ESTEY BURDICK AND BLEVINS TOP DAY TWO FAIR RACES
By Jerry O’Brien
7-14-17 Superior, WI
The second night of racing at AMSOIL Speedway during the annual Head of the Lakes Fair
drew a larger number of race cars in the three divisions presented as well as a much larger
number of people. The racing admission was free to all Fair goers and represented a $6 savings to
adult race fans who only had to pay for admission to the grounds may have had something to do
with the turnout.
On tap for the evening’s competition were Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds and Pure Stocks
all under the sanction of the WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Series. A nice total of 67 cars in
the three divisions provided a pair of heats and a feature in each class.
Qualifying heat races were run in all divisions to set the lineups for the main events via a
point average system. First to take to the track was a 15 lap feature for the WISSOTA Pure
Stocks with Mike Blevins leading off from the pole position. Blevins bolted to the lead followed
by Ryan Savoy. The race quickly became a two car affair as Blevins and Savoy moved away
from the pack led by Al Rapp. Chad Carlson, Kyle Copp and Cory Jorgenson were not far
behind. Blevins ran away from Savoy in the early going while Savoy, in turn, widened the gap
back to Rapp and company. The top three of Blevins, Savoy and Rapp maintained their positions,
but there was some shuffling in the pack behind. About six laps in, blevins had widened his lead
considerably, and further back Copp got by Carlson to fourth and Dylan Shelton, Andrew
Hanson and Justin Madsen caught up with the pack. Blevins cruised to an easy win over Savoy
and Rapp. Copp was fourth, Carlson fifth, Shelton sixth. Madsen got by Hanson for seventh and
James Vendela and Chad Nikstad finished a distant ninth and tenth. It was Blevins’ fifth feature
win of the season at the speedway. The event rwn flag to flag without a caution period.
Nex up was the 20 lap main event for the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds starting the full
compliment of 26 cars in attendance. Skeeter Estey wasted little time taking advantage of his
pole position jumping tot he lead with Dave Flynn hot on his heels. Things started to go bad
quickly as the first of many caution flags flew when Tanner Williamson spun in turn two. The
restart saw Estey stay in front tracked by Flynn, Alex Smith, Craig Lofdahl, Deven VanHouse
and Nick Daronco. Nothing changed up front for another few laps until Cole Chernoski was
forced into the first turn wall bringing proceedings to a halt. The restart came with five laps in
and racing began in earnest with Estey and Flynn holding down the top two spots. Lofdahl
moved to third, Daronco to fourth and VanHouse to fifth. Further back dan Kingsley was rapidly
gaining ground from this 12th starting spot and was up battling with Jamie Davis and George
Dalbeck. Meanwhile Estey had opened up a wide lead over Flynn which disappeared when
Williamson spun again, this time on the other end of the track. The restart came with a dozen
circuits yet to contest and Davis into second. With one more lap scored as complete, a tangle in
turn two brought out the caution flag. With eleven laps to go racing got under way again, but
Tom Smart spun in turn two, another yellow flag. It took three more times to get off that eleven
to go spot, but finally Estey led the pack into ten to go. From there on things went fairly smoothly
and Estey again raced away from Davis who had staked his claim on second. With uninterrupted
racing going on, ther was some shifting of positions in the pack. Flynn and Daronco held onto
third and fourth while Kingsley moved into the top five. Kingsley made a concerted effort and
got past Flynn and Daronco to finish third. Almost unnoticed, Carlson continued his strong run
from 17th and finished sixth.
It was the fourth feature win of the season at the speedway and Skeeter Estey’s 30th career win
at the speedway. Nick Daronco was recognized for breaking Scott Herrick’s record of 348
consecutive feature laps completed, resetting the record at 350 laps.
The finale of the evening was the 20 lap feature for the WISSOTA Super Stocks. Kevin
Burdick jumped from the pole to the lead with Dave Flynn who was doing double duty, in
second. Nick Oreskovich, Scott Lawrence and DJ Keeler fell in behind. Matt Hammitt brought
out the caution flag with a spin in turn one. The restart came with one counted and promptly fell
into another caution as Jim Campbell and a host of others formed a wrecktangle in the first turn.
Once again the field formed up for the restart and once again the yellow lights blinked on as
Burdick and Flynn tangled and collected David Simpson who was also doing double duty.
Burdick’s mount suffered a flat tire, he went to the work area, and some quick work by his crew
got him back in action but this time at the back of the field. At the green Flynn inherited the lead
and was soon passed by Scott Lawrence. While Lawrence was heading the field, Burdick was on
a mission as, just a few laps later, he had moved all the way up to fourth. Adam Shinn brought
out the next yellow flag with a spin at the top of turn four. The restart came with 15 to go and
Burdick wasted no time flinging the #30 past Oreskovich and Lawrence to reclaim the lead.
Burdick proceeded to lead all the rest of the laps with seeming ease until Hammitt spun on the
white flag lap bringing out the caution flag and setting up a gfeen/white/checkered finish.
Burdick was equal to the task and captured the win over Oreskovich, Lawrence and a fast
moving Matt Deragon. DJ Keeler rounded out the top five. The results were unofficial for some
time after the event, but a check of Burdick’s engine proved it was correct and the win stood.
Next Friday’s race day will a busy one as it will have a full five class program plus a visit
from the Northern Vintage Stockcar Racers club. It is also the first race in the Northern Super
Stock Challenge with a large field of Super Stocks expected. The Challenge moves to the ABC
Raceway in Ashland for round two and finishes Sunday at the Proctor Speedway.
