AMSOIL SPEEDWAY DRIVERS ROCK ROC QUALIFIERS

By Jerry O’Brien
7-17-15 Superior, WI

Friday night July 17 was the designated night for WISSOTA AFCO Race of
Champions qualifying races at AMSOIL Speedway. The winner in each
WISSOTA division qualifies for their respective Race of Champions event at the
annual WISSOTA 100 held this year at the South Dakota State Fair Speedway in
Huron, SD.
Seventy-eight WISSOTA cars along with 16 Pure Stocks made for a nice field
of 94 cars on a rare hot and sultry night in Superior Wisconsin.
Terry Lillo and Tim McMann shared the front row for the 25 lap WISSOTA
Late Model main event. McMann got a great jump at the green and Don Shaw
followed him through from the second row into second. Terry Lillo, Jeff
Provinzino and Aaron Lillo made up the top five. McMann played Fox to the
hounds for a couple of laps until a Robbie Cooper spin in turn four brought out the
caution flag. The restart saw McMann maintain the lead but Shaw dived to the
inside in turn three attempting a massive slide job that failed when McMann’s low
line saw him back out in front at the flag stand. McMann raced out to a huge lead
as Shaw, Terry Lillo and Caley Emerson and Provinzino ran in the top five.
Further back a pair of veterans , Harry Hanson and Darrell Nelson, battled for
position. Shaw grabbed the lead in traffic but the pass was negated when Aaron
Lillo brought out the caution with a loop in turn four. McMann led the pack to the
green with 15 laps remaining. Shaw, Terry Lillo, Provinzino and Nelson were in
the top five. While McMann extended the lead, Terry Lillo bested Shaw for
second. With nine laps remaining McMann had a huge lead but Terry Lillo could
not hold back first Shaw, then Nelson. Those two battled for second as McMann
seemed unmatchable but a first turn spin by Zach Wohlers put McManns stellar
run in doubt as the lead evaorated with seven laps remaining. McMann remained
in the high momentum groove as Nelson got past Shaw for second McMann was
able to hold off Nelson to take the popular win, his first at the speedway in some
time. Nelson and shaw were second and third while 16th starting Jeff Massingill
was fourth and Terry Lillo hung around and finished in the top five.

Jody Bellefeuille started the 20 laps WISSOTA Modified feature from the pole
but the first try at a start aborted when Nikki Wrazidlo and Jeffery Lein, Jr tangled
in the first time along with Destin Lorimor. The next try fared little better as
Bobby Houston and Deven VanHouse tangled in turn three. Still no laps recorded.
Bellefeuille again led the pack battling with Kevin Eder side by side ahead of Matt
Leer, Darrell Nelson and Kelly Estey. Eder suddenly dropped off the pace and
ended up stopping in turn four with no power bringing out the third caution flag.
This time the restart came with 18 laps still to be completed. Nelson got the jump
this time and grabbed the lead but Bellefeuille rallied and took it back as the pair
rocketed around the track nearly side by side all the time. Leer and Estey battled
for third as, up front Bellefeuille got the upper hand and began to pull away from
Nelson. Almost unnoticed Jeff Broking was having a solid run in fifth. The fourth
and final caution flag occurred when Leer’s strong run and hope for a third victory
at the speedway ended with a spin in turn four. The restart came just a lap before
half way and the order was Bellefeuille, Nelson, Estey, Broking and Al Uotinen in
the top five. Then came Greg Chesley, Destin Lorimor, Nikki Wrazidlo, Neil
Balduc and Rick Rivord in the top ten. It was the second feature win of the season
at the speedway.
The start of the 20 lap WISSOTA Super Stock feature saw an immediate door
to door battle between Scott Lawrence and Kevin Burdick break out. They flew
around the high banks side by side first one than the other leading by half a car
length or less at the line. Burdick had the advantage but Lawrence came roaring
back to finally clear him and settle into the lead. Behind the pair Joe Oliver in his
first appearance since opening night, battled with Dave Flynn and Shane kisling
for third just ahead of last week’s winner Keith Kern. The top six opened a gap
between themselves and the skirmish between Donnie Lofdahl driving Joe Vork’s
#7jv and defending track champion Nick Oreskovich. As Lawrence began to
stretch his lead with just over half way to go, Burdick was firmly entrenched in
second while Oliver bested Flynn for third. Kisling and Kern were in a battle for
fifth at this point. As the laps wound down, Lawrence made it a runaway with a
huge bulge over Burdick. Flynn and Kisling fought their way past Oliver to finish
third and fourth. Oliver finished fifth holding of Oreskovich and Kern. It was the
first feature win for Lawrence of the season at his home track and only his second
of the season in an event that went flag to flag without a caution period.
Dave flynn jumped into the lead from the pole in the 15 lap WISSOTA
Midwest Modified feature that started all 24 cars in attendance. Tyler Kintner, Dan
Kingsley, Mack Estey and Tyler Luger were in close attendance. Flynn led by four
car lengths as Kintner, Kingsley and estey squabbled for second. A spin by Nick
Daronco in turn four brought out the first of five caution flags. Flynnheld sway at
the green ahead of Kintner and Estey and those three pulled away Luger, Kingsley
and Jake Gondik who were joined by Deven VanHouse. Lance solem brought out
the next caution flag with a scary ride up on the back stretch wall entering turn
three. At the same time Chris Bretting and Mark Kangas crashed in turn three with
Kangas going off on the rollback. At the green Kintner got a run at Flynn and got
the lead off turn four only to have the caution lights blink on when Bretting, Justin
Madsen and Don Craig tangled. Flynn kept the lead on the restart as Kintner and
Mack Estey raced for second and were joined by Skeeter Estey and David
Simpson, but the caution flag appeared for another tangle in turns three and four
involving VanHouse, Luger and Kingsley. Flynn again kept the 29F out front
with Kintner, Mack Estey, Skeeter Estey, Simpson, Brady Caul, Gondik and
VanHouse trailing. Caution number five occurred when Bretting’s horrible night
continued as he tangled with Mike Jacques in turn four. Kintner made a last ditch
effort on the restart but Flynn was able to hold him off and take his first feature
win at the speedway in a Midwest Modified. Kintner, Mack Estey, Simpson and
Caul finished in the top five.
Tim Carlson and Matt Deragon staged a terrific battle in the first part of the 15
lap Pure Stock main event trading the lead by a fender at the line for several laps.
Lucas Carlson, Justin Weinberger and Annika Hammitt also battled for position
close behind the leaders. The first caution flag appeared when Justin Madsen and
Shaina Rapp collided in turn four. Madsen was charged with the caution. Deragon
got the jump on Carlson at the green as Weinberger, Lucas Carlson, Annika
Hammitt and Ryan Savoy raced in a pack. The alternate fender leading between
Deragon and Carlson continued until Carlson was able to pull away to a clear
advantage. With five laps remaining and the lead battle apparently settled,
attention turned to the battle for third which saw Weinberger, Lucas Carlson and
Savoy make it three wide for the spot. All that excitement was broken up when
Devin Reynolds spun in turn four bringing out the caution flag for a final time.
Tim Carlson won his first feature of the season at the speedway and second of the
season. Lucas Carlson got by Deragon for second, Savoy was fourth and
Weinberger rounded out the top five.
Results: AMSOIL Speedway 7-17-15 AFCO RoC Qualifying (94 cars)
WISSOTA Late model (21 cars)
Feature (25 laps): Tim McMann Duluth; Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Don Shaw
Ham Lake; Jeff Massingill Keewatin; Terry Lillo Duluth; Jeff Provinzino Hibbing;
Zach Wohlers Pengilly; Hary Hanson Eveleth; Chris Olson Hibbing; Dave Esse
Cloquet; Kyle Peterlin Hibbing; Steve Laursen Cumberland; Aaron Lillo Proctor;
Gregg Hill Eveleth; Stewart Hayward Calgary, AB; Trevor Wilson Superior; Cory
Jorgenson Hermantown DNF: Caley Emerson Grand Rapids; Robbie Cooper
South Range DNS: Travis Budiaslovich Minneapolis; Kevin Carlson Hermantown
Heat 1; Hanson; Budiaslovich; T. Lillo; A. Lillo; Emerson; Nelson; Wohlers;
Olson; Carlson; Wilson; Jorgenson
Heat 2; Hill; Shaw; Provinzino; McMann; Peterlin; Laursen; Esse; Massingill’
Hayward DNF: Cooper
WISSOTA Modified (17 cars)
Feature (20 laps): Jody Bellefeuille Duluth; Darrell Nelson hermantown; Kelly
Estey Kelly Lake; Jeff Broking Grand Rapids; Al Uotinen Superior; Greg Chesley
Duluth; Destin Lorimor Superior; Nikki Wrazidlo Duluth; Neikl Balduc Bessemer;
Rick Rivord Superior; Brian Mikkonen Iron River; Cody Wolkowski Thunder Bay
DNF: Matt Leer Bruce; Bobby Houston Siren; Kevin Eder Ashland; Deven
VanHouse Silver Bay; Jeffery Lien, Jr. Mora
Heat 1: Leer; Nelson; Eder; Bellefeuille’ Wrazidlo; Chesley; Lien, jr; VanHouse
DNF: Mikkonen
Heat 2: Estey; Uotinen; Broking; Lorimor; Balduc; Rivord; Wolkowski; Houston
WISSOTA Super Stock (16 cars)
Feature (20 laps): Scott Lawrence Superior; Kevin Burdick Proctor; Dave Flynn
Superior; Shane Kisling Sarona; Joe Oliver Superior; Nick Oreskovich Mason;
Keith Kern Superior; Donnie Lofdahl Duluth; Willie Johnsen, Jr. Superior; Andy
Davey Hibbing; D. J. Keeler Superior; Tristan laBarge Kelly Lake; Jim campbell
Two Harbors; Todd Gillitzer Hibbing; Spencer Sorenson Duluth DNF: Andy
Grymala Superior
Heat 1: Flynn; Oliver; Lofdahl; Campbell; Keeler; Sorenson; Gillitzer DNF:
Davey
Heat 2: Lawrence; Kisling; Oreskovich; Burdick; Kern; Johnsen, Jr; LaBarge;
Grymala
WISSOTA Midwest Modified (24 cars)
Feature (15 laps): Dave Flynn Superior; Tyler Kintner Hibbing; Mack Estey
Hibbing; David Simpson Thunder Bay; Brady Caul Fort Frances, Ont.; Deven
VanHouse Silver Bay; Jake Gondik Foxboro; Kevin Montieth Thunder Bay; Nick
Daronco Mt. Iron; Cody Carlson Superior; AndrewInman Hermantown; Scott
Herrick Proctor; Jason Goldfine Superior; Mike jacques Thunder Bay; Tyler Luger
Iron River; Rick Peterson Two Harbors DNF: Skeeter Estey Kelly Lake; Chris
Bretting Washburn; Justin Madsen Foxboro; Dan Kingsley Superior; Lance Solem
Duluth; Don Craig Thunder Bay; Mark Kangas Evelethl Brody Strachen Emo,
Ont.
Heat 1: Gondik; Kingsley; S. Estey; Inman; Craig; Jacques; Madsen DNF:
Strachen
Heat 2: Flynn; Kintner; M. Estey; Carlson; Bretting DNF: Solem;Caul; Kangas
Heat 3: Montieth; Luger; VanHouse; Simpson; Daronco; Herricl; Goldfine;
Peterson
Pure Stock (16 cars)
Feature (15 laps):Tim Carlson Superior; Lucas Carlson Cloquet; Matt Deragon
Ashland; Ryan Savoy Superior; Justin Weinberger Park Falls; Mike Sirois
Hermantown; Annika Hammitt Cloquet; Jon Hammitt Cloquet; Travis Zembo
Superior; Ryan Madsen Foxboro; Shaina Rapp Saginaw; Andy Poll Two Harbors;
Devin Reynolds Cloquet; Jason Simonson Superior DNF: Alex Smith Solon
Springs DNS: Zene Anderson Superior
Heat 1: A. Hammitt; Deragon; Weinberger; Rapp; Zembo; J. Hammitt; Reynolds
DNF: Anderson
Heat 2: T. Carlson; L. Carlson; Savoy; Madsen; Sirois; Poll; Smith; Simonson