SABRASKI DOUBLES UP AT GONDIK LAW SPEEDWAY OPENER
By Jerry O’Brien
5-14-21
(Superior, WI)
5-14-21
(Superior, WI)
The long awaited opening night at Gondik Law Speedway in Superior finally
happened on a near perfect day for racing. Comfortable temperatures brought out a
good crowd of race fans who had been waiting for the day to come.
An excellent field of 112 WISSOTA racers crowed into the pits in the six
divisions offered on a weekly basis led by a stellar field of 28 Midwest Modifieds
and 22 Modifieds set to race on a track that appeared to be nearly in mid season
shape.
The 19 qualifying heats were run off with few problems finishing around 8:45.
There were a pair of heats in the WISSOTA Late Models won by Todd Frank and
Darrell Nelson. The WISSOTA Modified heats went to Shane Sabraski, Jod
Bellefeuile and Brandon Copp. There were also three heats in the WISSOTA
Super Stocks won by Dave Flynn, Kevin Burdick and Dexton Koch. The three
Midwest Modified qualifying heats went to Jack Rivord, Brady Uotinen and
McLean Andrews while the only B Feature of th night was won by Cody Carlson.
The Pure Stock heats went to newcomer Bryar Zimmerman and Jared Akervik.
Qualifying was finished up by two heats of Hornets that were won by DJ Jareki
and Mac Johnson.
After a short intermission for track preparation, the first evet to hit the
speedway was a 20 lap go for the Midwest Modifieds. Shaned Howell and brady
Uotinen led the full field to the green flag, but soon, it seemed a pattern was
developing…run a lap, have a caution flag. This occurred for the first three laps
before they settled down running the rest of the event with only one more
stoppage. Sophomore racer Brady Uotinen corralled the lead a couple of laps in
and dominated the rest of the way for his first ever feature event win completing
the sweep. Zach Benson, Jack Rivord, Ryan Savoy and Howell finished in the top
five. Jason VandeKamp, Cody Carlson (from 19th after winning the B Main),
Andrew Inman, McLean Andrews and Dalton Mains completed the top ten
finishers.
It was also 20 laps 20 laps for the WISSOTA Super Stocks as Shane Sabraski
and Kyle Copp led the 21 car pack to the green flag. Sabraski wasted little time
using the pole to grab the lead and never looked back leading the entire distance
leaving the battle for position far behind him. And battle they did as Copp, Dave
Flynn, Dexton Koch, Kevin Burdick and DJ Keeler skirmished for the runner up
spot. Three caution flags slowed the action but Sabraski was able to keep his
distance from the rest each time. Lawrence put on a charge from the third row after
getting by Copp after the second caution period. Sabraski also finished the sweep
of the division with a convincing win for his tenth feature win starting in 2020 at
the speedway. Copp, Burdick and Koch were the top five.
The WISSOTA Late Models were next all 15 of the cars were able to start the
main event as Todd Frank and Darrell Nelson started from the front row with the
veteran Nelson who has many laps around the four tenths oval, bolting into the
lead as Jeff Massingill raced from fourth to second. Tim McMann, another former
champion Travis Budiaslovich and Pat Doar trailed. It did not take Budiaslovich to
work his way up to battle with Massingill for second. Budiaslovich got by
Massingill and began to reel in Nelson. Budiaslovich caught up to Nelson and
worked his way past to the lead. For all intents and purposes, the race was over at
that point as Budiaslovich widened his lead racing out to the win by a margin of
4.5 second over Nelson. Massingill, Doar and defending champ Deven VanHouse
rounded out the top five. There was not a caution flag in sight during the entire 25
lap event. Nelson turned the fastest lap of the event at 17.536 seconds and 82.12
mph average.
As the 20 car field in the WISSOTA Modifieds rolled onto the speedway, Rice
MN’s Shane Sabraski lined up on the pole looking for his second sweep of the
night. Shane Howell kept him company on the outside of the front row. At the
green Sabraski swept into the lead followed by Howell and second row starter Bob
Broking. Broking quickly got past Howell and set out after Sabraski while Jody
Bellefeuille got to third shadowed by Skeeter Estey. Al Uotinen moved forward
from seventh to the top five. Broking kept up his pursuit of Sabraski as Uotinen
kept working until he was able to track down Broking an take over second.
Sabraski led all 20 circuits for the win s Jody Bellefeuille and Mike Anderson
finished in the top five.
The Pure Stocks were up next and a dozen of the 13 on had were able to make
the start of the 12 lap feature. Only newcomer Jessie Limberios (#131) was unable
to make the event. On the pole was rookie AJ House who had just made the move
after performing well in the Hornet division. Outside pole sitter Bryar Zimmerman
in the 00Z (ooze?) Took the early lead as Jared Akervik jumped into second
followed by Aaron Bernick. Akervik quickly annexed the lead over 00Z but a
caution flag, the one of two in the race, flew for the #64 of David Pederson. These
two caution periods occurred with no laps completed. Akervik held onto the lead
to the checkered flag as Trevor Treviranus moved from sixth to capture second
place. Bernick, former champion Cory Jorgensen and Zimmerman finished top
five.
The final race of the evening was another 12 lap affair for the Hornet division,
this one also starting 13 cars all of whom were able to start. Hunter McDougall
started from the pole with Mac Johnson flanking him. At the green McDougall
took off like a scared rabbit but DJ Jarecki spun bringing out the caution flag.
Jarecki went into the pits but quickly rejoined the field at the back. At the restart
McDougall took off again pulling away form the field taking a huge lead. Jarecki
was a man on a mission and quickly moved to second but could make little
headway on the leader. McDougall was the runaway winner over Jarecki. Johnson,
Carson Gotelaere and Reid Johnson finished in the top five.
Coming up next Friday May 21 is another “Friday Night at the Races” weekly
event.
