctor Speedway Results 5-30-10 Como Modified Series Race #1

WISSOTA Modifieds (50 cars)

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 1: Andy Jones, Gavin Paull, Dale Mathison, Dean Yrjanainen, JamieDavis, Ken Hron, Mark Damjanovich, Jeremy Grosse, Cory Sersha, TimAlexander (WATCH HERE)

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 2: Craig Thatcher, Kelly Estey, Paul Knauf, Joey Jensen, Jeff Hart, JeffProvinzino, Justin Jones, Paul Schultz, Jeff Broking, Rick Rivord (WATCH HERE)

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 3: Ryan Aho, Jeff Spacek, Jason Grimes, Bill Byholm, Jayme Lautigar,Steve Stuart, Al Uotinen, Jeff Wood, Jason Miller, Jad Carlson (WATCH HERE)

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 4: Nick Lavato, Wayne Stricker, Trent Follmer, Robbie Bunkelman,Duane Dale, Mike Truscott, Brent Larson, Ricky Roche, John Carpenter,Scott Heikkinen (WATCH HERE)

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 5: Darrell Nelson, Rick Kobs, Bryan Dyrdahl, Bob Broking, KeithTourville, Jody Bellefeuille, Greg Chesley, Doug Gustafson, KellyCheckalski, Tridell Champlin (WATCH HERE)

Mirror Images Day Spa B Feature #1: (Top two Advance) Provinzino, Tourville, Chesley, Uotinen,Truscott, Miller, Damjanovich, Davis, Sersha, Roche, Rivord, Schultz,Lautigar, Checkalski, Heikkinen (WATCH HERE)

Mirror Images Day Spa B Feature #2: (Top Two Advance) Hart, Bellefeuille, Jones, J Broking,Wood, Gustafson, Larson, Alexander, Hron, J Carlson, Carpenter, Champlin,Dale, Grosse, Stuart (WATCH HERE)

Tim’s Automotive Pole Dash: Estey, Nelson, Thatcher, Aho, Spacek, Paull, Stricker, Jones, Lavato (WATCH HERE)

Subway Feature: (30 Laps) Nelson, Aho, Estey, Thatcher, Jones, Jensen, Grimes,Knauf, Spacek, Kobs, Bunkelman, Provinzino, Follmer, Stricker, Byholm,Tourville, Bellefeuille, Lavato, Hart, B Broking, Yrjanainen, Dyrdahl, Wood, Paul, Mathison (WATCH HERE)

By Jerry O’Brien
5-30-10
Proctor, MN

Click for full: Results | Points

37 Kelly Estey used John Carpenters car (duct taped 37 on it) at Proctor after his motor expired during the 2nd round of hot laps. He was able to finish 11th from 24th. Word is that he was not going to go out for the second session of hot laps. If so he would have blown up in the heats and dramatically shifting the points. Came out of Hibbing with the lead after another solid run.

97 Greg Chesley is having a great first year with Como and in Wissota land. Chesley was able to score the GRP $750 bonus at Proctor and a victory (non Como) on the second day of the Labor Day Shootout in Hibbing. Many of the same great Como drivers ran that event on Day 2 proving the Chesley is running up front with the best.

91 Craig Thatcher is on a run for the title. Could he be the first non Northerner to win the title in series history? Only driver with multiple wins on the season.

24D Duane Dale checked out on the field at the Silver 1000 in Hibbing. A clean sweep of the nights events (Heat, XR Apparel Dash, and Feature). Checked right out into another zip code and crawled back into the points game.

98 Al Uotinen, the 2008 Series Champion, had an up and down weekend. 2nd at Proctor and 22nd at Hibbing including his first provisional of the year. Al was able to maintain and is still fifth in points.

12M Jason Miller has not had great luck but still has made all of the races. Blown motor at Proctor and another mechanical failure at Hibbing puts him in 7th place in the standings.

63 Rick Kobs is 4th in the standings even though he missed a feature this year, 32 points out and has an outside chance at winning the crown while missing a race!

Six drivers have made all of the shows. 44 Darrell Nelson was able to win a B Main and transfer in Hibbing running his string of never using a provisional start in the history of the Como Series, 29 races strong. Nelson, Thatcher, Kobs, Wood, Miller, and Dale are the drivers that still have a provisional (in the top ten) available this year. It could get wild if one of the top runners cannot transfer during the last two races of the season at Superior and Ashland. Could we have a repeat of the wild season ending night at ABC Raceway like we did in 2008?

The series heads to Hibbing, MN to contest Round 6 os the series at the Labor Day Shootout on Saturday, September 5, 2009.

RICK GONDIK LAW OFFICES HEAT RACES:

Heat 1

1. 55 Jeff Wood
2. 24L Jeff Lien
3. 44 Darrell Nelson
4. 71A Ryan Aho
5. 84Y Dean Yrjanainen
6. V2 Joey Jensen
7. 01 Joey Ogston
8. B1 Brent Larson
9. 57 Mike Anderson

Heat 2

1. 24D Duale Dale
2. 9 Nick Lavato
3. 97 Greg Chesley
4. 12M Jason Miller
5. 11K Jeff Provinzino
6. 11 Jody Bellefeuille
7. 5 Jeff Broking
8. 101 Paul Schultz
9. 66X Denny Trimble

Heat 3

1. 98 Al Uotinen
2. 85 Jamie Davis
3. 7J Rick Jacobson
4. 99 Steve LaVasseur
5. 37 Kelly Estey
6. 21H Jerry Hartman
7. 45L Larry Prochnow
8. 2R Ricky Roche

Heat 4

1. 64 Kelly Checkalski
2. 25 Hank Berry
3. 45 Bob Broking
4. 69 Justin Jones
5. 54L Jayme Lautigar
6. 4 Bill Byholm
7. 22G Kyle Gavel
8. 999 John Carpenter 

Heat 5

1. 78L Brent Prochnow
2. 40 Jad Carlson
3. 2C Dave Cain
4. 84 Travis Zollar
5. R1 Jay Richardson
6. 16 Gavin Paul
7. 38 Rick Caanata
8. 00 Robby Bunklemen

Heat 6

1. 22J Jeff Spacek
2. 91 Craig Thatcher
3. 20 Jeff Hart
4. 63 Rick Kobs
5. 95 Rick Rivord
6. 12S Wayne Stricker
7. 44R Steve Roseen
8. 31 John Sertich

MIRROR IMAGES DAY SPA B MAINS:

B Main 1

1. 69 Justin Jones
2. 71A Ryan Aho
3. 54L Jayme Lautigar
4. V2 Joey Jensen
5. 4 Bill Byholm
6. 31 John Sertich
7. 45L Larry Prochnow
8. 38 Rick Cannata
9. 22G Kyle Gavel

B Main 2

1. 12M Jason Miller
2. 11K Jeff Provinzino
3. R1 Jay Richardson
4. 00B Robbie Bunklemen
5. 57 Mike Anderson
6. 44R Steve Roseen
7. 84 Travis Zollar
8. 11 Jody Bellefeuille
9. 12S Wayne Stricker
10. 16 Gavin Paul
11. 999 John Carpenter

B Main 2

1. 63 Rick Kobs
2. 37 Kelly Estey
3. 99 Steve Lavasseur
4. 101 Paul Schultz
5. 95 Rick Rivord
6. 01 Joey Ogston
7. 66X Denny Trimble
8. 5 Jeff Broking
9. B1 Brent Larson
10. 21 Jerry Hartman

XR APPAREL POLE DASH:

1. 24D Duale Dale
2. 98 Al Uotinen
3. 78L Brent Prochnow
4. 64 Kelly Checkalski
5. 55 Jeff Wood
6. 22S Jeff Spacek

FORTUNE BAY CASINO A-MAIN FEATURE:

1. 24D Duane Dale
2. 98 Al Uotinen
3. 9 Nick Lavato
4. 40C Jad Carlson
5. 7J Rick Jacobson
6. 69 Justin Jones
7. 55 Jeff Wood
8. 97 Greg Chesley
9. 2C Dave Cain
10. 20 Jeff Hart
11. 37 Kelly Estey
12. 11 Jody Bellefeuille
13. 24L Jeff Lien
14. 64 Kelly Checkalski
15. 12M Jason Miller
16. 91 Craig Thatcher
17. 44 Darrell Nelson
18. 78L Brent Prochnow
19. 22S Jeff Spacek
20. 63 Rick Kobs
21. 11K Jeff Provinzino
22. 25 Hank Berry
23. 85 Jamie Davis
24. 45 Bob Broking
25. 71A Ryan Aho

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

Forty-two of the best Modifieds in the country signed in for battle at the steeply banked 3/8 mile oval located on the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Superior, WI. The drivers were divided into five sterling heat races with the top four drivers in each locking themselves into the night’s 30-lap, $1,000 to win main event.

Heat one was dominated by Knapp, WI hotshoe Craig Thatcher. After starting to the inside of the second row, Thatcher quickly moved to the top shelf disposing of Bob Broking and Dean Yrjanainen on his way to victory. Sixth starter Al Uotinen found the speedway to his liking as well as he moved up three positions to finish third. In the end it was Thatcher being joined in the top four by Broking, Uotinen and Nick Lavato.

Abbotsford, WI driver Robby Bunkelman pedaled his Sidebiter Chassis to victory in heat race two. Bunkelman started on the front row and was never seriously challenged during the duration of the event. Kelly Estey steadily worked his way forward picking up a very strong second place finish followed by Mike Anderson and Jason Miller. All four drivers locked themselves into the A-main with their top four efforts.

Heat number three featured a surprise winner in Carey Lepage. Lepage jumped behind the wheel of Jad Carlson’s #40 Modified and went on to score the victory in impressive fashion. The fastest car on the speedway, however, belonged to the #63 of Rick Kobs. After starting eighth, Kobs sliced and diced his way through the field finishing a very strong second behind Lepage. Lepage and Kobs were joined in the top four by Ryan Aho and Ricky Roche.

Jody Bellefeuille blasted off from his front row starting spot leading wire to wire picking up the victory in heat race four. Sixth starter Trent Follmer was on the move during the middle stages of the event as he used the outside of the speedway to move into second. The battle for the fourth and final transfer spot was a good one with Jayme Lautigar stealing the spot from Bill Byholm on the final lap. Bellefeuille, Follmer, Scott Hudack and Lautigar all qualified for the night’s feature event with their top four efforts.

The fifth and final heat race promised to be a good one with series point leader Darrell Nelson starting in the eighth and final spot. The action was hot and heavy up front with Chesley and Joey Jensen battling for the top spot. Jensen made the pass for the lead for good with two laps remaining scoring the win in the process. With two laps still up on the board, Nelson climbed the ladder in turn three and disposed of Shaun Kreyer for the third spot. Out front it was Jensen scoring the win ahead of Chesley, Nelson and Kreyer.

With all the heat races in the books, two Modified B-main’s were held with the top two finishers in each transferring on to the A-main. Dale Mathison and Jeff Hart transfered from B-main #1 while Bill Byholm and Jeff Broking slipped on their dancing shoes in B-main #2.

The RACEMN.com pole dash seen Deer Park, WI veteran Rick Kobs drive off into the night garnering the win and the pole position in the process. With Jody Bellefeuille finishing second, the front row was no established for the 30-lap A-main.

Goosebumps were felt by the capacity crowd as the 25-qualifiers aligned in a four-wide salute to the fans. Order was restored quickly there after as Kobs and Bellefeuille brought the field to the green flag. Kobs beat Bellefeuille to turn one and grabbed the lead as the field drag raced down the backstretch. Kobs found the high side of the speedway to his liking early on as he was scored the leader at the conclusion of the first lap. Two laps clicked off the board before seventh starter Trent Follmer moved into fourth. After drifting back a few spots early on, Kelly Estey began to make a charge on lap eight. Estey pedaled his #37 machine in the ditch with Robby Bunkelman up on the cushion. The two battled door to door until lap nine when Estey stole the position via the bottom groove in turn two. Estey continued his spirited march toward the front as He and Trent Follmer engaged in an entertaining battle for the fourth spot. Estey continued to run the bottom with Follmer up top. With just twelve laps in the books, Kobs had stretched his advantage to nearly a straightaway over second place running Chesley. Estey and Follmer danced side by side for the better part of four laps before Estey finally gained the advantage using the bottom groove in turn two on lap sixteen. Follmer retired pitside on lap eighteen which moved Bunkelman back into the top five while Kobs was bolted out front. Two more laps ran off without a hitch before Craig Thatcher expired a motor in turn one which would bunch up the field behind Kobs. With ten laps remaining it was Kobs, Chesley, Estey, Bunkelman and fifteenth starter Darrell Nelson all in the top five. The green flag dropped over the field once again as the front runners filed into turn one. Kobs blasted his #63 machine to the top of the speedway while Chesley chose the low line. Chesley was able to edge ahead of Kobs for the top spot as the field came around and completed a lap. The yellow flag waved once again, but the lap before had been scored which this time put Chesley out front all by himself. The field stacked up nose to tail once again as Chesley dictated the pace. When the green dropped this time, Bunkelman climbed the ladder in turn one and pulled even with Estey for the third spot as they drag raced down the backstretch. Bunkelman backed his machine into the cushion and blasted by Estey for the third spot as the field raced down the frontstretch. Bunkleman then made a nice move to the inside of Kobs to overtake him for the second spot while Chesley did his best to gain a small advantage out front. Bunkelman, however, immediately caught the backside of Chesley and quickly applied pressure. With two laps remaining, Bunkelman took a peak to the outside of Chesley as the entered turn three. Chesley held his line and blasted by down the frontstretch once again. On the final trip around Chesley made no mistakes and went on to score the most impressive feature win of his career. Bunkelman, who started eighth, looked very strong coming home second ahead of Estey, Kobs and Nelson. Hard charging efforts were found all over the speedway as well during the 30-lap A-main. Jason Miller moved from his 17th starting spot to finish sixth while Jayme Lautigar charged forward twelve positions from his row ten starting spot to finish seventh.

The Como Modified Series staff would like to thank all the fans, pit crew members, drivers and all other individuals that came out to make the third leg of the series a great success. We hope to see all of you this Saturday night, August 1st at the ABC Raceway in Ashland, WI. For more information regarding the Como Mod Series log onto the series’ website at www.comomodseries.com

The star-studded A Main Event featured all three previous Como Mod champions starting in the top five (06′ Nelson, 07′ Estey, and 08′ Al Uotinen). Estey took the lead of the 30 Lap event in his Como Oil & Propane sponsored machine from the start and fended off numerous restarts and a hard charging Nelson for the duration of the race. The #91 of Craig Thatcher of Knapp, WI took home third after numerous battles with the #V2 Joey Jensen of Forest Lake, MN who rode the bottom of the track from an eleventh place start to fourth.

Estey commented in Fortune Bay / Rick Gondik Victory Lane: “I figured the high-side would be good to take the lead on the start and it got me up front. Darrell’s been on a heck of a run so to hold him off was a big accomplishment. I was more then comfortable running up front with these guys because they are clean racers and we race with the best of the best in the Como Mod Series.”

Notes:

#00B Robbie Bunklemen took home the DirtHead.com Hard Charger Award by improving 12 spots in the feature event in his new SideBiter Chassis…V2 Joey Jensen was second with a seven spot improvement…45 Bob Broking was penalized two spots on the last restart of the feature for jumping the start…2C Dave Cain did not participate in the finale on Saturday…91 Craig Thatcher was driving a new BMS Chassis with a blue body and finished 3rd with the first race in that ride…54L Jayme Lautigar returned to action with the Como Mod Series after suffering severe burns to his legs earlier this year and came one spot short of transferring to the feature after charging the high side from 13th…some big names did not make the feature and a handful in the top ten from Race #1 in Proctor did not finish well making the points going into Superior on July 21 that much more exciting.

MOTORSTATS.com OFFICIAL RESULTS

RICK GONDIK LAW OFFICES HEAT RACES:
Heat 1

1. 2R Ricky Roche
2.45 Bob Broking
3.V2 Joey Jensen
4.5 Jeff Broking
5.77 Alan Olafson
6.24D Duane Dale
7.22S Jeff Spacek
8.21D Cody Sersha
9.40 Carey Lepage
10.54L Jayme Lautigar

Heat 2

1.44 Darrell Nelson
2.98 Al Uotinen
3.1L Brad Loveday
4.11K Jeff Provinzino
5.85 Jamie Davis
6.57 Mike Anderson
7.101 Paul Schultz
8.9 Nick Lavato
9.84 Travis Zollar

Heat 3

1.37 Kelly Estey
2.55 Jeff Wood
3.11 Pat Doar
4.00B Robbie Bunklemen
5.90 Brad Hanson
6.95 Rick Rivord
7.9C John Carpenter
8.20 Jeff Hart
9.97 Greg Chesley

Heat 4

1.44R Steve Roseen
2.38 Rick Cannata
3.12S Wayne Stricker
4.22 Kyle Gavel
5.5 Jodi Olson
6.12M Jason Miller
7.4B Bill Byholm
8.46H Ken Hron
9.4 Marc Damjanovich

Heat 5

1.64 Kelly Checkalski
2.91 Craig Thatcher
3.71A Ryan Aho
4.11 Jody Bellefeuille
5.63 Rick Kobs
6.7J Rick Jacobson
7.2C Dave Cain
8.24 Brad Waits
9.51 Caley Emerson

MIRROR IMAGES DAY SPA B MAINS:

B Main 1

1.90 Brad Hanson
2.12M Jason Miller
3.54L Jayme Lautigar
4.57 Mike Anderson
5.24 Brad Waits
6.9 Nick Lavato
7.22S Jeff Spacek
8.77 Alan Olafson
9.20 Jeff Hart
10.46H Ken Hron
11.63 Rick Kobs
12.9C John Carpenter
13.2C Dave Cain

B Main 2

1.5 Jodi Olson
2.24D Duane Dale
3.97 Greg Chesley
4.85 Jamie Davis
5.7J Rick Jacobson
6.4 Marc Damjanovich
7.51 Caley Emerson
8.21D Cory Sersha
9.4B Bill Byholm
10.95 Rick Rivord
11.84 Travis Zollar
12.40 Carey Lepage
13.101 Paul Schultz

RACEMN.com POLE DASH:

1.44 Darrell Nelson
2.37 Kelly Estey
3.91 Craig Thatcher
4.55 Jeff Wood
5.98 Al Uotinen
6.45 Bob Broking
7.2R Ricky Roche
8.44R Steve Roseen
9.64 Kelly Checkalski
10.38 Rick Cannata

GRP HIGH 5 BONUS RACE:

1.37 Kelly Estey – 5
2.44 Darrell Nelson – 4
3.91 Craig Thatcher – 3
4.V2 Joey Jensen – 2
5.45 Bob Broking – 1

GRP HIGH 5 BONUS SEASON:

1.44 Darrel Nelson – 9
2.37 Kelly Estey – 6
3.57 Mike Anderson – 4
4.91 Craig Thatcher – 3
5.7J Rick Jacobson – 3
6.V2 Joey Jensen – 2
7.63 Rick Kobs – 2
8.45 Bob Broking – 1

DIRTHEAD.com HARD CHARGER RACE:

1.00B Robbie Bunklemen – 12 Points
2.12M Jason Miller – 10 Points
3.11 Jody Bellefeuille – 10 Points

DIRTHEAD.com HARD CHARGER SEASON:

1. 11 Jody Bellefeuille – 15 Points
2.00B Robbie Bunklemen – 14 Points
3.V2 Joey Jensen – 14 Points

FORTUNE BAY CASINO A MAIN FEATURE:

1.37 Kelly Estey
2.44 Darrell Nelson
3.91 Craig Thatcher
4.V2 Joey Jensen
5.45 Bob Broking
6.00B Robbie Bunklemen
7.55 Jeff Wood
8.2R Ricky Roche
9.64 Kelly Checkalski
10.11 Jody Bellefeuille
11.71A Ryan Aho
12.12S Wayne Stricker
13.12M Jason Miller
14.44R Steve Roseen
15.5 Jeff Broking
16.11 Pat Doar
17.98 Al Uotinen
18.38 Rick Cannata
19.57 Mike Anderson
20.24D Duane Dale
21.1L Brad Loveday
22.90 Brad Hanson
23.22 Kyle Gavel
24.5 Jodi Olson
25.11K Jeff Provinzino

2009 COMO MODIFIED SERIES PRESENTED BY LAKE COUNTRY CHEVROLET STANDINGS:
(After Race #2 Governor’s Cup at Hibbing)

1.44 Darrell Nelson 112 Points
2.37 Kelly Estey 107
3.45 Bob Broking 101
4.91 Craig Thatcher 97
5.57 Mike Anderson 88
6.55 Jeff Wood 85
7.V2 Joey Jensen 85
8.11 Jody Bellefeuille 83
9.00B Robbie Bunklemen 81
10.11K Jeff Provinzino 80
11.98 Al Uotinen 80
12.71A Ryan Aho 80
13.7J Rick Jacobson 71
14.63 Rick Kobs 71
15.12M Jason Miller 70

To keep up with the Como Modified Series presented by the Lake Country Chevrolet Dealers website at: www.comomodseries.com and “Fuel The Thunder!”

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

COMO MODIFIED SERIES CONTINGENCY SPONSORS

Chris Burback Photography, DirtHead.com, Intercomp, Motorstats.com, QA1 Motorsports, Specialty Fabricating J-Car

Outside pole sitter Mike Anderson took the initial lead from the start of the feature. Nelson took his CSI sponsored BMS Chassis and powered into the lead after a lap battle with the 63 of Rick Kobs. Nelson, who has won a pile of races in the short season, added to his impressive 2009 resume with the Como win that provided a kick-start his championship hopes on the eight-race mega tour.

“Well I gotta thank my guys” stated Nelson in Victory Lane. “The car had to be good on this dry stuff and it was skatin’ around. We tried some stuff and it was good. There was a ton of luck involved from the heat to the draw and how we finished. It takes off some pressure starting this good for the season.”

The rest of the main event featured some new faces in the top five including the 57 and outside pole sitter of Mike Anderson and the 7J of Rick Jacobson who came in 3rd. 63 Rick Kobs took the 4th spot and a hard charging 2007 Como Mod Series Champion Kelly Estey rounded out the top 5 after starting in the 13th position. Other notables included Late Model ace Jeff Provinzino finishing in the 6th spot, the 91 of Crag Thatcher in 11th, Brad Waits in 12th, 2008 Champion Al Uotinen in 13th, and the 71A of Ryan Aho in 19th.

Round 2 of the Como Modified Series presented by Lake Country Chevy Dealers will be July 19 & 20 at Hibbing Raceway in Hibbing, MN for the Governor’s Cup. An enhanced payout for the Como Mods features a $2,000 to win top prize. For more information visit: www.hibbingraceway.com

MOTORSTATS.com OFFICIAL RESULTS

RICK GONDIK LAW OFFICES HEAT RACES:

Heat 1

1. 44 Darrel Nelson
2.41 Caley Emerson
3.37 Kelly Ester
4.00 Scott Hudack
5.4 Marc Damjanovich
6.9C John Carpenter
7.74 Shaun Kreyer
8.77 Alan Olafson
9.84Y Dean Yrjanainen

Heat 2

1.57 Mike Anderson
2.11K Jeff Provinzino
3.91 Craig Thatcher
4.00B Robbie Bunklemen
5.95 Rick Rivord
6.90 Brad Hanson
7.85 Jamie Davis
8.44R Steve Roseen
9.12S Wayne Stricker

Heat 3

1.63 Rick Kobs
2.98 Al Uotinen
3.11 Jody Bellefeuille
4.46H Ken Hron
5.38 Rock Cannata
6.24L Jeff Lein
7.99 Steve Lavasseur
8.40 Carey Lepage
9.84 Travis Zollar

Heat 4

1.29A Tim Alexander
2.22S Jeff Spacek
3.12M Jason Miller
4.2C Dave Cain
5.2R Ricky Roche
6.55 Jeff Wood
7.101 Paul Schultz
8.H64 Kelly Checkalski
9.37JR Russ Lightner

Heat 5

1.45 Bob Broking
2.20 Jeff Hart
3.97 Greg Chesley
4.27X Andy Miskowic
5.5 Jeff Broking
6.22 Kyle Gavel
7.11 Pat Doar
8.9 Nick Lavato
9.69 Justin Jones

Heat 6

1.7J Rick Jacobson
2.24D Duane Dale
3.71A Ryan Aho
4.4B Bill Byholm
5.24 Brad Waits
6.V2 Joey Jensen
7.21D Cory Sersha
8.24 Jeremy Gross

MIRROR IMAGES DAY SPA B MAINS:

B Main 1

1.2C Dave Cain
2.55 Jeff Wood
3.11 Pat Doar
4.4 Marc Damjanovich
5.24 Jeremy Gross
6.12S Wayne Stricker
7.85 Jamie Davis
8.9C John Carpenter
9.77 Alan Olafson
10. 00 Scott Hudack
11. 40 Carey Lepage
12. 2R Ricky Roche

B Main 2

1.27X Andy Miskowic
2.00B Robbie Bunklemen
3.5 Jeff Broking
4.22 Kyle Gavel
5.99 Steve Lavasseur
6.95 Rick Rivord
7.H64 Kelly Checkalski
8.21D Cory Sersha
9.84 Travis Zollar
10. 90 Brad Hanson
11. 84Y Dean Yrjanainen
12. 37JR Ross Lightner

B Main 3

1.4B Bill Byholm
2.24 Brad Waits
3.38 Rick Cannata
4.V2 Joey Jensen
5.46H Ken Hron
6.69 Justin Jones
7.101 Paul Schultz
8.24L Jeff Lein
9.9 Nick Lavato
10. 44R Steve Roseen
11. 74 Shaun Kreyer

RACEMN.com POLE DASH:

1.7J Rick Jacobson
2.57 Mike Anderson
3.44 Darrell Nelson
4.63 Rick Kobs
5.45 Bob Broking
6.29A Tim Alexander

GRP HIGH 5 BONUS:

1.44 Darrell Nelson – 5
2.57 Mike Anderson – 4
3.7J Rick Jacobson – 3
4.63 Rick Kobs – 2
5.37 Kelly Estey – 1

DIRTHEAD.com HARD CHARGER:

1.24 Brad Waits – 12 Points
2.37 Kelly Estey – 8 Points
3.97 Greg Chesley – 8 Points
4.V2 Joey Jensen – 7 Points
5.2C Dave Cain – 6 Points
6.55 Jeff Wood – 6 Points

FORTUNE BAY CASINO A MAIN FEATURE:

1.44 Darrell Nelson
2.57 Mike Anderson
3.7J Rick Jacobson
4.63 Rick Kobs
5.37 Kelly Estey
6.11K Jeff Provinzino
7.45 Bob Broking
8.51 Caley Emerson
9.97 Greg Chesley
10. 11 Jody Bellefeuille
11. 91 Craig Thatcher
12. 24 Brad Waits
13. 2C Dave Cain
14. 20 Jeff Hart
15. 98 Al Uotinen
16. 55 Jeff Wood
17. 4B Bill Byholm
18.V2 Joey Jensen
19. 71A Ryan Aho
20. 24D Duane Dale
21. 00B Robbie Bunkleman
22. 22S Jeff Spacek
23. 27X Andy Miskowic
24. 29A Tim Alexander
25. 12M Jason Miller

To keep up with the Como Modified Series presented by the Lake Country Chevrolet Dealers website at: www.comomodseries.com and “Fuel The Thunder!”

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

http://www.comomodseries.com/statistics/results/
http://www.comomodseries.com/statistics/point-standings/

Joey Jensen, of Forest Lake, MN parlayed hard work early on and patience down the stretch to add his first RCC WISSOTA Modified crown to the Late Model win he achieved in 2005 and three other Modified wins at ABC Raceway, including one during a Como Modified Series visit earlier this summer.

The story within the 35-lap feature race was the chase for the Como Series title. Al Uotinen came into the weekend only five points up on Nelson and eight ahead of Ryan Aho, but things tightened up after Aho won his heat race and Nelson took third in his; Uotinen was fourth in his heat. In fact, after Friday night’s action, only two of the top six drivers in Series points had qualified for the Modified feature.

Polesitter Mike Goodremote led all but two of the first 13 laps of the event; Craig Thatcher swiped the point away on laps two and four. Jerry Weigel’s car suffered left-front steering damage after a kiss off the front- straightaway wall six laps in but continued running in the top six or so until the car looped in turn four and brought out the first caution flag of the race on lap eight.

After the restart, seventh starter Jensen slipped past Rich Lofthus and Aho into third place, well behind Goodremote and Thatcher and their tussle for the lead.

The drama began when Uotinen’s car, running near the tail of the field, gave up due to rear-end troubles on lap 11 and apparently ended his hope of claiming the $7,500 Como Series championship check. Jensen worked inside against Thatcher and took over second following the restart and, two laps later, he went around Goodremote for the lead.

After Paul Knauf’s car stalled on the backstraight on lap 16, Nelson and Paul Niznik tangled in turn two and the caution flag waved again. Both cars were done for the night, which opened the door for Aho to swipe the Series title. Aho, however, made contact with Lofthus while the two dueled for third during the restart. Aho had to have a flat tire changed in the work area before he restarted in 22nd.

Jensen and Thatcher separated themselves from the field when the race returned to green with 15th-starter Duane Dale in third. Dave Cain, who had to come through B feature action just to make the race and started 21st in the 26-car field, ran behind Goodremote in fifth.

Goodremote’s car slowed dramatically on the front straightaway on lap 26 and, just past the flagstand, Aho was racing in heavy traffic and could not avoid the slowing car. Goodremote’s car was lifted into the air and flipped before coming down on its roof. Aho quickly exited his car and joined the safety crews to tend to Goodremote. After several tense moments, Goodremote crawled from the car, waved to the crowd and came up into the grandstands to give family members a hug of relief.

With Aho now out as well, the remaining Como Series title contenders – Jason Miller, Jayme Lautigar and Kelly Estey – failed to advance far enough through the field to surpass Uotinen’s point total, despite Uotinen finishing 25th.

One last yellow flag slowdown – on lap 29 for a Mark Hanson spin – was not enough to allow Thatcher a chance to reel in Jensen, whose car was hooked up and flying; Jensen posted the race’s fastest lap (16.721 seconds) during the final six laps on his way to the $3,000 win. Thatcher was not far behind in second and Cain, who overtook Dale just after the Goodremote-Aho crash restart, posted a solid third-place effort.

Ross Prochnow started 12th and finished fourth at a distance to the top three; he passed Dale two laps from the checkers. Lofthus led the second five ahead of Miller, Ricky Roche, Copp and Mike Anderson.

Uotinen’s unofficial final margin in was the closest in the three-year Como Series history – two points over Aho and three over Miller and Nelson.

Modified heat winners were Goodremote, Thatcher, Lofthus, Weigel, Niznik and Aho. Goodremote won the pole dash. Uotinen, Robby Bunkelman and Cain each won a B feature.

Fortune Bay Casino A Main

Joey Jensen, Craig Thatcher, Dave Cain, Ross Prochnow, Duane Dale, Rich Lofthus, Jason Miller, Ricky Roche, Don Copp, Mike Anderson, Brent Prochnow, Robby Bunkelman, Kent Baxter, Jody Bellefeuille, Paul Niznik, Kelly Estey, Jayme Lautigar, Jeff Hart, Mark Hanson, Scott Hudack, Ryan Aho, Mike Goodremote, Darrell Nelson, Paul Knauf, Al Uotinen, Jerry Weigel

Rick Gondik Law Office Heats

Heat 1 – Goodremote, Miller, Anderson, Uotinen, Jeff Spacek, B. Prochnow, Steve Lavasseur, Wayne Stricker, Kelly Checkalski, Bill Byholm

Heat 2 – Thatcher, Hanson, Knauf, Lautigar, Jerry Hartman, Jason Schill, Bellefeuille, Dean Yrjanainen, Bruce Tourville

Heat 3 – Lofthus, J. Jensen, Nelson, Cain, Jeff Wood, Scott Duval, Kevin Rogers, Fred Aschenbauer, Brad Jensen, Estey

Heat 4 – Weigel, Copp, Hudack, Rick Rivord, Nick Lavato, Don Brightbill, Shawn Kelley, John Frydrych, Tim Alexander

Heat 5 – Niznik, Baxter, Roche, Bunkelman, Paul Schultz, Gavin Paull, Keith Tourville, Ross Lightner,Bryan Dorge, Jason Zdroik

Heat 6 – Aho, R. Prochnow, Dale, Kobs, Hart, Larry Prochnow, Marc Johnson, John Baltich, Travis Swanson, Bryan Nayes

Castrol Syntec Pole Dash

Goodremote, Thatcher, Aho, Lofthus, Niznik, Weigel

Mirror Images Day Spa B-Mains

B Feature 1 – Uotinen, B. Prochnow, Byholm, Checkalski, Lavasseur, Frydrych, Brightbill, Rivord, Kelley, Spacek, Alexander

B Feature 2 – Bunkelman, Lautigar, Schultz, Hartman, Lightner, B. Tourville, Schill, Bellefeuille, Zdroik, Paull, Dorge, Yrjanainen, K. Tourville

B Feature 3 – Cain, Hart, Aschenbauer, Rogers, Johnson, Baltich, Swanson, B. Jensen, Wood, L. Prochnow, Duval, Estey, Nayes

Joe Oliver led the 25 car Super Stock field to the green flag but it was Ryan Aho driving Rick Milinkovich’s #47 who grabbed the early lead. Oliver held second over Tim Johnson and Mike Bellefeuille along with Dale Gangl in the top five. With a lap recorded the first of two caution flags appeared when D. J. Dondelinger spun. Aho held the point at the green flag but what would prove to be the final caution flag flew for a Bruce Johnson spin in turn one. At the restart Tim Johnson got the jump on Aho and took the lead. Johnson began to widen his advantage leaving a four car battle for second behind. Oliver went to the high side to secure second with Bellefeuille third and Gangl fourth as Aho began to slip back. Oliver and Bellefeuille began to gain ground on Johnson and, with 16 circuits remaining, Bellefeuille blew into the lead. At the mid point the order stood at Bellefeuille, Johnson, Oliver, Gangl and Andy Davey in the top five followed closely by Scott Lawrence, Aho, Josh Anderson, Randy Spacek and Aaron Wilson in the top ten. Bellefeuille was soon in lapped traffic nearly a straight away ahead of Johnson and the rest and raced to his second special event win in a week. That concluded the Friday portion of the Northern Nationals. After a brief break for track maintenance aided by a brief shower, and a pit meting for the Saturday portion of the event that included WISSOTA Late Models and Modifieds along with the Superior Pure Stocks, racing resumed. It was also the Como Oil & Propane WISSOTA Modified Series race # 6. On hand were a total of 51 Modifieds, 32 Late Models and 28 Pure Stocks. After heat races and B Features and the three divisions, the first event to take to the track was the 30 lap Modified feature.

Ryan Aho led the 25 car pack to the green and took the lead while Duane Dale followed through from inside the second row into second. Darrell Nelson, current Como Series point leader Al Uotinen and Rookie Greg Chesley ran in the top five. Chesley was holding onto fifth but Trent Follmer slipped past as up front Dale closed on Aho. The only caution flag of the event appeared when Nick Lavato ended up against the bask stretch wall. At the green Dale and Aho battled for the lead and Dale took the spot. Behind him Nelson, Follmer and Aho were three wide for second with Jason Miller making an appearance in the top five after starting 10th and Uotinen ran in sixth. At the 15 lap mark Dale had a substantial lead over Aho, Nelson, Folmer and Miller and was beginning to lap the field. With nine laps to go, Nelson made his way to second and began to close on Dale and drove up to his rear bumper. Nelson managed to nip by Dale with an inside move with two laps remaining and held on for the win. Dale, Follmer, Miller, and a surging Jayme Lautigar in fifth. Uotinen slipped to 8th at the checkered flag but retained the Series point lead by five points over Nelson and eight points over Aho going into the final race. Officials decided to sandwich the 20 lap Pure Stock feature in between the Modified and Late Model features. Jeff Christman and Josh Loucks led the 26 car field to the start, a three wide affair as Richard Dzelak moved up to challenge. Christman captured the lead but the lead bunch ran in a pack in the early going. Charging forward from the 10th starting spot was Chad Carlson driving the “Grocery Getter” Station Wagon. He took the lead with five laps in ahead of Dzelak, Christman, Matt Johnson and Zene Anderson. The first caution flag appeared when Al Rapp took an unexpected spin. The next caution flag came on the restart when Kerri Shultze tipped Roland Gordon around in turn four. Dzelak’s run ended on lap seven as he adjourned to the pits leaving Loucks in second. With nine laps remaining Johnson brought out the caution flag with a hard hit into the back stretch wall. At the green light, Carlson led Loucks, his brother Tim Carlson, Pat Van Ert and Anderson. Loucks and Tim Carlson tried to go three wide with Chad Carlson but the resulting contact flattened Loucks’ right front tire. The brothers Carlson battled side by side on the white flag lap and younger brother Chad managed to beat out Tim for the win. 2008 track champion Van Ert was third, Anderson fourth and Loucks held on for fifth.

The Saturday portion finale was the 35 lap WISSOTA Late Model feature which started 25 cars, Tim McMann was given the provisional as the highest track regular point driver to fail to make the feature. Harry Hanson started the main event on the pole with defending Northern Nationals champion Jake Redetzke to his outside. Redetzke blasted into the lead on the first lap over Hanson, Adam Hensel in the #33x, Kerry Hanson and Darrell Nelson. Redetzke raced away to a huge lead and was cruising in the early going. Ten laps into the event Redetzke had all but left the sight of the second place battle between Hanson and Hensel which Hensel soon won. With 14 laps complete, Redetzke began to lap the field and Hensel began to make up ground on the leader. Nelson began to track down Harry Hanson while Kerry Hanson ran fifth. Hensel caught Redetxke with 13 circuits left and was right on his bumper as redetzke came up on older brother Jesse and managed to put him between the two front runners. It was only a temporary fix, however as Hensel was soon gnawing at Redetzkes rear bumper and foiled his plan to defend his Northern Nationals title with a pass for the lead in the closing laps. Hensel then pulled away for the win. Nelson, Harry Hanson and Rick Hanestad up from 14th in the top five. There were no caution flags in the event.

Results 20th annual Northern Nationals Superior Speedway

WISSOTA AMSOIL Dirt Track Series Modified Como Oil & Propane Modified Series (51 cars)
(10 lap heats top four to feature)

Rick Gondik Heats
Heat 1: Darrell Nelson, Al Uotinen, Kelly Estey, Nick Lavato, Robbie Bunkelman, Jeff Spacek, Bill Byholm, Wayne Stricker, Mark Johnson, Jesse Ogston DNF Rick Rivord
Heat 2: Ryan Aho, Duane Dale, Brent Larson, Shaun Kreyer, Bob Broking, Ken Hron, Jason Gross, Jason Zdroik, Jad Carlson
Heat 3: Jayme Lautigar, Jason Miller, Scott Splitstosser, Dale Matheson, Keith Tourville, Steve Lavasseur, Jeff Hart, Deven VanHouse, Jodi Olson DNF Cory Crapser
Heat 4: Greg Chesley, Trent Follmer, Dave Cain, Rick Cannata, don Copp, Cory Sersha, Kelly Estey, Kyle Gavel DNF Ricky Roche, Marcus Damjanovich
Heat 5: Jeff Wood, Jody Bellefeuille, Jon Henkemeyer, Dean Yrjanainen, Paul Niznik, Paul Schultz, Kelly Checkalski, Scott Hudack, Jeremy Gross DNF Bryan Nayes

Mirror Images Day Spa B-Mains
B Feature #1 (top two to feature) Bunkelman, Byholm, Niznik, Hron, Tourville, Hart, Sersha, Crapser, Rivord, Johnson, Checkalski, Gavel, Zdroik, Jason Gross, DNS Damjanovich B Feature #2 (top two to feature) Spacek, Copp, Schultz, Lavasseur, Jason Gross, Broking, Stricker, Hudack, Nayes, Damjanovich, VanHouse, Ogston, Ollson, Lightner DNF Carlson DNS Roche

Castrol Syntec Pole Dash
Dash: Aho, Nelson, Dale, Uotinen, Follmer, Chesley, Lautigar, Bellefeuille, Wood, Miller

Fortune Bay Casino A Main
Feature (30 laps) Nelson, Dale, Miller, Lautigar, Aho, Cain, Uotinen, Chesley, Larson, Spacek, Wood, Estey, Yrjanainen, Bellefeuille, Byholm, Henkemeyer, Splitstosser, Bunkelman, Kreyer, Matheson, Cannata DNF Lavato, Copp, Broking

The 55 car field was split into six Rick Gondik Law Office heat races with only the top three out of each heat advancing to the main event. In the first heat race, Kelly Checkalski got the jump on Al Uotinen and inched away to get the day started off right. Uotinen held on for second with Don Copp working to his outside most of the race while Ryan Aho snuck in at the last second to edge Copp at the line for third.

Jason Miller jumped out the early lead and never looked back in heat race two. Jeff Spacek put on a show for the fans using some traction near the top of the race track to blast through the field from the 8th starting position. Spacek significantly cut into Miller’s lead but ran out of time in the end. After watching Spacek roll by, Rick Cannata moved up and followed Spacek’s line to a third place run.

In the third heat race, front row starter Darrell Nelson drove off to the lead. Jeremy Gross and Larry Prochnow got together while battling for third. Gross went spinning off the track to bring out the caution. On the restart, Brent Larson and Ken Hron battled for second with Hron coming out on top. Nelson cruised to the win with Hron solidly in second. Larson had a hard charging Craig Thatcher on his heels but held strong in the final laps to grab the final transfer spot.

In a rare visit to Hibbing, Robby Bunkelman ran strong from the get-go in the fourth heat race. Leading all eight laps, Bunkelman secured his spot in the dash later in the day. After a recent string of bad luck, Jayme Lautigar came back strong to take second and position himself solidly in the show. Ricky Roche made some headway to grab the final transfer spot.

Much like the other heat races, outside-front row starter Dean Yrjanainen led from flag to flag in the fifth heat race. Duane Dale worked his way from the third row to the runner-up position when the checkered flag fell. Jeff Hart took the final transfer spot late in the race from pole-starter Paul Engelstad.

Brad Hanson broke the trend of front row starters winning heats in the final Rick Gondik Law Office heat race of the day. Hanson came from inside the second row to after some misfortune for the leaders. Tim Jackson worked his way through traffic to take second after starting in the fourth row. Alan Olafson finished third after some early battles with Hanson up front.

Following three Mirror Images and Day Spa last chance races that qualified six more cars, the Castrol Syntec Pole dash participants hauled up to the grandstands stage to draw frisbee’s for their starting spots in the dash. After drawing for positions, the six heat race winners strapped in for six laps to determine the first three rows of the Fortune Bay Casino feature. Jason Miller positioned himself for one of the biggest wins of his career when the rolled to the pole dash win. Robby Bunkelman came home second to earn the outside slot next to Miller at the drop of the green flag.

Following some racing action from the other classes on the Labor Day Shootout card, the twenty-five feature race competitors rumbled onto the speedway for battle. A $1900 first place prize was at stake along with the prestige of being named a Labor Day Shootout Champion. Jason Miller looked like he was ready to accept those honors in the early going as he jumped out to the initial lead on the jet black racing surface. Behind Miller, Brad Hanson and Robby Bunkelman raced side by side for second. After a couple laps of jockeying, Bunkelman won the duel and set out after Miller. By the cross-way flags, Bunkelman had closed to Miller’s bumper and began to apply pressure on the inside. Miller thwarted Bunkelman’s advances down low while Darrell Nelson moved in to join the fray. Bunkelman continued to challenge Miller with Nelson now hot on his heels. Miller moved down the race track to protect his lead while Bunkelman moved up to race around the outside of Miller. With just three laps remaining, Bunkelman was scored as the leader for the first time. With the championship trophy and some victory lane celebrating within sight, Bunkelman cruised in the final three circuits to possibly the biggest win of his career. Miller, Nelson, Dean Yrjanainen, and Jeff Spacek rounded out the top five. Defending series champion Kelly Estey was the mover of the race, coming home in sixth after starting in the twenty-second position. With his valiant charge from the back, Estey earned himself the $500 GRP Motorsports bonus for being the highest finisher of the four previous race winners. Meanwhile, Al Uotinen stretched his point lead over the next closest competitor in the series. While Uotinen increased his lead from first to second, several drivers still sit poised within striking distance of the leader. The series focuses now shift to another traditional “post-season” event as they roll into Superior Speedway for the Northern Nationals.

WISSOTA Modifieds- Fortune Bay Casino Feature: Robby Bunkelman, Jason Miller, Darrell Nelson, Dean Yrjanainen, Jeff Spacek, Kelly Estey, Jayme Lautigar, Brad Hanson, Al Uotinen, Ryan Aho, Duane Dale, Jeff Wood, Rick Roche, Rick Cannata, Alan Olafson, Jeff Hart, Tim Jackson, Ken Hron, Bob Broking, Don Copp, Ross Prochnow, Rick Jacobson, Brent Larson, Kelly Checkalski, Craig Thatcher

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 1- Kelly Checkalski, Al Uotinen, Ryan Aho, Don Copp, Kelly Estey, Marc Damjanovich, Bill Byholm, Jay Richardson, Brent Prochnow, Mark Depiero
Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 2- Jason Miller, Jeff Spacek, Rick Cannata, Rick Jacobson, Rick Rivord, Ross Prochnow, John Reini, Casey Mattision, Travis Zollar
Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 3- Darrell Nelson, Ken Hron, Brent Larson, Craig Thatcher, Skeeter Estey, Jodi Olson, Larry Prochnow, Jeremy Gross, Chris Magistad
Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 4- Robby Bunkelman, Jayme Lautigar, Ricky Roche, Bob Broking, Kyle Gavel, Paul Schultz, Cory Sersha, Dwayne Pihulak, Steve Thomas
Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 5- Dean Yrjanainen, Duane Dale, Jeff Hart, Paul Engelstad, Greg Chesley, Pat Doar, John Baltich, Dave Cain, John Carpenter
Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 6- Brad Hanson, Tim Jackson, Alan Olafson, Jody Bellefuille, Jeff Wood, Joey Jensen, Chad Jonson, Nick Lavato, Alex Engelstad
Mirror Images and Day Spa B Feature 1- Broking, K.Estey, Copp, Damjanovich, Gavel, Byholm, B.Prochnow, Richardson, Sersha, Depiero
Mirror Images and Day Spa B Feature 2- Jacobson, R.Prochnow, Rivord, P.Engelstad, Cain, Reini, Zollar, Mattison, Baltich, Chesley, Doar, Carpenter
Mirror Images and Day Spa B Feature 3- Thatcher, Wood, Olson, Jensen, S.Estey, A.Engelstad, Jonson, L.Prochnow, Magistad, Gross, Lavato, Bellefeuille

The annual mid-July Tuesday event was held at the Superior Speedway during the Head of the Lakes Fair in Superior, WI with the featured division being the Como Oil & Propane Modified Series along with WISSOTA Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds and Pure Stocks. A swelled pit area filled with 117 cars in the four classes greeted race fans and fair goers as well with bright blue skies above.

Don Eischens and Brad Hanson sat on the front row for the Fortune Bay Casino 30-lap a-main and immediately at the drop of the green Eischens took the lead with Hanson and Ryan Aho beginning a heated battle for second. A lap 2 caution flew when Como Mod Series point leader Kelly Estey and Joey Galloway got together on the bottom of turn two and became hooked together, necessitating a caution and sending Estey to the tail. On the restart, Eischens took back off into the lead, but Hanson dove to the inside of him and momentarily took it away. Eischens came right back on the high side and took it back and raced off with the top spot before a second caution flew just two laps later for a Dave Cain / Jason Miller altercation in turn four, breaking up several amazing battles throughout the field.

On the second restart, Hanson again dove to the bottom of the track and pulled even with Eischens for the race lead, but only held it for a moment until Eischens came roaring back around to re-assume the lead. Suddenly Bill Byholm came to life and began to pressure Hanson for second, while Aho had his hands full with Rich Lofthus for fourth. Byholm screamed by Hanson into second and set his sights on Eischens while 14th starting Al Uotinen marched through the field and appeared in the top three just before the half way point. Eischens commanding lead went by the wayside when Byholm suffered a mechanical failure while running second and brought out the third and final caution of the event with just 14 laps to go, bunching up the field for the final time.

This time on the restart, Eischens took back off as the race leader, but Uotinen dove to the inside of him and began to work on taking the lead for himself. The duo ran side by side for four circuits until Uotinen was able to clear Eischens and assume the top spot, while 21st starting Jayme Lautigar was tearing around the extreme top side of the track and flew by Nelson into third with just a few to go.

Once Uotinen got the lead, he remained smooth right around the bottom of the Superior Speedway and raced to one of the most dramatic feature wins of his 28 year storied racing career. On the final corner of the final lap, Eischens tried to make a last ditch move to steal the win, but ended up spun in turn four, ending his great run a bit early and handing second to hard charging Lautigar. Aho, Nelson and 22nd starting Jason Miller rounded out the top five finishers tonight in one of the most amazing Modified races of the season.

SUMMARY:

WISSOTA Modifieds Fortune Bay Casino Feature: Uotinen, Lautigar, Aho, Nelson, Miller, Kreyer, Hanson, Spacek, Jensen, Dale, Cain, Estey, Wood, Broking, Yrjanainen, Schultz, Eischens, Lofthus, Byholm, Galloway, Roche, Checkalski, Olson, Lavato

Castrol Syntec Pole Dash: Eischens, Hanson, Aho, Roche, Galloway, Schultz, Broking, Byholm

Mirror Images Day Spa B-feature 1: Lautigar, Copp, Hron, Rivord, Gavel, Hudack, Paull, Sersha, Massingill

Mirror Images Day Spa B-feature 2: Miller, Jensen, Lavasseur, Jacobson, Damjanovich, Dale, Sellung, Bellefeuille

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 1: Brad Hanson, Paul Schultz, Rich Lofthus, Jeff Wood, Kelly Checkalski, Scott Hudack, John Massingill, Rick Rivord, Rick Jacobson, Cory Sersha

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 2: Ryan Aho, Bob Broking, Kelly Estey, Al Uotinen, Dave Cain, Marc Damjanovich, Jason Miller, Steve Lavasseur, Gavin Paul

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 3: Don Eischens, Bill Byholm, Shaun Kreyer, Jeff Spacek, Jodi Olson, Don Copp, Jodi Bellefeuille, Kyle Gavel

Rick Gondik Law Office Heat 4: Ricky Roche, Joey Galloway, Dean Yrjanainen, Darrell Nelson, Nick Lavato, Duane Dale, Joey Jensen, Ken Hron, Dan Sellung

In the supporting Fast Lane Motorsports Mid-Mod Challenge, Greg Chesley returned to his winning ways by leading every lap of the WISSOTA Midwest modified feature.

Following the special AmsOil Dirt Track Series program was a brilliant fireworks display, but the on-track action brought some sparks of its own. Jensen, who also won the Castrol Syntec Pole Dash, started at the front of the field for the 30-lap Fortune Bay Casino mod main event and won a first-lap battle with fellow front-row starter Al Uotinen to gain the early advantage.

After a get-together involving Bill Byholm and Jerry Hartman brought the race to a halt one lap in, the next 21 circuits ran off quickly but not quietly. As Jensen took off to a stout advantage, Jason Miller used the outside groove to pull alongside Uotinen in a race for second, and behind them Estey challenged Dean Yrjanainen for fourth.

These two side-by-side battles raged for some time while Jensen built up his margin, running around the very outer perimeter of the red-clay oval. In fact, Jensen pushed the limit of the outer berm in turns 3 and 4 on one circuit, scraping the guardrail at the top of the track with the right-rear fender of his car. This allowed Uotinen to eliminate Jensen’s advantage by mid-race.

This was also about the time that Miller fell back into a dogfight for third with Estey, Yrjanainen and Jeff Spacek. But just as Yrjanainen was about to make a move for the position a flat right-front tire caused him to slow coming out of turn 4 and coast the length of the front straightaway, bringing out the caution flag.

Rick Rivord’s spin a lap after the restart again put the field at Jensen’s rear bumper, but it was Estey who made the biggest play for the win. The defending Series champion first ran outside to pass Uotinen for second, and then he dropped to the inside to challenge Jensen for the lead on lap 25. But Jensen adjusted his line and took the bottom groove away from Estey, thus building up a six car-length lead by the time the checkered flag fell.

Jensen, who also turned the fast lap of the event at 17.178 seconds, told the crowd from the Como Oil Victory Lane, “I knew when I saw the 37 behind me on the scoreboard that I had to go to the bottom, because the top wasn’t working for me anymore in (turns) 3 and 4.

“This (Como Mod Series) is one of the best series around. I want to thank Joe Stariha (and his staff) for doing this for us.”

Estey took over the tour’s points lead with his second-place run, combined with a tough night for previous points leader Ryan Aho, who had to drop from the event during the lap 23 caution to change a flat tire. Aho recovered to finish 14th.

Uotinen had Spacek bearing down on his rear bumper as he came across the line in third, while Robby Bunkelman completed the top five. Shawn Kreyer came home sixth, ahead of Miller and Don Copp. Jody Bellefeuille, who started 22nd, took ninth just in front of Rivord.

Gondik Law Office heat race winners included Kreyer, Yrjanainen, Spacek and Miller, while Duane Dale and Bellefeuille won the two Mirror Images Day Spa B-features.

Chesley split the gap between front-row starters Steve Stuart and Kevin Monteith coming out of turn 2 for the first time in the Mid-mod 20-lap headliner and was not to be caught from there. Chesley had already worked up to a ten-length advantage over the Stuart-Monteith dual for second by lap 4, just before contact between Ross Siiter and Jacob Morinville caused Morinville’s car to slow on the front stretch.

Over the next 13 non-stop laps Chesley used a smooth, steady line around the three-eighths-mile oval to pull away again from Stuart, who had beaten Monteith to second after the restart. By the halfway point of the run Chesley and Stuart had a full straightaway on the side-by-side dual between Monteith and a resurgent Mickey Nosser.

The pace slowed when rookie Travis Nye spun in turn 4, but Stuart still could not put up much of a challenge for Chesley, who again drew away to his third feature win here this year while posting the fastest lap of the race at 17.488 seconds. Monteith held off Nosser for third, and Rob Weber came home a close fifth.

A strong field of 70 cars came to race Thursday night, split nearly evenly between the 36 mods and 34 Mid-mods.

On Saturday the track will host a visit by the Northern Vintage Stock Car group of Minnesota. Also on the docket will be kids’ bike races, presented by Ashland’s County Market. Hot laps will start at 6:15 pm, and the first green flag will drop at 7. “Racenight” will air live on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, from 4:30-6 pm with at-the-track news and weather updates.

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, .

Rick Gondik Law Office Heats
Heat 1: Shawn Kreyer, Hayward; Robby Bunkelman, Abbotsford; Paul Schultz, Grand Rapids, MN; Paul Knauf, Marshfield; Kelly Checkalski, Poplar; Dan Sellung, Mason; Mike Sterns, Hecla, SD; Duane Dale, Aurora, MN; Bob Broking, Grand Rapids, MN.
Heat 2: Dean Yrjanainen, Lake Nebagamon; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN; Scott Hudack, Ashland; Jayme Lautigar, Superior; Jeff Wood, Chisholm, MN; Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Ken Hron, Nashwauk, MN: Bruce Belland, Eagle River; John Massengill, Keewatin, MN.
Heat 3: Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Kelly Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Jerry Hartman, Marenisco, MI; Don Copp, Brule; Ryasn Aho, Chisholm, MN; Ross Lightner, Washburn; Wayne Stricker, Highbridge; Nick Lavato, Proctor, MN; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls.
Heat 4: Jason Miller, Osceola; Al Uotinen, Superior; Rick Rivord, Superior; Bill Byholm, Glidden; Ricky Roche, International Falls, MN; Kent Baxter, Dorchester; Gavin Paull, Fort Frances, ON; Cory Sersha, Eveleth, MN; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN.

Mirror Images Day Spa B-Mains
Semi-Feature 1: Dale; Lightner; Stricker; Lavasseur; Sellung; Sterns; Lavato; Broking. Semi-Feature 2: Bellefeuille; Nelson; Baxter; Paull; Belland; Massengill; Sersha; Hron.

Fortune Bay Resort Casino Feature
Feature: Jensen; Estey; Uotinen; Spacek; Bunkelman; Kreyer; Miller; Copp; Bellefeuille; Rivord; Wood; Nelson; Schultz; Aho; Roche; Dale; Hudack; Hron; Lautigar; Byholm; Lightner; Yrjanainen; Knauf; Checkalski; Hartman.

Results: Race #1 Como Oil & Propane WISSOTA Modified Series (42 cars) 10 Lap Qualifying Heats, top four to the feature, top two to the Pole Dash

Rick Gondik Law Office Heats
Heat 1: Ryan Aho, Al Uotinen, Don Copp, John Massingill, Dave Cain, Bob Broking, Kyle Gavel, Rick Cannata, Jeff Hart
Heat 2: Craig Thatcher, Kelly Estey, Ken Hron, Wayne Stricker, Alan Olafson, Scott Hudack, Mark Blood, Cory Sersha, Paul Schultz
Heat 3: Jason Miller, Jeff Spacek, Duane Dale, Rick Rivord, Nick Lavato, Dean Yrjanainen, Gavin Paull, Jody Bellefeuille
Heat 4: Jayme Lautigar, Tim Alexander, Pat Doar, Bill byholm, Shaun Kreyer, Kelly checkalski, Travis Zollar, Rich Lofthus
Heat 5: Joey Jensen, Jeff Wood, Darrell Nelson, Ricky Roche, Paul Knauf, Jad carlson, Steve Lavasseur, Mark Damjanovich

Mirror Images Day Spa B-Mains
B Feature #1 (Top two to feature): Cain, Knauf, Hart, Paull, Gavell, Lofthus, Hudack, Lavato, Lavasseur, Sersha, Checkalski
B Feature #2: Broking, Yrjanainen, Cannata, Olafson, Damjanovich, Zollar, J Carlson, Schultz, Blood, Bellefeuille, Kreyer

Fortune Bay Resort Casino Feature
Feature (30 Laps) (1-10) Estey, Aho, Lautigar, Uotinen, Jensen, Thatcher, Nelson, Copp, Spacek, Wood (11-25) Hron, Roche, Knauf, Massingill, Dale, Doar, Byholm, Stricker, Cain, Broking, Yrjanainen, Rivord, Miller, Bellefeuille, Alexander