VANG CAPTURES GLS MOD FEATURE, HANESTAD TOPS LATE MODLS

By Jerry O’Brien
6-12-20
     A cool, clear spring evening brought out a nice field of 91 cars in a full six
WISSOTA division program at Gondik Law Speedway Friday night June 12th.
Despite the fact that there was a major event at another area track, the car and fan
turnout was very strong. Track conditions were as near perfect as it was possible
to make them with a wide surface that promoted great racing in the main events.

     There were 13 qualifying heats in the six divisions ending at 8:43. After a brief
track grooming session, it was time to bring out the first feature, this one for the
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds. Zach Benson and Travis Krumrei led the field to
the green flag. Benson and Krumrei led early on until Tyler Kintner saw an
opening and split the two leaders coming out on the other side with a lead he never
relinquished. While Kintner led, there was a stout battle going on behind him for
position. Jack Rivord, 2019 track champ Andrew Inman, Jeremy Nelson, Cody
Carlson all had a channce to move up as the racing surface produced multiple
grooves. The first of four caution flags flew when Mike Boston had troubles in
turn one just past half way in the 20 lap event. The restart saw Kintner get a good
one leaving Nelson, Rivord, Carlson and Inman to squabble amongst themselves
while trying to track down Kintner. Kintner was able to keep a couple car lengths
on whomever was second at the time. Late in the event with four laps remaining,
the other Boston brother had problems spinning his number 33C. Kintner held on
to the lead over Rivord, Nelson, Carlson and Inman. A single lap was completed
when the caution flag again appeared, again for Cody Boston in turn two. The
second cause of caution ended his night and racing resumed with three laps
remaining and Kintner holding onto the lead. Another caution flag with two laps
to go brought out the fourth yellow flag of the event setting up a dash to the
checkers  . Kintner held on for those final two circuits to win his first feature at
Gondik Law Speedway in quite a while. Rivord held onto the runner up spot ahead
of McLean Andrews who had come from 16th to finish third. Nelson was fourth,
Inman fifth and Carlson sixth. Rookie driver Brady Uotinen had a good run
moving from 12th to 8th.
     Next on the agenda was the WISSOTA Super Stock feature. Andrew Mackey
and Kyle Copp led the field to the green. A Jamie Reberg spin in turn one brought
out the caution flag with one in the books. Copp held onto the point at the restart
with Tristan LaBarge, Mackey, Keith Kern, Kevin Burdick and Dave Flynn
following. A slowing car was dropping fluid on the racing surface bringing out yet
another caution flag. At this point it appeared that Scott Lawrence was on the
move having moved from 18th to just outside the top ten in 11th. On the restart
Copp led LaBarge, Mackey, Burdick, Flynn, Kern, Patrick Beeksma and D. J.
Keeler with 17 laps to go. Three laps later Tyler Kroening encountered problems
and pulled off the track on the back stretch, just not far enough causing the caution
flag to be thrown. This restart came with 14 laps remaining.  Copp clung to the
lead as things settled down a bit for a long green flag run. At the half way point
and past it, Copp continued to stay in front of any challengers. Hanging around in
the top runners was Burdick who finally worked his way up to second and set out
to track down the leader. Soon he was right on Copp’s heels as the laps flew by.
With three laps to go Burdick made his move and drove past Copp who then fell
into the clutches of Flynn. Copp was able to stay in second to the checkered flag
as LaBarge and Keeler finished in the top five.
     Next out onnto the speedway were the ground pounding WISSOTA Late
Models for their 25 lap feature. Veteran Tim McMann was on the pole flanked by
Kevin Carlson driving the 55c of John Meeds. There was a caution on the start
when Robbie Cooper had trouble in turn one. The restart came with no laps
complete. This time Carlson got the jump and led McMann for a couple of laps but
it was the sixth starting Rick Hanestad in his first event of the season, who put the
pressure on Carlson. Hanestad soon made his way past Carlson who was busy
fending off Kyle Peterlin. Hanestad showed strong horsepower as he pulled away
from the battle behind him. Hanestad’s son Buddy moved up and spent some laps
trying to catch his father before giving way to Peterlin. Also on the move was
rookie Late Model driver Buzzy Adams who was able to get past Peterlin to
second but could not catch Hanestad. Buddy Hanestad moved to fourth and Deven
VanHouse rounded out the top five with a fifth place finish.
     Hanestad had not won here at Gondik Law Speedway since capturing one of
the Twin Ports Twin 25’s features in 2017.
      It was then time for 20 laps of WISSOTA Modified mayhem. Veteran Todd
Gehl and rookie Modified pilot Brandon Copp were the front row for this event.
At the green, Gehl jumped out front with Copp and Danny Vang following. Vang
got by Copp, closed on Gehl and made the pas for the lead. Gehl then fell back
into the clutches of Deven VanHouse. Jody Bellefeuille soon worked is way to
second and proceeded to harass Vang for the lead. Johnny Broking followed
Bellefeuille forward from eighth. The only caution flag of the race flew with seven
laps remaining when Tyler Luger spun his number 88 at the bottom of turn four.
The restart came with seven laps to go. Vang was out front, but Belefeuille was
determined and the pair put on a show side by side. Bellefeuille was able to get a
nose out front on the back stretch, but was unable to complete the pass on the front
stretch. Vang held on to take the win, his first since August of 2019 at the
speedway. Johnny Broking, Al Uotinen in a good run, and VanHouse were the top
five. A strong run was put in by Donnie Lofdahl who finished seventh from 12th.
     Cory Jorgensen must have been watching Tyler Kintner in the Super Stock A
Main as he drove from the second row in between the pole sitter Tyler Kashinske
and McLean Andrews to take the lead in the 12 lap Pure Stock main event.
Jorgensen was able to stay on top while James Vendela, Trevor Treviranus and
Jared Akervik battled to see who could break out and chase down Jorgensen. With
five laps to go, David Pederson sspun in turn four. Jorgensen retained the lead
over Vendela, who, in turn, way battling with Treviranus. Treviranus maade a
strong outside move on the final lap and nipped Jorgernsen of the final turn for his
second straight win. Vendela, Jon Burt, and Akervik rounded out the top five.
     Tyler Schramm started from the pole in the Hornet feature and kept the number
16 out front the entire distance to take the win. Only one caution flag marred the
12 lap run when DeJay Jareki and Joshua Johnson, Jr tangled in turn two with four
laps remaining. Schramm held on to take the win, his first ever even though he
won the Gondik Law Speedway Hornet championship in 2019.