NORTHERN NATIONALS WRAP UP WITH FULL PROGRAM

by · Published September 11, 2016 · Updated May 23, 2017

By Jerry O’Brien
9-10-16
Superior, WI

The 28th annual Northern Nationals presented by Rick Gondi Law Offices

wrapped up Saturday night with a full five class WAYSIDE program. One

hundred sixty-five teams were in competition with the largest contingent being the

PolyDome Dirt Track Series Midwest Modifies with 49 cars.

The fans were there en mass on a perfect early Fall day hoping to see some

great racing and they were not disappointed. Qualifying began right on timme with

five heats for the Midwest Modifies along with a pair B Features. Jason

Vandekamp, Dan Kingsley, Skeeter estey, Nick Koehler, and Deven VanHouse

were the winners. Kevin Eder and Austin Ellis won the B Features.

Mike Anderson, Eder and Ashley Anderson won Modified heats, Curt Myers,

Willie Johnsen, Jr, Dave Flynn and Nick Oreskovich won Super Stock heats and

Shane Kisling topped the B Feature. Mike Blevins, Ryan Savoy and Dustin Follett

won Pure Stock heats and Mike Prochnow, Travis Budisalovich and Dave Esse

won Late Model heats.

With qualifying finished, the first division to roll onto the track was the

WISSOTA Pure Stocks for their 15 laps of mayhem. Dustin Doughty wasted little

time grabbing the lead from the pole position but little continuity occurred as it

took four tries including three caution flags for incidents and one for a poor start

that was called back before a complete lap could be turned. When that finally

happened Doughty led Mike Blevins, Ryan Savoy, Dustin Follett and 2016 track

champ Justin Weinberger. While Doughty increased his lead Blevins and Savoy

traded laps in second with Follett and Weinberger looking for any openings. Those

five squabbled amongst themselves, they managed to separate themselves from

Tucker Quinn, Dylan Shelton and Don Livingston. All were reunited by caution

flag number four thrown for Jake Nevela’s car stalled across the turn four exit. Te

restart came with 11 laps remaining and Doughty kept the lead, Blevins captured

second and Savoy third, Follett fourth and Weinberger fifth. Four laps later just as

Follett managed to get by Savoy the fifth caution flag flew as the car of Josh

Kallas showed fire under the hood and he stopped at the top of turn two. Racing

resumed with seven laps to go and Doughty continued to lead over Blevins and the

rest for a couple of laps before someone spun Quinn at the bottom of turn one

bringing out caution flag number six. The lineup was corrected and the race was

restarted. That lasted for a lap before Shaina Rapp and Tyler Keup tangled in turn

one. The race finished four laps later with Doughty capturing the win having led

every lap. Blevins, Follett, Savoy and Weinberger were the top five. Doughty won

his third feature since he discovered the speedway suited his style. Unofficially

Doughty won the $250 bonus for the top three day point total.

Next up was 20 laps for the Midwest Modifieds with the always dangerous

Curt Myers on the pole flanked by Friday’s winner Dave Flynn. Myers shot into

the lead with Flynn close behind. Willy Thompson, Tyler Vernon, Deven

VanHouse, Jason Vandekamp, Dazn Kingsley and Skeeter Estey were in the mix

but Ryan Adamzak and Denny Cutsforth got tangled up with Cutsforth drawing

the foul. The restart came with no laps in and Nick Daronco got turned a round tin

turns three and four after one circuit was complete. The next try saw another

caution flag when Kevin Eder and Austin Ellis found each other in nearly the same

spot as Daronco’s spin. This one sent Eder to the sidelines with damage while

Ellis continued. Then next try worked as Myers stayed in command with Flynn,

VanHouse, Thompson, Skeeter Estey and Vernon following. VanHouse got by

Flynn and a couple of laps later Cutsforth encountered Cole Spacek in turn four.

Spacek was tagged with the incident. There were 14 laps to go when racing

resumed. The order stayed pretty much the same, but a new player entered the top

five as Nick Koehler forward from ninth. Just about the mid point was when a

chunk of debris was spotted on the back stretch brining out the caution fal again.

The restart came with nine laps remaining. Myers was still king of the hill over

VanHouse and Koehler was up to third when what proved to be the sixth caution

flag flew when Flynn was turned around abruptly on the back stretch just off turn

two. Mayhem ensued and when the pieces settled, Flynn, Tanner Byholm and

Kevin Montieth were out along with Tyler Hudack. The who done it was solved

when Skeeter Estey was tagged and decided to retire from competition. No ine was

reported to be injured. Thie restart came with ten laps to go and Koehler got the

big jump on Myers to take the lead and stayed oujt front to the checkered flag.

Myers, VanHouse, Thompson and David Simpson finished in the top five.

Simpson put on a charge in the last few laps for the top five finish while Mark

Thomas ended a stellar run from 20th to finish sixth. It was Koehler’s 17th feature

win of the season. Despite Flynn’s DNF he was the winner of the $500 point

bonus for the three days of competition.

The WISSOTA Super Stocks were scheduled for a 25 lap main event and once

again Curt Myers found himself on the front row, this time on the outside. He got

the jump on pole sitter Shawn McFadden with Scott Lawrence, Steve Thomas,

Andy Gramala and Willie Johnsen, Jr in the top five. While Myers was busy

making himself scarce, the rest squabbled amongst themselves and were soon

joined by Kevin Burdick and Jeff Klopstein, Jr. Six laps in Adam Shinn’s car

slowed on the front stretch finally coming to rest beneath the flagstand after being

narrowly missed by the pack. There were 19 laps to go when the green flag fllew

and Myers’ start was best as McFadden, Thomas, Burdick and Lawrence trailed.

Burdick was on the move and picked them off one by one until he was second and

tracking Myers. Thomas was third, McFadden was fourth and Lawrence fifth.

Burdick chased Myers as he did the previous night but didn’t seem to make up any

ground as Thomas fell further behind as did McFadden and Lawrence. Klopstein

was still in the picture in sixth as the secons caution flag flew for an incident that

included Marcus Simpson. With fourteen laps to go the green flag came out and

Myers drove away again while Burdick, Thomas and Lawrence again trailed.

Johnsen, Jr got by McFadden for fifth. Lawrence was using the extreme high line

which seemed to be working, dropped down to the bottom which didn’t work, then

went up top again. No matter what he tried he began losing ground. Myers was

ensconced in first with little in the way of competition as the laps wound down.

Suddenly the red flag appeared as Tristan LaBarge hasd encountered the fourth

turn wall and turned the #19 over on the roof. He was reported as uninjured.

Before racing could resume after LaBarge was removed from the car and it was

hauled off, Burdick stopped in the fourth turn with the left rear tire ablaze. It was

quickly put out and his run was ended with two laps remaining. Myers led every

one of the 25 laaps for his third win of the season at the speedway. Klopstein, Jr,

Thomas, Johnsen, Jr and McFadden filled out the top five.

Next the WISSOTA Late Models rolled out for 40 laps. Twenty-two cars took

the green flag and veteran Harry Hanson roared to the lead from the outside of the

front row over 2016 champ Travis Budisalovich, Darrell Nelson, Terry Lillo, Mike

Prochnow and Jay Kintner. The caution flag flew when John Toppozini caught a

marker tire and got stuck on top of it. Hanson still led at the restart over Nelson,

Budisalovich, Prochnow and Lillo. Nelson scooted by the next trip around and led

for two circuits before the caution flag flew when Dave Esse spun. The restar

came with 35 laps yet remaining and Nelson led Hanson, Prochnow, Budisalovich

and Lillo. Budisalovich spun and brought out yet another caution flag earning a

trip to the last row. Nelson was still in charge and the next laps all the way past the

mid point belonged to him. Prochnow took second but couldn’t make up much

ground on Nelson. Hanson stayed in second for several laps until he was

supplanted by Rick Hanestad. Also cranking up the fire was Kyle Peterlin from his

14th starting slot as he steadily advanced forward using that high flying momentum

groove up by the wall. Just past half way he arrived in fifth. Two laps later he was

third behind Prochnow. Also making a great recovery was Budisalovich who was

in sixth. Randy Gullixson spun the #51 at the bottom of turn four bringing out the

fourth caution flag. Nelson kept the point on the restart, but, with ten laps to

go,dave Esse backed his car into the third turn wall bringing out the fifth caution

period. Nelson was gold again at the green over Prochnow, Hanestad, Kintner,

Peterlin and Hanson. Peterlin found his way back to third in the next few laps and

misfortune bit Hanestad when he hit the second turn wall and stalled there. With

six to go the green flag flew and Nelson went on to take the win. Prochnow was

second, Peterlin third while Hanson and Budisalovich were top five finishers.

The regular program wound up with 30 laps for the WISSOTA Modifieds. Jody

Bellefeuille started on the pole and got a great jump as he led the 25 car field to

the green. Ashley Anderson and Mike Anderson followed ahead of Nelson and

VanHouse. Mike Anderson moved into second but it was five more laps before he

could get by Bellefeuille. Once he did he began to pull away from the pack

quickly. While Anderson was widening the gap, Bellefuille was busy fending off

Ashley Anderson and Darrell Nelson . Nelson finally got to third with Kelly Estey

fourth but in a battle with Kevin Eder. Rebounding ffrom a backward slide was

VanHouse just ahead of Paul Wrazidlo, Joey Jensen and Al Uotinen. While the top

five stayed static, the next bunch was fluid in a goood battle for position. It took

Nelson until two laps from the checkered flag to make the pass on Bellefeuille and

by then it was too late to catch the fleet Mike Anderson who won his 12th main

event of the season. The non stopped 30 lap feature took about 11 minutes to

complete. The only change in the top five was Eder’s pass on Estey on the final

circuit.

Results Northern Nationals the final night (9-10-16)

WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Series Late Models (22 cars)

Feature (40 laps)

Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Mike Prochnow Menomonie; Kyle Peterlin Hibbing;

Harry Hanson Eveleth; Travis Budisalovich Minneapolis; Jay Kintner Hibbing;

Rick hanestad Boyceville; Tim McMann Duluth; John Toppozini Thunder Bay;

Zach Wohlers Kelly Lake; Greeg NippoldtRoberts, WI; Aaron Lillo Proctor;

Buddy Hanestad Boyceville; Trevor Wilson Superior; Terry Lillo Duluth; Damin

Eilers Canby, MN; Randy Gullixson Baldwin, WI; Robbie Cooper Southn Range;

Tim Lillo Superior DNF: Dave Esse Cloquet; Marshall Fegers Savage, MN; Kevin

Carlson Hermantown

Heat 1; Prochnow; Nelson; Fegers; Hanson; Peterlin; Nippoldt; Gullixson DNF

Tim Lillo

Heat 2: Budisalovich; R. Hanestad; McMann; A. Lillo; B. Hanestad; Wilson;

Wohlers;

Heat 3: Esse; Kintner; Terry Lillo; Eilers; Toppozini; Cooper DNF: Carlson

WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Series Modifieds (25 cars)

Feature (30 laps)

Mike Andersom Colfax; Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Jody Bellefeuille Duluth;

Ashley Anderson Elk Mound; Kevin Eder Ashland; Kelly Estey Kelly Lake; Paul

Wrazidlo Duluth; Al Uotinen Superior; Deven VanHouse Silver Bay; Neil Balduc

Bessemer; Joey Jensen Harris; Jeff Tardy Hibbing; Paul Niznik Medford; Jeff

Broking Grand Rapids; Pat Cook Washburn; Brian Mikkonen Iron River; Jayme

Lautigar Gilbert; Cody Wolkowski Thunder Bay; Al Stettner Newport DNF: Jake

Hiatt New Richmond; Rick Rivord Superior;Steve Lavasseur River Falls; Dustin

Hudack Ashland; Peter Loecken Paynesville, MN

Heat 1: Nelson; VanHouse; Balduc; Stettner; Tardy; Niznik; Rivord; Hiatt

Heat 2: Eder; Uotinen; Wrazidlo; Lavasseur; Broking; Wolkowski; D. Hudack;

Loecken

Heat 3; A. Anderson; Estey; Bellefeuille; Jensen; Lautigar; Cook; Mikkonen; S.

Hudack

WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Series Super Stocks (33 cars)

Feature (25 laps)

Curt Myers Cameron; Jeff Klopstein, Jr Tomahawk; Steve Thomas; Willie

Johnsen, Jr. Superior; Shawn McFadden Ashland; Butch Butcher Buhl; Brian

Mikkonen Iron River; Pat Beeksma Ironwood; Dave Flynn Superior; Shane

Kissling Park Falls; Don Muzzy Ironwood; Scott Lawrence Superior; D. J. Keeler

Superior; Brian Carl Duluth; Marcus Simonson Milltown, WI; Jim Campbell Two

Harbors; Keith Kern Superior DNF: Kevin Burdick Proctor; Tristan LaBarge

Kelly Lake; Luike Schultz Cameron; Andy Grymala Superior; Nick Oreskovich

Mason; Terran Spacek Phillips; Adam Shinn Duluth; Mike Weber Osceola.

B Feature: Kisling; Keeler; Campbell; T. Spacek; Cafrl; Schultz; Weber; Austin

McWilliams Thunder Bay; Kyle Helling Rice Lake; Bob Kintner Mt. Iron; Kevin

Salin Iron; Matt Hammitt Cloquet; Denny Cutsforth Rice Lake; Larry Both

Thunder Bay; Adam Shinn Duluth; Aaron Mashlin ashland

Heat 1: Myers; LaBarge; Beeksma; Spacek; Muzzy; Kern; Campbell; Hammitt;

Cutsforth

Heat 2: Johnsen, Jr; Grymala; Thomas; Klopstein, Jr; Keeler; Schultz DNF: Salin;

Mashlan

Heat 3: Flynn; Lawrence; McFadden; Butcher; Simonson; McWilliams; B. Kintner

DNF: Shinn

Heat 4: Oreskovich; Burdick; Mikkonen; Kisling; Weber; Carl; Helling; Both

WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt track Series Midwest Modifieds (49 cars)

Feature (20 laps)

Nick Koehler Bloomer; Curt Myers Cameron; Deven VanHouse Silver bay; Willy

Thompson Hibbing; David Simpson Thuinder Bay; Mark Thomas Menomonie;

Dan Kingsley Superior; Dale Suomala, Jr. Hermantown; Austin Ellis Rice Lake;

Nick Daronco Mt. Iron; Tyler Vernon Ashland; Ryan Adamzak Ashland; Denny

Cutsforth Rice Lake; Craig Lofdahl Duluth DNF: Dave Flynn Superior; Tanner

Byholm Glidden; Kevin Montieth Thunder Bay; Cole Spacek Phillips;Tyler

Hudack Ashland; Skeeter estrey Kelly Lake; Jason Vandekamp Scandia; Mack

Estey Hibbing; Cole Chernosky Thunder bay; Kevin Eder Hibbing; Brandon Copp

Brule

B Feature #1: Eder; Montieth; Adamzak; Hudack; Darrel Hazelton Chippewa

Falls; Cody Carlson Superior; Tyler Werner Menomonie; Andrew Inman

Hermantown; Al Stettner Newport; John Kallas Hurley; Gunner Peterson cable;

Keith Niemi Forest Lake; Mike Jacques Thunder Bay DNF: Wade Boyum Int’l

Falls; James Kannegiesser Hayward; Ross Siiter Cloquet; Don Craig Thunder Bay

B Feature #2: Ellis; Thomas; Suomala, Jr; Copp; David Swearingen; Gunnar

Wadkins Elk Mound; Eeric Anderson; Chisholm; Craig Lofdahl Duluth; Jason

Haugerud Somerset; Jamie Smart Kakabeka Falls; David Kivi Nolalu; Brady caul

Ft. Frances; Jason Williamson Ft. Frances DNF: Alex Smith Solon Springs; Bill

Mulig Bessemer; Jeremy Lindquist Ashland

Heat 1: VandeKamp; Thompson; Vernon; Cutsforth; Lindquist; Boyum; Kivi;

Kannegiesser DNF: Niemi; Caul

Heat 2: Kingsley; Simpson; Myers; Montieth; Adamzak; Stettner; Siiter; Smart;

Williamson DNF: Jacques

Heat 3: S. Stey; Flynn; Wadkins; Chernosky; craig; Cafrlson; Smith;

Peterson;Werner DQ: Hazelton

Heat 4: Koehler; M. Estey; Spacek; Eder; Ellis; Lofdahl; Hudack; Thomas;

Haugerud; Mulig

Heat 5: VanHouse; Byholm; Daronco; Copp; Suomala; Swearingen; Inman;

Anderson; Kallas

WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Series Pure Stocks (22 cars)

Feature: (15 laps)Dustin Doughty Oakdale; Mike Blevins Hibbing; Dustin Follett Cloquet; Ryan

savoy Superior; Justin Weinberger Park Falls; Tucker Quinn Ladysmith, WI;

Glenn Dammer Esko; Travis Zembo Superior; Cory Jorgenson Hermantown; Jeff

Christman South Range; Kyle Copp Brule; Don Livingston Ashland; Shaina

Rapp Saginaw; Tyler Keup Superior; Jake Nevela Ashland DNF: Dylan Shelton

Wrenshall; Josh Kallas Hurley; Andrew Hnason Iron River; Jason Simonson

Superior DNS: Vic Westerlund Hibbing; Chad Carlson Superior; Andy Poll two

Harbors

Heat 1: Blevins; Weinberger; Quinn; Shelton; Kuep DNF: Carlson; Poll; nevela

Heat 2; Savoy; Copp; christman; Hanson; Westerlund; Jorgenson DNS: Kallas

Heat 3: Follett; Doughty; Zembo; Livingston; Rapp; Dammer; Simonson

Canadian Dash For Cash Special race for only Canadian Midwest Modified

drivers. Eight laps, nine cars. Crowd funded race, Businesses and individuals add

to the purse. Winner received $1625. Other drivers also won money.

David Simpson Thunder Bay; David Kivi Nolalu; Brady Caul Ft. Frances; Jamie

Smart Kakabeka Falls; Don Craig Thunder Bay; Jason Williamson Ft. Frances;

Kevin Montieth Thunder Bay; Mike Jacques Thunder Bay