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Kevin Adams started sixth and he threw caution to the wind, hurdling around the high side of the track. While he made time that way, he was abusing his car unmercifully. Johnny built up quite an advantage but the combination of Adams' hell-bent run plus Johnny having to fight past lapped traffic in his preferred lane allowed Adams to move in and challenge for the lead.

By this time, Adams had his own issues; his car was frozen in the “hiked up” position, due to a suspension issue. He forged on and blew past Johnny for the lead, however, as the crowd enjoyed the wild action.

As Adams pulled away, Johnny decided he would have to get up on the cushion, too, but when he tried, he did his impersonation of Chitwood. He went way up on two wheels before he came back to earth on the edge of the woods. With his “fun meter” pegged for the night, he then headed for the pits.

At this point, with only a few cars left running and conditions bordering on dangerous, the race was called complete. Adams was the winner, followed by Josh Beaulieu and Ryan Jensen.

After a huddle by officials, it was then decided that the Pure Stock and Hornet feature races should be postponed to a later date.

It was a nice-sized crowd for the opening night. I was also happy to see that Grand Rapids still has a track program; I still think this is a necessity for the tracks to provide but not done by many.

I believe that both fans and drivers realize that with this challenging spring weather we have had, track conditions and preparing a track have been difficult at best. When racing resumes next Thursday, the Late Models make their first appearance of the season, and I’m guessing things will be back to normal here.

Thanks as always to the good folks at Grand Rapids for a warm welcome from track officials and the others involved with West Range racing.

Friday, May 31

It came down to the last day of the month, but Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin was able to get a race in during the month of May.

Beginning its 63rd year of racing, this track at the fairgrounds in Superior is one of the longest running in this area. It has raced all those years at this same location. The track may have been shortened up during those years, but the same grandstand that sits here today was the same one used back when it all started here.

When they were finally able to deliver that first program, it was on a very nice late spring day here. Friday was one of those very rare days when it was warner here than where I live, which is an hour-plus from the track.

As with all the openers across the region, opening night is that time to renew friendships with folks you haven't seen since last fall and see who has moved to new classes, new race car schemes, etc.

I was very happy to see Larry Peterlin again, parked on the tailgate of son Kyle's Late Model trailer. Larry had a tough winter with some pretty serious health issues, but he reports he is one of the lucky ones, and despite a rather dreaded prognosis at one point, he has come through his medical ordeal with flying colors.

The track welcomed back Kelly Checkalski to the racing ranks, as he has a Modified.

A new driver to the track was Reagan Ruffi, who I'm told is a former football player at UMD. Tanner Gehl is new to the Modified class as well, and his father Todd has moved back to the Late Model class after many years wheeling a Modified.

Most everyone knows that Johnny Broking has added a Late Model to his arsenal by now, courtesy of Pat Kapella, and another rookie in that class is Billy Kendall. Billy still has his Modified as well.

Terry Lillo was behind the wheel of one of the Lillo Late Models on Friday as he finishes up his Sprint Car, which should be on the track soon.

Canadian racers were on hand in full force and look to be an even bigger part of the competitive field for 2024 at Northland tracks. A very nice start to that challenge was put out on Friday as Cole Chernosky and Rick Simpson finished first and second in the Super Stock feature later on.

A number of familiar folks were again in charge at Gondik. The track continues to employee the only blind flagman in the business, as Ray Stuart was again ducking the mud balls and trying to figure out the difference between the green and yellow flag.

Calling the shots from the tower for the umpteenth year were Mark Fleischer and Nick Gima, but they were silenced in the early going by a balky PA system, about the only thing that can shut them up. (Of course, they’re all friends and this is just a bit of razzing in jest).

Seriously, though, it was good to park my behind in the grandstand again and see old friends at a track I have frequented for many decades. Now onto the show.

I was a bit surprised at the car count for the opener. I thought the racers from the Northland would have been just chomping at the bit to start racing, but it wasn’t the home run I was expecting. There was little representation from the Iron Range and even fewer travelers from the south and southwest.

Perhaps the threat of rain kept some away. Don't get me wrong, the car count wasn't bad, but when the Late Model number at 22 is your biggest field of cars, that is a rare thing these days.

The track was in fine shape for the opener and was fast — almost to the point of being too fast. The cars were blistering the track and when everyone is fast, sometimes it is both hard to pass and scary. In fact, two divisions broke track records and the speed held up right through the features on the humid and horsepower producing night.

It didn't take long for the fireworks to begin once the green flag dropped. The program started right on time but the first Mid Mod heat produced a violent flip when Ashley Boyum, with a bit of help, was shoved sideways in turn one and with the track being so sticky, her car stuck and then began to barrel roll. I counted two and a half and she ended upside down. Fortunately, no other drivers hit her and she was okay.

After that, things settled down considerably in the heat races.

Following some quick wheel packing of the cushion, it was time to move right into the feature races as the weather marched our direction. The Mid Mods were the first out of the gate, with Canadian driver Garrett Paull leading the first five laps of this race. James Vendela, a local driver who always gets everything possible out of his car while racing on a limited budget, made a spectacular move to the top of the track while everyone else ran low in the corners. It was tricky, but he was able to move up one lane and while the opening was narrow, he edged past Paull on that top side of the track and took over the lead.

Once in front, there was no catching him as he pulled away from the pack where there was a big battle going on for second. A yellow with four laps to go regrouped the field and on the last restart, there was a lot of reshuffling. Paul Ripley moved from fifth to second and Paull was moved back one spot in the finishing order.

The Super Stocks went 20 laps with only a single slowdown, led for its entirety by Chernosky. He jumped out immediately and pulled away from the field. The lap nine yellow bunched the field, but on the green he pulled away once again, building his margin to nearly a full straightaway. Rick Simpson worked into second near the halfway point of the race and he controlled that spot for the rest of the event. A late rush by D.J. Keeler sent him to third at the end.

A late-race surprise changed the course of the Late Model feature. With five yellow flags in the first eight laps, the Late Model drivers had some early issues. Once they finally got sorted out, the last 17 laps went green.

Skeeter Estey got past Mike Bellefeuille on the opening lap and took the lead, which he maintained for most of the event. Kevin Eder moved into second and while he was fairly close to Estey, he didn't seem in be in position to make a challenge.

Estey seemed comfortably in front as the laps ran down, but with just four laps to go he got way high in turn two; Eder drove under him to take over the top spot and then pulled away.

Earlier in the evening, Eder's car was displaying quite a bit of smoke but that was obviously not a severe issue as he, when the chance materialized, pounced on the opportunity to take the lead. Estey held on to second but must have been disappointed in the outcome. Pat Doar was on the move from ninth and completed the night in third. Doar (perhaps, possibly, there was a chance, maybe) was driving a new Rocket chassis for the first time on Friday, but you didn't hear it from me.

Eder, on the other hand, was more than pleased with his first-ever Late Model victory in Superior.

Brandon Copp was dominant as he ran away with the Modified feature. “Hot Sauce” John Toppozini led the first four laps with Copp challenging him, until Copp found an open lane on the top side and blew past Toppozini to take over the lead.

As Copp drove away, a good battle for position broke out among Toppozini, Jody Bellefeuille and Brady Uotinen. Bad luck struck Toppozini on the final tour as he lost power and also two spots, with Bellefeuille then taking third ahead of Uotinen.

Only six cars took the green for the Pure Stock feature. Jessie Treviranus held off her father Tom to claim here second-ever feature win at Gondik.

Seven Hornets took the green for their main, with D.J. Jarecki taking the win. He gained a big early lead but a late-race yellow allowed Carson Gotelaere to close on him and at the finish, Jarecki held on by half a car length for the win.

Gotelaere had an interesting start to his racing evening. When the heat race was rolling around the track before the green came out, the car in front of him on the lineup stopped abruptly and he rear ended it, damaging his car to the point he couldn't race the heat. This put him to the tail for the feature, although the tail in a seven car race was not as daunting as it would have been with a full field.

Racing finished up at just around 10:30 p.m., just as it began to sprinkle and then rain heavier on the way home.

Thanks to the employees and management of Gondik Law for putting up with me for what will likely be the first of numerous trips to this track in 2024.

Saturday, June 1

Rice Lake Speedway was back in action on Saturday night, June 1 for a four-division program, plus the Vintage cars. Due to rain farther north, an interesting scenario developed. The track had given the Super Stocks the night off so they could race the opening leg of the Fastlane Super Stock Series at ABC in Ashland. However, the race was rained out before noon and a number of Super Stock drivers contacted the ownership group at Rice Lake, wanting a place to race. They wanted to be added back to the program at the last minute.

The Rice Lake group was open to doing so, and even contacted interim WISSOTA executive director Nikki Elton to find out if it was okay to do so. They learned that if the Super Stocks were a regular class at the track, they were not allowed to add them, either for points or to race them. As a result, this rule will likely be brought up now at the annual meeting in November and challenged. It has apparently been a sticking point with several tracks that have had the same issue face them and their fellow track owners nearby.

The new ownership group at the speedway certainly has been thrown into the deep end of the pool right from the get-go this year. Nearly every race night has been challenging due to either actual weather in the area, or the effects of weather from the days prior to race night.

This week in Rice Lake, it rained more days than not. After a soaking overnight rain on Friday night that dragged on until mid morning on Saturday, it was doubtful they’d be able to race. They are a persistent group, however, and if there is any way they can race, they will.

Hours upon hours were spent working the track with heavy equipment and a posse of volunteers making laps with a variety of four-wheeled vehicles, just so racing could be held. The infield was a sea of mud and victory lane could not be used, but they did get the track ready.

Though the track for the heats was probably the poorest it has been for any racing here this year, after another blading following the heats it was much better for the features. It was still “hammer down” and winners were climbing out of their cars all pooped out, but they were able to race on the feature surface.

And what did the owners get for their efforts? Mostly a bunch of complaints about the track conditions. I wonder if those complaining understand or realize the owners also have a racing team, so they are more than familiar with the good and bad points of a heavy track? Do all the hours they worked on the track mean nothing? The afternoon and evening turned out to be beautiful and great weather for racing. Would they have preferred that they cancel at noon and then complain because they weren't racing on such a nice night?

People are just brutal these days. There is a reason the number of short tracks in this county has shrunk by 10 percent this year over 2023, and continues to drop. If you speak with the owners who have either shut down or tried to sell out, the biggest reason is because of all the complaining and abuse they have had to endure.

Folks, just lighten up a bit. Can't we just try to be a little more constructive, and not so destructive?

When everyone was done racing on Saturday and either on the road home, or perhaps still drinking beer at their trailers, Kolby Kiehl and Mitch Hansen were right back out on the track, working it and getting it ready for the Super Stock show this coming Thursday. Don't tell me they aren’t trying their hardest to get this right.

In racing action on Saturday night, new winners emerged in the Modified, Mid Mod and Street Stock classes. The racing at Rice Lake has been amazingly balanced so far, with no repeat winners in three of the five classes. Only Curt Myers and Dusten Holub reached victory lane more than once since the start of 2024.

For Mike Tuma, it was his first feature win ever for his career in the class, and it came on his birthday, making it extra special. Nick Oreskovich got his first Modified win at Rice Lake, having won plenty previously when he raced Super Stocks, while Jake Stai got his first of the year in the Mid Mods.

It was certainly bad luck for Cody Cimfl, who seemed to have won his first-ever feature in the Mid Mods until he got to the scale and found out that the car was too light. He has recently taken over the driving duties from car owner Kevin Herrman as well as driving a Street Stock for the four-car Herrman Farm racing team.

I talked to Super Stock driver Tommy Richards, who has his car back together after a hard crash here last week. He hoped to get some test laps on it before the Super Stock Series starts, but either everyone was rained out or not running Supers this weekend. Instead, he had to hope he has everything right for next Thursday.

Engine builder Tim Ludwigson was in the crowd on Saturday, along with his wife and grandkids, who were enjoying having a night out and just watching the races. Like everyone else, he was happy to see all the improvements done to the track since his last visit.

It was a surprise to see Brady Uotinen show up at the last minute. My guess is that they were trying to sort out some issues they discovered racing at Gondik on Friday night. It was a bonus for them to run a strong second in the feature later and nearly sneak by Nick Oreskovich at one point.

I'm guessing the ABC rainout brought us both Jesse Polson and Jimmy Latvala in the Mid Mods. The bonus for them was that both ran in the top five in the their main event.

I was also glad to see that Pat Hoffman found the time to get his Modified out on Saturday, although he arrived too late to run a heat race. Bad luck struck during the Mod feature when he touched wheels with another driver on the green and peeled a tire off the rim, causing him to call it a night early.

In other Rice Lake news, the track is looking forward to hosting their first midweek special with a big field of Super Stocks and MidMods on hand as the Fastlane Series comes to town Thursday, June 6.

Sunday, June 2

The rain, which spoiled a number of Sunday night tracks, missed the Twin Ports area and Proctor Speedway held its program, only the second for them this year.

Along with the six classes, the Northern Vintage Cars were also on hand, which made for an extra four races. It was also Hall of Fame night, with new inductees presented to the crowd before the first green flag dropped.

The Midwest Mods provided nearly two dozen entrants and offered the largest field of cars of the night. In fact, both the Mid Mods and Super Stocks had more entrants on hand than Gondik did on Friday night, and that doesn't happen very often. Overall it was a very nice turnout of racers, despite the threatening weather.

One of the surprise entrants on Sunday was Mike Klippenstein, who has moved up to the Late Model ranks with a Black Diamond chassis. Klippenstein, who moved here to help with the Enbridge Refinery rebuild, started out in a Hornet not so many years ago and has progressed up the Late Models now in quick fashion. He also ran in the Mods for a couple years. His mission Sunday was to get some laps and also, I suppose, not get in the way of the more experienced drivers. That seemed to be how things worked out; while he was a DNF for the heat race, he ran the full feature race, wasn't involved in any wrecks and finished seventh. I would say that would be classified as a successful first night.

Racing started a bit late due to the Hall of Fame ceremonies but the drivers made up time quickly.

The track had been well watered and with the cloudy and humid night, it held moisture well, producing a very fast track and virtually no dust.

I had much anticipation, particularly for both the Mid Mod and Super Stock features. Both had plenty of cars in them and both had lots of fast competitors that I thought were going to put on an interesting show. It was quite the disappointment when both ended up being stinkers with multiple yellows, and both were cut in laps due to time limits.

With three drivers who I presume will be chasing the national points in the Mid Mods, based on their hellacious racing schedules so far, David Simpson, Blake Adams and Jason VandeKamp all started in the first few rows and with plenty of speedy local drivers in the mix, it looked like it could be a dandy.

But spins, stalls and wrecks slowed this race repeatedly. Not only were the drivers running fast, they were also plenty aggressive and bad feelings seemed to be the order of the event. Simpson, who started on the pole, was the eventual winner, having led all nine laps completed before the event was gonged. Adams was challenging until he spun out right in front of the whole field while running second, triggering one of the many collisions that looked to be so hard that the motor headers on Sam Blevins’ car were either badly bent or broke.

Even with all the yellows, it would have been a good one if it could have gone the full distance. But with only nine laps to it, the results felt unfulfilling, except to the winner Simpson I’m sure. He did manage to win three feature races this week, having started their racing on Wednesday night at Thunder Bay. I suppose they will do the same thing next week, weather permitting.

Jimmy Latvala had another strong showing with second place runs both Saturday and here on Sunday. Tyler Vernon, VandeKamp and Cory Jorgensen, who is getting his Mid Mod up to speed, completed the top five. By the way, don't invite Vande and Evan Checkalski to the same brunch; they seemed to be in each other’s grill multiple times during this race.

The Super Stock feature hoped to do better, but unfortunately, it was just more of the same with spins repeatedly halting the proceedings just when things started to get interesting. They made only seven laps before the plug was pulled on them. Shawn McFadden started in the second row but he had the lead before one lap was completed and he managed to fight off some hard challenges in the short burst when racing was actually going on.

The Cameron curse struck for a second time in the first two races as this time it was Curt Myers who spun in front of the pack, with Rick Simpson taking the brunt of the action. Myers went go to the back.

McFadden got the victory with Simpson coming back to edge out Darin Meierotto for second. Doug Koski was right in the mix again on Sunday and he has been putting a number of solid runs in as of late.

Jody Bellefeuille was the class of the small Modified field, taking the lead from Brady Uotinen on lap seven and then pulling away for the win after that. Bellefeuille moved around on the track, checking out both the inside line and the cushion before he made his move. When he did, Uotinen had nothing for Bellefeuille as he blew past him on the high side and then pulled away.

Nick O and Tyler Vernon, with top-threes in two classes making for a successful night, completed the top finishers in a race that saw only five on the track at the finish.

There were three different leaders in the Late Model feature that as possibly the best of the main events. The track was a handful for the Late Model drivers, but only two yellows slowed the action. It was bad luck for Kevin Carlson early on; he earned a front row starting position, but his motor laid down at the end of the heat and he had to scratch out of the main.

Harry Hanson led the opening lap of the race but just one lap later Jeff Provinzino drove past him to take over the top spot. Provo then led the next 21 laps, but his challenger was Kevin Burdick, who started sixth.

Burdick nearly got by at the halfway point but he showed his nose to Provo, who then held him off and changed his line to protect the fast lane. Burdick tried both high and low but Provinzino managed to stay in the lead.

And, it might have stayed that way if not for lapped traffic with a few laps left. Burdick made a bold move, found a hole to shoot through and passed both cars in one swoop, and while Provo got held back, it was Burdick who took over the lead with just two laps left and then drove on for the win.

Jeff Massingill took a while to get to the front but he finally got clear, he was flying and he managed to nip Provinzino for second on the last lap.

Though sprinkles were beginning, the last two races of the night were pretty good and were actually highlighted by a darn good Pure Stock feature, even though there were only a handful of cars in it.

For most of the race, the top five ran together as a group. It was quite entertaining, with the lead officially being held by three different drivers at various points of the contest.

At the end, Chaston Finckbone, who had fallen as far back as fifth, made a late rush and passed Aaron Bernick for the lead with just a lap to go while Dylan Shelton, who led the majority of the laps with his El Camino, had to settle for third.

The Hornets tiptoed through their main event as the sprinkles started to get a bit heavier and after leading the first four laps, rookie driver Joe Puidokas was passed by A.J. House. House then drove on the rest of the way to take the win, despite late challenges from Carson Gotelaere and DeJay Jarecki.

All racing was done by around 9 p.m. and it was not too much later when the rains started in earnest.

Thanks as always to the folks at Proctor, where their picnic for the Old Timers and Hall of Fame inductees is a nice yearly tradition appreciated by all of them.