GASPERINI, AHO & BLACKBERG AMONG EAGLE RIVER OPENING NIGHT WINNERS
(EAGLE RIVER, WI) June 11 – Iron Mountain, Michigan’sFrank Gasperini whisked past Eagle River’s Dustin White for the lead on lap10 and cruised to victory inB mod feature win during the season opener at Eagle River Speedway Sunday.
Other opening night winners included former B mod track champion Jesse Aho of Twin Lakes, Michigan scoring the late model feature win in his rookie debut in the division. The IMCA stock car era was officially ushered in with hometown racer and defending division champion David Blackberg fighting off the hard charging driving of another former track champion Rod Snellenberger to score the opening night win.
In the B modified feature Rhinelander’s Dan Melton sprinted into the lead from his pole position at the drop of the green. An amber flew on lap three and hometown driver Dustin White sprinted into the lead on the restart. Gasperini, who started sixth on the grid, carefully began slicing his way through the field and caught White and began applying the pressure. Gasperini was able to wrestle the lead away from White at the event’s halfway point. Gasperini faced a late race surge from Mass City, Michigan’s Kory Joliff in the waning laps but Gasperini hung on to score the opening night ‘W’.
Trailing at the checkers were Joliff, Ryan Brown, Dave Dishaw and White who took 2nd through fifth, respectively.
The late model feature went green-to-checkered with Aho taking advantage of his front row starting spot to lead every lap en route to victory. Former track champion Jason Zdroik took second place money, followed by Shawano’s Aaron Reivitis and Tomahawk racers Travis and Zack Friske.
It was a classic duel in the IMCA stock car main as a pair of heavyweights went 20 rounds. Snellenberger led much of the early going with Blackberg snatching the lead from Snellenberger on lap seven. A caution with four circuits remaining tightened up the field and the lead duo pulled away from the pack and despite Snellenberger’s best efforts Blackberg was not to be denied as he captured the win. Snellenberger placed second, followed by Jonathan Miller, Jason Eisel and Jordan Kurtti.
Prentice’s Brent Mindock earned a clean sweep in the pure stock class by winning both the heat and the feature. Tomahawk’s Trevor Schumann pulled off the same feat in the 600 micro class while Mass City, Michigan’s Wyatt McIntyre was awarded the win in the street stock feature following a post race inspection after McIntyre crossed the finish line in second place.
Hometown driver Mason Meier stormed into the lead on lap two and kept the lead through a pair of cautions to win the Pro 300 micro sprint feature while Manitowish Waters Archer Peter scored the clean sweep in the Semi-Pro 300 micro class.
Weekly racing will resume on Tuesday, June 18. The first green flag flies at 7:30 p.m. For further information fans are advised to check the track’s Facebook page.
RACE SUMMARY –
-Chef Rene B Mod Feature – Frank Gasperini, Iron Mountain, MI; Kory Joliff, Mass City, MI; Ryan Brown, Eagle River; Dave Dishaw, Ontonagon, MI; Dustin White, Eagle River; Dustin Kangas, Phelps; Mitchel Wagner, Elcho; Dan Melton, Rhinelander; Andy Fink, Minocqua
Heat – White; Dave Dishaw
-Sweetwater Late Model Feature – Jesse Aho, Twin Lakes, MI; Jason Zdroik, Eagle River; Aaron Reivitis, Shawano; Travis Friske, Tomahawk; Zack Friske, Tomahawk; Josh Nevoraski, Minocqua; Peyton Towne, Boulder Junction; Todd Gorny, Eagle River; Guy Carley, Eagle River
Heat – Jason Zdroik; Zack Friske
-J & J Construction IMCA Stock Car feature – David Blackberg, Eagle River; Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; Jonathan Miller, Eagle River; Jason Eisel, Sugar Camp; Jordan Kurtti, Bruce Crossing, MI; Patrick Farley Jr, Green Bay; Trentin Bell, Three Lakes; Jason Zdroik, Eagle River (DNS)
Heat – Blackberg; Miller
-Zdroik Well Drilling Street Stock feature – Wyatt McIntire, Mass City, MI; Quentin Morrison, Eagle River; Wyler Haynes, Eagle River; Jeff Hartman, White Pine, MI; Nick Allard, Three Lakes; Kim Brown, Eagle River; Caleb Miller, Eagle River; Brandon Romenesko, Watersmeed, MI; Breydon Peterson, Eagle River; Colin Joliff, Mass City, MI (DNS); Blake Hartman, Conover (DNS); Hope Eisel, Rhinelander (DQ)
Heats 1) Hope Eisel; Haynes 2) McIntyre; Blake Hartmann
-JD Archery and Paintball 600 Micro Feature – Trevor Schumann, Tomahawk; Blake Joslin, Rhinelander; Bentley Richer, Escanaba, MI; Oakley Schwantes, Dorchester; Katherine Towne, Boulder Junction; Chase Richer, Escanaba, MI; May Towne, Boulder Junction (DNS)
Heat – Schumann; Chase Richer
Halsey Fab/Dan’s Service 300 Micro Features – 1) Mason Meier, Eagle River; Madyson Dieringer Marshfield; Carter Aho, Twin Lakes, MI; Lucas Zdroik, Eagle River; Bentley Seliger, Wausau; Addison Dishaw, Ontonagon, MI; Cooper Aho, Twin Lakes, MI 2) Archer Peter, Manitowish Waters; Blake Wilke, Tomahawk; Parker Ewert, Eagle River
Heats 1) Cooper Aho; Dieringer 2) Peter; Wilke
-PURE STOCKS
-FEATURE – Brent Mindock, Prentice; Schumann; Dave Bennett, Eagle River; Cody Bauknecht, Crandon; Reg Felzkowski, Tomahawk; Lukas Ruffie, Rhinelander
HEAT – Mindock; Felzkowski
