SIXTH ANNUAL BORDER BATTLE OFF TO STRONG START
By Jerry O’Brien
(7/1/22) Superior,WI
Friday served as the first day of the Annual Border Battle held at the very
beginning of the Fourth of July weekend, this night being the first day of the sixth
edition of the two day event held at the Gondik Law Speedway. Since we are so
close to the Canadian Border, we, as a matter of course, draw many Canadian fans
as well as Canadian racers, hence, “Border Battle”.
This edition was for WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks,
Pure Stocks and Hornets (Four cylinder cars meant to be a starter division). It is a
special event aimed specifically at the “Big Mods” paying a whopping $10,000 to
win for the class. Of course the Modifieds have to work harder than the other
divisions invited. Theirs takes two days, the first spent qualifying for the “Big”
Money” by running two rounds of heat races. After these two rounds are
completed participants then have to wait to find out who the top sixteen recipients
of “Passing Points” are as they are locked into the main event. The rest of the
participants then have to go through B Features and more hoops to find out who
will move on to the big show which pays $1000 to start.
But that occurs on Saturday the second of July.
This format usually brings out the Modifieds that fill the bill and make it worth
their while to make the attempt. The format always brings out a strong field of
Modifieds. This time a nice group of 47 Modifieds participated, besides the
Modifieds the rest of the field brings WISSOTA Super Stocks, Midwest
Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Hornets. This year’s group totaled 78 more cars
bringing the total to 102 entries.
First on the docket was the two rounds of WISSOTA Modified heat races to
determine who will be locked in and who will face more qualifying the second
day. The rest of the participants not only had to run heat races that day, but also a
feature event.
The Midwest Modifieds ran three heats and a B Feature were up first. Cory
Mehrwerth won the B Feature and Brady Uotinen, Cole Boston and Ashley
Mehrwerth won the three heats. The WISSOTA Super Stocks raced three heats
won by Dexton Koch, Dylan Nelson and Nick Oreskovich. Shane Sabraski won
the feature event. As he is prone to do, Cory Jorgensen led the small contingent of
WISSOTA Pure Stocks winning the first of two heats and coming back to win the
feature while Aaron Bernick won the other heat race. The Hornet class had such a
small turnout that only a single heat race was necessary. It was won by Paul
George. Justin Schelitzche topped the 12 lap feature race.
In the first round of heat races in the Modifieds, Jody Bellefeuille, Daniel
Bargender, Don Eischens, Bob Broking and Dan Ebert were the winners. In the
second round Kelly Estey, Johnny Broking, Jody Bellefeuille (again) Mike
Anderson and Darrell Nelson won heat races. No announcement was made about
Passing Points and who would move on to the big show the following day.
It was a full evening of racing to finish up the schedule and send the crowd off
to their campers or housing without knowing how the Modified qualifying heats
would line up in the feature races and who would start where in the big race.
Saturday’s racing would add up the answer for all…
