NELSON WINS FIRST WISSOTA CHALLENGE SERIES FEATURE
By Jerry O’Brien
7-10-15 Superior, WI
Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, Mn captured his first One Main Financial
Challenge Series feature Friday night at AMSOIL Speedway. Starting on the
outside of the front row Nelson beat pole sitter Jake Redetzke to the first turn and
never looked back as he was in control of the event from the first green flag in the
40 lap feature. Throughout the race a number of drivers would become players as
they tried to overtake Nelson. Despite a pair of caution flags and one red flag
situation, Nelson held sway over all challengers. Redetzke became the first to
mount a challenge to the blue and white number 44 running side by side with
Nelson for several laps. The first caution came when Nick Beyenhof stopped with
a flat tire in turn one. Nelson maintained his lead as Redetzke became busy
fending off John Kaanta. The two ran side by side briefly enabling Nelson to
expand his lead. The second yellow flag came quickly as a four car tangle in turn
four involving Terry Lillo, Todd Gehl, Trevor Wilson and Dave Esse slowed the
action. With only a single lap recorded on the restart racing was brought to a
standstill as Gehl’s #71 climbed atop the first turn wall bringing out the red flag.
Zach Wohlers’ car was also involved. After a lengthy delay while the car was
carefully removed from the wall, the green flag appeared with 25 laps still
remaining. Kaanta got a great start and slipped past Redetzke into second with
Brandon Jensen, Jeff Massingill and Adam Hensel in the mix. Nelson was still in
control but possible trouble was ahead as he and his pursuers came upon a gaggle
of cars fighting for position. Nelson made all the right moves and slipped past the
lapped traffic putting them between him and Kaanta with five laps remaining. The
lead was comfortable enough that the win came with ease in the waning laps.
Jensen, Redetzke and Hensel rounded out the top five.
The Midwest Modified 20 lap feature became a difficult one as no less than
eight caution flags marred the 20 lap feature. Dan Kingsley used the outside of the
font row to grab the lead but the race sputtered to a halt as Jamie Smart spun in
turn three on the initial circuit. Once again the event ground to a halt when there
were incidents on both ends of the track. A spin by Mike Jacques in turn three
caused a caution and, at the same time, a clash between rookie driver James
Kannegiesser and Justin Madsen in the first turn saw Madsen roll onto his roof.
Kingsley appeared unfazed by the accidents and held a perfect line off turns two
and four to maintain the point. However, challengers were not lacking as Tyler
Vernon, the ever present Deven VanHouse, the Estey brothers Mack and Skeeter,
Tyler Luger and Tyler Kintner were all in contention. Kingsley eased away from
the pack to a nice lead but Jamie Smart again spun this time in turn four. Kingsley
was still in charge at the green with Mack Estey VanHouse, Skeeter Estey, Vernon
and Kintner in attendance as Dave Flynn made his presence known. Once again
the caution flag flew as Kannegiesser spun again this time in turn four. The restart
came with nine laps remaining and Kingsley maintained his perfect line that
enabled him to accelerate away from his tormenters coming off the corners. At this
point Skeeter Estey’s car began to emit smoke and he quickly pulled into the
infield. Mack Estey began to apply pressure to Kingsley and attempted to pull off
the pass in turn two. They touched and Kingsley spun. Estey was charged with the
incident and pulled off the track. Kingsly held sway at the front of the pack at the
restart over VanHouse despite flapping sheet metal on the left side of the car.
Flynn got by Vernon into third. Shortly thereafter the final caution flag flew when
Kingsley’s sheet metal departed onto the track. Kingsley went on to win his
second feature of the season over VanHouse, Kintner, Flynn and Jake Gondik.
It was a definite red letter day for long time Super Stock racer Keith Kern as he
finally secured his first Super Stock main event. Like a number of his cohorts,
Kern found himself starting the 20 lap feature from the outside of the front row, a
starting spot he used to good advantage grabbing the lead over D. J. Keeler, Andy
Davey, Shane Kisling and Scott Lawrence. Kern raced off to a good advantage as
Kisling and Davey swooped past Keeler. Lawrence soon got by Keeler into fourth.
With no caution flags the half way point was quickly reached with Kern leading
Kisling, Davey and Lawrence with Mark Smith lurking in fifth. Defending track
champ Nick Oreskovich, Keeler and Willie Johnsen were also on the move and
joined the pack. Kisling’s run ended as he suddenly slowed and stopped at the to
of turn four. The second caution flag appeared on the restart lap in turn four.
Another try to resume racing saw Kern still out front with Davey second,
Lawrence third, Johnsen fourth and Keeler fifth. With three laps remaining the
caution flag again appeared when Pat Heikkinen spun in turn three and four. Kern
was able to hold on to take the win over Davey, Smith, Lawrence and Oreskovich.
Ryan Savoy held on to edge a determined Annika Hammitt to win the 12 lap
Pure Stock feature. Four caution flags slowed the action but it came down to some
determined racing between Savoy and Hammitt with the pair swapping the lead a
few times before Savoy was able to edge ahead to take the win by a half car
length. Ryan Madsen, Alex Smith and Jason Simonson were the only cars left
running.
Results One main Financial WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series
WISSOTA Late Model (29 cars)
Feature (40 laps): Darrell Nelson Hermantown; John Kaanta Elk Mound; Brandon
Jensen Hammond, WI; Jake Redetzke Eau Claire; Adam Hensel Baldwin, WI;
Marshall Fegers Mound, MN; Jeff Massingill Keewatin; Kyle Peterlin Hibbing;
Travis Budisalovich Minneapolis; Nick Beyerhof Rock Rapids, IA; Harry Hanson
Eveleth; Tim McMann Duluth; Jeff Provinzino Hibbing; Ricky Weiss Headingley,
MB; Kelly Estey Hibbing; Zach Wohlers Kelly Lake; Dave Esse Cloquet; Trevor
Wilson Superior; Gregg Hill Eveleth DNF: Terry Lillo Duluth; Chad Mahder eau
Claire; Todd Gehl Solon Springs; Jeff Wildung Nassau, MN; Brent Larson Lake
Elmo; Aaron Lillo Proctor
B Feature: Wildung; Beyenhof; Provinzino; Esse; Wohlers; Hill; Cory Jorgenson
hermantown; larson; John Toppozini Thunder Bay DNF: Josh Johnson Superior;
Robbie Cooper Superior
Heat 1: Redetzke; Massingill; Budisalovich; Jensen; Nelson; Weiss; Esse;
Wildung; Jorgensdon; Cooper
Heat 2; Estey; Kaanta; Gehl; McMann; Wilson; T. Lillo; Hill; Johnson DNF:
Wohlers DQ: Provinzino
Heat 3: Peterlin; Hensel; Hanson; Fegers; A. Lillo; Mahder; Beyenhof; Larson;
Toppozini
WISSOTA Super Stock (19 cars)
Feature: (20 laps): Keith Kern Superior; Andy Davey Hibbing; Mark Smith Solon
Springs; Scott Lawrence Superior; Nick Oreskovich Mason; Don Muzzy
Ironwood; Willie Johnsen Superior; Donnie Lofdahl Duluth; Pat Heikkinen
Eveleth; D. J. Keeler Superior; Austin McWilliams Thunder Bay DNF: Spencer
Sorenson Duluth; Shane Kisling Sarona; Jim Campbell Two Harbors; Jeff
Klopstein Tomahawk; Brad Kisling Rice Lake; Dave Flynn Superior; Curt Myers
Cameron DNS: Adam Shinn Duluth
Heat 1: Davey; kern; Keeler; Flynn; Muzzy; Klopstein; Campbell; McWilliams
DNF: Myers; Shinn
Heat 2: S. Kisling; Smith; Johnsen; Lawrence; Oreskovich; Lofdahl; B. Kisling
DNF: Sorenson; Heikkinen
WISSOTA Midwest Modified (22 cars)
Feature (20 laps): Dan Kingsley Suprior; Deven VanHouse Silver Bay; Tyler
Kintner Hibbing; Dave Flynn Superior; Jake Gondik Foxboro; Cody Carlson
Superior; Tyler Luger Iron River; Tyler Vernon Ashland; Brad Hanson Mt. Iron;
Don Craig Thunder Bay; Scott Herrick Proctor; Cole Chernosky Thunder bay;
Lance Solem Duluth; Chris Bretting Washburn; James Kannegiesser Hayward
DNF: M. Estey; S. Estey; David Simpson Thunder Bay; Jamie Smart Kakabaka
Falls; Rob Ranttalo Thunder Bay; Justin Madsen Foxboro; Mike Jacques Thunder
Bay
Heat 1: Luger; VanHouse; S. Estey; Solem; Madsen; Jacques; Kannegiesser DNF:
Smart
Heat 2: M. Estey; Vernon; Hanson;ondik; Carlson; Simpson; Craig
Heat 3: Kingsley; Flynn; Kintner; Herrick; Chernosky; Bretting DNF: Ranttalo
Pure Stock (12 cars)
Feature (12 laps): Ryan savoy Superior; Annika Hammitt Cloquet; Ryan Madsen
Foxboro; Alex Smith Solon Springs; Jason Simonson Superior DNF: Chad
Carlson Superior; Shaina Rapp Saginaw; Andy Poll Two Harbors; Justin
Weinberger Park Falls; Devin Reynolds Cloquet; Lucas Carlson Cloquet; Chad
Nikstad Superior
Heat 1; Hammitt; madsen; Weinberger; Poll; Smith; Reynolds
Heat 2: Savoy; L. Carlson; C. Carlson; Nikstad; Rapp Simonson
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