Rivord Stuns at Rice Lake Speedway Opener
By Ed Reichert
Rice Lake WI, May 7 – Jack Rivord, a seventeen year old high school student from Superior Wisconsin pulled off a stunning upset Saturday night at the Rice Lake Speedway to highlight the opening event of the seventieth year of racing at Rice Lake. Running in just his third night of competition since moving up in 2022 to the Modifieds from the Midwest Modifieds, Rivord came from the fourteenth starting position to upset the field and top off an upset filled night of racing. Other winners on opening night included Terran Spacek in the Super Stocks, Tyler Kintner in the Midwest Modifieds, Ty Agen in the Street Stocks and Cory Jorgensen in the Pure Stocks as visitors dominating victory lane on this night over the speedway regulars.
Rivord had a terrible pushing condition in his car during his heat race and he pulled off the track without finishing that event which resulted in his seventh row starting position for the twenty lap main event. However, as the main event played out, Rivord had the problem cured as he drove a stready race and gradually worked his way up in the field and then allowed circumstances to benefit him even further.
Brandon Copp had taken the early lead in the feature after pole siter Parker Anderson had steering problems on the opening lap with Sam Fankhauser and Denny Cutsforth challenging him. Cutsforth was on the move and on lap five he dove past Copp to take over the top spot as a battle raged with Steve Hallquist, Kevin Adams and Sam Fankhauser all in the mix.
However, Cutsforth and Copp pulled away from the pack and as Adams dropped out and Fanhauser faded, Rivord continued his drive to the front, pulling into the third position.
Copp gradually closed back up on Cutsforth and they fought for the lead. Copp tried to make a pass on the outside going down the back chute and the cars touched with Copp then sliding up and nipping the retaining wall. However, both cars kept going as they fought for control but Copp ended up spinning in turn four, triggering the fourth and final yellow of the race.
Copp went off on the wrecker with a flat tire and Cutsforth was judged as being at fault by the track officials, so he was sent to the tail of the field and Rivord, who was riding in third, suddenly found himself in the lead with only five laps remaining.
And he didn’t waste the great opportunity as he drove away from the field during that last five laps and crossed the line as the winner in one of the bigger upsets in recent track history, given his lack of experience in the Modified class. Hallquist completed a strong run when he finished up second and Pat Hoffman would be scored in the third finishing position.
Spacek would get the Super Stock honors after outlasting a couple of other tough Northern competitors in a fine three car battle for the lead. Kyle Copp would be the leader after lap one as he got a great start and was able to edge past NickTraynor early. Both Steve Stuart and Spacek, from the fourth and third rows respectively, closed on the leader and a three car battle for the top spot broke out. Copp would lead until lap five when he got hung up behind a slower car the leaders were overtaking and Spacek would dive to the low side of the track and take over the point.
Copp and Stuart would swap the second place back and forth several times, all while running within close quarters with leader Spacek. A late yellow would set up a four lap dash to the finish and Spacek would pull away to probably his biggest margin of the event as he would continue to charge and drive home for the win. Copp would outlast Stuart for second at the line.
For Spacek, his win was his first at Rice Lake since the 2018 racing season
Twenty two cars would take the green flag for the Midwest Modified main event with Austin Chyba on the pole but it was Canadian David Simpson who would take the early lead. Chyba would pressure Simpson for the top spot while Cole Chernosky and Tyler Kintner would ride close behind. Chernosky would roar up to second and leave the two Canadian drivers in the field leading the charge.
However, Kintner was also moving forward and he would fight his way into third as Chyba faded back into the pack.
The big moment came with a yellow for a spinning car on lap eight. On the double file restart, Kintner would get a great start and would power past both Chernosky and Simpson on the high side and take over the lead. Once in front, he opened up a several car advantage as the fight behind him saw Cody Carlson and Kennedy Swan both on the move.
The last half of the race would run off nonstop and Kintner would cement his lead, pulling away from the continued battle behind him. Simpson would remain solid in second but Chernosky would lose a couple spots as Carlson raced into third at the finish with Swan also getting past.
For Kintner, it was the second ever feature race win for the Hibbing Minnesota driver, with his other win coming back in 2015.
The younger generation of drivers would have their say in the Street Stock feature also as fifteen year old Ty Agen would make a terrific move on a restart, get up beside leader Hunter VanGilder and then fight his way into the lead using the tricky second lane of the track.
VanGilder would start on the outside pole and would lead the first nine laps of the race as he was chased early by Zack Beaulieu and then last year’s track champion Travis Loew. Meanwhile, Agen had moved into the third spot after fighting off some other challengers and following a restat on laps six for a spin, he would make his move.
Driving to the second lane of the track, he would move past Loew and then drive up beside leader VanGilder. They would race side by side for several laps but Agen,one of the few all night to make the higher line on the track work, was able to hustle his way past VanGilder after a couple tense side by side laps and then edge away from the pack.
VanGilder would push as hard as he dared but he simply couldn’t match the speed of the Chippewa Falls driver and Agen would motor on to a very impressive win. Shawn Amundson would make a late charge that would see him get up to second and pressure VanGilder to the finish.
For Agen, it was his second ever feature win at Rice Lake, having won his first last year when he was only fourteen.
The Pure Stock feature would see three different leaders before veteran Cory Jorgensen would take over the point at the halfway mark and then drive on for the win. Aaron Bernick would take the lead at the beginning of the race, following a first lap tangle that would see James Rahn forced to change a flat tire and go to the tail of the pack. Bernick would hold that lead for only one lap before he was passed by Cameron driver Bob Thompson.
However, Bob couldn’t hold off Bernick who would get back around him for the lead and Thompson would actually get shuffled right out of the top three. On the move was Jorgensen and Bob Wahlstrom as both were closing in on the leaders. Jorgensen would grab second and then challenge for the lead and the two Duluth drivers, who travel and race together, would battle it out for the lead.
Jorgensen would get to the inside of Bernick and take over the top spot at the midpoint of the race and he would lead the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, Rahn made a determined run from the back of the pack, passing cars and eventually putting himself back with the leaders. He got past Bernick for second with a few laps left and then drove in on Jorgensen but Cory had the groove covered and would take the win. The win would be Jorgensen’s fifth all time win at Rice Lake.
Racing action will continue next Saturday night with another five division program. The Best Appearing Car awards, judged during the night Saturday, will be announced next Saturday.
For the lastest news and information, follow the Rice Lake Speedway face book page or the website at www.ricelakespeedway.net.
14 entries
WISSOTA MODIFIEDS
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 19J-Jack Rivord[14]; 2. 27H-Steve Hallquist[4]; 3. 308-Pat Hoffman[11]; 4. 97-Cole Anderson[13]; 5. 20-Denny Cutsforth[7]; 6. 11-Sam Fankhauser[2]; 7. 204-David Mayala[8]; 8. 4A-Hunter Anderson[12]; 9. (DNF) 22-Brandon Copp[3]; 10. (DNF) 40-Kevin Adams[6]; 11. (DNF) 18W-Wayne Poteet[10]; 12. (DNF) 20E-Austin Ellis[5]; 13. (DNF) 27P-Parker Anderson[1]; 14. (DNF) 55-Taylor Olson[9]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 20E-Austin Ellis[4]; 2. 22-Brandon Copp[5]; 3. 11-Sam Fankhauser[7]; 4. 204-David Mayala[6]; 5. 55-Taylor Olson[1]; 6. (DNF) 97-Cole Anderson[3]; 7. (DNF) 19J-Jack Rivord[2]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 27P-Parker Anderson[2]; 2. 40-Kevin Adams[7]; 3. 20-Denny Cutsforth[3]; 4. 27H-Steve Hallquist[4]; 5. 18W-Wayne Poteet[6]; 6. 308-Pat Hoffman[5]; 7. 4A-Hunter Anderson[1]
25 entries
WISSOTA SUPER STOCK
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 22T-Terran Spacek[6]; 2. 26-Kyle Copp[3]; 3. 80-Steve Stuart[8]; 4. 40-Nick Traynor[1]; 5. 17K-Ryan Kostreba[11]; 6. 21F-Nick Oreskovich[23]; 7. 63-Jake Froemke[9]; 8. 12K-Duane (DJ) Keeler[10]; 9. 10-Jeff Eisner Jr[12]; 10. 17-Mike Loomis[7]; 11. 75-Scott Geiger[2]; 12. 77-Josh Saunders[17]; 13. 14K-Russell Kostreba[15]; 14. 57-Randy Graham[19]; 15. 01-Michael Anderson[25]; 16. 29M-Michael Miller[20]; 17. 22AT-Austin Tilton[24]; 18. (DNF) 14X-Leslie Leu[14]; 19. (DNF) 176-Matt Koski[21]; 20. (DNF) 1776-Wayne Dean[13]; 21. (DNF) 21-Mike Siewert[4]; 22. (DNF) 28-Josh Cappo[22]; 23. (DNF) 24-Jase Lien[18]; 24. (DNF) 1E-Eric Olson[16]; 25. (DNF) 11-Denny Schouveller[5]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 80-Steve Stuart[2]; 2. 22T-Terran Spacek[4]; 3. 17-Mike Loomis[5]; 4. 12K-Duane (DJ) Keeler[1]; 5. 1776-Wayne Dean[8]; 6. 1E-Eric Olson[3]; 7. 57-Randy Graham[9]; 8. 176-Matt Koski[7]; 9. (DNF) 01-Michael Anderson[6]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 26-Kyle Copp[2]; 2. 63-Jake Froemke[4]; 3. 21-Mike Siewert[3]; 4. 17K-Ryan Kostreba[1]; 5. 14X-Leslie Leu[5]; 6. 77-Josh Saunders[8]; 7. 29M-Michael Miller[6]; 8. 28-Josh Cappo[7]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 40-Nick Traynor[3]; 2. 75-Scott Geiger[1]; 3. 11-Denny Schouveller[5]; 4. 10-Jeff Eisner Jr[4]; 5. 14K-Russell Kostreba[6]; 6. 24-Jase Lien[7]; 7. (DNF) 21F-Nick Oreskovich[2]; 8. (DNF) 22AT-Austin Tilton[8]
22 entries
WISSOTA MIDWEST MODS
A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 22-Tyler Kintner[5]; 2. 70JR-David Simpson[2]; 3. 32III-Cody Carlson[11]; 4. 18S-Kennedy Swan[8]; 5. 33C-Cole Chernosky[3]; 6. 37-Travis Anderson[10]; 7. 17-Jamie Bisonette[6]; 8. 11X-Austin Chyba[1]; 9. 93-CJ Wagner[13]; 10. 28H-Francis Hanson[9]; 11. 4K-Kenny Kincaid[12]; 12. 46-Zach Slayton[17]; 13. 19H-Kevin Herrman[20]; 14. 33T-Travis Tupa[19]; 15. 410-Jesse Young[18]; 16. (DNF) 21-Jake Smith[7]; 17. (DNF) 221-Aric Lindberg[4]; 18. (DNF) 40S-Mike Schnider[14]; 19. (DNF) 38-Simon Wahlstrom[22]; 20. (DNF) 18-Tacoma Randall[21]; 21. (DNF) 34-Taylor Madrinich[15]; 22. (DNF) 87-William Moelter[16]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 70JR-David Simpson[1]; 2. 21-Jake Smith[2]; 3. 11X-Austin Chyba[4]; 4. 37-Travis Anderson[6]; 5. 93-CJ Wagner[3]; 6. 87-William Moelter[5]; 7. 33T-Travis Tupa[7]; 8. 18-Tacoma Randall[8]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 33C-Cole Chernosky[4]; 2. 22-Tyler Kintner[1]; 3. 18S-Kennedy Swan[6]; 4. 32III-Cody Carlson[5]; 5. 40S-Mike Schnider[7]; 6. 46-Zach Slayton[3]; 7. 19H-Kevin Herrman[2]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Jamie Bisonette[4]; 2. 28H-Francis Hanson[2]; 3. 221-Aric Lindberg[6]; 4. 4K-Kenny Kincaid[5]; 5. 34-Taylor Madrinich[3]; 6. 410-Jesse Young[1]; 7. (DNF) 38-Simon Wahlstrom[7]
21 entries
WISSOTA STREET STOCK
A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 26T-Ty Agen[3]; 2. 84-Hunter VanGilder[2]; 3. 30-Shawn Amundson[7]; 4. 17-Zach Beaulieu[1]; 5. 9-Adam Soltis[9]; 6. KOLT34-Kolton Brauer[6]; 7. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[4]; 8. 40-Travis Loew[5]; 9. 7-Caiden Engel[16]; 10. 33-Daniel Boissy[15]; 11. 79N-Jeff Nowak[11]; 12. 16-Warren Bartelt[13]; 13. 79-Joseph Ott[10]; 14. 66-Eric Haupt[17]; 15. 71X-William Fisher[21]; 16. 22-James Taylor[20]; 17. 4-Matt Bray[18]; 18. 19H-Jenna Herrman[19]; 19. (DNF) 24-James Clausen[8]; 20. (DNF) 34JR-Braden Brauer[12]; 21. (DNF) T20-Michael Tuma[14]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 40-Travis Loew[4]; 2. 9-Adam Soltis[1]; 3. 17-Zach Beaulieu[2]; 4. 79-Joseph Ott[3]; 5. 16-Warren Bartelt[6]; 6. 7-Caiden Engel[5]; 7. 19H-Jenna Herrman[7]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[1]; 2. 26T-Ty Agen[4]; 3. KOLT34-Kolton Brauer[5]; 4. 79N-Jeff Nowak[3]; 5. T20-Michael Tuma[6]; 6. 66-Eric Haupt[7]; 7. (DNS) 71X-William Fisher
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 30-Shawn Amundson[6]; 2. 24-James Clausen[2]; 3. 84-Hunter VanGilder[4]; 4. 34JR-Braden Brauer[5]; 5. 33-Daniel Boissy[3]; 6. 4-Matt Bray[1]; 7. 22-James Taylor[7]
19 entries
WISSOTA PURE STOCK
A Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 16-Cory Jorgensen[5]; 2. 23R-James Rahn[6]; 3. 17B-Aaron Bernick[2]; 4. 1-Ryan Olson[8]; 5. 52F-Austin Fencl[10]; 6. 15H-Trenten Holub[11]; 7. 52-Zachary Folz[14]; 8. 26-Kevin Bartelt[15]; 9. 70-Bob Thompson[4]; 10. 12-Aaron Holmberg[12]; 11. 72-Cully Butterfield[1]; 12. 81-Charlie Pitcavage[19]; 13. 09-Skylar Findley[13]; 14. (DNF) 88-Robert Wahlstrom[7]; 15. (DNF) 17-Chris Gross[18]; 16. (DNF) 00Z-Bryar Zimmerman[3]; 17. (DNF) 31-Travis Hazelton[9]; 18. (DNF) 66-Max Prusak[16]; 19. (DNF) 4K-Terry Kemp[17]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 1-Ryan Olson[1]; 2. 70-Bob Thompson[3]; 3. 17B-Aaron Bernick[4]; 4. 52F-Austin Fencl[7]; 5. 09-Skylar Findley[2]; 6. (DNF) 4K-Terry Kemp[5]; 7. (DQ) 81-Charlie Pitcavage[6]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 88-Robert Wahlstrom[1]; 2. 31-Travis Hazelton[4]; 3. 00Z-Bryar Zimmerman[2]; 4. 15H-Trenten Holub[6]; 5. 52-Zachary Folz[3]; 6. 26-Kevin Bartelt[5]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 23R-James Rahn[6]; 2. 16-Cory Jorgensen[5]; 3. 72-Cully Butterfield[2]; 4. 12-Aaron Holmberg[1]; 5. (DNF) 66-Max Prusak[4]; 6. (DNF) 17-Chris Gross[3]
