7/20/2024
Wissota Late Model Challenge Series
Sabraski Snags First Career Challenge Series Win at Twin 25’s Searing Snags Second Twin
For Immediate Release – July 19th, 2024
The Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star got back to action on Friday, July 19th at the Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, WI for the first night of the July series weekend and saw Shane Sabraski race to his first career Challenge Series victory during the 20th annual Twin Ports Twin 25’s event.
A loaded field of 51 WISSOTA Late Model competitors made the tow to Superior, Wisconsin for the annual event and saw Chad Mahder start the night by setting fast time with a lap of 16.315 seconds around the 3/8th mile clay oval, while John Kaanta, Johnny Broking, Kevin Burdick, Don Shaw, Dave Flynn and Jake Redetzke topped the six qualifying heat races early in the night’s program. Dave Mass, Travis Budisalovich and Cole Searing won the night’s b-mains to set the 26-car feature starting lineup.
Sabraski and Josh Zimpel earned the front row for the night’s first $2,500 to win, 25-lap feature event with Sabraski jumping out to the upper hand on the initial start and leading the field into turn number one and lead the opening lap.
After two cautions on the opening lap for debris and for a Kevin Burdick / Tyler Peterson crash and then a lap three caution for a Jeff Provinzino / Burdick tussle, the race went the remaining 22 laps caution-free with Sabraski setting the paced the field out front, while Kaanta and Zimpel were in a good battle just behind for the runner up spot. Further back, Broking, Adam Ayotte and Mahder were in a tussle for top five running spots early in the race as well.
The best battle in the late stages of the race was for second between Kaanta and Zimpel who ran side by side and nose to tail for several laps before Kaanta was able to snag the runner up spot for good with just under ten to go.
As the laps wound down, Mahder, Shaw, Broking and Redetzke were battling hard for top five runs with Sabraski, Kaanta and Zimpel solidly holding down the top three spots.
The race went to checkered with Sabraski taking his first career Challenge Series checkered flag, and as he did some Shaw / Broking contact sent Shaw wildly flipping in turn four. Don walked away uninjured, but his car was badly damaged.
Following Sabraski to the line was Kaanta and Zimpel in the top three. Shaw was credited with fourth as the finish revered to the white flag lap and Adam Ayotte recorded his first ever series top five in fifth. Mahder, Redetzke, Ryan Mikkelson, hard charging Jeff Massingill and Cole Searing completed the top ten finishers on the night.
The second Twin 25 lap feature did not count for Challenge Series points, but saw the top two in series points Cole Searing and Tyler Peterson battle out front for the lead, which Searing ended up snagging and racing off to the win for his efforts.
Several fun battles occurred during the non-stop 25-lap affair, with Searing stalking after Peterson for the first half of the race before sweeping under him to take the lead mid-race.
The top ten finishers were Searing, Peterson, Jeff Massingill, Chad Mahder, Ryan Mikkelson, John Kaanta, Jake Redetzke, Josh Zimpel, Travis Budisalovich and Dan Bargender.
Cade Nelson won the URSA Late Model feature while Shane Sabraski won the WISSOTA Super Stock feature.
Tonight’s contingency award winners included:
Collins Bros. Towing Long Tow Award – Cole Searing
Hiller Auction Quick Qualifier Award –Chad Mahder
MyRacePass Pole Award – Shane Sabraski
Olsen Custom Farms Hard Luck Award – Don Shaw
Wehrs Machine Hard Charger Award – Jeff Massingill
GTX Rookie of the Race – Shane Sabraski
MD3 Lap Leader Award – Shane Sabraski
Full results can be found on MyRacePass.com
The Challenge Series gets back to action Saturday night with a trip to the legendary Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin with a 6pm start time. The three-day weekend wraps up on Sunday night at the Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, MN, starting at 6pm as well.
For upcoming schedule information and tickets, visit www.WISSOTAChallengeSeries.com.
Submitted By: Nikki Cook
