6/28/2020
Gondik Law Speedway
DOAR TOPS WISSOTA LATE MODEL SPECIAL AT GLS
DOAR TOPS WISSOTA LATE MODEL SPECIAL AT GLS
By Jerry O'Brien 6-28-20 (Superior, WI)
In a rare Sunday night racing event, the Gondik Law Speedway presented a $1200 to win WISSOTA Late Model special presented by Jo Jo's Grab ‘N' Go. With the newly named Halvor Lines Speedway (Proctor MN Speedway) unable to receive permission to open their gates on the 2020 racing season as of yet, Officials of the Gondik Law Speedway felt that they could present a special night of racing on Sunday borrowing the HLS early starting time. Hot laps were set to start at five o'clock and racing would begin at 5:30.
On the card was a return visit by the Northern Renegade Non-Winged Sprints along with the Main Event WISSOTA Late Models. Included on the program also, were the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Hornets for a five class program. A total of 84 cars came to compete on a beautiful Summer night. The early starting time saw the qualifying heats completed by 6:35 p.m. The first main event rolled onto the track at 6:53 p.m.
The first feature to hit the track was 20 laps for the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds with veteran racer Tony Bahr leading the way. At the green flag Bahr blasted of into the lead and began to quickly draw away from the battle for second which included Wyatt Boyum, defending track champ Andrew Inman, Dylan Miller, Cody Carlson, Ryan Savoy and Jason VandeKamp. Bahr continued to lead with Boyum second. With seven circuits complete the caution flag appeared for Jonny Marsh who had collided with the first and second turn wall. On the restart Bahr retained the lead as Miller vaulted into second bringing along Carlson to third. Boyum was fourth and Inman was fifth. Charging through the field was VandeKamp who quickly dusted off everyone to grab second. With seven laps to go, caution flag number two flew when Mark Kangas and Jack Rivord tangled in turn four. The restart say Bahr control the lead with Miller and Carlson a couple car lengths behind. VandeKamp continued his charge as Miller was second. VandeKamp battled past Carlson to third but the third caution flag for Kangas slowed it all down
with the restart coming with four laps remaining. Bahr tried his best but could not hold back VandeKamp who took the lead and went on to take his second win of the season at GLS. Bahr, Miller, Carlson and McLean Andrews from 10th to fifth were the top five.
The Northern Renegade wingless sprints put on a good show, but a wild tangle on the front stretch eliminated the cars of Brian Trembath, Jori Hughes and Leah Steahl. None of the involved drivers were injured in the crash and they all stayed on their wheels. The incident came at the start of the 20 lap feature leaving nine of the dozen starters to finish the race. The restart say Ken Hron out in front where he stayed for a number of laps while Caley Emerson and Lance Solem tried with little success to make inroads into Hron's considerable lead. At the half way point Hron led Emerson, Solem, Rick Niemi, Chris Lewis and Paul Schultz. Not much changed as Hron held a long gap over Emerson. The second and final caution flag flew for a piece of debris on the back stretch and the restart came with eight laps to go. The
restart wiped out Hron's lead amd gave both Emerson and Solem a chance to steal the victory. By the time the final five laps were reached, Emerson was right on Hron's Nerf bar, and with three laps to go, Emerson got by Hron and went on to take the win. Solem, Schultz and Niemi rounded out the top five.
The 25 lap WISSOTA Late Models main event featured a great number top veteran drivers in the division such as Pat Doar, John Kaanta, Derek Vesel and Rick Hanestad and others with a sprinkling of second generation drivers including Sam Mars, son of Jimmy Mars and Cole Provinzino son of Jeff Provinzino.
Mike Prochnow drew the pole position with Buddy Hanestad to his outside. At the green Prochnow jumped out ahead of Hanestad, Jr with Vesel and Kaanta trailing. Prochnow continued to stay out in front but sixth starting Pat Doar began to work his way through traffic toward the front. The first caution flag flew when former Modified Ace Kevin Eder racing a Late Model for the first time here, stalled in turn four with 19 laps to go. Prochnow retained the lead at the green light but the caution gave Doar a chance to
snare second. The two battled back and forth until Doar tried the top of the slippery track and was able to cross the line ahead by a half a car length. Once Doar was able to clear Prochnow he began to pull out to a big lead. Prochnow was able to fend off the pack to finish second while tenth starting Travis Budiaslovich moved up to finish third ahead of Kaanta in fourth and Jeff Massingill in fifth. It was Doar's second feature win of the shortened 2020 season at GLS.
Former track champion James Vendela tried his best to take the win in the WISSOTA Pure Stock main event. Two early caution flags, one for McLean Andrews who stopped with a flat tire. The second was for a spinning Cory Jorgensen which produced a black flag for Andrews. The restart saw a battle between Vendela, Jared Akervik, Aaron Bernick and Trevor Treviranus that saw Akervik edge past Vendela to take his third win of the season.
In the Hornet main event, DeJay Jarecki outran a determined Hunter McDougall by a wide margin to win his first ever feature at Gondik Law Speedway. AJ House led early before Jarecki sailed by into the lead. House held on for a third place finish while Rick Long, Jr was fourth and the ever-present Kristi Marken was fifth.
Article Credit: Jerry O'Brien
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