SHAW STEALS MOD FEATURE AT AMSOIL SPEEDWAY OPENER
Don Shaw of Ham Lake, MN made a rare appearance at AMSOIL
Speedway as officials lifted the lid on the 2014 racing season. Shaw started
the 20 lap Modified main in the fifth starting slot and quickly disposed of the
four cars in front of him taking the lead on the fifth lap. From there it became
a shootout between Shaw and defending track champion Darrell Nelson. The
two battled back and forth exchanging the lead several times for the next ten
laps until Shaw took over for good with five remaining. Nelson was several
car lengths ahead of pole sitter Deven VanHouse whom he battled with in the
first couple of laps. AL Uotinen and Jeff Broking had early skirmishes with
Shaw before he broke to second and set out after Nelson. The only caution of
the event flew on lap six for a Cory Jorgenson spin in turns one and two.
Steve Stuart finished fourth despite an encounter with the first turn wall on
the first lap setting up a complete restart, and Neil Balduc raced to fifth after
starting 15th. Rick Niemi, Kelly Estey, Uotinen, Cory Sersha and Nikki
Wrazidlo rounded out the top ten. A race note: Al Uotinen added to his
record feature laps competed total with another 20. The record now stands at
810 consecutive feature laps completed at the speedway.
Travis Budiaslovich seemed to have the 20 lap Late Model feature well in
hand but with two laps remaining the #31 showed smoke and shuddered to a
halt at the entrance to turn one setting a three lap sprint to the checkered flag.
This incident left the lead to defending track champion Darrell Nelson.
Budiaslovich had plenty of suitors looking to take the lead from the green
flag as he had Harry Hanson and Tim McMann looking to move past. The
caution flag flew with five circuits in when Trevor Wilson looped in turns
one and two. Showing great speed was the #18 of Chris Olson as he slipped
past Kyle Peterlin who had been left in second with the demise of
Budiaslovich’s ride. Olson finished second and in the process turned the
fastest lap of the feature with a 17.471 lap at an average speed of over 78
MPH. Aaron Lillo in fourth and McMann rounded out the top five. Hanson
dropped back to sixth and Wilson was the last car running in the small field
of cars.
Lately in the Midwest Modified division, every where the Estey Brothers
Skeeter and Mack show up everyone is put on notice that they will be the
cars to beat. And it proved to be true again as Skeeter was the 20 lap feature
winner over younger brother Mack. Skeeter also won his heat for the sweep
and Mack finished second in his qualifier. Jake Gondik took the early lead
but a first lap caution for a Mack Estey spin sent him to the rear of the field.
Up front after the restart, Gondik had the measure of the field over Skeeter
Estey and Cody Carlson. Mack Estey was a man on a mission as he carved
his way from the outback charging his way up to battle for fifth with Carey
LePage. Gondik had a huge lead but a bobble up in turn two let Skeeter Estey
close to within three car lengths. At the half way point things fell apart for
the leader and he pulled off and out of the race. At nearly the same time
Carlson pulled off with a flat tire. Leaving the Esteys with the first two spots.
The restart came with 9 laps remaining and Deven VanHouse wedged
himself into second but not for long. Carlson returned but fell out a few laps
later. With five to go it was Skeeter, Mack, VanHouse, LePage and pole sitter
Chris Bretting in the top five. With the departure of Josh Overn from the
field only eight of 16 were running at the finish. Skeeter Estey’s fast lap was
an 18.731 second lap with a top speed of 72 MPH.
The 20 lap Super Stock feature had a caution flag on the first lap over in
turn three for a two car tangle. All cars restarted and Jim Campbell took the
lead. The biggest mover early on was Scott Lawrence. After being pushed
into the pits after a rare breakdown in his heat, he started 15th on the field
and
charged up to 8th in just two laps. Campbell led Tyle Kintner, Dave Flynn
and
Nick Oreskovich in an early breakaway from Andy Davey who was some
distance back in fifth. With five laps in a caution for debris closed up the
field. Campbell still had the lead with Flynn in close proximity. Campbell
bobbled and slid up toward the second turn exit wall and Flynn took
advantage rushing by to the lead by the time Campbell recovered, Kintner,
Oreskovich and Davey sailed by and he suddenly went from the lead back
into the clutches of Lawrence who wanted the fifth spot. Flynn took the win
over Kintner, Oreskovich and a very fast Kevin Burdick who got past Davey
into fourth after starting in 10th.
It was 15 laps for the AMSOIL Pure Stocks with Glenn Dammer and
Lucas Carlson leading the way. Carlson showed strength and raced to the
lead with Mike Blevins passing Dammer for second. The caution flew and
Andy Udeen drove to the pits. Dustin Follett was charged and sent to the rear.
There were 11 laps remaining when this incident occurred instigating an epic
charge to the front by Follett. His charge put him second behind Carlson in
four laps. Follett took aim at the leader and blew by him on the back stretch
to finish the comeback in the winner’s circle. Carlson, Matt Hammitt and a
pair of tens Blevins and former track champion Josh Johnson in the top five.
Results AMSOIL Speedway Opener 5-23-14
WISSOTA Late Model (10 cars)
Feature (20 laps) Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Chris Olson Hibbing; Kyle
Peterlin Hibbing; Aaron Lillo Proctor; Tim McMann Duluth; Harry Hanson
Eveleth; Trevor Wilson Superior DNF: Tyavis Budiaslovich Minneapolis;
Terry Lillo Duluth; Zach Wohlers Hibbing
Heat 1 (8 laps) Hanson; Peterlin; T. Lillo; Olson; Wohlers
Heat 2 (8 laps) McMann; A. Lillo; Nelson; Budiaslovich; Wilson
WISSOTA Modified (22 cars)
Feature (20 laps) Don Shaw Ham Lake; Darrell Nelson hermantown; Deven
VanHouse Silver Bay; Steve Stuart Ashland; Neil Balduc Bessemer; Rick
Niemi Eveleth; Kelly Estey Kelly Lake; Al Uotinen Superior; Cory Sersha
Eveleth; Nikki Wrazidlo Duluth; Cory Jorgenson Hermantown; Pat Cook
Washburn; Brian Mikkonen Iron River; Scott Heikkinen Eveleth DNF: Jeff
Broking Grand Rapids; Cody Wolkowski Thunder Bay; Matt Leer Bruce;
Rick Rivord Superior; Destin Lorimor Superior; Kevin Eder Ashland; Jody
Bellefeuille Duluth DNS: E. J. Hietala Cloquet
Heat 1 (8 laps) Leer; Broking; Sersha; Stuart; Cook; Lorimor; Wolkowski
DNF Heikkinen
Heat 2 (8 laps) Bellefeuille; Niemi; Uotinen; Eder; Mikkonen; Wrazidlo;
Rivord
Heat 3 (8 laps) Nelson; Shaw; VanHouse; Estey; Balduc; Jorgenson DNS:
Hietala
WISSOTA Super Stock (16 cars)
Feature (20 laps) Dave Flynn Superior; Tyler Kintner Hibbing; Nick
Oreskovich Mason; Kevin Burdick Proctor; Andy Davey Hibbing; Scott
Lawrence Superior; Jim Campbell Two Harbors; DJ Keeler Superior; Dan
Tocheri Kakabaka Falls; Dan Yrjanson Carlton; Don Muzzy Ironwood; Mike
Zafadni; Keith Kern Superior; Pat Heikkinen Eveleth DNF: Andy Grymala
Superior; Sawn Rivord Superior
Heat 1 (8 laps) Kintner; Campbell; Keeler; Rivord; Tocheri; Yrjanson;
Zafadni DNF: Larwence
Heat 2 (8 laps) Orskovich; Flynn; Davey; Grymala; Burdick; Kern; Muzzy
WISSOTA Midwest Modified (16 cars)
Feature (20 laps) Skeeter Estey Kelly Lake; Mack Estey Kelly Lake; Deven
VanHouse Silver Bay; Carey LePage Culver; Chris Bretting Washburn;
Andy Inman Hermantown; Kevin Montieth DNF: Josh Overn Mahowta;
Cody Carlson Superior; Ricky Davis Superior; Jake Gondik Foxboro; Justin
Madsen Superior; Dan Kingsley Superior
AMSOIL Pure Stocks (14 cars)
Feature (15 laps) Dustin Follett Cloquet; Lucas Carlson Cloquet; Matt
Hammitt Cloquet; Mike Blevins Hibbing; Josh Johnson Superior; Ryan
Madsen Superior; Ryan Savoy Superior; Chad Nikstad Superior; Glenn
Dammer Hermantown; Jim Cooper Superior DNF: Chad Carlson Superior;
Shaina Rapp Saginaw; Andy Udeen Superior DNS: Jon Hammitt Cloquet
Heat 1 (8 laps) Carlson; Dammer; Blevins; Johnson; Madsen; Rapp; Nikstad
Heat 2 (8 laps) Savoy; Follett; J. Hammitt; C. Carlson; Cooper DNF: J.
Hammitt.
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