MIDWEST MODIFIED SUMMER NATIONALS OPENER TO SKEETER ESTEY
By Jerry O’Brien
Superior, WI 8-14-15
Friday night August 14th was the first night of the three day four track Midwest
Summer Nationals and Kelly Lake’s Skeeter Estey bested a huge field to take the
$2000 first place check and the early point lead. Forty-nine cars were in
attendance hoping to make the 25 lap main event and a chance for a big payday
that seldom comes along for the division.
The passing point system was used in the six heat races to determine the first
16 starting spots in the feature and the rest of the competitors would have to battle
for the remaining spots in three B Features. Three would advance from each of
them to fill out the 25 car field.
The six heats were won by Ryan Adamzak Ashland; Kevin Eder Ashland;
Tyler Luger Iron River; Michael Truscott Chippewa Falls; Nick Koehler Bloomer;
and Skeeter Estey Kelly Lake. Dave Flynn Superior; Grant Southworth Bloomer
and George Dalbeck Ironwood topped the B Features.
Passing points put Jake Smith from Eau Claire on the pole with Skeeter Estey
lined up next to him. Smith jumped to the lead with Estey, Michael Truscott, Tyler
Kintner and Nick Koehler in hot pursuit. Truscott and Kintner battled with Estey
and Koehler as Smith opened up a nice lead. Truscott won the skirmish for second,
closed up on Smith and showed him the side of his car but Smith was in the
momentum groove and the attempt to pass failed. As the pair dueled for the lead
Kintner, Kevin Eder and Estey began to close up. The caution flag appeared when
Tyler Vernon spun in turn three with 16 laps remaining. At the green flag Estey
made a determined charge and took over at the front with Smith falling to second
ahead of Kintner, Truscott and Eder. Once out in front Estey quickly put fifteen
car lengths on Smith while Truscott and Kintner were contesting second. Andy
Jones, Eder and Don Scholler were in the mix with five laps to go when a caution
flag flew for debris on the track. Estey was able to maintain his lead while Smith
had a stranglehold on the runner up spot. Kintner was third but, almost unnoticed
15th starting Andy Jones slipped into fourth past Truscott only to be disqualified
when it was discovered he was missing a muffler. This put Truscott fourth with
Eder fifth. It was the fourth feature win for Estey this season at the Speedway.
The Midwest Modified Summer Nationals’ next moved on to Saturday August
15th. Drivers then had a choice, they could race either at Hibbing Raceway or ABC
Raceway in Ashland for identical purses and points. The Summer Nationals then
culminated at Proctor Speedway on Sunday August 16th with an unprecedented
$5000 to the feature winner.
In other action at AMSOIL Speedway Friday night, Modifieds, Super Stocks
and Pure Stocks were on the card along with the fogged out Super Stock feature
from August 7th.
The feature for the WISSOTA Modifieds was scheduled for 20 laps and all 20
cars in attendance answered the call. Bob Broking and Kevin Eder paced the field
to the green flag and it was Eder who took the lead with Broking and Kevin
Adams in his tire tracks. Rick Rivord was in contention as was Matt Leer. Tim
Johnson was fending off Al Uotinen and Darrell Nelson as the trio began to catch
the battle at the front. Johnny Broking stopped at the top of turn four bringing out
the first caution flag with five circuits in the books. The restart saw Eder retain the
lead but Leer went to second ahead of Adams with Broking fourth ahead of a
battle between Nelson and Johnson for fifth but the caution flag flew again before
a lap was complete. The green flag flew again with a dozen laps to go with Eder
still in control. The order was the same behind him as he began to drive away from
the field. Leer continued in second but was unable to track down the leader as the
race continued with no further stoppages. Eder won his first main event at the
speedway this season he was followed across the line by Leer, Adams, Johnson
and Nelson. Eleventh starting Jody Bellefeuille clawed his way to sixth while
Kelly Estey worked his way from 17th tp seventh.
Shane Kisling has been on a roll lately and the Sarona, WI driver blistered the
15 car Super Stock field for the sweep. He won two features in the same night as
he also captured the fogged out make up feature from August seventh.
Dave Flynn was the early leader in the 20 lap event as he and Scott Lawrence
battled at the front of the pack. Joe Oliver, Kisling and Tim Johnson trailed as
Flynn put three car lengths on Lawrence as Oliver closed in. Kisling had started
third, slipped back, then began working his way forward. Flynn held onto the lead
but the first caution flag for a tangle between Keith Kern and Nick Oreskovich
turn two slowed the action. At this point Lawrence stopped to have an official take
a look and discovered an apparent oil leak that sidelined the point leader. The
caution came just before half way and, on the restart, Kisling went to the outside
of Flynn, then inside and took the lead in turn three. Johnson was third, Oliver
fourth and Donnie Lofdahl fifth. The last caution flag flew when Derek Vesel spun
in turn three after contact with Mike Bellefeuille driving Brian Carl’s car. With
four laps to go Kisling now had the always dangerous Johnson to contend with but
was able to do so to take the win. Flynn, Lofdahl and Oliver rounded out the top
five.
Ryan Madsen led much of the 15 lap Pure Stock main event but could not hold
off Chad Carlson and rookie driver Justin Weinberger for the win. Alex Smith
finished fourth behind Madsen after being sent to the rear after causing a caution
flag. Ryan Savoy rounded out the top five.
Results Night One WISSOTA AMSOIL Midwest Modified Summer Nationals.
WISSOTA Midwest Modified (49 cars)
Feature (25 laps) $2000 to win
Skeeter Estey Kelly Lake; Jake Smith Eau Claire, WI; Tyler Kintner Hibbing;
Michael Truscott Chippewa Falls; Kevin Eder Ashland; Don Scholler
International Falls, MN; Grant Southworth Bloomer, WI; Nick Koehler Bloomer;
Steve Stuart Ashland; Rick Jacobson Wilton, MN; Ryan Adamzak Ashland; Brad
hanson Mt. Iron, MN; Zach Dockter Minot, ND; Keith Niemi Forest Lake, MN;
Nick Daronco Mt. Iron; George Dalbeck Ironwood, MI; Mickey Nosser Phillips,
WI; Dan Kingsley Superior; Dan Wilson Hibbing; Tyler Luger Iron River; Tyler
Vernon Ashland; Jeremy Linndquist Ashland DNF: Dave Flynn Superior; Jeffery
Lien, Jr Mora DQ: Andy Jones Princeton, MN (no muffler)
Heat 1; Adamzak; Lien, Jr; Jake Gondik Foxboro; Vernon; Stuart; Jacobson; Scott
Herrick Proctor; Ross Fuhrman Ashland DNF: Eric gadash Deer park, WI
Heat 2; Eder; Scholler; Daronco; Flynn; Dalbeck; Deven VanHouse Silver Bay;
Lance Solem Duluth; Nosser
Heat 3: Luger; Smith; Dockter; Hanson; Wayne Stricker Highbridge, WI; Cody
Carlson Superior DNF: Andrew Inman Hermantown; Mack Estey Kelly Lake
Heat 4: Truscott; Niemi; Dale Soumala, Jr Hermantown; Kingsley; Lindquist; Josh
Heavirland Cloquet; Carey LePage Culver; Mike Jacques Thunder Bay, Ont
Heat 5: Koehler; Jones; Dan Wheeler Savage, MN; Tad Bretting Ashland; Wilson;
Paul Niznik Medford, WI DNF: Justin Madsen Foxboro; Les Schoon Watetown,
SD
Heat 6: Estey; Kintner; Southworth; Jason VandeKamp Scandia, MN; Mark
Kangas Eveleth; Tanner Hicks Ashland; Chad VanDuker Meadowlands, MN; Don
Craig Thunder Bay
B Feature #1: Flynn; Lindquist; Nosser; Kangas; Wheeler; Herrick; Heavirland;
Stricker DNF: Gondik; Madsen; Schoon
B Feature #2: Southworth; Daronco; Wilson; VanHouse; Bretting; VandeKamp;
Hicks; Inman; Craig DNF: VanDuker
B Feature #3; Dalbeck; Stuart; Jacobson; Solem; Niznik; Carlson; LePage;
Fuhrman; Suomala, Jr; jacques DNF: Gadach
WISSOTA Modifieds (20 cars)
Feature (20 laps): Kevin Eder Ashland; Matt Leer Bruce; Kevin Adams cameron;
Tim Johnson Brainerd; Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Jody Bellefeuille Duluth;
Kelly Estey Kelly Lake; Al Uotinen Superior; Bob Broking Grand Rapids; Rick
Rivord Superior; Destin Lorimor Superior; Greg Chesley Duluth; Deven
VanHouse Silver Bay; Neil Balduc Bessemer; Cody Wolkowski Thunder Bay;
Nikki Wrazidlo Duluth; Pat Cook Washburn DNF: Paul Niznik Medford; Jeffery
Lien, Jr Mora; Johnny Broking Grand Rapids
heat 1: Rivord; Adams; Eder; Balduc; Wolkowski; Lorimor; vanHouse
Heat 2: Johnson; Leer; Uotinen; Bellefeuille; Niznik; Estey; Cook;
Heat 3: Lien, Jr; Nelson; B. Broking; J. Broking; Cjesley; Wrazidlo
WISSOTA Super Stock (15 cars)
Feature (20 laps) Shane Kisling Sarona; Tim Johnson Brainerd; Dave Flynn
Superior; Donnie Lofdahl Duluth; Joe Oliver Superior; Keith Kern Superior; Nick
Oreskovich Mason; Derek Vesel Hibbing; D. J. Keeler Superior; Mike Bellefeuille
Duluth; Don Muzzy Ironwood; Spencer Ssorenson Duluth DNF: Scott Lawrence
Superior; Willie Johnsen, Jr Superior DNS: Andy Davey Hibbing
Heat 1: Kisling; Flynn; Keeler; Lofdahl; Kern; Sorenson; Bellefeuille DNS: Davey
Heat 2: Johnson; Lawrence; Oreskovich; Oliver; Vesel; Muzzy DNF: Johnsen,Jr
Make up feature from 8-7-15
Kisling; Flynn; Kern; Johnsen, Jr; Lawrence; Keeler; Oreskovich; Sorenson; Brian
carl Duluth; Lofdahl DNF: Davey DNS: Mark Smith Solon Springs; Jeff Lindsey
Thunder Bay; Pat Beeksma Ironwood; Jim Campbell Two Harbors; Curt Myers
Cameron
Pure Stocks (16 cars)
Feature (15 laps) Chad Carlson Superior; Justin Weinberger Park Falls; Ryan
Madsen Foxboro; Alex Smith Solon Springs; Ryan Savoy Superior; Tim Carlson
Superior; Travis Zembo Superior; Chris Johnson Superior; Shaina Rapp Saginaw;
John Smith Foxboro; Andy Poll Two harbors; Jason Simonson Superior DNF:
Devin Reynolds Cloquet; Jon Hammitt Cloquet; Lucas carlson Cloquet; Annika
Hammitt Cloquet
Heat 1; C. Carlaon; Madsen; T. Carlson; Savoy; Weinberger; A. Hammitt; Poll;
Simonson
Heat 2: Smith; J. Hammitt; johnson; Zembo; Rapp; Reynolds DNF: L Carlson; J.
Smith
