BOB BROKING TOPS MODIFIEDS TUESDAY DURING FAIR RACES
By Jerry O’Brien
7-11-17 Superior, WI
Racing at the AMSOIL Speedway was a two part affair due to the Head of the Lakes Fair.
Tuesday the 11th was the first night featuring WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Late Models,
Modifieds and Pure Stocks.
Veteran driver Bob Broking of Grand Rapids, MN has won many Modified features over his
long and continuing career, but had never captured the winning checkered flag in a feature at the
speedway. That drought was broken Tuesday night during the Fair races at AMSOIL Speedway.
He missed out on a sweep when he finished second to son Johnny in the second heat.
Bob Broking started the 20 lap main event on the pole and, at the green flag, got the jump in
Deven VanHouse and surged to an early lead. Three laps in, Todd Gehl, in his first race here
back in a Modified, got caught up in the marker tires at the bottom of turn four. This brought out
the first of only two caution flags. The restart saw Broking maintain the point followed by
VanHouse, Al Uotinen, Darrell Nelson and Johnny Broking. Bob Broking kept the lead at the
green flag. Uotinen made his way to second as VanHouse began to fade back. Nelson made his
way to third, Johnny Broking was fourth and Jody Bellefeuille was quickly into the top five from
his 11th starting spot. The second caution flag flew when Ryan Garson spun his #14 in turn one.
Bob Broking was quick on the restart and kept the lead with 14 laps remaining. Nelson got a
good start and moved to second as the top five shuffled a bit with Johnny Broking going to third,
Uotinen fourth and Bellefeuille fifth. The top five stayed in that order to the checkered flag.
There was some movement in the next five as Andy Davey finished sixth, Rick Rivord seventh,
Paul Wrazidlo eighth after starting 17th in the 17 car field. Tyler Kintner was ninth and Gehl
recovered from his spin to take 10th.
The Late Models too to the track and former track champion Travis Budiaslovich took his #31
to the lead, but the caution flag appeared when Steve Laursen went around at the bottom of turn
four. With no laps complete, it was a complete restart and this time Don Shaw took his #42s to
the lead, but Budiaslovich would not be denied as he took back the point. Shaw lost second to
visitor Mike Prochnow as Aaron Lillo ran fourth ahead of Dad Terry and Darrell Nelson. The
only change in the top five for the next ten laps was Nelson moving past Terry Lillo to fourth.
With no caution flalgs to slow the action, Budiaslovich and Prochnow began to lap the back of
the field, and in traffic, Prochnow managed the pass for the lead. With five laps remaining it was
a big lead for Prochnow, and, in the closing laps Shaw got by Budiaslovich to second. Aaron
Lillo and Nelson rounded out the top five. It was Prochnoow’s first win at the speedway since the
Northern Nationals in September of 2015.
Justin Madsen swept from the outside of the front row to the lead in the Pure Stock main
event. Chad Nikstad followed through from row two to second along with Chad Carlson from
row three to third. Kyle Copp and James Vendela ran in the top five. Madsen raced off to a
commanding lead while Copp began to work his way forward. By lap five he was third behind
Chad Carlson, and by the half way mark of the 15 lap feature, he was in second but some
distance behind Madsen. Carlson was still third, but Dylan Shelton had moved the #11E from
ninth to fourth.
It appeared that Madsen had the race in the bag by half way, but Copp had other ideas and
began slowly catching Madsen with seven laps to go. The distance between Madsen and Copp
began to diminish noticeably as the laps wound down. With two laps to go Cop was suddenly
within striking distance and, on the white flag lap, was on Madsen’s rear bumper. Madsen looked
as though he would prevail, but Copp got a strong run of corner four and nipped Madsen for the
win by no more than about a foot. It was the sophomore driver’s fifth feature win and second of
the season at the speedway and also his fifth career feature win.
