DOAR TOPS WISSOTA LATE MODEL SPECIAL AT GLS

By Jerry O’Brien
6-28-20 (Superior, WI)

     In a rare Sunday night racing event, the Gondik Law Speedway presented
a $1200 to win WISSOTA Late Model special presented by Jo Jo’s Grab
‘N’Go. With the newly named Halvor Lines Speedway (Proctor MN
Speedway) unable to receive permission to open their gates on the 2020
racing season as of yet, Officials of the Gondik Law Speedway felt that they
could present a special night of racing on Sunday borrowing the HLS early
starting time. Hot laps were set to start at five o’clock and racing would begin
at 5:30.

     On the card was a return visit by the Northern Renegade Non-Winged
Sprints along with the Main Event WISSOTA Late Models. Included on the
program also, were the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, Pure Stocks and
Hornets for a five class program. A total of 84 cars came to compete on a
beautiful Summer night. The early starting time saw the qualifying heats
completed by 6:35 p.m. The first main event rolled onto the track at 6:53 p.m.
     The first feature to hit the track was 20 laps for the WISSOTA Midwest
Modifieds with veteran racer Tony Bahr leading the way. At the green flag
Bahr blasted of into the lead and began to quickly draw away from the battle
for second which included Wyatt Boyum, defending track champ Andrew
Inman, Dylan Miller, Cody Carlson, Ryan Savoy and Jason VandeKamp.
Bahr continued to lead with Boyum second. With seven circuits complete the
caution flag appeared for Jonny Marsh who had collided with the first and
second turn wall. On the restart Bahr retained the lead as Miller vaulted into
second bringing along Carlson to third. Boyum was fourth and Inman was
fifth. Charging through the field was VandeKamp who quickly dusted off
everyone to grab second. With seven laps to go, caution flag number two
flew when Mark Kangas and Jack Rivord tangled in turn four. The restart say
Bahr control the lead with Miller and Carlson a couple car lengths behind.
VandeKamp continued his charge as Miller was second. VandeKamp battled
past Carlson to third but the third caution flag for Kangas slowed it all down
with the restart coming with four laps remaining. Bahr tried his best but
could not hold back VandeKamp who took the lead and went on to take his
second win of the season at GLS. Bahr, Miller, Carlson and McLean
Andrews from 10th to fifth were the top five.
     The Northern Renegade wingless sprints put on a good show, but a wild
tangle on the front stretch eliminated the cars of Brian Trembath, Jori Hughes
and Leah Steahl. None of the involved drivers were injured in the crash and
they all stayed on their wheels. The incident came at the start of the 20 lap
feature leaving nine of the dozen starters to finish the race. The restart say
Ken Hron out in front where he stayed for a number of laps while Caley
Emerson and Lance Solem tried with little success to make inroads into
Hron’s considerable lead. At the half way point Hron led Emerson, Solem,
Rick Niemi, Chris Lewis and Paul Schultz. Not much changed as Hron held
a long gap over Emerson. The second and final caution flag flew for a piece
of debris on the back stretch and the restart came with eight laps to go. The
restart wiped out Hron’s lead amd gave both Emerson and Solem a chance to
steal the victory. By the time the final five laps were reached, Emerson was
right on Hron’s Nerf bar, and with three laps to go, Emerson got by Hron and
went on to take the win. Solem, Schultz and Niemi rounded out the top five.
     The 25 lap WISSOTA Late Models main event featured a great number
top veteran drivers in the division such as Pat Doar, John Kaanta, Derek
Vesel and Rick Hanestad and others with a sprinkling of second generation
drivers including Sam Mars, son of Jimmy Mars and Cole Provinzino son of
Jeff Provinzino.
     Mike Prochnow drew the pole position with Buddy Hanestad to his
outside. At the green Prochnow jumped out ahead of Hanestad, Jr with Vesel
and Kaanta trailing. Prochnow continued to stay out in front but sixth starting
Pat Doar began to work his way through traffic toward the front. The first
caution flag flew when former Modified Ace Kevin Eder racing a Late Model
for the first time here, stalled in turn four with 19 laps to go. Prochnow
retained the lead at the green light but the caution gave Doar a chance to
snare second. The two battled back and forth until Doar tried the top of the
slippery track and was able to cross the line ahead by a half a car length.
Once Doar was able to clear Prochnow he began to pull out to a big lead.
Prochnow was able to fend off the pack to finish second while tenth starting
Travis Budiaslovich moved up to finish third ahead of Kaanta in fourth and
Jeff Massingill in fifth.
     It was Doar’s second feature win of the shortened 2020 season at GLS.
     Former track champion James Vendela tried his best to take the win in the
WISSOTA Pure Stock main event. Two early caution flags, one for McLean
Andrews who stopped with a flat tire. The second was for a spinning Cory
Jorgensen which produced a black flag for Andrews. The restart saw a battle
between Vendela, Jared Akervik, Aaron Bernick and Trevor Treviranus that
saw Akervik edge past Vendela to take his third win of the season.
     In the Hornet main event, DeJay Jarecki outran a determined Hunter
McDougall by a wide margin to win his first ever feature at Gondik Law
Speedway. AJ House led early before Jarecki sailed by into the lead. House
held on for a third place finish while Rick Long, Jr was fourth and the ever-
present Kristi Marken was fifth.