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Monday, July 1
On Monday, we took the 30-plus minute round trip from here at home to Proctor Speedway. The XR Series Super Late Models were on hand, with a decent turnout of 13 “travelers” in that division.
Some of the local and regional WISSOTA racers of those 26 cars included Travis Budisalovich, Sam Mars, Tim McMann, Darrel Nelson, Jeff Massingill, James Giossi, Danny Vang, and Kevin Burdick.
I found it interesting but not unusual that in the greater scheme of things, only one of the “travelers” dropped out of the 40-lap feature event.
Speaking of the 40-lap main event, according to a source of mine the whole 40 laps, which went green to checkered, took a total of 11 minutes. That's right, 11 minutes! The “move over” flag was in play from almost the start!
It was a good job by the flagman, who was our own Ray Stuart from Ashland. He did a great job with that “move over” flag.
It was an action-packed Monday, with the Renegade Sprints and WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds also on hand. It also helped to have an event that had few caution periods. Only one big wreck happened, and that was in the Midwest Mod heats. Four of the seven starters in the heat finished while Mike Blevins Sr, Jimmy Latvala and Mikey Blevins Jr., as well as Darin Lawler (I believe) were involved in the first and second turn. Only Lawler was able to continue.
The WISSOTA-sanctioned feature action in the Midwest Mods was won by Joey Jensen, followed by seventh-starting Blake Adams.
Tuesday, July 2
On Tuesday we headed to Gondik Law Speedway for more XR Series action, which was supported this time by the WISSOTA Modifieds and Super Stocks.
It was a very quick track, as so evidenced by the timing of the Super Late Models. For instance, Nick Hoffman was on top with a time of 15.250 seconds on the big 4/10ths-mile track. Second went to Bobby Pierce at 15.426, then Devin Moran was at 15.460. Just some numbers to show how fast these guys are.
The car counts for the Super Stocks and Modifieds were also small, with 12 Mods and 11 Supers entered. I think the Super Stocks were probably getting ready for the Fastlane Series race the next night at Rice Lake Speedway and didn’t participate.
In WISSOTA-sanctioned action, in the Super Stocks, it was a sweep for Jordan Henkemeyer ahead of DJ Keeler. The Mod feature winner was Darrel Nelson over Jake Hartung.
The 35-lap Late Model feature was won by Nick Hoffman. The best-finishing car that could be deemed a WISSOTA car was Pat Doar, who finished 13th.
It was only to be expected, as I look at it, as the guys who do this for a living are sure to take the top spots.
I hope we can do this deal another year, as it is nice to be able to watch the professionals race and see how they handle our big track. I know that Billy Moyer, Sr. likes to race here, or at least he did back in the day!
Wednesday, July 3
We headed to Rice Lake Speedway on Wednesday to catch its program, including the previously rained-out night of the Fastlane Super Stock Series as well as a full show in the track’s other classes. They also hosted a spectacular fireworks display that’s second to none.
There were a total of 49 WISSOTA Super Stocks, many times the usual weekly number. With that number, plus additional visitors in the WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks, the pits swelled to include nearly 140 race cars. I must report the 49 Super Stocks were the most thus far this season in the series. The only track to come close was Red Cedar Speedway, with 46 cars.
As we settled in our temporary booth space, we took a gander at the crowd. Wow! Maybe the largest crowd I’ve seen there. Many folks come for the fireworks for the Fourth of July, but you still gotta find a place for them to sit! We have a great view of a large grandstand down facing turn one, which is probably used for overflow. Man, on July 3, that grandstand was packed as was the rest of the main grandstand. We certainly knew that this was going to be a long, long night!
The feature races were started right after a short intermission. The 20-lap WISSOTA Modified feature was won by Shane Halopka, who recorded a sweep. In the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, Joey Jensen took the top spot. Cody Kummer also recorded a sweep, as he won the 15-lap Street Stock feature. Ditto for Dusten Holub in the Pure Stocks.
Then it was time for the Fastlane Motorsports Northern Super Stock feature, which was won by Dexton Koch, with Matt Larson second, then Tommy Richards, Dylan Nelson and Austin Neimeyer in the top five.
I have been feeling sort of unwell in the past few months, so Joanne and I have a tendency to leave a bit early, missing a couple of features which I can pick up on the RLS website on MyRacePass. This time there was a feature or two left when we realized it was almost midnight. We decided to head out for home, getting to sleep about 3 a.m. Since I don’t have to worry about race reports, I can do it.
Saturday, July 6
Joanne and I headed over to the ABC Raceway as per usual Saturday. It was the special for the track’s Six Cylinder class, with other WISSOTA classes on hand in support.
In the 20-lap, 16-car WISSOTA Midwest Mod feature, Davis Simpson finished in the top spot holding off Tyler Vernon and Paul Suzik for the win. Jesse Polson was fourth and Marcus Dunbar finished fifth.
In the WISSOTA Modified division, Andy Mackey figured out something and drove from outside of the front row to the win in the 20-lap event. Once again Vernon finished second ahead of Dunbar, Mike Anderson and Brandon Copp, who finished fifth. It was Mackey’s first feature win since making the jump from the Supers and he was jubilant in victory lane, to say the least.
In the Super Stock feature Steve Stuart showed the way, taking the lead from his fourth starting spot. Matt Deragon was second, Shane Kisling finished third, Andy Grymala was fourth and Shawn McFadden rounded out the top five.
Brent Mindock took the WISSOTA Pure Stock win, ahead of Eric Crosby, RJ Holly, Aaron Bernick and Shane Basina in the top five.
In the special feature for the ABC Raceway Sixes, Dalton Truchon and Jacob Bond split the wins, with Bond claiming the championship belt for having the best average.
That should be all for this time from me and View From The Tundra.