7/21/2024
Wissota Late Model Challenge Series
Mars Masters Cedar Lake for First Career Challenge Series Triumph
For Immediate Release – July 20th, 2024
The 2024 Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star returned to the legendary Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin for the third time ever and first time since 2018 and a stout field of 43 Late Model competitors joined the festivities.
Tyler Peterson started the night by setting fast time and new Cedar Lake Speedway WISSOTA Late Model Track Record with a lap of 13.593 seconds around the high banked oval, while Darrell Nelson, Ashley Anderson, James Giossi, AJ Diemel and Sam Mars topped the five qualifying heat races early in the night’s program. Peterson and Joel Bennett, driving a Todd Frank-owned #21 for the night won the night’s b-mains to set the 25-car feature starting lineup.
Diemel and Mars earned the front row for the night’s $5,000 to win, 40-lap feature event with Mars getting the upper hand on the initial start and leading the field into turn number one and lead the opening lap for the second night in a row.
The caution flew twice just after one circuit was completed and, on the restart, Mars took back off in the lead with Dan Bargender and Diemel battling for second just behind Ryan Mikkelson’s #15*. As the first five laps clicked off, Diemel and Bargender both ganged up on Mars and raced into the top three spots, with Mikkelson in tow.
A pair lap eight and lap ten cautions bunched the field up again with a heck of a battle for the lead ensuing on the next restart. Bargender drove off into the lead with Diemel, Mikkelson and Ashley Anderson now in the mix as well, all in a tussle for the runner up spot.
The final caution of the 40-lapper flew on lap 18 and after that, the final 22 circuits ran non-stop with intense action throughout the field. On the restart, Bargender, Mars and Diemel charged three wide for the lead for several laps with Redetzke, Sabraski, Nelson and Mikkelson just behind in tow and three wide battles lap after lap.
Mars was finally able to steal the race lead from Bargender with less than ten circuits to go and held off Bargender, Diemel, Anderson and Nelson for his first career Challenge Series victory and the $5,000 payday that went along with it.
Sixth through tenth saw Jake Redetzke, Shane Sabraski, Jeff Provinzino, Tyler Peterson and hard charging Cole Searing cross under the double checkered to round out the top ten.
Shane Sabraski won the WISSOTA Super Stock feature, while Darrell Nelson won the Modified feature. Cade Nelson won the USRA Late Model feature and Brandon Jensen won the Midwest Modified feature as well.
Tonight’s contingency award winners included:
Collins Bros. Towing Long Tow Award – Tyler Peterson
Hiller Auction Quick Qualifier Award – Tyler Peterson
MyRacePass Pole Award – AJ Diemel
Olsen Custom Farms Hard Luck Award – Pat Doar
Wehrs Machine Hard Charger Award – Cole Searing
GTX Rookie of the Race – Shane Sabraski
MD3 Lap Leader Award – Dan Bargender
Full results can be found on MyRacePass.com
The Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota hosts the Challenge Series tomorrow night, Sunday, July 21st with a 6pm start time.
For upcoming schedule information and tickets, visit www.WISSOTAChallengeSeries.com.
Submitted By: Nikki Cook
