Seitz, Stepan, Krafthefer, Kollman &
Danzeisen dash to Viking victories

By Ray Beste
© 2006 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

Alexandria, Mn (April 22) - Jon Stepan debuted his brand new 2006 Affordable chassis WISSOTA Super Stock in grand fashion Saturday night during the season opener at Viking Speedway.

Stepan held off Scot Danzeisen and Tim Johnson for the win. Other winners were Korey Krafthefer in the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, Rusty Kollman in the WISSOTA Street Stocks, Danzeisen in the WISSOTA Modifieds and John Seitz in the WISSOTA Late Models.

A total of 150 cars participated in five WISSOTA sanctioned divisions.

The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds were the first division on the feature docket with Korey Krafthefer and Jason Grimes manning the front row. Krafthefer took the early lead with Grimes all over the backside of his machine.

Fifth starter Danny Bayer made some impressive moves and worked his way by Dallas Gulbrandson for third on the bottom of the speedway in turn three. After a restart on lap three, Krafthefer, Grimes and Bayer really got after it for the lead. On lap five, Brock Gronwald used a diamond maneuver to dispose of Gulbrandson on the bottom of the track in turn two.

While Grimes and Krafthefer battled for the point, Bayer moved up and raced side by side with Grimes for second. After qualifying through a B feature, WISSOTA Midwest Modified rookie Brady Peterson of Cottage Grove, MN worked his way into the top 10 when he passed Scott Paulson and Jason Schoep.

Grimes pulled even with Krafthefer on lap eight and they drag raced down the frontstretch. Krafthefer held the line and continued on out front. Gronwald used a nifty move to get by Bayer on the bottom of the speedway in turn four on the final lap. Krafthefer passed the first checkered flag of the season well ahead of Grimes, Gronwald, Bayer and Gulbrandson.

North Dakota Street Stock pilots Dave Rohweder and Rusty Kollman shared the front row when head flagman Mike Commerford dropped the green flag. Kollman grabbed the early lead with Rohweder in tow.

A rarity occurred on lap two when Scott Paulson looped his machine in turn two. After a series of yellows, Kollman held the point followed by Rohweder, Scott Horn, Derek Bernstien and Joe Pellman. Mike Flickinger, in his first race in several years, looked very strong as he moved by Brandon Jacobson for sixth via the bottom groove in turn two.

Bernstien made it an all North Dakota top three when he moved by 2005 track champion Horn for third with two laps remaining. Kollman held off a few late race advances from Rohweder and went on to take his first career win at the speedway. Rohweder, Bernstien, Horn and Pellman completed the top five.

With speedway rivals Stepan and Danzeisen sharing the front row for the WISSOTA Super Stock feature, the fans anticipated an action-packed event. The boys did not dissappoint after Stepan grabbed the early advantage.

Kevin Robertson looped his machine in turn two just two laps into the race and brought out the first yellow. Todd Carter moved by Scott Baker for fourth on lap three when he found some bite on the bottom of the track exiting turn two. Three laps later Stepan, Danzeisen and Tim Johnson were battling for the top spot. Stepan and Danzeisen worked the middle of the track while Johnson chose to use the diamond maneuver.

With five laps to go, Eric Fuchs looped his machine and caused another yellow. Two laps clicked by before John Nord made contact with Johnson entering turn one. Nord was charged with the caution and went to the back. On the final lap the front trio filed into the final set of turns together. Stepan emerged first and Johnson snuck by Danzeisen for the runner-up spot. Baker and Mike Christianson rounded out the top five.

The high powered WISSOTA Modifieds rolled out next with 24 drivers in the field. Danzeisen grabbed the early lead ahead of a dogfight between Jason Thoennes and Ryan Canon. Zach Johnson moved into fourth when he passed Chad Ohnstad on the bottom of the track in turn four.

Canon and Thoennes continued to battle for second while Danzeisen stretched his advantage out front. On lap 11, Shawn Nolan spun in turn two and brought out the final yellow of the event.

After starting deep in the field, Jamie Lemke and Jeremy Kerzman steadily worked their way to the front one car at a time. Both drivers moved up 11 positions during the event; Lemke finished ninth and Kerzman 11th. Danzeisen scored the commanding win and Thoennes held off Canon for the runner-up spot. Ohnstad and Johnson rounded out the top five.

Two of the best in the business - John Seitz and Jeff Wildung - shared the front row for the WISSOTA Late Model feature. Seitz grabbed the early lead and began to really stretch out an early advantage. Wildung battled handling problems and Don Shaw moved into second. On lap three, Shawn Kirwin, Curt Gelling, Jeff Hinkemeyer and Zach Johnson tangled in turn two. Gelling was the only one able to continue.

Thoennes grabbed fourth from Rick Sweet on lap 12 and set his sights on Wildung for third. With seven laps to go, Rick Nelson spun his machine on the backstretch and set up a seven-lap dash to the finish.

Shaw took some shots at passing Seitz during the remaining laps but was unable to deny Seitz the win. Wildung, Thoennes, and Sweet completed the top five.

SUMMARY

WISSOTA Late Models:

Feature - John Seitz, Don Shaw, Jeff Wildung, Jason Thoennes, Rick Sweet, Brad Jensen, Shaun Peterson, Don Eischens, Steve Hucovski, Blake Jegtvig, Rick Nelson, Curt Gelling, Matt Sparby, Scott Lehn, Mike Killian, Gary Walton, Shawn Kirwin, Jeff Hinkemeyer, Zach Johnson, Chris Lehn

Heat 1 - Jeff Wildung, Jason Thoennes, Shawn Kirwin, Brad Jensen, Mike Killian, Blake Jegtvig, Zach Johnson, Curt Gelling, Jeff Hinkemeyer, Matt Sparby

Heat 2 - John Seitz, Don Shaw, Rick Sweet, Steve Hucovski, Don Eischens, Shaun Peterson, Rick Nelson, Gary Walton, Scott Lehn, Chris Lehn

WISSOTA Modifieds:

Feature - Scot Danzeisen, Jason Thoennes, Ryan Canon, Chad Ohnstad, Zach Johnson, Scott Gilbertson, Dave Storck, Shawn Peterson, Jamie Lemke, Dennis Bitzan, Jeremy Kerzman, Craig Christiansen, Trevor Saurer, Terry Engebretson, Blake Jegtvig, Mike Storck, Alex Engelstad, Dev Malmlov, Shawn Nolan, Kent Wilms, Dick Peterson, Mike Bruns, Ricky Kluver, Andy Gordon

Heat 1 - Jason Thoennes, Chad Ohnstad, Dave Storck, Terry Engebretson, Andy Gordon, Kent Wilms, Ricky Kluver, Mike Storck, Jamie Lemke, Matt Anderson, Dick Peterson, Derrick Hansen

Heat 2 - Scot Danzeisen, Scott Gilbertson, Mike Bruns, Dennis Bitzan, Blake Jegtvig, Dev Malmlov, Mark Esala, Jeremy Kerzman, Kyle Wieberdink, Ryan Muzik, Shawn Nolan

Heat 3 - Ryan Canon, Zach Johnson, Shawn Peterson, Trevor Saurer, Craig Christiansen, Alex Engelstad, Wayne Wieberdink, Terry Haven, Joshua Haug, Jason Cook, Tim Thomas

B Feature - Rick Kluver, Jamie Lemke, Mike Storck, Jeremy Kerzman, Dick Peterson, Shawn Nolan

WISSOTA Super Stocks:

Feature - Jon Stepan, Tim Johnson, Scot Danzeisen, Scott Baker, Mike Christenson, Jeff Kluver, Corky Thomas, Jeff Crouse, Chuck Theischafer, Larry Lund, Irvin Cook, Mike Stearns, Jeff Flaten, Kevin Robertson, Jason Blascyk, Steve Weber, Steve Polich, Andy Hofteig, Chris Winter, Roger Host, Eric Fuchs, John Nord, Todd Carter, Zach Schultz

Heat 1 - Scot Danzeisen, Todd Carter, Larry Lund, Corky Thomas, Irvin Cook, Eric Fuchs, Roger Host, Bryan Hellerman, Matt Sparby

Heat 2 - Jon Stepan, John Nord, Mike Christenson, Steve Weber, Steve Polich, Andy Hofteig, Matt Miller, Paul Englestad, Jason Tabatt

Heat 3 - Kevin Robertson, Jeff Kluver, Chuck Thieschafer, Jeff Flaten, Mike Stearns, Jason Blascyk, Barry Robertson, Mike Peterson

Heat 4 - Tim Johnson, Scott Baker, Jeff Crouse, Zach Schultz, Chris Winter, Gary Reents, Erick Thiesse, Ben Hellerman

B Feature - Jason Blasyck, Eric Fuchs, Andy Hofteig, Roger Host

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds:

Feature - Kory Krafthefer, Jason Grimes, Brock Gronwald, Danny Bayer, Dallas Gulbrandson, Tyler Limoges, Ron Saurer, Dan Menk, Brady Peterson, Dave Schroeder, Jamie Thorstad, Scott Paulson, Josh Thoennes, Brett Hoium, Mike Greg, Jason Schoep, Kyle Krafthefer, Brian Krog, Kyle Koehntop, Trent Brutger, Matt Smith, Jason Hoffman, Brandon Nelson, Scott Werk

Heat 1 - Korey Krafthefer, Brock Gronwald, Dave Schroeder, Matt Weisman, Jamie Thorstad, Terry Merten, Jerry Thorstad, Jr., Charlie Zander, Dustin Bluhm

Heat 2 - Jason Grimes, Trent Brutger, Jason Hoffman, Kyle Krafthefer, Travis Saurer, Brian Murphy, Ryan Studanski, Jake Wildman

Heat 3 - Tyler Limoges, Ron Saurer, Mike Greg, Ben Johnson, Brett Hoium, Nick Bruder, Cory Thene, Peter Loecken

Heat 4 - Dallas Gulbrandson, Kyle Koehntop, Brian Krog, Brady Peterson, Brooke Hellerman, Chad Koenig, Jeremy Schmidt, Todd Berg

Heat 5 - Danny Bayer, Dan Menk, Brandon Nelson, Rich Truesdell, Ryan Schmidt, Jason Schoep, Pee Wee Kuhnau, Scott Werk

Heat 6 - Matt Smith, Josh Thoennes, Scott Paulson, Tim Balbach, John Sertich, Jim Nystrom, Nate Barber, Bob Hansen

B Feature 1 - Jerry Thorstad, Jr., Brett Hoium, Jason Schoep

B Feature 2 - Brady Peterson, Travis Saurer, Kyle Krafthefer

WISSOTA Street Stocks:

Feature - Rusty Kollman, Dave Rohweder, Derek Bernstien, Scott Horn, Joe Pellman, Mike Flickinger, Brandon Jacobson, Royce Jawaski, Cory Tammen, Chuck Olson, Ryan Schroeder, Jim Williams, Alan Johnson, Scott Paulson, Aaron Leininger, Justin Vogel, Ashley Donald, Andrew Bangsund, Mark Blom, Steve Podratz, Jay Hedtke, Ryan Buer, Rick Sahli

Heat 1 - Dave Rohweder, Joe Pellman, Ryan Buer, Chuck Olson, Aaron Leininger, Justin Vogel, Ashley Donald, Andrew Bangsund

Heat 2 - Rusty Kollman, Scott Horn, Jim Williams, Derek Bernstien, Brandon Jacobson, Royce Jawaski, Ryan Schroeder, Steve Podratz

Heat 3 - Mark Blom, Scott Paulson, Mike Flickinger, Cory Tammen, Alan Johnson, Jay Hedtke, Rick Sahli