NELSON, UOTINEN WIN DIVISION TITLES AT AMSOIL SPEEDWAY

By Jerry O’Brien

Superior Wis
8-25-15

Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, Minn broke open an extremely tight WISSOTA
Late Model points race at AMSOIL Speedway Tuesday night. A tight race with
three drivers separated by only two points and a fourth only ten points back came
down to a 25 lap feature, winner take all situation. Aaron Lillo was the point
leader going into the race with veterans Tim McMann and Darrell Nelson tied for
second and Harry Hanson in fourth.

The start of the event saw Travis Budiaslovich jump into the lead on a very fast
and racy track followed by Zach Wohlers, Terry Lillo, Kyle Peterlin and Aaron
Lillo. Budiaslovich held onto the point as Terry Lillo and Peterlin raced past
Wohlers and Aaron Lillo while Nelson and McMann ran in sixth and seventh.
Charging forward was Jeff Provinzino racing into fourth place until the #28 began
to show a trail of light smoke that soon became heavy. Provinzino fell off the pace
and pulled into the infield off the front stretch. The caution flag appeared as the
car stoped in a dangerous place. The restart came with 21 laps left and
Budiaslovich still lead hounded by Peterlin and Aaron Lillo while Terry Lillo,
Wohlers and McMann were joined by Jeff Massingill. Budiaslovich, Peterlin and
Aaron Lillo quickly pulled away from the pack and budiaslovich was able to hang
onto the lead by a slim margin. The second caution flag flew ffor a tangle
involving Dave Esse, Tim Lillo and Trevor Wilson midway through turns three
and four with 16 laps yet to run. The restart was the chance Nelson had been
waiting for and he blew by everyone arriving in second and, with 13 laps
remaining, disposed of Budiaslovich. Peterlin also slipped by to second with
Budiaslovich dropping to third. Wohlers, Aaron Lillo, McMann and Massingill
followed. With clear track ahead, nelson raced away to a long lead but that soon
disappeared when another caution flag flew when Gregg Hill and Esse got
together in turn four. The green flag came with nine laps remaining and Nelson
soon proved he was in control as pulled away form Peterlin who was fending off
Aaron Lillo, Wohlers, McMann, Terry Lillo and a surging Kevin Carlson. Nelson
took the checkered flag and the 2015 Late Model AMSOIL Speedway title. Aaron
Lillo did all he could passing Peterlin for second but fell one point short. Nelson’s
total with the win was 511 points to Lillo’s 510. McMann was third with 505
points. The win was Nelson’s fifth feature win of the season at the speedway.
Budiaslovich turned the fastest lap of the event with a 16.613 second circuit for an
average speed of 81.3 mph.
The WISSOTA Modified main event did not have the same drama as far as the
championship as the Late Models did. Veteran racer Al Uotinen had a 27 point
lead over Kelly Estey going into the 20 lap feature. While not insurmountable, the
lead would be difficult to overcome.
Outside pole starter Cody Wolkowski jumped into the lead at the green flag
ahead of pole sitter Jeffery Lien. Jr, Neil Balduc, Rick Rivord and Uotinen. The
next time by Darrell Nelson had intruded into the top five and Matt Leer was
hovering behind Uotinen in seventh. The first caution flag flew when Destin
Lorimor and Paul Niznik tangled in turn two. Both drivers were reported okay but
Lorimor’s car went off on the hook. The restart with three laps complete, saw
Balduc take the lead with Rivord second, Wolkowski third, Nelson fourth and
Leer fifth. Balduc raced away to a huge lead as Nelson quickly moved into second
and set off after Balduc. Behind Nelson Rivord was holding off Leer and Uotinen
who had been joined by Jody Bellefeuille. There was a long gap between the front
six and a pack led by Greg Chesley in seventh. Balduc’s lead increased to a
straight away as the laps clicked off with no caution flags. Balduc was in cruise
control out in front, but, with five laps to go, Nelson began to gain ground and
closed to within five car lengths. Balduc was equal to the task and stayed out front
to the checkered flag. Nelson finished second ahead of Leer and Bellefeuille.
Uotinen’s fifth place finish insured the track championship and with Estey’s DNF
the margin was 545 points to 505 for Estey. Nelson was a distant third with 483
points. It was Balduc’s first win at the speedway. Nelson turned a lap of 17.597
seconds in pursuit of Balduc for an average speed of 76.7mph.
Though the Pure Stocks had one more race coming up on the second Fair race
day, their championship was apparently already wrapped up as Superior’s Ryan
Savoy could not be caught with a 63 point lead going into the 15 lap feature.
Attrition played a big part in the event with just six of 16 starters taking the
checkered flag. It started out badly with a caution flag on the first lap. Tim Carlson
grabbed the lead at the green over Jon Hammitt, Justin Madsen, Chad Carlson and
last week’s winner Alex Smith. Madsen moved up to challenge Tim Carlson and
took over the top spot. Madsen pulled away by three car lengths over Tim Carlson,
Chad Carlson, Smith and Hammitt and extended it to about eight lengths until
Chris Johnson stopped at the exit of turn four bringing out the caution flag. As the
field was lining up to take the green flag, Chad Carlson suddenly bolted to the pits
and did not return. Madsen held the lead but Smith caught up and dived to the
inside going into turn three. Smith hit the marker tires and became stuck. Madsen
was charged with the incident and sent to the rear and Smith inherited the lead
only to drop into the pits as the third caution flag appeared for debris on the track.
The restart came with four laps remaining with Tim Carlson the recipient of the
lead, but that lasted two laps before Carlson’s car slowed and rolled to a stop
under the flag stand. With two laps to go Hammitt became the third driver to
inherit the lead and was able to finish the event with his first career feature win.
Erik Peterson, Shaina Rapp, Carter Nelson and Andy Poll along with Ryan Savoy
were the only cars still running.
Results Championship Night Night one.
Head of the Lakes Fair
WISSOTA Late Model (21 cars)
Feature (25 laps) Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Aaron Lillo Proctor; Kyle Peterlin
Hibbing; Zach Wohlers Kelly Lake; Terry Lillo Duluth; Tim McMann Duluth;
Kevin Carlson Hermantown; Don Shaw ham Lake; Harry Hanson Eveleth; Dave
Esse Cloquet; Gregg Hill Eveleth; Travis Budiaslovich Minneapolis; T. J. Adams
Hayward; Robbie Cooper South Range; Todd Gehl Solon Springs; Trevor Wilson
Superior; Tim Lillo Superior DNF: Jeff Massingill Keewatin; Jeff Provinzino
Hibbing; Mike Prochnow Menomonie; Kelly Estey Kelly Lake
Heat 1; Prochnow; Wohlers; T. Lillo; McMann; Adams; Carlson; Cooper
Heat 2: Massingill; Provinzino; Budiaslovich; Gehl; Hasnson; Esse; Hill
Heat 3: A. Lillo; Nelson; Peterlin; Estey; Shaw; Tim Lillo DNF: Wilson
Darrell Nelson 2015 WISSOTA Late Model track Champion
WISSOTA Modified (16 cars)
Feature (20 laps) Neil Balduc Bessemer; Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Matt Leer
Bruce; Al Uotinen Superior; Rick Rivord Superior; Greg Chesley Duluth; Brian
Mikkonen Iron River; Deven VanHouse Silver Bay; Cody Wolkowski Thunder
Bay; Paul Wrazidlo Duluth; Jeffery Lien, Jr. Mora; Paul Niznik Medford; Pat
Cook Washburn DNF: Kelly Estey Kelly Lake; Destin Lorimor Superior
Heat 1: Rivord; Uotinen; Wolkowski; Balduc; Bellefeuille; Chesley; Cook DNF:
Lorimor
Heat 2: Nelson; Leer; Wrazidlo; Lien, Jr.; VanHouse; Niznik DNF: Estey;
Mikkonen
Al Uotinen 2015 WISSOTA Modified Track Champion
Pure Stock (16 cars)
Feature (15 laps) Jon Hammitt Cloquet (1st career feature win); Erik Pederson
Saginaw; Shaina Rapp Saginaw; Carter Nelson Hermantown; Andy Poll Two
Harbors DNF: Tim Carlson Superior; Jeff Provinzino Hibbing (driving for Josh
Clark); Chad Nikstad Superior; Cole Provinzino Hibbing; Nick Ziegler Cloquet;
Alex Smith Solon Springs; Jason Simonson Superior; Justin Madsen Foxboro;
Chad Carlson Superior; Chris Johnson Superior
Heat 1: Madsen; C. Carlson; Johnson; Pederson; Nikstad; Simonson; Nelson;
Ziegler
Heat 2: Smith; Hammitt; C. Provinzino; J. Provinzino; Savoy; Rapp; Poll