PROCHNOW DOMINATES NORTHERN NATIONALS LATE MODELS

By Jerry O’Brien
Superior, Wisc. 9-12-15

Night two of the 27th Annual Rick Gondik Law Offices Northern Nationals at
AMSOIL Speedway presented a full five division program with the WISSOTA
Polydome Dirt Track Series Late Models replacing the IRA Sprints as the featured
division. Once again the fans filled the main grandstands and every spot in the
back stretch parking as well as the grandstands back there.
A total of 158 cars in the five divisions were on hand to put on a show, and put
on a show they did. Qualifying for the main events in five divisions was a long
process that produced some excellent racing on a track that was table top smooth
with multiple racing grooves.

The Crown Jewel in the event was the Late Model feature with 40 laps on tap.
Rick Hanestad and Mike Prochnow led the 24 car field to the green flag and
Prochnow took the lead. A tangle between Brent Larson and Dave Esse off turn
two brought out the caution flag with Larson sent to the rear. Racing resumed with
no laps complete and Prochnow again took over the lead, one that he would never
give up throughout the entire distance. The front five quickly settled into
Prochnow, Hanestad, Darrell Nelson, Andy Nezworski and Dave Esse. Prochnow
was clearly the class of the field as he drove away from everyone by a rapidly
widening ten car lengths. Prochnow began lapping cars seven laps in and the top
five quickly became separated, almost losing sight of one another in traffic as
racing proceeded without a hint of a caution flag. The half way point was quickly
reached and Prochnow had almost half a lap on Hanestad who had been run down
by Nelson in traffic. Nelson made an effort to get by Hanestad and the two went
briefly side by side but could not make the pass stick. The top five order did not
change as the laps wound down.
Prochnow had such a dominating performance that he was mere car lengths
away from lapping fifth place Dave Esse at the checkered flag. It was Mike
Prochnow’s first Northern Nationals win. Eighteen of the 24 starters were running
at the end of the non stopped event. Zach Wohlers, Buddy Hanestad, Travis
Budiaslovich, Jay Kintner and Tim McMann finished in the top ten.
Twenty-five Modifieds went 30 laps in their main event. Kevin Eder was
looking for a sweep of the weekend’s Modified action and a $500 bonus. The
event got off to a rough start as Eder was spun in the first turn. A complete restart
with Jody Bellefeuille leading the way over Ashley Anderson went two laps
before Neil Balduc spun in turn four bringing out the first of five caution flags.
Bellefeuille continued to lead Anderson with Eder, Jesse Glenz and Jeff Tardy the
main players. Moving toward the front was Darrell Nelson easing into third as the
second caution flag flew when Anderson’s car lost the drive shaft. The restart
came with 22 laps remaining and Nelson quickly assumed the lead over
Bellefeuille, Matt Leer, Eder and a clump of cars battling for fifth. Problems for
Mike Anderson brought out the caution flag a lap later. The restart brought more
trouble as Andy Jones stopped with a flat tire. Another try at a restart, more
trouble as Balduc and Cody Wolkowski tangled in turn four. The next try came
with 20 laps remaining with Nelson in control over Bellefeuille, Leer, Eder and
Steve Stuart up from his ninth starting spot in fifth. Greg Chesley, Tardy, Al
Uotinen and Rick Rivord were top ten runners. Stuart moved to fourth as
Bellefeuille moved up to challenge Nelson. Leer was some distance back in third
ahead of Stuart and Chesley’s strong run continued as he eased into fifth. With ten
laps to go Nelson widened the gap over Bellefeuille as he was lapping back
markers. At this point the cars were strung out around the speedway with on his
way to another Northern Nationals Modified feature win. Bellefeuille finished
second, Stuart moved past Leer to third and Chesley rounded out the top five.
The Super Stocks were set to go for 25 laps with Tarren Spacek set to lead the
25 car field to the green flag. Shane Kisling drove to the lead with Spacek, Willie
Johnsen, Jr and Jeff Klopstein, Jr following. The caution flag flew immediately for
a Tommy Richards spin at the entrance of turn three. Kisling maintained the lead
at the restart which did not last a full lap as Klopstein was spun in turn one and
was sent to the rear. Kisling widened his lead at the restart over Shawn McFadden,
Jr who had made his way to second from row three. Johnsen was third and James
Trantina III was fourth just ahead of Scott Lawrence. Trantina moved to third with
15 laps remaining as Kisling began lapping. The third and final caution flag flew
when Kevin Burdick spun in turn two. Kislings big lead was now gone with a
dozen circuits to go. Kisling led Trantina, Johnsen, Curt Myers and Lawrence.
Myers moved to third as Trantina tried to track down Kisling who was having
none of that. Kisling took the win for his first Super Stock Northern Nationals
victory. He has two others which came in the WISSOTA Street Stocks. Finishing
fifth in an almost unnoticed run was Richards who had been sent to the rear on the
first lap.
The Midwest Modifieds whittled ther numbers down from 37 to 25 with the
25th spot a provisional secured by Mike Jacques. The feature event was set for 20
laps and local favorite Dan Kingsley took the lead from the pole over tyler
Vernon. Tyler Kintner took over second and the two began to put some distance
on now third place Kevin Eder. Eder got past Kintner and engaged Kingsley in a
duel for the lead. Eder got by Kingsley as did Kintner and drove away from him to
a long lead. Deven VanHouse also got by Kingsley into third as the half way point
was reached without a caution flag. Eder began to lap the back of the pack and led
the rest of the way for an easy win in the non stopped event. Kintner finisshed
second with VanHouse right behind. Kingsley and Nick Daronco finished out the
top five.
The Pure Stock main event was scheduled for 20 laps and started 25 cars with a
provisional going to Justin Madsen. It came down to a duel between Dustin
Follett, Mike Blevins, newcomer Jason Havel and Mike Sirois. A more than 20
minute delay while the Ambulance was called to the pits broke up the action and
two caution flags made for a late night. Follett won the duel, Sirois was spun on
the front stretch and subsequently retired. Havel actually did what few have been
able to do, pass Dustin Follett for the lead. Follett regained the lead and went on to
take the win, Blevins, Havel, Chad Carlson and Annika Hammitt finished in the
top five.
Results Northern Nationals Night two 9-12-15
WISSOTA Polydome Dirt Track Series Late Models (24 cars)
Feature (40 laps) Mike Prochnow; Rick Hanestad Boyceville, WI; Darrell Nelson;
Andy Nezworski Buffalo, IA; Dave Esse; Zach Wohlers; Buddy Hanestad
Boyceville; Travis Budiaslovich; Jay Kintner; Tim McMann; Riley Matthews
Murillo, ON; Caley Emerson; Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN; John Toppozini;
Terry Lillo; Harry Hanson; Kevin Carlson; Scott Herrick; Roger Paolo; Robbie
Cooper DNF: Tim Lillo; Gregg Hill; Aaron Lillo DNS: Trevor Wilson
Heat 1: Nelson; Esse; A. Lillo; Emerson; McMann; Kintner; Carlson; Hanson
Heat 2: R. Hanestad; Budiaslovich; Nezworski; Matthews; B. Hanestad; Paolo;
Hill DQ: Wilson
Heat 3; Prochnow; Wohlers; Larson; T. Lillo; Toppozini; Herrick; Cooper; T.
Lillo
WISSOTA Modifieds (29 cars)
Feature (30 laps) Darrell Nelson; Jody Bellefeuille; Steve Stuart; Matt Leer; Greg
Chesley; Al Uotinen; Rick Rivord; Kevin Eder; Jeff Tardy; Jesse Glenz; Pat Cook;
Deven VanHouse; Scott Hudack; Andy Jones; jared Loos; Brian Mikkonen; Tim
McMann DNF: Rick Cannata; Cody Wolkowski; Neil Balduc; Mike Anderson;
Bill Byholm; Jeff Broking; Pat Hoffman
B Feature: Mikkonen; Cook; Rivord; Hudack; Cannata; Hoffman; Chris Wolden;
Wolkowski; Nikki Wraxidlo; Ken Hron DNF: Dustin Hudack
Heat 1: Bellefeuille; McMann; Nelson; Chesley; Broking; Byholm; Mikkonen;
Rivord; S. Hudack DNF: Hoffman
Heat 2: A. Anderson; Glenz; M. Anderson; Leer; Uotinen; Loos; Cannata;
Wolden; Wrazidlo; Hron
Heat 3: Eder; Tardy; Stuart; Balduc; VanHouse; Jones; Cook; Wolkowski; D.
Hudack
WISSOTA Super Stocks (38 cars)
Feature (25 laps) Shane Kisling; James Trantina III; Curt Myers; Tommy
Richards; Jeff Klopstein, Jr; Ben Wolden; Willie Johnsen, Jr; Scott Lawrence;
Randy spacek; Tristan Labarge; Shawn McFadden; Terran Spacek; Andy Davey;
Cole Spacek; Keith Kern; Nick Oreskovich; D. J. Keeler; Bob Kintner;Kevin
salin; Keith Koski; Spencer Sorenson; Joe Oliver; Dave Flynn; Kevin Burdick;
Dale Gangl
B Feature #1: Richards; LaBarge; Grymala; Sorenson; Campbell; Lindsey;
Kroening DNF: Butcher; Dean
B Feature #2: Keeler; C. Spacek; Stricker; Smith; carl; Gillitzer; McWilliams
DNF: Corcillius; Aschultz
Heat 1: Klopstein, Jr; Pliver; Kintner; Wolden; Gangl; Grymala; Lindsey;
Campbell; Sorenson; Corillius
Heat 2; T. Spacek; R. Spacek; Davey; Flynn; Oreskovich; Keeler; C. Spacek;
Stricker; Carl; Richards
Heat 3: Johnsen, Jr; McFadden; Kern; Burdick; Salin; Butcher; Kroening; Dean
DQ: Schulz
Heat 4: Kisling; Trantina III; Lawrence; Myers; Koski; Smith; Gillitzer;
McWilliams; LaBarge
WISSOTA Midwest Modified (37 cars)
Feature (25 laps) Kevin Eder; Tyler Kintner; Deven VanHouse; Dan Kingsley;
Nick Daronco; Brady Caul; Tyler Vernon; Austin Ellis; Tyler Luger; Kevin
Montieth; Dale Soumala; Chris Bretting; Ryan Adamzak; Cody Carlson; Lance
Solem; Jeremey Lindquist; Ricky Davis; Scott Herrick; Michael Blevins; Wyatt
Boyum; Duane Dunbar; mike Jaques DNF: Stettner; Toucheri; Kangas
B Feature #1: Blevins; Carlson; Inman; Craig; Kallas; Goldfine; Overn; Smart
DNS: Simpson
B Feature#2: luger; Boyum; Kannegiesser; Anderson; Jacques; Dgodin; Arnt;
Chernosky
Heat 1: Kingsley; Daronco; Montieth; Dunbar; Lindquist; Carlson; Overn; Godin
DNF: Simpson; Arnt
Heat 2; Vernon ; VanHouse; Tocheri; Caul; Davis; Luger; Anderson; Kallas DNF:
Boyum
Heat 3: Eder; Kintner; Herrick; Adamzak; Stettner; Craig DNF: Blevins;
Kannegiesser; Inman
Heat 4: Kangas; Ellis; Bretting; Soumala; Solem; Chernosky; Goldfine; Jacques
DQ: Jamie Smart
Pure Stocks (29 cars)
Feature (20 laps) Dustin Follett; Micael Blevins; Jason Havel; Chad Carlson;
Annika Hammitt; Andrew Hanson; Jon Hammitt; Ryan Savoy; Shaina Rapp; Andy
Poll; Chris johnson; Kasimir Tonnar; Mike Haben; Mark KoDNF: Alex Smith;
Mike Sirois; David Androsky DNF: Cole Provinzino; Matt Cunha; Justin Madsen;
Matt Derasgon; Chad Nikstad; Brandle Pupp; ken Hapy DNS: Travis Zembo
B Feature: C. Carlson; Johnson; Rapp; Androsky; Tonnar; Hapy; Nelson DMF:
Madsen; Weinberger; Copp; Simonson
Heat 1; Hanson; A. Hammitt; Cuhna; Haben; J. Hammitt; Provinzino; Weinberger
DNF: Copp; Johnson; Hapy
Heat 2: Follett; Havel; Blevins; Smith; Deragon; Korte; Madsen; Tonnar DNF:
Simonsen; Rapp
Heat 3: Sirois; Pupp; Savoy; Nikstad; Zembo; Poll; Nelson; Androsky DNF: C.
Carlson