Northern Nationals Night 2 Sees Two More New Champs, Two Repeat Winners

by Nick Gima

               Superior, WI, September 8 – A near-capacity crowd watched 130 race entries compete in four divisions at the Gondik Law Speedway on Friday during night 2 of the 35^th annual Northern Nationals presented by Bay Lock & Security.

By the conclusion of the 26-race program, two more first-time Northern Nationals champions had been crowned, for a two-night total of six, while two other drivers added to their career win totals in this event.

The WISSOTA Modified 30-lap main event was historic in that Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, MN – already the winningest driver in Northern Nationals history – chalked up his tenth career event win in a Modified and 16^th overall, and he did so in dominant fashion.

A huge mess in the initial corner of the race stacked up at least ten cars – and eliminated seven of those – to bring about a long delay to start the run. Once back under green, Nelson and polestarter Rick Rivord dueled for a lap before Nelson established himself at the front.

As Nelson pulled away, there was plenty of jockeying for position throughout the field. Brady Uotinen made a strong case early by getting around Mike Anderson for third, while Cole Spacek took fourth on lap 2. Nelson’s lead was already over three seconds by lap 8, but Cody Wolkowski’s spin brought the field back to Nelson’s rear push-bar.

Uotinen snared second from Rivord on the restart, with Spacek, 2023 GLS divisional points champ Brandon Copp, and Shane Sabraski following along to displace Rivord. Spacek then threatened Uotinen for a lap or so, allowing Nelson to once again build a significant margin, just before Danny Thomas’s spin on lap 12 slowed the proceedings again.

Over the next ten uninterrupted laps Nelson set a torrid pace and cruised away, while Copp worked an inside move to take third from Spacek on lap 18 and then second from Uotinen on lap 21. Nelson was over three-and-a-half seconds up on the field and the outcome looked all but settled, but Mike Klippenstein parked his racer in the infield just inside of the turn 4 marker barrel, setting up a three-lap dash to the finish.

Uotinen and Copp swapped the second position, Rivord retook fourth, and things clogged up from fifth through eighth, but Nelson was in control and sped away to a final 2.89-second winning cushion, worth $2,000. Copp won the duel for second over Uotinen, and Rivord held off Sabraski for fourth.

Superior’s DJ Keeler won his second invitational race in a week when he outlasted the field for not only his first WISSOTA Super Stock Northern Nationals win but his first feature win on his home track this season.

Keeler, who had won at the WISSOTA Classic at Grand Rapids, MN, a week ago, started the 25-lap headliner from the pole and held off a determined Rick Simpson during the initial circuits. Matt Deragon dove low to overtake Simpson on lap 2, and a couple of tours later Dexton Koch slipped by into third.

Over the next nine laps Keeler built significant leads of upwards of three-and-a-half seconds, while Koch and Deragon would duke it out for runner-up honors. Behind them, a logjam of as many as seven cars switched positions with every lap, no one really breaking away to contend for a top-three finish.

While the first half of the run stayed under green, the second half was a different story, with caution slowdowns keeping the field tight behind Keeler. After GLS track champ Andrew Mackey spun on lap 13, Don Livingston looped his ride on lap 16, and Dan Peterson spun on the ensuing restart. The next six laps saw Deragon and Koch continue their debate, while the 16^th-starting Sabraski took advantage of the close-quarters action to move into fifth with four to go. Finally, debris off of Cole Chernosky’s racer – the result of a scrape with Simpson while racing for fourth a few laps earlier – brought about a green-white-checkered dash.

Keeler held true to his line and came home with the $1,500 win by three-quarters of a second over Deragon, while Sabraski advanced two more spots to claim third, just ahead of Chernosky and Koch, as the top five were separated by barely more than 1.5 seconds.

               James Vendela of Superior kicked off the feature race portion of the evening, and set the tone for a home-track-driver sweep of the WISSOTA divisions, with a thrilling win in a wild WISSOTA Midwest Modified A-main.

               Vendela started the 20-lap run on the pole and beat Tanner Ulakovic to the initial lead, while the battle for third behind them was three-wide. Ulakovic thrilled the huge Canadian fan contingent in attendance when he got by Vendela on lap 3, just before the rear suspension broke on Shane Howell’s racer, forcing him to stop and bringing about the yellow flag.

               Nick Ayotte surprised the lead pair when he snuck by both on the restart with a three-wide move, but Vendela got him back a lap later before debris on the track forced another stoppage. The race stayed under green for the next 11 laps and featured several stout runs to the front, especially by the 11^th-starting Joey Jensen, 15^th-starting Chernosky, and 18^th-starting Jason VandeKamp, who had won the feature here the previous night but had to come through a semi-feature (which he won) to make tonight’s show.

In one lap after the lap 5 restart, VandeKamp blew by five cars to take over fourth, with Chernosky following him to fifth. As Vendela re-established his lead over the next few laps, VandeKamp continued his charge to the front, getting by Dave Flynn for third and then Ayotte for second on laps 9 and 10.

Over the next half-dozen circuits VandeKamp whittled his 1.6-second deficit to Vendela by better than half, with Chernosky displacing Flynn for third on lap 15. Then, on lap 16, Adam Hansen’s racer stalled to bring about a caution flag, putting VandeKamp and Chernosky on Vendela’s back bumper for the four-lap sprint to the finish. But Vendela was unfazed, hanging on to a half-second margin to win his first Northern Nationals feature and a $1,000 check.

VandeKamp’s impressive run placed him just ahead of Dave Flynn, tenth-starting Tony Bahr, and Chernosky to complete the top-five.

The Bumper-to-Bumper Interstate Racing Association’s winged 410 “outlaw” winged sprints returned to the Northern Nationals for the first time since 2018, bringing 23 entries. In their 25-lap A-main Bill Balog of North Pole, AK, exchanged a handful of slide-jobs with Ian Madsen after a lap 13 restart to eventually take control of the race and win his sixth Northern Nationals IRA sprint feature.

Behind Balog and Madsen were fast-qualifier Jordan Goldesberry, Travis Arenz, and IRA series points leader Brenham Crouch. More detailed coverage on their races can be found on the series’ website, www.irasprints.com.

During Midwest Mod heat-race action earlier in the program, a tangle between David Swearingen and Jason Hobbs resulted in a wild rollover for the Hobbs machine. Neither driver was injured.

Track prep crews worked diligently throughout the day to overhaul the four-tenths-mile clay race surface, resulting in a smooth track that provided fast, multi-groove racing throughout Friday’s program.

The 35^th annual Northern Nationals weekend concludes on Saturday, September 9, with the Russ Laursen Classic for the WISSOTA Late Models, as well as the Modifieds, Super Stocks and Midwest Mods. Also, the USRA Late Models will make their first-ever appearance here.

For information on advance tickets and camping info for this and other upcoming events, log on to the track’s website, www.gondiklawspeedway.com, or its FaceBook page.

Results

WISSOTA Modifieds

               Feature: 1-10: Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Brandon Copp, Brule; Brady Uotinen, Superior; Rick Rivord, Superior; Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Mike Anderson, Jim Falls; Cole Spacek, Phillips; Clayton Wagamon, Ramsey, MN; Al Uotinen, Superior; Justin Weinberger, Elk Mound.

               11-20: Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Adam Ayotte, Elk River, MN; Duane Dale, Hibbing, MN; Curtis Stieh, Kam, ON; Jack Rivord, Superior; Mike Klippenstein, Duluth, MN; Danny Thomas, Knapp; Todd Gehl, Solon Springs; John Toppozini, Thunder Bay, ON; Cody Wolkowski, Thunder Bay, ON.

               21-27: Colin Chaschuk, Thunder Bay, ON; Kelly Estey, Hibbing, MN; Brennan Gave, Princeton, MN; Donnie Lofdahl, Duluth, MN; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Dave Cain, Corcoran, MN; Kennedy Swan, Chippewa Falls.

               Heat 1: Wolkowski; C Spacek; Copp; Stieh; Klippenstein; Gehl; Weinberger; Chaschuk.

               Heat 2: R Rivord; B Uotinen; Thomas; Lofdahl; Jody Bellefeuille, Carlton, MN; Cain.

               Heat 3: Nelson; Gave; Sabraski; J Spacek; Oreskovich; A Uotinen; Dale.

               Heat 4: Anderson; Wagamon; Toppozini; Ayotte; Estey; Swan; J Rivord.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

               Feature: 1-10: DJ Keeler, Superior; Matt Deragon, Ashland; Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Cole Chernosky, Thunder Bay, ON; Dexton Koch, Becker, MN; Rick Simpson, Thunder Bay, ON; Max Dondelinger, Grand Rapids, MN; Darin Meierotto, Superior; Dylan Nelson, Merrifield, MN; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN.

               11-20: Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Willie Johnsen Jr, Superior; Don Livingston, Washburn; Butch Butcher, Carlton, MN; Paul Gucinski, Superior; Kyle Copp, Brule; Joshua Kough, Duluth, MN; John Toppozini, Thunder Bay, ON; Chris Johnson, Superior; Dan Peterson, Foxboro.

               21-24: Scott Lawrence, Superior; Andrew Mackey, Duluth, MN; Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Larry Both, Thunder Bay, ON.

               Heat 1: Nelson; Keeler; Lawrence; Both; Butcher; Jeffrey Lien Jr, Mora, MN; Tucker Budreau, Zimmerman, MN; Tom Smart, Kakabeka Falls, ON; Colton Budreau, Princeton, MN.

               Heat 2: Meierotto; Simpson; Dondelinger; Toppozini; Livingston; Peterson; Gucinski; Nathan Roy, Gorham, ON; Mike Sirois, Duluth, MN.

               Heat 3: Mackey; Deragon; Chernosky; Sabraski; Jensen; Johnson; Kough; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland.

               Heat 4: Koch; Copp; McFadden; Oreskovich; Johnsen; Brian Carl, Duluth, MN; John Garrity, Thunder Bay, ON; Jase Lien, Mora, MN.

               Semi-Feature 1: Johnsen; Carl; Butcher; Johnson; Sirois; Garrity; T Budreau; Roy.

               Semi-Feature 2: Jensen; Toppozini; Kough; Peterson; Gucinski; Smart; Jeffrey Lien Jr.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

               Feature: 1-10: James Vendela, South Range; Jason VandeKamp, Scandia, MN; Dave Flynn, Superior; Tony Bahr, Haugen; Cole Chernosky, Thunder Bay, ON; Nick Ayotte, St Paul, MN; Cole Boston, Lindstrom, MN; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN; Zach Benson, Princeton, MN; Andrew Inman, Canyon, MN.

               11-20: William Moelter, Elk Mound; Jamie Davis, Fort Frances, ON; Dalton Mains, Foxboro; Tanner Ulakovic, Murillo, ON; Jeff Kelly, Murillo, ON; Paul Ripley, Duluth, MN; Jimmy Latvala, Solon Springs; Kolby Reed, Kakabeka Falls, ON; Adam Hansen, Minneapolis, MN; Taylor Madrinich, Duluth, MN.

               21-25: Deven VanHouse, Silver Bay, MN; Mack Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Justin Bassa, Cotton, MN; Shane Howell, Buffalo, MN; Evan Checkalski, Duluth, MN.

               Heat 1: VanHouse; Jensen; Chernosky; VandeKamp; Estey; Jesse Polson, Superior; Don Craig, Thunder Bay, ON; Bill Speak, Thunder Bay, ON; Wayne deBruin, Murillo, ON.

               Heat 2: Bahr; Mains; Inman; Latvala; Boston; Benson; Howell; Ripley; Glen Brown, Rosslyn, ON.

               Heat 3: Vendela; Bassa; Kelly; Hansen; Patrick Davis, Sioux Lookout, ON; Madrinich; Jason Hobbs, Ham Lake, MN; Garrett Paull, Fort Frances, ON; David Swearingen, Stacy, MN.

               Heat 4: Moelter; Ulakovic; J Davis; Curtis Stieh, Kam, ON; Andrew Opas, Murillo, ON; Keegan Kough, Proctor, MN; Reagan Ruffi, Lake Nebagamon; Eric Anderson, Chisholm, MN; Mia Musel, Duluth, MN.

               Heat 5: Ayotte; Flynn; Checkalski; Joey Wagamon, Blaine, MN; Kevin Monteith, Rosslyn, ON; Reed; Ross Siiter, Esko, MN; Chris Bretting, Washburn.

               Semi-Feature 1: Estey; Ripley; Howell; Latvala; Monteith; Anderson; Brown; P Davis; Craig; Madrinich; Kough; Wagamon; Speak.

               Semi-Feature 2: VandeKamp; Boston; Benson; Reed; Stieh; Polson; Opas; Bretting; deBruin; Musel; Siiter; Ruffi.

IRA 410 Winged Sprints

               Feature: 1-10: Bill Balog, North Pole, AK; Ian Madsen, St Marys, NSW; Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL; Travis Arenz, Sheboygan Falls; Brenham Crouch, Lubbock, TX; Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan; Jade Hastings, Grand Forks, ND; Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam; Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls; Jack Vanderboom, Dousman.

               11-20: Russel Borland, Kewaskum; Danny Schlafer, Gibson; Kyle Schuett, Philo, IL; Jack Croaker, East Grand Forks, MN; Austin Hartmann, Plymouth; Luke Nellis, Forest Lake, MN; Patrick Heikkinen, Eveleth, MN; Jack Berger, Lake Elmo, MN; Brady Donnohue, Circle Pines, MN; Dave Uttech, Kenosha.

               21-23: William Huck, Mukwonago; Ryan Bowers, Nowthen, MN; Preston Ruh, Elkhart Lake.

               Heat 1: Madsen; Goldesberry; Meyer; Arenz; Schlafer; Hartmann; Ruh; Uttech.

               Heat 2: Balog; Hastings; Vanderboom; Neitzel; Schuett; Berger; Heikkinen; Huck.

               Heat 3: Thiel; Crouch; Borland; Nellis; Bowers; Donnohue; Croaker.

               Dash 1: Madsen; Meyer; Arenz; Vanderboom; Crouch.

               Dash 2: Thiel; Goldesberry; Balog; Bowers; Neitzel.

               Qualifying: Goldesberry, 15.108 secs (95.314 mph).