Close, Closer, and Closest
Brad Erickson
Menomonie, Wisconsin, on June 03, 2022, the Red Cedar Speedway presented the WISSOTA Auto Racing Race of Champions Qualifier sponsored by Airtec Sports of Menomonie, Menomonie Transportation, and Dirt Track Specialties Night, The WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, and the RCS Hornets were all in attendance. There were double features in the Late Models to make up for a previous rainout. Features were won by John Kaanta, Kevin Eder, Ashley Anderson, Ben Hillman, Shadow Kitchner, Kyle Genett, and Brian Schott.
The T L Sinz Plumbing, Inc. WISSOTA Late Models ran a make-up feature from the rain out on May 06, 2022, when Greg Nippoldt and Sam Mars had topped the heats. On the drop of the green of the feature, Steve Hucovski jumped to the lead and was chased by John Kaanta. Kaanta wasted no time tracking down the leader and driving away. Kaanta maintained a half straightway lead throughout the race which was never slowed by caution. Hucovski ran a solid second as Sam Mars moved into third late in the going. Jim Carlson and Jake Redetzke rounded out the top five.
In WISSOTA Late Models regular night’s action saw Greg Nippoldt and Mike Prochnow win the heats as Kevin Eder moved from the pole position into the lead in the feature. Sam Mars overtook second position as Jake Redetzke moved from sixth to third. There was a late yellow which closed up the pack and Eder led them back to green and on to the checkered. However, Mars and Redetzke battled and swapped positions back and forth directly in his shadow. Mark Hessler raced to fourth and Nippoldt finished fifth.
Ashley Anderson swept the Southworth Chevrolet, Buick, GMC WISSOTA Modified heat and feature, but it took every bit of the feature race to decide the winner. Anderson started outside of Shane Halopka on the front row, and it was Halopka taking the lead. Halopka drove himself to a small advantage, but Anderson began to diamond turns one and two and closed the gap. Anderson caught the leader and pulled even on a few occasions late. Coming through the final set of corners of the race, Anderson worked under Halopka. He was able to use a lap car as a pick, bottling up the leader, moved to the point, and flashed under the checkered flag with and exciting win. Cory Williams started dead last and raced to third as Adam Ayotte and AJ Roschen filled out the top five finishers.
It was Ben Hillman and Jesse Redetzke winning the Union Trailer Power Equipment WISSOTA Super Stock heats and they finished one two in the feature race too. It was Hillman on the pole with the multi-time 2022 winner Terran Spacek to his outside. Hillman took the lead and ran his familiar high line out-front all race long. It wasn’t all that easy though as Spacek worked the low line in lapped traffic and pulled even with the leader for at least two laps at the line. A late caution slowed the pace and as Hillman controlled the restart, Redetzke used the high groove to overtake second. At the checkered flag it was Hillman, eighth starting Redetzke, Spacek, Matthew Larson, and Cory Davis in the top five.
Kennedy Swan, Shadow Kitchner, and Nick Koehler topped the Tim’s Automotive Machine WISSOTA Midwest Modified heats and the feature was not decided until the last few inches of the race. David Swearingen took control of the feature from the start and at one point after a caution flag restart, Kitchner was able to move side by side for the lead. However, Swearingen remained unshaken, and he powered back out front. Kitchner nabbed the lead again but once again Swearingen wasn’t willing to settle for second and he took the point back.
A late caution forced a green, white, checkered, two lap shootout. The restart saw third running Swan suffer brake issues and drop out of the top five. Swearingen and Kitchner raced door to door to the checkered flag as Kitchner was scored the winner by inches at the line. Swearingen had a wonderful run in second as Koehler came hone third. Jay Richardson raced from tenth to fourth as Nick Ayotte finished fifth.
The Conrad’s Auto Salvage, Inc. WISSOTA Street Stocks saw Kyle Genett and Kolby Kiehl winning their heats and Genett raced from the pole to the win. Genett held a comfortable lead until a lap nine caution set the stage for Braden Brauer to take a look under the leader on the restart. Genett never faltered, maintained the point, and drove to the checkered flag unchallenged the remainder of the event. Brauer finished second as Kaden Woodie, Kolby Kiehl, and Andrew Hanson drove home in the top five.
It was Roy Cooper and Brian Schott in the Value Implement RCS Hornet heats as Schott bolted from the pole to the win in the feature. It was Schott, Brandon Gleiter, and Roy Cooper leaving everyone else behind to finish in the top three. Jason Bauer raced from 13th to fourth and Preston Coombs scored a top five finish.
The Red Cedar Speedway returns to racing on June 10, 2022, with the MDA Fill the Boot Night – Menomonie Fire Department, Keyes Chevytown, and Mars Race Cars sponsoring the racing action. The WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, and the RCS Hornets will all be in attendance.
WISSOTA Late Model Feature for 05/06/2022 (20 Laps): 1. 85-John Kaanta[3]; 2. 15-Steve Hucovski[1]; 3. 28-Sam Mars[5]; 4. 7C-Jim Carlson[4]; 5. 27-Jake Redetzke[8]; 6. 55N-Greg Nippoldt[7]; 7. 13-Mark Hessler[6]; 8. 92-Aaron Wilson[11]; 9. 73-Larry Fitzsimmons[12]; 10. 34-Jordan Langer[10]; 11. (DNF) 14-Robbie Johnson[13]; 12. (DNF) 65-Jake Miller[9]; 13. (DNS) 22-Nick Panitzke
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 55N-Greg Nippoldt[3]; 2. 85-John Kaanta[2]; 3. 27-Jake Redetzke[7]; 4. 15-Steve Hucovski[5]; 5. 65-Jake Miller[6]; 6. 92-Aaron Wilson[4]; 7. (DNF) 14-Robbie Johnson[1]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 28-Sam Mars[1]; 2. 22-Nick Panitzke[2]; 3. 7C-Jim Carlson[4]; 4. 13-Mark Hessler[6]; 5. 34-Jordan Langer[3]; 6. (DNF) 73-Larry Fitzsimmons[5]
T L Sinz Plumbing, Inc WISSOTA Late Model Feature (20 Laps): 1. 22E-Kevin Eder[1]; 2. 28-Sam Mars[4]; 3. 27-Jake Redetzke[6]; 4. 13-Mark Hessler[7]; 5. 55N-Greg Nippoldt[5]; 6. 7C-Jim Carlson[2]; 7. 65-Jake Miller[9]; 8. 68-Mike Prochnow[3]; 9. 85-John Kaanta[10]; 10. 15-Steve Hucovski[14]; 11. 73-Larry Fitzsimmons[12]; 12. 14-Robbie Johnson[11]; 13. 34-Jordan Langer[13]; 14. (DNF) 92-Aaron Wilson[8]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 55N-Greg Nippoldt[2]; 2. 92-Aaron Wilson[1]; 3. 28-Sam Mars[5]; 4. 7C-Jim Carlson[4]; 5. 65-Jake Miller[6]; 6. 14-Robbie Johnson[3]; 7. (DNF) 15-Steve Hucovski[7]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 68-Mike Prochnow[1]; 2. 27-Jake Redetzke[4]; 3. 13-Mark Hessler[6]; 4. 22E-Kevin Eder[3]; 5. 85-John Kaanta[7]; 6. 73-Larry Fitzsimmons[5]; 7. 34-Jordan Langer[2]
Southworth Chevrolet, Buick, GMC WISSOTA Modified Feature (20 Laps): 1. 81-Ashley Anderson[2]; 2. 3JR-Shane Halopka[1]; 3. W-Cory Williams[9]; 4. 04JR-Adam Ayotte[7]; 5. 71-AJ Roschen[4]; 6. 27H-Steve Hallquist[3]; 7. R2-Jason Richardson[6]; 8. 14-Brad Johnson[8]; 9. (DNF) 10-Daniel Bargender[5]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 81-Ashley Anderson[1]; 2. 10-Daniel Bargender[3]; 3. 3JR-Shane Halopka[2]; 4. 71-AJ Roschen[5]; 5. 27H-Steve Hallquist[6]; 6. R2-Jason Richardson[7]; 7. 04JR-Adam Ayotte[8]; 8. 14-Brad Johnson[9]; 9. (DNF) W-Cory Williams[4]
Union Trailer Power Equipment WISSOTA Super Stock Feature (18 Laps): 1. 22JR-Ben Hillman[1]; 2. 207-Jesse Redetzke[8]; 3. 22T-Terran Spacek[2]; 4. 8-Matthew Larson[7]; 5. 20-Cory Davis[5]; 6. 71-Brandon Clemens[6]; 7. 2-Bart Steffen[9]; 8. 14L-Dylan Leu[11]; 9. 77-Wayne Bignell[10]; 10. 18B-Dean Butler[12]; 11. 8X-Jim Harris[4]; 12. (DNF) 34-Joe Miller[3]; 13. (DNF) 7UP-Rick Peterson[13]; 14. (DNS) 55-Ron Mahder
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 22JR-Ben Hillman[1]; 2. 71-Brandon Clemens[6]; 3. 8-Matthew Larson[3]; 4. 8X-Jim Harris[4]; 5. 2-Bart Steffen[7]; 6. 14L-Dylan Leu[5]; 7. (DNF) 55-Ron Mahder[2]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 207-Jesse Redetzke[6]; 2. 22T-Terran Spacek[4]; 3. 20-Cory Davis[1]; 4. 34-Joe Miller[5]; 5. 77-Wayne Bignell[7]; 6. 18B-Dean Butler[3]; 7. 7UP-Rick Peterson[2]
Tim’s Automotive Machine WISSOTA Midwest Modified Feature (18 Laps): 1. 68-Shadow Kitchner[7]; 2. 5X-David Swearingen[1]; 3. 13X-Nick Koehler[5]; 4. R1-Jay Richardson[10]; 5. 04N-Nick Ayotte[6]; 6. 18S-Kennedy Swan[4]; 7. 19-Josh Wahlstrom[11]; 8. 89-Matt Klukas[3]; 9. 11X-Jason Schill[9]; 10. 7-Travis Hallquist[8]; 11. 21B-Jesse Bryan[14]; 12. 2-Kyle Kirberger[16]; 13. 13-Derrick Reed[20]; 14. 23-Mitch Weiss[12]; 15. 21-Reese Schlosser[17]; 16. 873-Taven Woodie[15]; 17. (DNF) 12-Matt Everts[18]; 18. (DNF) 87-William Moelter[2]; 19. (DNF) 61-Andrea Keeney[19]; 20. (DNF) 37-Travis Anderson[13]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 18S-Kennedy Swan[2]; 2. 04N-Nick Ayotte[5]; 3. 87-William Moelter[1]; 4. R1-Jay Richardson[7]; 5. 37-Travis Anderson[3]; 6. 2-Kyle Kirberger[6]; 7. 61-Andrea Keeney[4]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 68-Shadow Kitchner[3]; 2. 89-Matt Klukas[1]; 3. 5X-David Swearingen[5]; 4. 19-Josh Wahlstrom[4]; 5. 21B-Jesse Bryan[6]; 6. 21-Reese Schlosser[7]; 7. (DNF) 13-Derrick Reed[2]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 13X-Nick Koehler[2]; 2. 11X-Jason Schill[4]; 3. 7-Travis Hallquist[5]; 4. 23-Mitch Weiss[6]; 5. 873-Taven Woodie[1]; 6. 12-Matt Everts[3]
Conrads Auto Salvage, Inc WISSOTA Street Stock Feature (15 Laps): 1. 16X-Kyle Genett[1]; 2. 34JR-Braden Brauer[5]; 3. 980-Kaden Woodie[7]; 4. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[4]; 5. 20-Andrew Hanson[6]; 6. KOL34-Kolton Brauer[3]; 7. 11JR-Jeff Ekdahl[9]; 8. 42K-Mike Knudtson[8]; 9. 18T-Ben Hillman[2]; 10. (DNF) 10B-Dylan Baskin[11]; 11. (DNS) 10-Derek Baskin
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 16X-Kyle Genett[5]; 2. 42K-Mike Knudtson[1]; 3. KOL34-Kolton Brauer[3]; 4. 20-Andrew Hanson[6]; 5. 11JR-Jeff Ekdahl[4]; 6. 10-Derek Baskin[2]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[2]; 2. 18T-Ben Hillman[1]; 3. 34JR-Braden Brauer[5]; 4. 980-Kaden Woodie[3]; 5. (DNS) 10B-Dylan Baskin
Conrads Auto Salvage, Inc WISSOTA Street Stock Feature (15 Laps): 1. 16X-Kyle Genett[1]; 2. 34JR-Braden Brauer[5]; 3. 980-Kaden Woodie[7]; 4. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[4]; 5. 20-Andrew Hanson[6]; 6. KOL34-Kolton Brauer[3]; 7. 11JR-Jeff Ekdahl[9]; 8. 42K-Mike Knudtson[8]; 9. 18T-Ben Hillman[2]; 10. (DNF) 10B-Dylan Baskin[11]; 11. (DNS) 10-Derek Baskin
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 16X-Kyle Genett[5]; 2. 42K-Mike Knudtson[1]; 3. KOL34-Kolton Brauer[3]; 4. 20-Andrew Hanson[6]; 5. 11JR-Jeff Ekdahl[4]; 6. 10-Derek Baskin[2]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[2]; 2. 18T-Ben Hillman[1]; 3. 34JR-Braden Brauer[5]; 4. 980-Kaden Woodie[3]; 5. (DNS) 10B-Dylan Baskin
Union Trailer Power Equipment WISSOTA Super Stock Feature (18 Laps): 1. 22JR-Ben Hillman[1]; 2. 207-Jesse Redetzke[8]; 3. 22T-Terran Spacek[2]; 4. 8-Matthew Larson[7]; 5. 20-Cory Davis[5]; 6. 71-Brandon Clemens[6]; 7. 2-Bart Steffen[9]; 8. 14L-Dylan Leu[11]; 9. 77-Wayne Bignell[10]; 10. 18B-Dean Butler[12]; 11. 8X-Jim Harris[4]; 12. (DNF) 34-Joe Miller[3]; 13. (DNF) 7UP-Rick Peterson[13]; 14. (DNS) 55-Ron Mahder
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 22JR-Ben Hillman[1]; 2. 71-Brandon Clemens[6]; 3. 8-Matthew Larson[3]; 4. 8X-Jim Harris[4]; 5. 2-Bart Steffen[7]; 6. 14L-Dylan Leu[5]; 7. (DNF) 55-Ron Mahder[2]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 207-Jesse Redetzke[6]; 2. 22T-Terran Spacek[4]; 3. 20-Cory Davis[1]; 4. 34-Joe Miller[5]; 5. 77-Wayne Bignell[7]; 6. 18B-Dean Butler[3]; 7. 7UP-Rick Peterson[2]
Value Implement RCS Hornet Feature (10 Laps): 1. 21S-Brian Schott[1]; 2. 20-Brandon Gleiter[5]; 3. 9JR-Roy Cooper[3]; 4. 14B-Jason Bauer[13]; 5. 15C-Preston Coombs[6]; 6. 42-Vanessa Seipel[7]; 7. 17-Randy Stensgaard[4]; 8. 13W-Philip Wittenberg[11]; 9. 31-Alanna Karis[9]; 10. 3-Alexander Lessard[8]; 11. (DNS) 511-Shawn Poston; 12. (DNS) 715-Daniel Schwartz; 13. (DNS) 19C-Colin Wittenberg; 14. (DNS) 511JR-Maison Poston
Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 9JR-Roy Cooper[2]; 2. 20-Brandon Gleiter[3]; 3. 17-Randy Stensgaard[7]; 4. 3-Alexander Lessard[6]; 5. 31-Alanna Karis[1]; 6. 13W-Philip Wittenberg[4]; 7. (DNS) 511JR-Maison Poston
Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 21S-Brian Schott[7]; 2. 511-Shawn Poston[3]; 3. 15C-Preston Coombs[2]; 4. 42-Vanessa Seipel[6]; 5. 19C-Colin Wittenberg[5]; 6. (DNF) 715-Daniel Schwartz[1]; 7. (DNF) 14B-Jason Bauer[4]
