Dominant Runs Bring Familiar Names to Victory Lane in GLS Northern Nationals Finale
by Nick Gima
Superior, WI, September 10 – Dominant performances and post-race drama marked the final race night of the 34th annual XR Northern Nationals, presented by Bay Lock & Security and JF Brennan Co, at the Gondik Law Speedway on Saturday.
After a day of heavy rains washed out Friday’s program, track prep crews worked diligently to prepare the huge northwestern Wisconsin oval. Their efforts paid off with a wide, smooth track that offered more than its fair share of three- and four-wide racing all night.
Darrell Nelson, of Hermantown, MN, started on the pole and led every one of the 40 laps in the WISSOTA Late Model headliner for his seventh Northern Nationals trophy in the division and 15th overall. Nelson is almost impossible to beat at this track when he starts up front, and he proved it once again despite a couple of late-race restarts and some tough competition.
Nelson outsprinted Kyle Peterlin out of the first turn and took command right away, flying to a lead of well over a second within the first half-dozen laps. Peterlin had his hands full trying to fend off a determined Kevin Eder, with six-time Northern Nationals Late Model winner Pat Doar waiting patiently behind them.
Nelson’s lead was nearly two full seconds when he caught the tail end of the field on lap 10, just as Eder used an inside move to take second away from Peterlin. A couple of circuits later, Doar also overtook Peterlin. Eder was able to trim Nelson’s lead in half as the leaders negotiated the slower traffic, but Nelson kept at least a car or two between himself and Eder, and as the race reached halfway Nelson split his way through a group of backmarkers with a daring four-wide pass.
Eder had slipped through the tail-enders with efficiency as well and, with 12 laps to go, was within a half-second of Nelson. The leader then put John Kaanta a lap down on the next trip around, and as Eder closed on Kaanta to do the same, contact between the two sent Kaanta on a wild spin into turn 3, nearly hitting the concrete wall at the top of the turn.
Officials deemed Eder to be the cause of the spin, putting him back to 11th – the last car on the lead lap of the 20 or so still running at this point – and on row 5 for the restart, with Doar now second and Jayme Lautigar alongside him in third. Nelson once again drew away to a full-second advantage, but James Giossi’s spin on lap 31 gave Doar one last shot at Nelson.
Fortunately for Nelson he had a lot of car left, as he disappeared from Doar and the rest for a final margin of victory of three full seconds. Eder battled his way back to a third-place finish, with Lautigar and an impressive Buddy Hanestad completing the top five.
Another strong performance for the win came in the WISSOTA Modified A-main, where Duluth, MN’s Jody Bellefeuille also led flag to flag for his fourth Northern Nationals title. After a Kelly Estey spin on the initial corner of the race, Bellefeuille was never seriously challenged over the remaining 30 non-stop laps.
On that lone restart, Bellefeuille beat Nelson and Mike Anderson out of the first turn and stretched out to a full-second lead within three laps, while Anderson debated second with Dan Bargender a few lengths ahead of the race for fourth between familiar foes Nelson and Al Uotinen.
Bellefeuille reached the tail-end of the field by lap 7 and used the extreme outer lane of the wide, smooth race surface to sweep around the slower traffic. Anderson was able to close to within a half-second on the leader and, on lap 10, he took a brief look to the inside in an attempt to pull alongside. But Bellefeuille closed that door quickly and swept around a pack of backmarkers to once again build on his advantage.
On lap 22 Bellefeuille found himself some open space to run and extended his advantage over the closing laps to 1.7 seconds at the final stripe. Anderson was well ahead of Bargender, and Nelson and Ashley Anderson completed a top-five that had plenty of space and a lot of lapped racers between them.
Shane Sabraski of Rice, MN, has agruably enjoyed more success at Gondik Law Speedway than any other driver here over the past ten seasons, and he added to that success on Saturday with his seventh WISSOTA Super Stock feature win of 2022 here, his fifth Northern Nationals win in the division, and his seventh event win overall in his career.
And this win may have been his most dominant, as he started outside on the front row, beat polestarter Dylan Nelson out of the first turns, and led every lap as the race ran 25 circuits without interruption.
Sabraski was out to a nearly-full-second lead on Nelson by lap 4, while well back of the lead pair Jordan Henkemeyer was in a dogfight with Andrew Mackey, Joey Jensen and Kyle Copp for third. By the race’s mid-point Sabraski had begun to encounter the tail end of the 25-car field, but by deftly maneuvering through the slower traffic he not only maintained a healthy advantage on Nelson, he built on it considerably.
Sabraski basically cemented the win in the race’s late stages when he got by a tightly-packed group of six cars battling two- and three-wide for position in a matter of less than half a lap. Nelson, who trailed the leader by about two seconds when Sabraski had caught that pack, struggled to get through that same group of cars once he had caught them, allowing Sabraski to extend his lead considerably. By the time the checkers fell Sabraski had a lead of 5.35 seconds – or roughly a full straightaway – on Nelson.
Henkemeyer was able to catch Nelson late in the run but could not set up a pass for position and wound up third, followed closely by Copp and Mackey.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modified 20-lap feature provided the most drama of the four main events, but not until after the race had been run. Andrew Inman edged ahead of polestarter David Swearingen to grab the early lead, followed closely by James Vendela, Travis Anderson and Jason Schill. As battles for the positions behind him began to heat up, Inman was able to pull away to a relatively comfortable 1.35-second advantage in just three laps.
Swearingen, who had won a Northern Nationals Mid-Mod feature in each of the past three years, separated himself from Vendela and began to track down Inman, while eighth-starting Shane Howell moved up to duel with Vendela on lap 6 and eventually overtook him for third a couple of circuits later. It took just three laps for Swearingen to trim Inman’s 1.5-second advantage in half, and just after mid-race Swearingen slipped low to take over the lead.
Swearingen held a small cushion on Inman on lap 15 when the long green-flag run came to a halt, as five racers running mid-pack collected into a mess in turn 2 to bring about the first of a series of caution flags. On the ensuing restart three more cars ground together to a halt coming to the green flag – this time involving top-ten runners Anderson, Jason Schill and Brady Uotinen. Then, on the final attempt to go back to green, third-running Howell’s car slowed dramatically, forcing everyone behind to take evasive action and collecting the cars of Jason VandeKamp and Cole Chernosky, who were also both running in the top-ten.
Only 13 of the original 25 starters remained for the five-lap dash to the finish, and Inman gave Swearingen a stout challenge for the win, but Swearingen held on for a slim .6-second advantage at the checkers. During the post-race inspections, however, it was determined that Swearingen’s car failed to meet specifications, thus awarding a first-ever Northern Nationals win to Canyon, MN’s Inman.
Zach Benson, who qualified for the A-main by winning a semi-feature and started 17th, took advantage of a strong car and several drivers’ bad luck to finish third, just ahead of Vendela. Fifth-to-the-checkers Mitch Weiss’ car also failed a technical inspection after the event, thus giving the position to 21st-starting Ryan Savoy.
The finale of the race weekend was a special “dash for cash” for the dozen Canadian drivers who brought their Midwest Mods to Superior for the weekend’s festivities. Rookie Kolby Reed led from the pole for the first couple of laps until Chernosky slipped by on the inside, and the veteran from Thunder Bay, ON, pulled away in dominant fashion to an 8.1-second lead – nearly half a lap – over Bill Speak, Garrett Paull, Kevin Monteith and Reed.
Chernosky collected $680 for his win out of a total purse of nearly $2,700, made up entirely of donations from fans in attendance and various businesses collected during Saturday’s race program.
Prior to the start of Saturday’s program, two Midwest Mod drivers held a two-lap “grudge match” to help reveal the gender of a young local couple’s upcoming newborn. At the checkers, local second-generation racer Brady Uotinen’s blue car just edged out 15-year-old sensation Kennedy Swan’s racer, adorned with pink numbers, to announce that the new addition will be a boy. The event was genuinely enjoyed by the capacity crowd.
The Gondik Law Speedway will close out its 2022 racing season with second annual Cam-Am Clash, to be held October 13-15. All eight WISSOTA-sanctioned divisions will be in action, with the possibility that one or more National Championships could be decided here during the final weekend for WISSOTA points. For more information, log on to the track’s website, www.gondiklawspeedway.com.
Results
WISSOTA Late Models
Feature: 1-10: Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Pat Doar, New Richmond; Kevin Eder, Ashland; Jayme Lautigar, Gilbert, MN; Buddy Hanestad, Boyceville; Danny Vang, Deerwood, MN; Travis Budisalovich, Minneapolis, MN; Deven VanHouse, Silver Bay, MN; Kyle Peterlin, Hibbing, MN; James Giossi, Hudson.
11-20: John Kaanta, Elk Mound; Mike Prochnow, Menomonie; Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Mike Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Jake Miller, Somerset; Max Nelson, Milaca, MN; Kevin Burdick, Proctor, MN; Harry Hanson, Eveleth, MN; Aaron Lillo, Proctor, MN; Dave Flynn, Superior.
21-25: Dave Mass, East Bethel, MN; Rick Hanestad, Boyceville; Ashley Anderson, Elk Mound; Tim McMann, Duluth, MN; Skeeter Estey, Kelly Lake, MN.
Heat 1: Peterlin; B Hanestad; Giossi; Kaanta; Andy Jones, Princeton, MN; Terry Lillo, Duluth, MN; Miller; Trevor Wilson, Superior; Robbie Cooper, South Range.
Heat 2: Doar; Hanson; Flynn; Vang; Mass; R Hanestad; M Nelson; Ronnie Malecki, Duluth, MN; Chris Lillo, Duluth, MN.
Heat 3: Eder; D Nelson; A Lillo; Estey; M Bellefeuille; Burdick; J Bellefeuille; Jason VandeKamp, Scandia, MN; Randy Hoff, Parker, CO.
Heat 4: Lautigar; VanHouse; Budisalovich; Prochnow; Anderson; McMann; Kevin Carlson, Hermantown, MN; Ben Heinle, Bovey, MN; Tim Lillo, Superior.
Semi-Feature 1: Burdick; Estey; J Bellefeuille; Miller; Jones; C Lillo; Wilson; McMann; VandeKamp; Hoff.
Semi-Feature 2: M Bellefeuille; R Hanestad; Mass; M Nelson; Carlson; Malecki; Terry Lillo; Cooper; Heinle; Tim Lillo.
WISSOTA Modifieds
Feature: 1-10: Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Mike Anderson, Jim Falls; Daniel Bargender, Menomonie; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Ashley Anderson, Elk Mound; Clayton Wagamon, Blaine, MN; Al Uotinen, Superior; Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; John Toppozini, Thunder Bay, ON; Colin Chaschuk, Neebing, ON.
11-20: Brandon Copp, Brule; Joe Chaplin Jr, Cameron; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Rick Rivord, Superior; Cole Spacek, Phillips; Shane Howell, Buffalo, MN; Cody Wolkowski, Thunder Bay, ON; Jack Rivord, Superior; Tyler Luger, Oxford; Kyle Helling, Rice Lake.
21-25: Donnie Lofdahl, Duluth, MN; Michael Procopio, Grand Rapids, MN; Dan Kingsley, Superior; Hunter Anderson, Phillips; Kelly Estey, Kelly Lake, MN.
Heat 1: Nelson; J Spacek; Sabraski; Estey; R Rivord; Mark Kangas, Eveleth, MN; Jeffrey Lien Jr, Mora, MN; Keith Koski, Hibbing, MN; Kelly Checkalski, Poplar.
Heat 2: M Anderson; Bargender; Toppozini; Copp; Wolkowski; Helling; Curtis Stieh, Kam, ON; Jessy Krause, Aurora, MN; Mike Klippenstein, Proctor, MN.
Heat 3: Bellefeuille; Chaschuk; H Anderson; Chaplin; Howell; Todd Gehl, Solon Springs; Lofdahl; C Spacek.
Heat 4: A Anderson; Uotinen; Wagamon; Kingsley; J Rivord; Luger; Riley Matthews, Murillo, ON; Procopio.
Semi-Feature 1: R Rivord; Helling; J Rivord; Procopio; Lofdahl; Koski; Stieh; Klippenstein; Gehl.
Semi-Feature 2: C Spacek; Wolkowski; Luger; Howell; Kangas; Lien; Matthews; Checkalski; Krause.
WISSOTA Super Stocks
Feature: 1-10: Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Dylan Nelson, Merrifield, MN; Jordan Henkemeyer, Sauk Rapids, MN; Kyle Copp, Brule; Andrew Mackey, Duluth, MN; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN; Josh Saunders, Spooner; Terran Spacek, Phillips; Andy Grymala, Superior; Cole Chernosky, Thunder Bay, ON.
11-20: Jim Campbell, Two Harbors, MN; Dexton Koch, Becker, MN; Patrick Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Mike Sirois, Duluth, MN; Scott Lawrence, Superior; Brian Carl, Duluth, MN; Darin Meierotto, Superior; Kyle Matuska, Stacy, MN; Don Livingston, Washburn.
21-25: William Fisher, Shell Lake; Robert Lore, Embarrass, MN; Dan Peterson, Foxboro; Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Matt Larson, Lake Elmo, MN.
Heat 1: Mackey; Sabraski; McFadden; Sirois; Campbell; Chernosky; Jase Lien, Mora, MN; Matuska; Tom Karaba, Superior; Jeff Frey, Ogilvie, MN.
Heat 2: Grymala; Copp; Spacek; Lawrence; Koch; Larson; Larry Both, Thunder Bay, ON; John Garrity, Thunder Bay, ON; Lore.
Heat 3: Jensen; Beeksma; Henkemeyer; Carl; Livingston; Chris Johnson, Superior; Meierotto; Taylor Madrinich, Duluth, MN; Joshua Kough, Proctor, MN.
Heat 4: Nelson; Oreskovich; Saunders; Fisher; Andrew Johnson, Brainerd, MN; Peterson; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland; Josh Schmidt, Becker, MN; Tom Smart, Kakabeka Falls, ON.
Semi-Feature 1: Sirois; Larson; Meierotto; Lore; Frey; Garrity; Peterson; Madrinich; Johnson.
Semi-Feature 2: Koch; Chernosky; Matuska; Livingston; Lien; Both; Kough; Mashlan; Karaba.
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
Feature: 1-10: Andrew Inman, Canyon, MN; Zach Benson, Princeton, MN; James Vendela, South Range; Ryan Savoy, Superior; Jason Schill, Centuria; Evan Checkalski, Duluth, MN; Cole Boston, Lindstrom, MN; Paul Ripley, Duluth, MN; Cole Elton, Dalbo, MN; Travis Anderson, Colfax.
11-20: Matt Larson, Lake Elmo, MN; Jason VandeKamp, Scandia, MN; Cole Chernosky, Thunder Bay, ON; Dalton Mains, Foxboro; Shane Howell, Buffalo, MN; Brady Uotinen, Superior; Tanner Gehl, Solon Springs; Will Moelter, Elk Mound; Jamie Davis, Fort Frances, ON; Tyler Vernon, Mason.
21-23: David Simpson, Thunder Bay, ON; Kennedy Swan, Chippewa Falls; Cody Carlson, Superior.
Heat 1: Anderson; Elton; Swan; Larson; Moelter; Taylor Madrinich, Duluth, MN; Chris Bretting, Washburn; Don Craig, Thunder Bay, ON; Mitchell Kesan, Medford; Todd Carlson, Andover, MN.
Heat 2: Vendela; David Swearingen, Stacy, MN; Vernon; Mains; Bill Speak, Thunder Bay, ON; Jimmy Latvala, Solon Springs; Carey LePage, Culver, MN; Andrew Opas, Murillo, ON; Jeff Kelly, Murillo, ON; Jason Fall, Hammond.
Heat 3: Mitch Weiss, Scandia, MN; Uotinen; Simpson; Savoy; Davis; Gehl; Kolby Reed, Thunder Bay, ON; Ripley; Jake Stai, New Auburn.
Heat 4: Schill; Boston; Chernosky; C Carlson; McLean Andrews, Duluth, MN; Garrett Paull, Fort Frances, ON; Kevin Monteith, Rosslyn, ON; Dave DeVente, Neebing, ON; Kalan Wagner, International Falls, MN.
Heat 5: Inman; VandeKamp; Howell; Dylan Miller, Hibbing, MN; Benson; Checkalski; Fuhrman; Kyle Monteith, Thunder Bay, ON; Dale Suomala Jr, Duluth, MN.
Semi-Feature 1: Benson; Moelter; C Carlson; Savoy; Checkalski; Andrews; Kevin Monteith; Madrinich; Craig; Suomala; Opas; Reed; LePage; Wagner; T Carlson; Kesan.
Semi-Feature 2: Davis; Gehl; Mains; Ripley; Fuhrman; Stai; Latvala; Miller; Paull; Kyle Monteith; Bretting; Speak; Kelly; Fall; DeVente.
Canadian Dash: Chernosky; Speak; Paull; Kevin Monteith; Reed; Kyle Monteith; DeVente; Craig; Kelly; Opas.
