Wi Dirt Racin

 

Menomonie, Wisconsin (June 24, 2016) Friday, June 24, 2016, the Red Cedar Speedway saw amazing weather after no racing for a month. There were no scheduled races in Menomonie the previous week and having had rained out four of the five weeks previous to that, it was almost like a season opener. EO Johnson Business Technologies and Gordy’s Market sponsored the night as the tricky racing surface was smooth but very slippery and offered competitive races for the wins. Seven classes of cars were in attendance as the Hornets, Pure Stocks, and the WISSOTA Poly Dome Dirt Track Series sanctioned Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, Modifieds, and Late Models took to the track. Feature winners included John Kaanta, Ashley Anderson, Bart Steffen, Travis Anderson, Mike Knudtson, Dustin Doughty, and Derrick Johnson.

The T.L. Sinz Plumbing Late Models were paced by Buddy Hanestad and Mark Hessler as they drove side by side before Hessler claimed the spot. It was John Kaanta who shined however, as he masterfully carved the track like a surgeon. Kaanta, the King of Smooth drove past Buddy Hanestad for second and closed on the lead. He overtook the lead from Hessler and began to drive away from the field. Kaanta dominated as he checked out and Rick Hanestad trailed and battled Buddy for third. Kaanta drove on into a different zip code to the checkered flag. It was Buddy Hanestad coming on late as he held everyone else at bay and passed Hessler for second later in the going. Rick Hanestad did the same as he snatched third from Hessler at the line. Jake Redetzke rounded out the top five.

The Tim’s Automotive Modifieds were paced by Steve Hallquist and Kerry Halopka as Hallquist led early. Ashley Anderson closed from the fourth starting position to drive through the middle line to the lead. Fifth starting Jake Hartung moved under Hallquist and set his sights on the leader. Cory Williams drew the only caution of the event when he couldn’t clear the track on a breakdown. Eighth starting Mike Anderson moved to third as Ashley Anderson continued to lead and drive to the victory. Hartung stayed close to Ashley but settled for second. Mike Anderson finished third over Mark Gerth who debuted his new MB Customs modified. Hallquist was scored fifth at the line.

The Johnson Motors Super Stocks saw pole sitter Rick Hallquist share the front row with Chad Gullixson as Hallquist took the lead on the green. Bart Steffen overtook second as Gullixson settled into third. Curt Meyers battled from his eighth starting position and was able to overtake third after a good battle by Gullixson. Steffen worked to get under Hallquist but he held true at the line. Luke Schultz and James Harris spun to draw the caution as Harris restarted in the rear. Myers quickly overtook the lead on the restart but a lap wasn’t completed before Eric Schultz spun and Kyle Helling was called for the caution.

The restart saw Hallquist push up in turn three as Myers made contact and the two became hooked together. They dropped positions rapidly and both fell out of the top five before they separated from each other. The race remained under green as Steffen had found the lead. A yellow flag reset the field but Steffen wasn’t going to relinquish his lead as he restarted and drove to the victory. Ben Hillman made it difficult as he shadowed Steffen to the line. Myers overcame the earlier mishap and finished third. Gullixson had a fine run in fourth as Gunnar Watkins closed out the top five.

The Southworth Chevrolet Midwest Modified feature was filled with dramas as the 23 starters endured five cautions, four of which involved multiple cars and one of which drew the red flag, to finish under yellow due to elapsing the time limit set by the track. Gunnar Watkins led the first lap when the first caution saw four cars involved in turns one and two. The race was restarted with Watkins on the point when the yellow flew again for another five car wreck in turns three and four. They restarted again but Kyle Runkle spun on his own and was relegated to the rear. This time on the green, Travis Anderson used the low line to drive beside the leader at the start and inside to the lead through turns one and two. Anderson continued to lead until the next lap when the red flag flew for a multi car crash coming off turn two onto the backstretch. Seven cars were involved with five being unable to continue the race. Tyler Werner, Jason Richardson, Kyle Runkle, Robbie Johnson, and Justin Claussen, all went to the pits with major damage. Karl Kolek went to the work area and was able to tag onto the rear of the field.

Anderson suffered a flat front left tire as he ran over debris on the track. He elected to not give up his lead and led the field to the green as the drivers were told of a green, white, checkered restart. Anderson who tried to hang on for two laps did not appear affected by the flat tire as he quickly re-established his lead. The final caution flew for a crash involving Kolek, Jake Hanson, and Shane Halopka. The checkered flag was thrown under yellow as Anderson claimed the win from his fourth starting position. It was Watkins in second, followed by sixth starting Jake Smith and ninth starting Nick Koehler. Jesse Bryan rounded out the top five.

The Conrad’s Auto Salvage Street Stock feature saw Ashley Wahlstrom and Hunter VanGilder in the front row. VanGilder drove to the lead as Michael Knudtson closed to take the lead on lap two. Knutson stretched his advantage to the finish and won impressively. VanGilder retired late in the event as Wahlstrom finished second and Hanestad third.

The Kadinger Auto Salvage Pure Stocks were led early by Jeremy Dahl as Dustin Doughty closed to fight for the win. It was Doughty overtaking Dahl as the two raced early. Dahl suddenly spun drawing a caution and he retired early for the evening. Doughty continued to lead as Kent Harmon drove to second. A spinning Lucas Kallenbach drew a yellow flag and reset the field. It was not problem for Doughty however, as he simply stretched his lead to the checkered flag after the restart. Kent Harmon finished second ahead of Pat Smith, Jeff Tisdale, and Kallenbach.

The WAYY 790 Hornets were led to green by Lucas Brackin and Jordan Langer but Derrick Johnson made an impressive first lap, three wide pass for the lead on the first lap after starting eighth. Johnson went on to dominate the event as William Voeltz raced to second as Bradley York, Armond Love, and Jordan Langer closed out the top five.

The Red Cedar Speedway returns to racing action on Friday, July 01, 2016, with the WISSOTA Poly Dome Dirt Track Series sanctioned Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, and Late Models along with the Kadinger Auto Salvage Pure Stocks and Value Implement Hornets. There will be no Modifieds on the card as Dean & Sue’s Bar & Grill and Dick’s RV sponsor the action.

T.L. Sinz Plumbing Late Model Feature: John Kaanta, Buddy Hanestad, Rick Hanestad, Mark Hessler, Jake Redetzke, AJ Diemel, Mike Goodremote, Mike Prochnow, Jesse Glenz, Jim Schmidt, Justin Schmidt, Todd Green DNF, Chad Mahder DNF – Heats not available at writing.

Tim’s Automotive Modified Feature: Ashley Anderson, Jake Hartung, Mike Anderson, Mark Gerth, Steve Hallquist, Cory Bruggeman, Kerry Halopka, Brandon Jensen, Darrel Hazelton, Jeremy Gibson, Cory Williams DNF – Heats not available at writing.

Johnson Motors Super Stock Feature: Bart Steffen, Ben Hillman, Curt Myers, Chad Gullixson, Gunnar Watkins, Adam Soltis, Eric Schultz, Luke Schultz, James Harris, Jesse Redetzke, Kyle Helling, Rick Hallquist DNF, Eric Zitelman DNF – Heats not available at writing.

Southworth Chevrolet Midwest Modified Feature: Travis Anderson, Gunnar Watkins, Jake Smith, Nick Koehler, Jesse Bryan, Shane Halopka, David Swearingen, Karl Kolek, Craig Elliott, Jake Hanson, AJ Morissette, Tony Schill, Tyler Werner DNF, Robbie Johnson DNF, Kyle Runkle DNF, Derek Haas DNF, Mitchell Booth DNF, Justin Claussen DNF, Jason Richardson DNF, Matt Klukas DNF, Andrea Keeney DNF, Josh Wahlstrom DNF, Brent Voeltz DNF, Clark Schwartz DNS – Heats not available at writing.

Conrad’s Auto Salvage Street Stock Feature: Mike Knudtson, Ashley Wahlstrom, Ron Hanestad, Hunter VanGilder DNF – Heats not available at writing.

Kadinger Auto Salvage Pure Stock Feature: Dustin Doughty, Kent Harmon, Pat Smith, Jeff Tisdale, Lucas Kallenbach, Dean Pronschinscke, Tyler Lamm, James Thur, Jeremy Dahl DNF—Heats not available at writing.

WAYY 790 Hornets Feature: Derrick Johnson, William Voeltz, Bradley York, Armond Love, Jordan Langer, Lukas Brakin, Logan Hapy, Travis York, James Kurschner, Adam Hackbarth, Ross Hoffman DNF, Dean Butler DNF, Josh Craighton DNS – Heats not available at writing.

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