6/10/2018
Buffalo River Speedway
VanMil wins sportmod thriller at Buffalo River Race Park
GLYNDON, Minn.—Chris VanMil of Barnesville, Minn., scored his fourth IMCA sportmod feature win Sunday night at Buffalo River Race Park in dramatic fashion.
After nearly sliding off the track with five laps to go while running third, VanMil took advantage of a late race restart to take the lead, and ultimately, the win.
"I thought I had lost the opportunity of getting a win or even a top five," VanMil said of his thoughts after having the right-side tires slide off the embankment while racing for the lead. "I just got back in line and tried to keep the car straight. The cautions definitely fell my way tonight."
The final restart came with eight laps to go with Kelly Jacobson leading his father, Scott Jacobson. VanMil moved into second as the race resumed. Kelly Jacobson nearly slid off the track as well with four laps to go, which opened the door for VanMil and Scott Jacobson. They all went three wide for the lead down the front stretch and into turn one. VanMil and Kelly Jacobson made contact on the high side of turn two as VanMil powered into the lead.
Scott Jacobson followed into second, but didn't have anything for the leader. VanMil went on to take his third Buffalo River Race Park win in the last four weeks.
"It was good racing. Both Kelly and Scott are good friends of mine and have helped me a lot with my car," VanMil said. "I tried to drive straight and smooth but there was some contact there and I feel bad about that. Luckily everything worked out."
Tim Estenson of Fargo rolled to his fourth INEX legends win of the year at Buffalo River Race Park and eighth overall. Brothers Dylan and Sean Johnson led the field in the early going. The race was halted on lap three when a car spun in turn two causing a massive pile up. A total of 11 cars were involved, six of which were forced to retire from the event due to excessive damage.
On the restart, Steven Kuntz was the big mover as he made a three wide pass to move into third. Estenson was able to track down Kuntz on lap eight to take third before moving by Sean Johnson for second.
Estenson quickly chased down Dylan Johnson for the lead with six laps to go. Once out front, Estenson checked out and took the win, while Kuntz edged out Dylan Johnson for second at the checkers.
The NLSA lightning sprint feature went to Zak Kwiatkoski of Grand Forks. Jason Berg grabbed the early lead from the pole position, but Kwiatkoski took the point on lap three from the third starting position. Kwiatkoski stretched out his advantage to a full straightaway around the quarter-mile dirt oval at the midpoint of the race.
Kwiatkoski cruised to his second win of the season as Josh Abrahamson and Tim Estenson rounded out the podium.
Tim Shiek's domination in the IMCA hobby stocks continued. Shiek started fifth before taking the lead on lap six. Shiek ran the rest of the event unchallenged to pick up his seventh win in the last eight races. Shiek hasn't finished worse than second in the nine events he has competed thus far in 2018.
Matt Pederson raced to his second consecutive IMCA sport compact feature win.
Working in conjunction with Sheyenne Speedway's inaugural IMCA modified event in Lisbon, the modifieds were not in action on Sunday.
IMCA SportMods
Feature: 1. 40-Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 2. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo. 3. 33H-Jake Hagemann, Brainerd, Minn.; 4. 51-Kelly Jacobson, Fargo. 5. 9-Torey Fischer, West Fargo.
NLSA Lightning Sprints
Feature: 1. 17K-Zachary Kwiatkoski, Grand Forks. 2. 16-Josh Abrahamson, Moorhead. 3. 14T-Tim Estenson, Fargo. 4. 93-Kelsi Pederson, East Grand Forks, Minn.; 5. 100-Jason Berg, Fargo.
INEX Legends
Feature: 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, Fargo. 2. 1-Steven Kuntz, Bismarck, N.D. 3. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, Durbin, N.D. 4. 5-Dean Julsrud, Barnesville, Minn. 5. D1RT-Tony Brockhouse, Glyndon, Minn.
IMCA Hobby Stocks
Feature: 1. 31X-Tim Shiek, Fargo. 2. 39-Caleb Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 3. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo. 4. 73-Maranda Borg, Harwood, N.D. 5. 701-Kyle Hallgren, Hankinson, N.D.
IMCA Sport Compacts
Feature: 1. 4P-Matt Pederson, Fargo. 2. 77H-Daniel Harstad, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 3. 6T-Randy Thompson, Fergus Falls, Minn. 4. 44T-Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 5. 33L-Austin Lammers, Pelican Rapids, Minn.
Submitted By: Mike Spieker
