DOAR AND ESTEY WIN SECOND STRAIGHT MAIN EVENTS AT AMSOIL SPEEDWAY
By Jerry O’Brien
6-23-16 Superior, Wis
6-23-16 Superior, Wis
Pat Doar of New Richmond and Kelly Estey, Kelly Lake, Minn won second consecutive main
events Friday June 23rd as they captured Late Model and Modified features. On a warm and clear
summer night a total of 97 cars in the five WISSOTA divisions came to do battle on the four
tenths mile banked clay oval.
It was Meet the Drivers Night and a good crowd of fans brought their children out on the race
track to meet the drivers and reap the benefits of the candy, photos, autographs from the racers
during the popular event.
Due to the event, hot laps were dispensed with and racing began right away with qualifying
heats. Dustin Follett and Mike Blevins captured Pure Stock heats while Kevin Eder and Skeeter
Estey topped the Midwest Modified heats. Willie Johnsen, Jr and Pat Beeksma won Super Stock
heats and Steve Laursen and Pat Doar won the Late Model heats. The three heats for the
Modifieds went to Darrell Nelson, Jody Bellefeuille and Rick Niemi.
With qualifying finished, feature action began with the Pure Stocks taking to the track for
their 15 lap main event. The race started badly as Dustin Follett was spun in the middle of the
pack by Annika Hammitt in the fourth turn. The second try at a start went better and Justin
Madsen raced up from row three to the lead as it was three wide for second between Justin
Weinberger, Mike Blevins and defending track champ Ryan Savoy. Madsen held fast to the lead
and was able to pull away for a time but the second through fourth place cars spent much of the
first third of the race in a battle for second. In the middle part of the race Madsen had Blevins and
Weinberger snapping at hs heels as the three pulled away from Savoy in fourth who held a
similar bulge over Alex Smith in fifth. Prior to half way Blevens and Weinberger battled for
second with Weinberger holding a slight edge until Blevins was able to slip into second, a
position he held until Weinberger was able to regain the number two spot. Madsen took the win
over Blevins who edged Weinberger. Savoy and Smith rounded out the top five.
Next up was a twenty laps for the Midwest Modifieds which also got off to a difficult start as
Mike Jacques stalled on the front Stretch. The next time was no better as this time two cars cars
clashed at the bottom of turn four while Shawn Rivord’s car sent up a shower of sparks as he
scraped the front stretch wall. It’s been said the third time is the charm and so it proved to be as
the field got a clean start with Dave Flynn vaulting to the point with Skeeter Estey, Kevin Eder,
Donnie Lofdahl and Deven VanHouse followed. With one lap complete, the caution flag again
appeared for a multi car crash in turn four involving Dan Kingsley, Donnie Lofdahl, Jamie smart
and Jacques. On the restart Estey managed to take the lead away from Flynn but disaster struck
once again when Lofdahl and Dale Suomala tangled wheels sending Lofdahl’s car violently
dancing end over end from the third turn to near the fourth turn wall before landing on it’s roof.
After a few tense moments it was announced that the driver was okay. The incident brought out
the red flag with 18 of the 20 laps still remaining. Estey was still in the lead over Flynn, Eder,
VanHouse and David Simpson as racing resumed. Estey remained in control for the next few
circuits until what would prove to be the final caution flag flew when Shane Howell was spun in
turn two with 14 laps to go. Estey continued to control the event and raced out to a huge lead
while the top five order changed very little to the checkered flag. Nick Daronco gained a top five
spot on the final restart after Howell’s spin slipping past Simpson at the green. Estey captured an
easy win over Flynn, VanHouse, Daronco and Eder.
The Super Stock field was smaller than usual with only 13 cars in competition. Willie
Johnsen, Jr took the lead from the pole over Nick Oreskovich, Scott Lawrence, Kevin Burdick
and Keith Kern. The caution flag soon appeared when Super Stock rookie Matt Hammitt stopped
in turn three. With one lap complete the race continued but the #12k of D. J. Keeler suddenly
dumped fluids down the front stretch causing Jim Campbell and Hammitt to spin. Both cars
sustained minor damage and were able to continue. Lawrence got a good restart and took the lead
but Oreskovich went neck and neck with him for the lead. Oreskovich took the lead when
Johnsen, Jr appeared to ride Lawrence up the hill in the fourth turn giving Oreskovich the
advantage. From there Oreskovich raced out to a big lead as Lawrence began to lose ground.
Kevin Burdick made his presence felt as he and Johnsen Battled for second. Shane Kisling made
his way from the last row to the top five and Dave Flynn also made it into the top five. By the
half way mark the top five had solidified but the caution flag again flew when Hammitt spun
again. The two spins brought a disqualification for the event for Hammitt. The restart came with
nine laps remaining and went the distance with no further caution periods. The non stopped
action gave Burdick a chance to track down Oreskovich and take several shots at him for the win
but Oreskovich was equal to the task and took the win over Burdick. Flynn, Johnsen and
Lawrence finished in the top five in that order.
The Late Models were next up for their feature with 25 laps as the distance. Jeff Massingill
led the pack of 20 cars to the green and jumped to the lead which he held for the first five laps
before Pat Doar made the pass for the lead a spot he would keep to the checkered flag. Massingill
held onto second for a few laps before Darrell Nelson was able to take over the spot. Travis
Budiaslovich was on the move and got to third and Aaron Lillo also advanced from the 11th
starting slot into the top five. By the half way point it was Doar, Nelson, Massingill,
Budiaslovich and A. Lillo in the top five. The first caution flag came with 15 laps complete as
John Toppozini spun at the bottom of turn two. After on lap was completed on the restart,
another red flag situation occurred when there was an eight car pileup in turn one. Jay Kintner,
Harry Hanson, Tim Lillo, Tim McMann and John Meeds were amongst those involved. All but
Hanson were able to continue. Doar clung to the lead over Budiaslovich, Nelson, A. Lillo and
Massingill. Doar remained in control the rest of the way and there was no change in the top five.
The final feature on the evening was for the Modifieds and Kelly Estey drew the pole next to
Rick Niemi. Estey went for the lead at the green and Destin Lorimor took the #90 through behind
him from the second row to secure second place where he stayed for the first six laps when the
first caution flag flew. Niemi, Paul Wrazidlo and Johnny Broking trailed in the top five. Bob
Broking and Kevin Eder clashed and Eder was tagged and sent to the rear. The restart saw the
caution flag out again as Niemi and others tangled in turn one. Johnny Broking briefly edged
ahead of Estey for a lap or two but the third caution flag quickly appeared after two completed
laps when Chet Atkinson faltered on the front stretch. With a dozen remaining, Estey got the
point back with a good restart and led the rest of the way to take his second feature at the
speedway in two weeks. Johnny Broking was second, Darrell Nelson third, Jody Bellefeuille
fourth and Wrazidlo fifth. Lorimor, Al Uotinen, Neil Balduc, Bob Broking and Kevin Adams
finished in the top ten.
Results AMSOIL Speedway Friday July 23
WISSOTA late Model (20 cars)
Feature (25 laps)
Pat Doar New Richmond, Wis; Darrell Nelson hermantown; Travis Budisalovich Minneapolis;
Aaron Lillo Proctor; Jeff Massingill Keewatin; Tim McMann Duluth; Steve laursen Cumberland,
Wis; Terry Lillo Duluth; Dave Esse Cloquet; Todd Gehl Solon Springs; John Toppozini Thunder
Bay; Pete Wohlers Kelly Lake; Trevor Wilson Superior; John Meeds Spooner Wis; Terry Lillo
Superior DNF: Jay Kintner Hibbing; Harry Hanson Eveleth; T. J. Adams Hayward; Chris Olson
Hibbing DNS: Robie Cooper South Range
Heat 1; laursen; Nelson; Kintner; Olson; A. Lillo; Gehl; Meeds; Wilson; T. Lillo
Heat 2: Doar; Budiaslovich; Massingill; Terry Lillo; Adams; Hanson; Esse DNF: Wohlers;
Cooper
WISSOTA Modifieds (25 cars)
Feature (20 laps)
Kelly Estey Kelly Lake; Johnny Broking Grand Rapids; Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Jody
Bellefeuille Duluth; Paul Wrazidlo Duluth; Destin Lorimor Superior; Al Uotinen Superior; Bob
Brokings Grand Rapids; Kevin Adams Cameron; Rick Rivord Superior; Brian Mikkonen Iron
River; Jeffery Lien, Jr; Mora, Minn; Pat Cook Washburn; Chet Atkinson Hugo, Minn; Rick
Niemi Eveleth; Deven VanHouse Silver Bay; Jeff Broking Grand Rapids; Cody Wolkowski
Thunder Bay; Rick Cannata Hibbing; Pete Loeken Paynesville, Minn DNF: Kevin Eder Ashland;
Jeff Tardy Hibbing DNS: Justin Johnston Duluth; Tyler Kintner Hibbing
Heat 1: Nelson; Wrazidlo; Eder; Balduc; Adams; Tardy; Cook; J. Broking DNF: Kintner
Heat 2: Bellefeuille; Johnny Broking; Estey; Uotinen; Mikkonen; Atkinson; Wolkowski; Cannata
Heat 3: Niemi; B. Broking; Lorimor; VanHouse; Rivord; Lien, Jr; Loeken; J. Johnston
WISSOTA Super Stock (13cars)
Feature (20 laps)
Nick Oreskovich Mason; Kevin Burdick Proctor; Dave Flynn Superior; Willie Johnsen, Jr.
Superior; Scott Lawrence Superior; Shane Kisling Park Falls, Wis; Keith Kern Superior; Pat
Beeksma Ironwood Mich.; Andy Grymala Superior; Don Muzzy Ironwood; Jim Campbell Two
Harbors DNF: Matt Hammitt Cloquet; D. J. Keeler Superior
Heat 1: Johnsen, jr; Burdick; Kern DNF: Hammitt; Campbell; Kisling; Flynn
Heat 2: Beeksma; Keeler; Lawrence; Oreskovich; Grymala; Muzzy
WISSOTA Midwest Modified (20 cars)
Feature (20 laps)
Skeeter Estey Kelly Lake; Dave Flynn Superior; Deven VanHouse Silver bay; Nick Daronco Mt.
Iron; Kevin Eder Ashland; Shane Howell Buffalo, Minn; David Simpson Thunder Bay; Dan
Kingsley Superior; Kevin Montieth Thunder Bay; Don Craig Thunder Bay; Craig Lofdahl; Cole
Chernosky Thunder Bay; Dale Suomala, Jr. Hermantown; Jamie Smart Kakabaka Falls Ont.;
Mike Jacques Thunder Bay DNF: Mt. Iron; Wyatt Boyum International Falls; Donnie Lofdahl
Duluthj; James Kassengiesser Hayward; Shawn Rivord Superior
Heat 1: Eder; Lofdahl; Simpson; VanHouse; Smart; Boyum; Chernosky DNF: Rivord; Howell
DQ: Kingsley
Heat 2: Estey; Flynn; Suomala, Jr. Daronco; Craig; Montieth; Forseen; Kannegiesser; C. Lofdahl;
Jacques
Pure Stocks (19 cars)
Justin Madsen Foxboro; Mike Blevins Hibbing; Justin Weinberger Park Falls; ryan Savoy
Superior; Alex Smith Solon Springs; Ryan Madsen Foxboro; Dylan Shelton Wrenshall; Travis
Zembo Shaina Rapp Saginaw; Annika Hammitt Cloquet; Andy Poll Two Harbors; Carter Nelson
Hermantown; Kyle Copp Brule DNF: Chad Carlson Superior; Dustin Follett Cloquet; Jason
Siminson Superior DNS: Tim Carlson Superior; Jared Akervik Superior
Heat 1: Follett; J. Madsen; Savoy; R. Madsen; Poll; Copp; Nelson DNF: T. Carlson; Akervik
Heat 2: Blevins; Weinberger; C. Carlson; A. Hammitt; Smith; Rapp; Simonson; Shelton; Zembo
