Rains Wreck ABC Bike Race Night
Ashland, WI, July 8 — The race track was smooth, wide and fast. The car count was tremendous. The crowd was enthusiastic. And the kids were ready to race their bikes at the ABC Raceway on Saturday night.
And then the rains came.
A season-high 104 cars registered for PolyDome Dirt Track Series action on the northern Wisconsin red-clay oval for the Kids’ Bike Race night, presented by Chicago Iron & Supply of Ashland, during a beautiful mid-summer evening. But as soon as the checkered flag was waived over the last qualifying race of the program – the second of two semi-features for the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds – dark clouds moved in from the west and opened up, and a light sprinkle grew into a significant downpour that ruined any chance of saving a perfectly-prepared track, much less allowing the many youngsters in attendance to go onto the racing surface and compete in the popular annual event.
Each of the five feature races – for the WISSOTA Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Mods and Pure Stocks, and for the ABC Six-Cylinders – set for this night will be reslated over the course of the next few Saturday nights at ABC, with a schedule of the make-up races to be announced soon.
Kevin Eder Racing and the ABC Raceway donated bikes that were given away while the crowd awaited the final announcement regarding the show’s cancellation. Interestingly, one of the bikes was won by a young fan visiting from Colorado, while another went home with a youngster from Las Vegas, NV.
Next up at the ABC Raceway will be the 14th annual “Pure Excitement 25” special event for the Pure Stock division on July 15. The event is expected to draw drivers in the entry-level division from several neighboring states, with a final purse to be determined by fan contributions taken in throughout the race program leading up to their 25-lap main event. At press time, the feature winner’s share was expected to be in excess of $850 – nearly seven times more than the usual take-home for a Pure Stock winner.
It has also been announced that the track’s annual “Race to a Cure” cancer awareness fundraiser, originally planned for June 30, has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 29, to be run in conjunction with the Raceway’s fourth annual Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, presented by Zar’s Banquet Hall of Ashland. The program will be co-presented by Northern Clearing Inc of Ashland and Heartland Communications, and it will include free admission to all fans in attendance on the grandstand side, food and beverage specials, prizes and much more.
The Raceway will be accepting free-will donations throughout that night’s race program, with all proceeds to be forwarded on to cancer awareness programs in Ashland and Bayfield Counties. Area organizations are welcome to contact members of the Raceway’s Board of Directors, which are listed on the Raceway’s website, to offer help, reserve vendor space at the track, or arrange for other opportunities to be a part of this community-oriented event.
Hot laps are at 6:15 pm, followed by racing action at 7. “Z-93 Race Night” will air live on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, and stream online at www.wbszfm.com, from 4:30-6 pm with at-the-track news and weather updates.
The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For more information log onto the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com. or on race days call .
RESULTS
WISSOTA MODIFIEDS
Feature: postponed; to be rescheduled.
Heat 1: Bill Byholm, Glidden; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Jacob Hiatt, Mason; Kevin Eder, Ashland; Todd Gehl, Solon Springs; Neil Balduc, Bessemer, MI; Jason Zdroik, Eagle River; Kelly Checkalski, Poplar.
Heat 2: Steve Stuart, Ashland; Greg Chesley, Duluth, MN; Rick Rivord, Superior; Pat Cook, Washburn; Al Uotinen, Superior; Tanner Byholm, Glidden; Brian Mikkonen, Iron River; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls.
WISSOTA SUPER STOCKS
Feature: postponed; to be rescheduled.
Heat 1: Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Cory Casari, Montreal; Randy Spacek, Phillips; Jim Campbell, Two Harbors, MN; Andy LaBarge, Keewatin, MN; Charlie Anderson, Ironwood, MI; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland; Myron Basina, Washburn.
Heat 2: Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Patrick Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Jeff Klopstein, Tomahawk; DJ Keeler, Superior; Shane Kisling, Park Falls; Willie Johnsen Jr, Superior; Kevin Salin, Iron, MN.
Heat 3: Don Muzzy, Ironwood, MI; Greg Kuklinski, Ironwood, MI; Colten Vernon, Ashland; Dave Flynn, Superior; Terran Spacek, Phillips; Scott Lawrence, Superior; Matt Deragon, Ashland.
WISSOTA MIDWEST MODIFIEDS
Feature: postponed; to be rescheduled.
Heat 1: Brady Jokinen, Mellen; Tanner Hicks, Ashland; Ross Fuhrman, Ashland; Jared Stricker, Highbridge; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Mark Kangas, Eveleth, MN; John Kallas, Hurley; Anthony Forfa Jr, Phillips.
Heat 2: Paul Suzik, Ironwood, MI; Ryan Adamzak, Marengo; George Truscott, Greenland, MI; Gunner Peterson, Mason; Cy Hoaglan, Ashland; James Kannegiesser, Hayward; Steve Altman, Mercer; Clay Passuello, Ironwood, MI.
Heat 3: Cody Carlson, Superior; Marcus Dunbar, Wakefield, MI; CJ Hedges Jr, Tripoli; Ryan Barningham, Bayfield; Darren Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Jordan Barningham, Bayfield; Jeremy Lindquist, Ashland; Wayne Stricker, Highbridge.
Heat 4: Tyler Vernon, Ashland; Jesse Aho, Toivola, MI; Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Justin Weinberger, Park Falls; Alex O’Dell, Chisholm, MN; Brandon Copp, Brule; Jake Kruzan, Marengo; Austin Zdroik, Eagle River.
Semi-Feature 1: Duane Dunbar; Kangas; Darren Dunbar; Lindquist; Kallas; J Barningham; Passuello; Forfa.
Semi-Feature 2: Kannegiesser; Hoaglan; W Stricker; O’Dell; Zdroik; Altman; Kruzan; Copp.
ABC SIX-CYLINDERS
Feature: postponed; to be rescheduled.
Heat 1: Tiffany Hudack, Ashland; Scott Ovaska, Marengo; John Darwin, Iron River. Bubba Anderson, Trego; Jonathan Popp, Iron River; Joshua Saunders, Spooner; Devin Dalbec, Ashland.
Heat 2: Randy Graham, Trego; Neil Adamzak, Ashland; Tyler Vernon, Ashland; Dalton Truchon, Ashland; DeJay Jarecki, Ashland; Forrest Schultz, Ashland; Adam Traaholt, Ashland.
WISSOTA PURE STOCKS
Feature: postponed; to be rescheduled.
Heat 1: Kyle Copp, Brule; Cory Jorgensen, Hermantown, MN; Annika Hammitt, Cloquet, MN; Justin Weinberger, Park Falls; Chad Nikstad, Superior; Jake Nevala, Ashland; Matt Olson, Ashland; Kiel Gowin, Cameron; Matt Deragon, Ashland; Brock Beilke, Hayward.
Heat 2: Chad Carlson, Superior; Randy Graham, Trego; Andrew Hanson, Iron River; Dylan Shelton, Wrenshall, MN; Michael Brennan, Ashland; Andy Poll, Two Harbors, MN; Don Livingston, Ashland; Aaron Bernick, Duluth, MN; Joshua Kallas, Hurley; Austin Gibson, Trego.
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