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The Mod Fours, Pure Stocks and Hornets performed a three-wide parade for the fans at Bemidji Speedway during the WISSOTA MPH event.

WISSOTA’s “100 week” kicks of with MPH special at Bemidji and the trio of winners includes Holtquist, Mindock and Hagemann

By Dennis Peterson & Chris Stepan

BEMIDJI, MN (September 8) - WISSOTA 100 Championship week began at Bemidji Speedway Sunday with the WISSOTA NAPA Central MPH Invitational.

A picture perfect fall evening was enjoyed by all in attendance, and at the conclusion of the WISSOTA Dirt Track Series action, newly crowned champions included Jenna Hagemann, Dustin Holtquist, and Brent Mindock.

In the WISSOTA Mod Four time trials, Dustin Holtquist set a new track record with a 16.213-second lap time.

Hornet winner Jenna Hagemann (center) along with second place Chase Pourrier (left) and third place Anthony Jenson (right). (Lisa Rhen Photo)

Following feature qualifying, the WISSOTA Hornets hit the track first for their feature, led to green by Trenton Beel and Russell Kiker, Jr. It was immediately a three-wide battle for the top spot, but there was a series of spins that occurred just as quickly, and the caution flag waved for the first time.

After a lap-one crash, the race for the lead was intense for the majority of the event with Kiker, Jr., Beel, Chase Pourrier, Hagemann and Bobie Arnes in a tight five-car tussle for the top spot for the first 15 laps, with several two- and three-wide battles occurring throughout the first half of the main event, including a very intense one for the lead. Kiker, Jr. and Arnes were both trying to overtake Hagemann for the top spot on lap 17, when contact was made, sending both spinning. Kiker, Jr. was relegated to the tail for the restart with just three laps remaining.

Hagemann led the way following the restart, with Pourrier, Anthony Jenson, and Brandon Backstrom chasing her. The third and final caution of the event flew a lap later, setting up a two-lap dash to the checkered. Hagemann raced the final two laps out front for her second-consecutive victory in this event and the $750 top prize. Pourrier ran a close second with Jenson rounding out the podium. Nikota Larson and Chad Reller rounded out the top five.

Pure Stock winner Brent Mindock (center) along with second place Josh Berg (right) and third place Chaston Finckbone (left). (Lisa Rhen Photo)

The WISSOTA Pure Stocks were next on track, led by Brent Mindock on the pole and Dustin Puffe to his right. The two are battling for the national championship, with Puffe having a one-point advantage prior to the feature. The green flag waved and Puffe raced into the lead, using the outside lane. A spin and caution negated the move however, and Mindock was ready for the restart - he charged out of turn four down the front straight and into the lead followed by Puffe, Josh Berg, Chaston Finckbone and Kade Leeper.

After several more hard fought laps, the third caution flew on lap eight. Following the restart, a three-wide battle for the lead broke out, with Mindock, Berg and Puffe three deep around the speedway for the top spot. The trio raced out front in tight formation for several laps, with Leeper in the mix on several occasions as well.

The final caution of the race flew on lap 13 when Leeper and Berg got together battling for the top spot, sending Leeper to the pits with damage to his race car.

On the final restart of the race, Mindock held off Berg, Finckbone and Puffe to race away the final seven laps for the $750 victory in his first visit to the speedway. Berg finished with runner-up honors, with Finckbone in third. Fourth was Puffe and Justin Barsness was fifth, but he was later disqualified in post-race tech, elevating Deryk Weleski into the top five.

Mod Four winner Dustin Holtquist (center) along with second place Luke Erlandson (right) and third place Chad Funt (left). (Lisa Rhen Photo)

The WISSOTA Mod Fours then hit the track for the program’s finale, a 25-lap feature race for a $2,000 top prize. Many of the top drivers in the class were on hand for bragging rights and the big check.

Luke Erlandson and national point leader Dean Larson led the pack to the green flag, with Erlandson flying into the lead. He was followed by Larson, Dustin Holtquist, Patrick Specht and Chad Funt. Larson and Holtquist had a side-by-side duel for the fans for second before a spin brought the caution flag out and Nick Seitz was sent to the tail of the field.

On the restart, Holtquist raced the high side into the lead in turns one and two. Erlandson battled back, but the red flag fell for a crash on the back straight, which ended with Doug Frederick upside down. He was okay, but out of the race.

After the field raced back to life, Holtquist again pulled alongside Erlandson and raced side by side for the lead, taking command of the top spot until a lap nine caution bunched the field once again.

With Holtquist out front, Larson, Specht, Funt and Erlandson put on a great show for second until the final caution of the event flew on lap 18, setting up a seven-lap dash to the finish.

As laps wound down, Holtquist was pulling away. Farther back, his dad, 23rd-starter Robert Holtquist, was making steady progress through the field into the top five.

Out front, Dustin Holtquist held his lead and claimed the checkered flag for his 150th victory and the $2,000 check. Erlandson was second, Funt was third, Specht was fourth and Robert Holtquist completed the top five.

Prior to the opening feature race a “Parade of Champions” was held, with all 68 cars in attendance making several laps around the track. It was an awesome sight for race fans and crews to take in.

SUMMARY

WISSOTA Mod Fours:

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 5H-Dustin Holtquist[4]; 2. 18L-Luke Erlandson[1]; 3. XL1-Chad Funt[8]; 4. 617-Patrick Specht[6]; 5. 5-Robert Holtquist[23]; 6. 18-Ashton Schwinn[16]; 7. 21-Blake Hawker[21]; 8. 7-Rob Arlaud[7]; 9. 14T-Rowan Tramm[24]; 10. 37-Dean Larson[2]; 11. 2-Andrew Funt[17]; 12. 99E-Blake Erickson[22]; 13. 44-Chad Erlandson[14]; 14. C92-Jeffrey Marthaler[3]; 15. 9T-Thomas Burgard[9]; 16. 6-Conrad Schwinn[5]; 17. (DNF) 995-Brooke Erickson[19]; 18. (DNF) 92-Nick Seitz[15]; 19. (DNF) 3-Josh Madson[13]; 20. (DNF) 5JF-Jonathen Feda[20]; 21. (DNF) D5-Doug Frederick[11]; 22. (DNF) 4-Dawson Oelrich[10]; 23. (DNF) 29-Trevor Siltman[12]; 24. (DNF) 77-Brooklyn Vernlund[18]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 18L-Luke Erlandson[3]; 2. 5H-Dustin Holtquist[4]; 3. D5-Doug Frederick[1]; 4. 4-Dawson Oelrich[7]; 5. 44-Chad Erlandson[6]; 6. (DNF) 5JF-Jonathen Feda[8]; 7. (DNS) 99E-Blake Erickson; 8. (DQ) 5-Robert Holtquist[2]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 617-Patrick Specht[2]; 2. XL1-Chad Funt[1]; 3. C92-Jeffrey Marthaler[8]; 4. 9T-Thomas Burgard[7]; 5. 92-Nick Seitz[6]; 6. 18-Ashton Schwinn[3]; 7. (DNF) 21-Blake Hawker[4]; 8. (DQ) 14T-Rowan Tramm[5]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 37-Dean Larson[3]; 2. 6-Conrad Schwinn[4]; 3. 7-Rob Arlaud[5]; 4. 3-Josh Madson[2]; 5. 29-Trevor Siltman[7]; 6. 2-Andrew Funt[1]; 7. 77-Brooklyn Vernlund[6]; 8. 995-Brooke Erickson[8]

WISSOTA Pure Stocks:

Feature (20 Laps): 1. 57-Brent Mindock[1]; 2. 35B-Josh Berg[3]; 3. 40C-Chaston Finckbone[4]; 4. 21X-Dustin Puffe[2]; 5. 39-Deryk Weleski[14]; 6. 21S-Mason Smith[9]; 7. 18B-Alex Berg[11]; 8. 25-Billy Binkley[16]; 9. X81-Alexa Sparby[19]; 10. 52W-Austin Fencl[10]; 11. 88H-Michael Hawkins[21]; 12. 8-Karen Puschinsky[20]; 13. 57C-Austin Carlson[13]; 14. (DNF) 28-Eric Crosby[18]; 15. (DNF) 38-Nate Zanter[12]; 16. (DNF) 3-Kade Leeper[5]; 17. (DNF) 87-Shannon George[15]; 18. (DNF) 22E-Ethan Elhardt[7]; 19. (DNF) 15-Caylyn Binkley[17]; 20. (DNF) 72-Kevin Baumgarner[6]; 21. (DQ) 47J-Justin Barsness[8]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 21X-Dustin Puffe[2]; 2. 35B-Josh Berg[4]; 3. 52W-Austin Fencl[1]; 4. 47J-Justin Barsness[6]; 5. 57C-Austin Carlson[5]; 6. 28-Eric Crosby[3]; 7. X81-Alexa Sparby[7]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 3-Kade Leeper[1]; 2. 40C-Chaston Finckbone[4]; 3. 21S-Mason Smith[2]; 4. 18B-Alex Berg[3]; 5. 39-Deryk Weleski[5]; 6. 87-Shannon George[7]; 7. 8-Karen Puschinsky[6]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Brent Mindock[7]; 2. 72-Kevin Baumgarner[3]; 3. 22E-Ethan Elhardt[4]; 4. 38-Nate Zanter[1]; 5. 25-Billy Binkley[2]; 6. 15-Caylyn Binkley[5]; 7. 88H-Michael Hawkins[6]

WISSOTA Hornets:

Feature (20 Laps): 1. 26-Jenna Hagemann[3]; 2. 35-Chase Pourrier[4]; 3. 23T-Anthony Jenson[7]; 4. 26N-Nikota Larson[10]; 5. 28-Chad Reller[13]; 6. 94A-Bobie Arnes[6]; 7. 7M-Mateja Dreyer[5]; 8. 7G-Jayme Gordon[11]; 9. 3-Adam VanDerostyne[9]; 10. 19-Josh Backstrom[19]; 11. 13-Russell Kiker Jr[2]; 12. 72-Aiden Kessler[8]; 13. 5T-Tristan Raths[12]; 14. 35P-Tylar Pourrier[23]; 15. (DNF) 8X-Adam Kessler[17]; 16. (DNF) 3X-Brandon Backstrom[18]; 17. (DNF) 7JJ-JJ Morton[21]; 18. (DNF) 30-Trenton Beel[1]; 19. (DNF) 555-Bradley Rossow[14]; 20. (DNF) 81R-Ryker Larson[20]; 21. (DNF) 27-Brady Fosso[16]; 22. (DNF) 10-Dexyn Habraken[15]; 23. (DNF) 22A-Austin Raths[22]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 30-Trenton Beel[4]; 2. 23T-Anthony Jenson[2]; 3. 13-Russell Kiker Jr[8]; 4. 5T-Tristan Raths[1]; 5. 555-Bradley Rossow[5]; 6. 8X-Adam Kessler[6]; 7. 19-Josh Backstrom[7]; 8. 22A-Austin Raths[3]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 94A-Bobie Arnes[1]; 2. 7M-Mateja Dreyer[4]; 3. 26N-Nikota Larson[2]; 4. 72-Aiden Kessler[6]; 5. 10-Dexyn Habraken[8]; 6. 3X-Brandon Backstrom[5]; 7. 81R-Ryker Larson[7]; 8. 35P-Tylar Pourrier[3]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 35-Chase Pourrier[2]; 2. 26-Jenna Hagemann[5]; 3. 3-Adam VanDerostyne[3]; 4. 28-Chad Reller[1]; 5. 7G-Jayme Gordon[7]; 6. 27-Brady Fosso[6]; 7. 7JJ-JJ Morton[4]