BUDIASLOVICH, NELSON, KACHINSKE AND JARECKI WIN FIRST NIGHT OF FAIR RACES
By Jerry O’Brien
(8-2-22) Superior, WI.
During the Head of the Lakes Fair in Superior, WI, it has been a long standing
tradition that there will be two nights of Stock Car Racing held each year.
Tuesday night August 2nd was the first of those races, the other night of
competition will be on Friday August 5th.
For the first night, competing were the WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds
Pure Stocks and Hornets. A total of 50 cars were in competition.
Tuesday the 2nd is the first of seven days of the Fair and is always termed
“Sneak a Peek” night. There is no admission charge to enter the Fairgrounds but
racing fans must pay their usual rate to enter the race track.
As per usual racing started at 7 O’clock p.m. with qualifying heat races in all
classes. Late Model heats were won by Superior’s Dave Flynn and Menomonie’s
(WI) Mike Prochnow. Modified heats went to Hermantown’s Darrell Nelson and
Brandon Copp, Brule, WI. Dylan Shelton of Wrenchall, MN won the single Pure
Stock heat while DeJay Jarecki, Ashland, WI and AJ House were Hornet heat
winners.
After a brief intermission, it was time for feature racing starting with the
WISSOTA Late Models for 20 laps. Starting from the pole position was Travis
Budiaslovich with Deven VanHous on the outside. At the green Budiaslovich
moved quickly to the lead with VanHouse, Ronnie Malecki, and Robbie Cooper
trailing. Fourth starting Prochnow quickly moved up to second and Darrell Nelson
was on the move from his eighth starting slot. Budiaslovich moved off to a strong
lead as the field began to string out. Budiaslovich’s lead quickly appeared to be
insurmountable as the race progressed. Meanwhile, Nelson had made his way to
fourth followed by Flynn. Nelson got past VanHouse to third and set out to try and
run down Prochnow. It appeared that no one was able to make up significant
ground on the leader without help which came in the form of the first caution flag
for Eric Lillo who was off the bottom of turn four. The caution period served to
close up the field while Lillo’s car was moved. The restart came with five laps
remaining. Budiaslovich got a good start as Nelson got past Prochnow to second.
Budiaslovich now found himself with a tail as Nelson closed up on the leader. The
second caution flag flew when Tim Lillo spun in turn two with only a pair of laps
to go. At the green flag Budiaslovich got another good restart and was able to hold
Nelson off at the checkered flag. Prochnow, VanHouse and Flynn finished in the
top five.
It was Travis Budiaslovich’s second win of the season at Gondik Law
Speedway. He also turned the fastest lap with a time of 16.411 seconds for an
average of 88 MPH.
Next up were the WISSOTA Modifieds led to the green flag by Brandon Copp
and Jody Bellefeuille. The 20 lap event got off to a shaky start as there was a
caution flag on the initial circuit when Todd Gehl stopped on the back stretch.
Officials judged that one lap had been complleted and the cars lined up again.
Bellefeuille grabbed the lead followed by Dan Kingsley, pole sitter Copp, Kelly
Checkalski and Jeffery Lien, Jr. Veterans Al Uotinen and Darrell Nelson lurked
behind the front five. As the event progressed, Nelson made a charge up to fifth
when the second caution flag flew again. The restart came with 18 laps yet to go
and there were some changes as Copp rebounded to second with Kingsley and
Lein getting past Nelson. Bellefeuille raced out to a long lead over Copp as
Kingsley and Nelson put some distance on Lein, Rick Rivord and Checkalski. The
battle for third between Kingsley and Nelson heated up as the third caution period
occurred when the #22c of Copp erupted in a huge cloud or what appeared to be
steam just as he was exiting turn two. The restart came with seven laps to go and
the field closed up tight behind Bellefeuille. Kingsley was second and Nelson was
third when the green appeared. Bellefeuille took the start but Nelson slipped past
Kingsley, pulled up on Bellefeuille and took the lead. He then proceeded to open
up a huge lead and took the win, the first at the speedway for Nelson this season.
Bellefeuille hung onto second ahead of Kingsley, Checkalski, and Al Uotinen in
the top five. Bellefeuille turned the fastest lap early in the event with a lap of
17.373 seconds an average of 83 MPH.
Then it was time for the Pure Stock 12 lap feature led to the green flag by Tyler
Kachinske and point leader Cory Jorgensen. Kachinske staked his claim on the
lead and fought off all challengers for his second feature victory of the season and
first at Gondik Law Speedway. Jorgensen battled with Kachinske the entire 12
laps but could not make the pass. Dylan Shelton, Aaron Bernick (from 6th) and
Nate Rose finished in the top five.
The final event of the evening was a dozen circuits for the Hornets. Former
track champion Tyler Schramm along with 16 year old Carter Matthews led the 11
car field to the green flag. Schramm grabbed the lead as DeJay Jarecki moved
from fourth to second. AJ House was on the move from the fourth row moving
past Matthews followed by Justin Barsness. At the mid point, Jarecki had taken
the lead over Schramm who was soon set back to third when House got past into
second. On the final lap Jarecki was in command as House moved to second and
Barsness to third. Schramm held onto the fourth spot while Josh Kough finished
just ahead of Kristi Marken for fifth.
The race went flag to flag without a caution and was Jarecki’s second win of
the season at the speedway.
Racing resumes at Gondik Law Speedway on Friday August fifth also at the
Head of the Lakes Fair.
