Lead changes thrill fans
It was in the WISSOTA Street Stock Feature that the lead changed 4 times. Eagle River’s Frank Gasperini opened the race and led for the first 3 laps. Then Bruce Crossing, Michigan’s Jordan Kurtti got the lead with a pass on the first turn when Gasperini went wide. Gasperini spun out going into the 2nd turn on the 8th lap. During the caution, Kurtti, who had the lead, pulled off the track. Kurtti noticed he had some mechanical problems.
This gave the lead to Eagle River’s Ryan Valeria. Valeria and Langberg battled bumper to bumper for the next 4 laps. “Even with very little room on the inside, (Nate) Langberg squeezed by Ryan (Valeria) to get the lead,” stated Track Official, Mike Trinka. Langberg went on to get the win.
It was in the WISSOTA Street Stock Heat race that Brandon Fraaza found out how challenging the third turn is. Fraaza, of Ringle, has been successful at other tracks but when he got loose on the hairpin 3rd turn, his car went sideways to the bottom of the track. While others cars were involved in this alteration, Fraaza’s car go the worst of it.
It was in the 600 Winged Sprint Feature that Deerbrook’s Jerry Reif opened up with the lead. Then the defending class champion, Ty Springer of Eagle River took the lead. Early in the race, Ty Springer hit a tire on the 3rd turn taking out his spindle and tire. This gave lead back to Jerry Reif, only to lose the lead to his son, Jake. Jake Reif went on to get the win.
The class that has been extremely competitive is the WISSOTA Pure Stock. Bruce Crossing, Michigan’s Tom Lannet opened the race and took the lead for the first 2 laps. Than Bryce Wick from Eagle River got the lead, only to lose it to Jake Ison. Eagle River’s Ison then battled it out the rest of the feature with Jason Eisel. Ison barely held Eisel off for the win.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modified Feature was a repeat of the previous week feature. Once again it started out with Jerry Grasse having the lead early on. Right behind the Phelps racer was the 5 time Defending Class Champion, Jesse Aho of Toivola, Michigan.
“I like racing on a dry track. It is a driver’s track. Early in the race season we go south where they don’t have a lot of clay and the tracks are always dry,” commented Aho. It was the previous week that Aho passed Grasse on the inside going into the challenging ‘hairpin’ 3rd turn. This time, Aho snuck by Grasse on the inside going out of the ‘hairpin’ 3rd turn.
Earlier in the night, Aho and Larry Gasperini connected in the very first turn of the Heat Race. This knocked Aho out of the race. Aho’s crew worked diligently to get his car ready for the Feature. “It was amazing that they got Jesse (Aho) back out to race the final,” commented Kevin Dawson, Track Promoter.
Aho has a slim 8 point lead over the ‘father-son’ tandem from Michigan’s UP, Duane and Marcus Dunbar after the first 3 races of the season.
“I know the great competition we have in this class is ‘gunning’ for me, and I want it that way,” commented Aho.
It is the defending Junior Sprint Class Champion, Dustin Kangas of Phelps that swept the Junior Sprint Feature and Heat. Kangas was involved in an accident on the opening night that forced him out of that night’s races. Kangas also was unable to race the previous week. Thus the point leader in Junior Sprints after the first 3 races is first year racer, Cole Stella of Minocqua.
Stella has 198 points, Katherine Towne is in second with 177, Peyton Towne is in 3rd with 175, and Kangas is in 4th with 104 points.
The first chapter of the Redneck Games took part Friday Night. It was the popular Spectator One on One races. Winning his 3rd Spectator One on One Feature was Eagle River’s Spencer Duncan. “I really enjoy this, and it’s great for the fans. I’d like to see more people try this,” commented Duncan after the races.
This coming Friday Night, the Speedway Trucks will return to the legendary Tri-Oval. This is in addition to the regular weekly schedule of 5 classes. Hot Laps will start at 7:00 pm Central, with racing to start at 7:30 pm.
Eagle River Speedway 6/9/17 Results
WISSOTA Midwest Modified Feature: 1) Jesse Aho, Toivola (MI); 2) Jerry Grasse, Phelps; 3) Marcus Dunbar, Wakefield (MI); 4) Duane Dunbar, Marenisco (MI); 5) Steven Altman, Mercer; 6) Larry Gasperini, Gaastra (MI); 7) Jonathon Miller, Eagle River.
WISSOTA Midwest Modified Heat: 1) Grasse; 2) Duane Dunbar; 3) Marcus Dunbar; 4) Altman; 5) Miller; 6) Gasperini; 7) Aho.
WISSOTA Street Stock Feature: 1) Nate Langberg, Tomahawk; 2) Ryan Valeria, Rhinelander; 3) Dustin White, Conover; 4) Frank Gasperini, Eagle River; 5) Bruce Stanley, Merrill; 6) Jordan Kurtti, Bruce Crossing (MI); 7) Brit Bromann, Eagle River; 8) Brandon Fraaza, Ringle
WISSOTA Street Stock Heat: 1) Kurtti; 2) Valeria; 3) Bromann; 4) Langberg; 5) Gasperini; 6) Stanley; 7) Fraaza; 8) White
Sprint Winged 600 Feature: 1) Jake Reif, Deerbrook; 2) Jerry Reif, Deerbrook; 3) Denver Larson, Shiocton; 4) Tommi-Jo Springer, Eagle River; 5) Mya Towne, Boulder Junction; 6) Dylan Larson, Shiocton; 7) Ty Springer, Eagle River.
Sprint Winged 600 Heat: 1) Jake Reif; 2) Ty Springer; 3) Dylan Larson; 4) Tomi Jo Springer; 5) Jerry Reif; 6) Towne; 7) Denver Larson.
WISSOTA Pure Stock Feature: 1) Jake Ison, Eagle River; 2) Jason Eisel, Rhinelander; 3) Bryce Wick, Eagle River; 4) Isabelle Valeria, Eagle River; 5) Tom Lannet, Bruce Crossing (MI); 6) Don Scharf, Eagle River.
WISSOTA Pure Stock Heat: 1) Ison; 2) Valeria; 3) Wick; 4) Eisel; 5) Lannet; 6) Scharf
Junior Sprint Feature: 1) Dustin Kangas, Phelps; 2) Josie Rae Reif, Deerbrook; 3) Cole Stella, Minocqua; 4) Aaron Towne, Boulder Junction; 5) Jacob Zimmerman, Pewaukee; 6) Peyton Towne, Boulder Junction; 7) Katherine Towne, Boulder Junction.
Junior Sprint Heat: 1) Kangas; 2) Reif; 3) Zimmerman; 4) Stella; 5) Peyton Towne; 6) Katherine Towne; 7) Aaron Towne.
Spectator One on One Champion: Spencer Duncan, Eagle River
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