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Thursday, July 11

Thursday night, July 11 was the opening night for the “Mod Wars” at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minnesota. The WISSOTA Modifieds, during this event, are allowed to run with their rules package with the open-motored cars. In the past, this has been like attending a gun fight with a butter knife, but a recent rules change has allowed the WISSOTA cars to close the horsepower gap. That said, I am told that the WISSOTA cars are still at least 50 horse down to the open cars. They are allowed to run their regular WISSOTA Hoosier tires for this event also. While everyone has a different opinion about the significance of that, I go along with what most have told me: with the softer Hoosiers, they may have an advantage during shorter distance events like qualifying and heat races and regular-distance feature races, but they may give up something to the USMTS cars for a longer race.

This is just what I hear, so don't kill the messenger.

In any event, there were a dozen drivers who ran their WISSOTA package against the open motors, including Dave Cain, Brennan Gave, Jeremy Nelson, Ryan Gierke, Tyler Kaeter, Clayton Wagamon, Landon Atkinson, Tanner Gehl, Zach Benson, Eric Lamm, Travis Schulte and J.T. Johnson. Benson was impressive, winning a heat race. There were six who made the 30-lap feature race, including Cain, Nelson, Gierke, Atkinson, Benson and Johnson.

The Midwest Mods and Mod Fours ran a full sanctioned show as well. A good field of cars in both classes was on hand for this Thursday night show. Three heats of MidMods and a pair of heats for the Mod Fours set the field for their feature races.

As we edge past the midpoint of the racing season, the cream is starting to rise to the top of the food chain, and we are starting to see many of the same drivers running up front on a weekly basis, no matter what track they’re at. The MidMod feature included familiar names like Jake Smith, Jason VandeKamp, Zach Benson, Joey Jensen and David Swearingen, all in the battle for the win.

Smith led 15 laps of the feature before VandeKamp figured out a faster line around the track (which held up well, despite the blistering heat) and Vande used that line to gain the necessary momentum to drive past Smith and take over the lead. From then on, he pulled away to record another win.

Lucas Rodin was in the hunt also and made a last-corner pass to wind up third. Denis Czech made his first appearance in a Mid Mod as he drove a car owned by James Trantina, which I believe was the goofy looking car that Matt Baker used to drive with much success. Czech did well with the car also, cracking the top five in the finishing order.

The Mod Four feature went to defending national champion Tommy Bawden, who overcame a strong effort from Bob Holtquist to take the win. Holtquist led the first half of the race until Bawden was able to work his way forward from the third row and then, once in front, he pulled away.

Bad luck struck Holtquist when he spun out of second, but this also helped his son Dustin, who following a heat race problem, had to start 15th in the main.

This yellow, the only one of the race, brought the field back together and Dustin raced to second at the finish.

Many folks have seen the well-publicized picture of the lightning strike at the track last Saturday while the races were going on. It appeared to have hit track flagman Brian Riedemann directly, but he told me on Thursday that it actually struck near the corner one parking area. While no one was hurt, it was a very near miss. Reportedly, folks sitting in that area of the track felt a “buzzing” in their behinds when it hit.

It also did some damage to the electical grid at the track, reportedly blowing out the speakers for the PA and the TVs inside the building, which all had to be replaced. The new PA speakers are a great improvement – I never heard track announcer Scott Tiefs more clearly than I did on Thursday! So some good came out of what could have been a very bad deal.

In a nice touch, the track supplied a program that contained point standings for all three classes that were racing on Thursday. I saw plenty of folks who were referring to them, not knowing who all the drivers were otherwise. I sure wish more tracks would get on board with this. They also make nice souvenirs for those so inclined.

Friday, July 12

One of the big races of the 2024 racing season at the Red Cedar Speedway was held on Friday night, July 12: the eighth annual Mahder 55 for WISSOTA Late Models. The Late Models were supported by the Modifieds and Super Stocks as well Friday.

It was technically only the seventh running of the race, as last year's was never held following several rainouts and attempts at rescheduling, even into this past spring.

Fortunately, this time the weather wasn't an issue – except for the first heat wave of the summer and temperatures nearing 90 degrees, with humidity to match. It made it just a bit uncomfortable. This, however, did not deter the crowd and a very nice, full grandstand was on hand for the event.

And it was certainly a night with plenty of action, and much to discuss in the way of things happening for sure.

The Mahder race brings a lot of emotion to a lot of folks. Duane was among the most-liked drivers in the pits and he was enjoyable to talk to. Conversations with him were never boring and no matter how crappy things might be going, he always seemed capable of producing a smile and a good word. Even though I don't live close to Eau Claire and was certainly not in his group of close friends, I still have many memories of going up and down the roads, chasing the Late Models through the Challenge Series and other big events and running into Duane many, many times.

One of the memorable things about Duane was his laugh, a full-bellied rolling laugh that could be distinguished across a crowded room. I have yet to hear anyone else that laughed quite like he did and still miss that sound.

He left us way too soon and such was our loss. But a race like this allows to remember him and the many entertaining moments and memories that we have together, as we watch the Late Models get it on.

Announcer Scott Tiefs did a great job with the story about “And Duane We Go,” and starting the feature using that phrase was great.

While I have better things to do with my spare time than troll the internet, I understand there was a lot of angst about the Mahder race scheduled against the inaugural Waseleski Memorial at Hibbing. As it turned out, it appears that both races did well. Both had plenty of cars to put on a good show and while I haven't talked to anyone that was at the Waseleski yet, I’m sure they had a big crowd and a good race as well.

There were 25 Late Models on hand for the Mahder, which is just about at the high end of the number of cars I thought might turn out. They were all happy because no B Feature was needed and all earned a check. The quality of the cars on hand produced an entertaining feature race.

I am still waiting for that first Canadian Late Model to make an appearance. Despite the fact that a couple Canadian drivers made long pulls down to Menomonie after racing elsewhere on Thursday to run in the other classes Friday, no Late Models showed. There are several well-funded Thunder Bay area teams currently making the rounds with multiple cars in their arsenal but as of yet, no Late Models.

I was thinking before the show began that the 55-lap feature for the Late Models, scheduled without a fuel stop, might be the longest Late Model race in WISSOTA this year. But that thought was put to rest when it was announced they were cutting the feature to 50 because of concerns from the teams that they might not make the distance. I'm not sure that five laps was the magic bullet, since they spent at least that many laps getting lined up and presenting the four-wide parade, but I've long ago learned that logic and racing don't always match up perfectly. They did stop the cars on yellow flags, of which there were four, to save fuel.

Three big heats set the running order for the Late Model feature with draw/redraw used to set the specific order. Ashley Anderson and Mike Prochnow both had strong runs to win heats and if there had been passing points, they both would have been in great shape. Of course the Mahder family cars are big favorites at this event, and it was shocking when Chad suddenly lost power on the front chute while leading the third heat and needed a push to the pits, as a transmission issue then forced him to the tail of the big field.

Not counting Montana driver Troy Hyde, who was in town having work done on his car at Mars’ shop, the only true visitor was Nick Anvelink and he came oh, so close to winning the whole shebang.

Anvelink started on the pole and led the first 43 laps before circumstances really went against him. Early on, Anvelink had a comfortable lead, that is, after a wild lap one encounter as Jesse Glenz tried to take the lead away from him. Glenz spun backwards on the front chute right in front of the majority of the field. How Prochnow avoided running into him head-on, I will never know. Mark Hessler was the loser in that deal, along with Glenz, as Hessler cleaned off the whole right side of his car. Glenz, who looked like he might have a car to challenge for the win, went to the back and eventually fell out of the race.

Anvelink continued to lead with Prochnow second for quite a few laps. A.J. Diemel, who started seventh, along with Ashley Anderson, were gradually moving forward in the field. The next big stoppage was on lap 22 when John Kaanta, running in the top five, very abruptly lost power and slowed on the track. By this time, Diemel and Anderson trailed Prochnow and the leader.

Diemel got to second and then closed some on Anvelink, who was having to work through lapped traffic and finding that challenging.

Anvelink was barely able to squeeze past another lapped car, an indication that the track was starting to take rubber in the low groove. With about 15 laps to go, he dived to the bottom but by then, Diemel was right up behind him. There was one more lapped car that gave the leaders grief and when Anvelink got stuck behind him in the low groove, Diemel made the bold but calculated decision to jump to the top and try a pass up there, always tough when out of the rubber. However, he made it work, edging Anvelink at the line on lap 43. They were still three wide as they raced down the back chute and to me, it looked like the slower car tried to get out of the way by diving into the infield. Unfortunately, Anvelink was low on the track and the two made contact. Anvelink eventually lost control and spun in turn three.

The yellow waved and Anvelink opted to call it a night, with Diemel then easily holding off Anderson for the win. Prochnow finished third with Jim Carlson, having a great run, and James Giossi rounding out the top five. Just half the starting field was on the track at the end.

Diemel doesn't race much these days, as he is just too busy at the Mars shop. When he does, he typically ends up right in the mix.

Interestingly, Diemel and Anvelink are shirttail relation, as Diemel’s wife is Nick’s cousin. It would have been a big win for Anvelink to take back to eastern Wisconsin. And maybe this win will get Diemel back on the track just a bit more often.

Both the Modifieds and Super Stocks were in action as well, with full programs for extra money. The Modified feature had three different leaders in the first three laps as Danny Thomas got the early jump, only to be passed by Cory Mahder, which caused many in the crowd excitement.

Just one lap later, Shane Halopka buzzed past Mahder on the top side of the track to take over the lead. Halopka set a torrid pace up top, running right up against the wall, with Mahder changing to that line also. He did so just in time to hold off Kevin Adams, who started seventh and was also running that line.

The top three remained static through the halfway point of the race as Kennedy Swan drove into fourth. While Halopka had maintained his lead for most of the race, as the laps ran down the duo of Mahder and Adams started to pick up the pace and closed on the leader, getting to within a few car lengths; it looked like a wild finish was building.

Unfortunately for Mahder, he got hung up on the cushion and Adams was able to take second from him. Then, with the laps winding down, Adams and Mahder tangled in turn one, with Cory having to go to the tail. A two-lap sprint was set up and Adams tried to go for broke on the start, but the outside line he chose was not responsive. Swan used that opportunity to steal second and in a three-car clump at the finish, Halopka hung on for the win with Swan edging out Adams for second.

Travis Hallquist made his Modified debut Friday, having moved up from the Mid Mods where he raced the last couple of years. He was running an SSR chassis that perhaps was one of Steve’s cars at one time.

There was also drama in the Super Stock feature, but it was the bad kind – a big crash that tears up cars and puts drivers on the sidelines. Following the incidents at the Fastlane show, where they were torn up and/or flipped cars, Terran Spacek, D.J. Keeler, Curt Myers and Jesse Redetzke were back on track for the Mahder show. Unfortunately, for half of those mentioned, they headed back home with even more torn-up equipment than they had previously.

The culprit was a big crash on lap three of the Super Stock feature that had at least a dozen cars wadded up in turn three. They were racing in a big pack when something happened (who knows what exactly) and suddenly the field just kept pounding into each other as the pile grew. Spacek’s car was all torn up as was Redetzke’s, and I can never remember seeing a car of Eric Olson as torn up as his was. (He has made a career out of avoiding crashes.)

Avery Anderson had led before the big wreck, which cost about five cars. It took Curt Myers just another lap to pass Anderson and after that, he was gone. He built up a big lead and even a yellow with just five to go gave him no problems and he drove on for the win.

Keeler had a solid run to finish second, with nice races also put in by Anderson and Andrew Davis. Ron Mahder made that delegation happy on a night when they didn't have the best of luck. He pitted as a part of the big wreck, returned to the track with a battered car, and was still able to drive up to a top-five finish.

With a 50-50 split-the-pot at nearly $700, you have an idea of the size of the crowd for this race. The final checkered waved about 10:40 p.m. with many of the support class racers heading out early, no doubt to work on their cars with the hope of further racing over the weekend, it the monsoon slacks off.

Saturday, July 13

The weather has caused much grief to many promoters, race teams and fans for many weeks, and such was the case again this weekend. Saturday, following yet another rainout at Rice Lake, I headed to Ogilvie for the final night of the Mod Wars.

Things were high and dry, hot and humid upon arrival at the Big O.

Eight WISSOTA drivers qualified for the $11,000-to-win open Modified feature and of those, Shane Sabraski finished the best in seventh. Sabraski was not on hand until Saturday night, having raced his Late Model and Modified at Hibbing. In fact, he entered Saturday night's action having won a cool $11,000 on Friday night. Saturday, he raced from 19th to finish seventh in the Modified feature.

Modified rookie Zach Benson also finished in the top 10. Others who made the show included Jeremy Nelson, Clayton Wagamon, Jody Bellefeuille, Dave Cain, Landon Atkinson and J.T. Johnson. Nelson led about a dozen laps with a flat tire eventually ending his night.

More than 30 Mid Mods were on hand for their third straight night of racing at the Big O. There were three different leaders during their main event, with Ryan Savoy leading before he was passed by Benson for the top spot. Benson led until just past the halfway point when David Swearingen moved up from the third row to drive past him and then pulled away for an impressive win.

Lucas Rodin, steady as a rock, got his third strong finish of the weekend, passing Benson right at the end to get second. Bad luck hit current national point leader David Simpson, when an early tangle eliminated him with a flat tire.

The Mod Fours also ran off a complete show and Tyler Larson dominated the action in this race, leading from start to finish to take the win. Only one yellow slowed this race and while there was no slowing Larson, Dustin Holtquist marched all the way up from the fourth row to eventually claim second.

Two drivers in this class were impressive and have been as of late. Blake Hawker is a rookie, having moved up from the Hornets, but he has strung together several strong finishes recently. The other driver who may be the most improved in the class is Maeghan Milz, who finished a strong fifth and has shown considerable speed of late.

Three straight days of blistering heat put the drivers, crews and track workers to the test but all held up well. Thanks go out to all for their efforts and for once, it was nice to beat the storms and get the whole show in.

Sunday, July 14

It was the kind of hot and steamy day that is quite rare among the shores of Lake Superior. It was 93 degrees on top of the hill in Proctor, Minnesota, as I made my way to Proctor Speedway.

It was downright brutal in the aluminum grandstands with the sun beating down. These were challenging conditions, for a 5 p.m. race start.

I'm told Terry Lillo is now leading the track prep at the speedway and I have to give them a lot of credit for their effort, particularly considering the conditions. There was no dust and the track stayed in good shape throughout the night. It did get super slick, but only saw evidence of it rubbering up with a handful of laps left in the Late Model feature. Before that, we had three good features, and the last two feature races it didn’t matter if it was rubber or not. I actually think a little rubber probably helps both the Pure Stocks and Hornets.

Car counts were decent on a night when it was easy to make the decision to stay home. That said, there were a few visitors from the Granite City Motor Park area, after they got rained out following one of those scattered downpours that have been lurking around the area over the weekend.

I found the feature races to be very entertaining. Due to the very slick track, horsepower was not the secret but smooth driving was, and there were some very close battles. They were the kind of features where gaining just a few inches per lap was the difference between winning and losing. It was a very technical track and I can't imagine it racing any better, given the conditions.

The main events, while entertaining and having some real interesting points, were “racing interruptus.” There were lots of yellow flags and program issues, like having problems with lineups and Raceceivers either not working or not in the ears of drivers.

Related, at more tracks than I can count, this is the season of the last-lap yellow. I have seen more one-lap races to the finish than I care to for quite some time. And some of these are due to a lack of common sense, but we'll go no further on that subject.

The biggest field of the night was in the Mid Mods, where they had a very nice assembly of 20 drivers. Cody Carlson used a front-row starting spot to his advantage to lead the race from start to finish to take the win, but it was a struggle at the end.

Justin Bassa and Jimmy Latvala were early challengers, but it didn't take Joey Jensen long to work his way up after starting ninth on the grid. By the halfway point of the race, he was up to second and all over Carlson for the lead, trying both high and low. Each time Cody did a good job of anticipating the moves and putting his car where he couldn't be passed.

A late yellow set up a two-lap dash to the finish and as anticipated, Jensen threw a side job on the restart. Carlson used the crossover move on the back chute and regained the lead as the white flag waved. Jensen was beside Carlson again in turn one, but raced him cleanly when he certainly had the chance to bump Carlson out of the way. He played it nice and Carlson held on for the win, even though Jensen is racing hard for national points. Paul Ripley, Latvala and Cory Jorgensen, back in his black car and getting one of his best runs of the year, rounded out the top five.

The Super Stock feature was just as good as the Mid Mods. Scott Lawrence had the outside front-row starting spot and took the early lead. They went four wide for second and somehow, sixth-starter Curt Myers came out the other end as the second-place car. He then began a very technical battle with Lawrence, with each striving to gain not feet but inches on each lap. Myers got by on lap six, but Lawrence was saved by a yellow. After that, it looked like Myers’ best shot was gone. Patrick Beeksma moved up to join the battle and there were times in the second half of the race when it looked like he might pass both for the lead. Myers persisted and on lap 12 he finally cleared Lawrence for the lead.

However, when it looked like the race should have been done, a last-lap yellow fell and it was the dreaded one-lap race to the finish, where Myers held off Lawrence and Beeksma for the win.

And if the last two features hadn't been close enough, the Modifieds produced an A main that was just as good as the other two. Kennedy Swan had that prized starting spot and she took advantage, grabbing the early lead and indeed, holding the point for 14 laps. Nick Oreskovich and Andrew Inman had a great battle for second before Oreskovich prevailed and moved in to challenge Swan.

They then went at it in another very technical race with inches mattering on every lap. Oreskovich drove under Swan on lap 15 and made a clean pass, pulling away slightly to get the win. Oreskovich seems to have his car running much better of late, and anyone that can make their car work on these slick track conditions should be well-suited to make noise in any race.

The Late Model feature was notable in that Harry Hanson led from start to finish. It was his first feature win in nearly two years. He grabbed the lead from the start and while Jeff Massingill tried and tried to get past him, Hanson covered the groove as a veteran does. It was mentioned by the announcers that Hanson had turned 70 years old this spring, a fact that absolutely stunned me. While it does feel like Hanson has raced forever, numbers like that still blow my mind.

The Pure Stock feature produced a first-time feature winner, not just at this track but at any track: rookie Eric Crosby fought off challenges from Chaston Finckbone, Jake Smith and Devin Fries to get the win. Early on there was an issue between Crosby and Fries, with the ruling decision questionable, but even so, Crosby still had to race hard to hold off the challenges. As detailed in an earlier column, Crosby is a veteran of ice racing, but has jumped into dirt track racing with both feet this year. He owns multiple race cars and is sponsoring others.

Hornets wrapped up the evening and once again, their feature race came right down to the wire. This race had three different leaders, with Riley Ament leading the first half of the race. Eventually he was passed by Bobie Arnes and after losing a muffler, Ament left the track.

Justin Schelitzche started eighth in the feature and you knew he would be a factor; by the halfway point he was up to third. He got by D.J. Jarecki to grab second and then closed on Arnes.

They went at it the last few laps and on the final lap, Schelitzche made the pass for the win. Ironically, if Granite City hadn't rained out, both of the last-lap duelers would have likely been racing elsewhere.

Every single feature race was a good one on Sunday, with each event providing close racing action and plenty of drama. It's too bad there weren't more people on hand to view the excellent racing, but understandable given the extreme conditions.