NELSON UOTINEN JOHNSEN ESTEY AND SAVOY

By Jerry O’Brien
7-24-15 Superior, WI

It was Hall of Fame night at AMSOIL Speedway Friday July 24 with five new
members inducted at a dinner prior to the racing action held at the Superior
Curling Club. The new inductees were then given a ride around the track in a pair
of classic convertibles owned by HoF member Jack Hunker during the National
Anthems and introduced to the fans in the Winner’s Circle. Also in attendance
were members of the Northern Vintage Stockcar Racers club to entertain the fans
with some vintage racing.

Qualifying heats were quickly completed in all divisions including the Vintage
racers by 8:34 p.m. and it was time to go feature racing.
First up it was a 15 lap feature for the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds with
David Simpson leading the field to the green flag. Outside pole sitter Skeeter
Estey wasted little time jumping out front with Simpson close behind. Cody
Carlson, Mack Estey and Deven VanHouse were three wide for third with Carlson
crossing the line with the spot by a nose. Carlson, and Mack Estey were joined by
Dan Kingsley in the position battle as Skeeter Estey raced out to a huge lead over
Simpson. The third place battle got even more cluttered as Tyler Kintner joined
the band. With all of the scuffling going on for third Skeeter Estey was able to
increase his lead to a straight away over Simpson who soon found himself
swallowed up as the third place battle developed into one for second. With no
caution flags to interrupt the event Skeeter Estey had an easy time winning his
third feature of the season. Brother Mack won the battle for second ahead of
Kingsley, Kintner and Dave Flynn in the top five. Flynn had another stellar run
starting 15th and cracking the top five at the finish. Skeeter Estey led every lap and
recorded the fastest of the event with an 18.905 second circuit at an average of
71.410 MPH. The 15 lap event took four minutes and 49 seconds to complete.
The challenge now was to see if the WISSOTA Super Stocks could match the
no caution flag race. Jim Campbell jumped from the front row and put the #12
Mopar powered Super Stock out front with Spencer Sorenson, Willie Johnsen,
Dave Flynn and Nick Oreskovich in his tire tracks. Flynn moved past Johnsen to
second ahead of Sorenson while Oreskovich was fending off Shane Kisling, Keith
Kern and Scott Lawrence. Flynn was closing in on Campbell as Oreskovich was
tracking down Johnsen and closed to within three car lengths of the leader.
Kisling, Kern and Lawrence were in a battle for sixth. Flynn got by Campbell for t
he lead with five laps to go and Johnsen began to make a run at Campbell for
second but Campbell spun around in turn four on his own bringing out what would
prove to be the only caution flag of the event. The restart saw Flynn in control
over Johnsen, Kern, Oreskovich, Kisling and Lawrence. Flynn stayed in the low
groove as Johnsen tried the high side and edged ahead by a nose at the line. He
kept the pressure on and managed to clear Flynn on the final lap to take his first
career Super Stock win at the speedway. Flynn, Kern, Kisling and Oreskovich
finished in the top five. With one caution flag the race was completed in eight
minutes and one second. Kern turned the fastest lap with an 18. 952 second lap for
an average of 71.233 MPH.
The WISSOTA Modifieds were scheduled for 20 laps for their main event and
Rick Rivord and Cody Wolkowski battled door to door at the start with Deven
VanHouse close behind. Rivord snagged the lead ahead of Wolkowski, VanHouse,
Kelly Estey, Al Uotinen, Darrell Nelson, Neil Balduc and Jody Bellefeuille.
Wolkowski rebounded to challenge Rivord and the two put on a whale of a battle
with Wolkowski edging out front with a dozen laps remaining. Uotinen found his
way past Rivord to second as Estey and Nelson tussled over forth. By the mid
point Uotinen had burst past Wolkowski into the top spot. Wolkowski, Rivord,
Nelson and Estey were in the top five with Bellefeuille just outside in sixth. The
only caution flag appeared for VanHouse who retired from the event. Uotinen
raced away to a big lead over Wolkowski while Nelson and Rivord squabbled over
third and Estey and Bellefeuille did the same over forth. With four laps remaining
Uotinen had stretched his lead out to a full straight away. Bellefeuille really came
alive in the waning laps and pounced on Wolkowski for the runner up spot. It was
the first feature win at the speedway for Uotinen in more than two years.
Bellefeuille, Wolkowski, Estey and Nelson rounded out the top five. The 20 laps
were completed in seven minutes and 47 seconds with the single yellow flag.
Bellefeuille turned the fastest lap of the event while in pursuit of Uotinen with a
time of 18.254 seconds at an average speed of 73. 956 MPH.
The final WISSOTA division to take to the track was a 25 lap main event for
the Late Models. The class once again had the largest count of the night with 19
cars on hand. Canadian Riley Matthews started form the outside of row one on his
second visit of the season, but he was overwhelmed by Tim McMann, Darrell
Nelson, Aaron Lillo, Pat Doar and Harry Hanson. McMann took the lead, a spot
he has become accustomed to the past couple of weeks with Nelson, Doar, A. Lillo
and Hanson continuing to pull away from Matthews. McMann, Nelson and Doar
continued to run away from A. Lillo while Hanson eased into the top five.
McMann was still in control with ten laps in the books but Nelson slipped by to
the point. The first caution flag appeared when Tim Lillo looped in turns three and
four causing Matthews to slam on his brakes to avoid him. The quick caution flag
gave McMann back the lead on the restart, but it was called back. The restart saw
everyone running nose to tail in the high groove with McMann, Nelson. Doar,
Hanson and Don Shaw in the top five. With nine laps remaining Robbie Cooper
spun in turn three bringing the second caution flag. The caution flag reappeared
almost immediately as Cory Jorgenson went around in turn three also. The restart
saw Nelson finally work his way past McMann to the lead and Doar also got by to
second. Nelson and Doar had control of the race but yet another caution flag, the
fourth of the race set up a two lap sprint to the checkered flag. Nelson held on for
his fourth win at the speedway over Doar while Jeff Massingill moved into third
and Kyle Peterlin and Shaw got by McMann into the top five. Doar turned in the
fastest lap at 17. 265 seconds on lap six for an average of 78. 193 MPH.
Ryan Savoy of Superior won his third Pure Stock feature of the season at the
speedway in a rough and tumble 15 lap feature that saw three caution flags in the
rough part and one red flag when leader Tim Carlson took the tumble in turn four.
Jon Hammitt, newcomer Tyler Carlson, Chad Nikstad and Shaina Rapp finished in
the top five. It was decided by track officials after the event that Lucas Carlson
was to be disqualified for rough driving due to his part in the Tim Carlson roll
over.
Results AMSOIL Speedway 7-24-15
WISSOTA Late Model (19 cars)
Feature (25 laps): Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Pat Doar New Richmond, WI; Jeff
Massingill Keewatin; Kyle Peterlin Hibbing; Don Shaww Ham Lake; Tim
McMann Duluth; Harry Hanson Eveleth; Kevin Carlson Hermantown; Terry Lillo
Duluth; Aaron Lillo Proctor; Dave Esse Cloquet; Gregg Hill Eveleth; cory
Jorgenson Heremantown; Robbie Cooper South Range DNF: Zach Wohlers
Pengilly; Riley Matthews Murillo, Ont; Tim Lillo Superior; Trevor Wildon
Superior DNS: Chuck Metzgar Hayward
Heat 1; McMann; Doar; Hanson; Shaw; Peterlin; Wohlers; T. Lillo; Wilson; Esse;
K. Carlson
Heat 2: Nelson; Massingill; A. Lillo; Matthews; Hi;;,Jorgenson; Cooper; Metzgar;
T. Lillo
WISSOTA Modified (10 cars)
Feature (20 laps): Al Uotinen Superior; Jody Bellefeuille Duluth; Cody
Wolkowski Thunder Bay; Kelly Estey Hibbing; Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Rick
Rivord Superior; Neil Balduc Bessemer DNF: Deven VanHouse Silver Bay;
Bobby Houston Siren DNS: Jeff Broking Grand Rapids
Heat 1: Uotinen; Balduc; VanHouse; Wolkowski DNF: Bellefeuille
Heat 2: Estey; Nelson; Broking; Rivord; Houston
WISSOTA Super Stock (11 cars)
Feature (20 laps): Willie Johnsen, Jr. Superior; Dave Flynn Superior; Keith kern
Superior; Shane Kisling Sarona; Nick Oreskovich Mason; Scott Lawrence
Superior; Donnie Lofdahl Duluth; Spencer Sorenson Duluth; Don Muzzy
Ironwood DNF: Jim Campbell Two Harbors DNS: D. J. Keeler Superior
Heat 1: Kisling; Lawrence; Campbell; Keeler
Heat 2: Oreskovich; Johnsen, Jr.; Lofdahl; Sorenson; Muzzy
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds (16 cars)
Feature (15 laps): Skeeter Estey Kelly Lake; Mack Estey Hibbing; Dan Kingsley
Superior; Tyler Kintner Hibbing; Dave Flynn Superior; David Simpson Thunder
Bay; Cody Carlson Superior; Tyler Luger Iron River; Deven VanHouse Silver
Bay; Jake Gondik Foxboro; Lance Solem Duluth; Scott Herrick Proctor; Cole
Chernosky Thunder Bay; Don Craig Thunder Bay DNF: Andrew Inman
Hermantown DNS: Justin Madsen Foxboro
Heat 1: Luger; Kintner; Carlson; Kingsley; Solem; Herrick; Craig DNF: Madsen
Heat 1: S. Estey; M. Estey; VanHouse; Simpson; Gondik; Inman; Chernosky
DNF: Flynn
Pure Stocks (16 cars)
Feature (15 laps): Ryan Savoy Superior; Jon Hammitt Cloquet; Tyler carlson
Duluth; Chad Nikstad Superior; Shania Rapp Saginaw; Alex Smith Solon Springs
DNF: Andy Poll Two Harbors; Justin Weinberger Park Falls; Tim Carlson
Superior; Annika Hammitt Cloquet; Aaron Olson Kelly Lake; Ryan Madsen
Foxboro; Chad Carlson Superior DQ: Lucas Carlson
Heat 1: T. Carlson; A. Hammitt; Smith; Weinberger; Olson; Rapp DNF: t. carlson
Heat 2: Savoy; L. Carlson; J. Hammitt; Madsen; Nikstad; Poll DNF: C. Carlson
NORTHERN VINTAGE STOCKCAR RACERS
Feature Full Bodied (12 laps): Steve Baker Grantsburg, WI; Tom Godfrey Backus,
MN; Bobby LePage Duluth; Tor Millard Cannon Falls; Paul Dolphy Moundsview;
Mike Kelly Spooner; Mike Hudyma Duluth DNS: Gary Whipple Crosby
Heat: Millard; Godfrey; Baker; Dolphy; Kelly; LePage; Hudyma
Feature Super Modified (12 laps): Dennis Olson Braham; Ken Sabby River Falls;
Kevin Kipsky New Richmond; Mike Bjorkland Sandstone; David Stone Red
Wing; Tom Langlois Duluth DNF: George Shields Cameron
Heat: Bjorkland; Olson; Lipsky; Sabby; Langlois; Shields DNF: Stone