8/22/2021
Ogilvie Raceway
Ekdahl Gets First EVER Feature Win Saturday Night at the Big O!
By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Ogilvie, MN (August 21) – The air was cool like a fall day, which encouraged many drivers and fans to flock to Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway for a night of WISSOTA Dirt Track race action. Spire Credit Union sponsored the night in which Jeff Ekdahl, David Swearingen, Robert Holtquist and Matthew Dittman went home with trophies and Shane Sabraski went home with two.
Thomas Worth and Charlie Shiek brought the WISSOTA Street Stocks the green for the night’s first feature, and Shiek snagged the lead. Drivers battled for top points as the first caution was triggered. Shiek led the drivers back to green with Jeff Ekdahl and Gavin Rowland to his rear. Ekdahl challenged Shiek for the lead and took the position as Rowland moved into the runner up point. Justin Pogones slid into third and raced to Rowland’s door. After a battle, Pogones stole the point. Pogones tried to reel in Jeff Ekdahl, however he kept his foot down and took his first feature win ever. Justin Pogones, Gavin Rowland, Kurt Becken and Kyle Howland crossed the line as the top drivers.
Ashton Schulte, Jake Smith, Kyle Kirberger and David Swearingen battled nearly four-wide for the lead as the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds sped off. Kirberger snagged the top point with others still in a battle. After a couple restarts, Kirberger remained in command with Swearingen, Travis and Ashton Schulte in a fight for second. Travis Schulte took the runner up point and slid next to Kirberger for the lead. T. Schulte claimed the top point and after a couple of laps, he was ready to lap drivers. Just then the yellow waved, and that was the first of many cautions. David Swearingen kept his composure through the cautions, and after track officials decided to call the race, Swearingen was awarded the win. Travis Schulte, Brandon Mehrwerth, Jake Smith and Zach Benson grabbed the top points.
The WISSOTA Mod Fours were next, and they were able to run a caution free race. David Slovick and Landyn Randt led the drivers to the stand, and as they took the green, they were four and nearly five-wide around the race surface. Randt pulled away with the top point while Tyler Larson, Robert Holtquist and Dustin Holtquist battled for second. As the drivers made more laps, Randt dropped a few points and Robert Holtquist sped into the lead. Robert Holtquist, Tyler Larson, Dustin Holtquist, Tommy Pogones and Dean Larson claimed points one through five on the track, and they remained in that order until the checkers waved.
Brandon Linquist, Jim Gullikson, Andy Grymala and Shane Sabraski all battled for the first position in the WISSOTA Super Stock feature. After a caution and a four-wide battle, Sabraski, Gullikson and Grymala remained three-wide for the lead. Some contact occurred between the three drivers, but it was Sabraski who emerged as the leader. Sabraski separated himself from the pack as laps went by with Grymala in second. Three cautions kept the drivers at a stop and go pace, however Shane Sabraski kept the lead and took the win. Josh Zimpel, Andy Grymala, Dexton Koch and Ryan Kostreba rounded out the top positions.
Don Eischens claimed first when the WISSOTA Modifieds took the green while Brandon Dolman, Ryan Gierke and Taton Hansen raced three-wide for second. Dolman moved ahead and took over the lead, however Gierke charged to Dolman’s door. Gierke drove by the #24 of Dolman and drove away from the field. The yellow then appeared, and as the drivers took the green, Dolman and Shane Sabraski went three-wide with Gierke for first. Sabraski nosed ahead with the lead with Gierke in second. Sabraski stretched his lead, but with a few laps to go, Gierke closed the gap. Gierke however ran out of laps as Shane Sabraski snagged his second feature win of the night. Ryan Gierke settled for second with Dave Cain, Taton Hansen and Jody Bellefeuille in the top five.
The WISSOTA Hornets wrapped up the night’s races with Adam Throener and Bryce Huff on the front row. As the drivers took the green, they were three and four-wide all over the race surface. Mac Johnston nosed ahead with the top point however Matthew Dittman flew by Johnston’s #13 for the lead. Dittman pulled away from the pack and within laps, he had put a couple drivers down a lap. A few cautions slowed the Hornets, but Dittman continued to lead the way. Nate Servaty claimed second with Joe Wilber, Marcus Ammerman and Alex Aderman three-wide for third. The remaining laps passed without incident, and Matthew Dittman took the win followed by Nate Servaty, Joseph Wilber, Marcus Ammerman and Alex Aderman.
Next Saturday at the Big O will be a night you will not want to miss. The Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series will be in action with our regular classes and it’s track Championship night. There are a couple of close points battles across a few classes and the champions will be determined next week. Mark your calendars, racing will resume at 6:30pm.
Article Credit: Photo by: Cody Papke
