Gustafson Takes Win by a Nose

By Bill Nelson     April 15     Spring Valley MN

134 were on hand for Land Resource Management and Realty night and K.C. Lawn Care night at the Speedway. A strong wind out of the East blew but the weather was perfect for a Saturday night in April

The WISSOTA Street Stocks took to the track for the feature event first and had the best race of the night ending in a three wide race to the checkers. Travis Forcier took the early lead with Mark Zvorak, Shaun Wehlage and Chuck Nerland racing three wide for second. Forcier took his first challenge for the lead with fifteen to go as Nerland moved under him while Wehlage nosed his way into the middle. For two laps the trio raced for the lead with Wehlage eventually taking the lead. Forcier was strong through as he moved back into the lead on the next lap while they still battled three wide for the lead. Behind them Cory Rosen sat in fourth patiently waiting his chance. Ten circuits remained and Nerland swapped spots with Forcier and took the lead at the stripe as Rosen moved in behind Nerland in nose to tail formation. Coming out of turn two Wehlage again used the top side to move around Nerland to take the lead while Forcier, Nerland, Rosen and Cory Crapser ran 4-wide for a lap for the second spot. Rosen moved into second two laps later as the top five ran in tight formation. Forcier pulled up in turn 3 with seven to go bringing out a caution. On the restart Wehlage took the lead with Rosen and Nerland battling for second. Crapser and Gustafson rounded out the top 5. Rosen got a great run and pulled alongside Wehlage for the lead while Crapser, Nerland and Jim Gustafson raced for third. Wehalge continued to lead with three to go. Coming to the line with two to go and the edge went to Rosen for the lead. The field took the white and then Gustafson, Wehlage and Rosen exited the back straight in tight formation. Wehlage gained the advantage over Rosen coming through three but exiting turn four Gustafson used the inside line to propel him into the lead and the win by a nose. Wehlage finished second less than two feet ahead of Rosen.

After putting on a stellar race last weekend the Midwest Modifieds had an entertaining race again this week in the early stages. Turn of the first start found six cars sitting still with damage. Only one was able to continue racing after they were cleared up. Albert Wytaske jumped out to the early lead with most of the field racing two and three wide for position. With sixteen to go Kenny Wytaske moved past Albert to take the lead as another caution flew slowing down the field. Sean Hemker and Shane Sabraski battled for third on the restart. Sabraski took the advantage and on then moved past Albert for the second spot. The top two pulled away from the field steadily as Jeff Brauer moved inside the top five. A caution with six to go bunched the field back up. Albert, Chris Adams and Hemker now had a great race for a couple laps as they battled for third behind Sabraski. Hemker eventually gained the advantage with

Adams in fourth and Albert in fifth as the field took the checkers behind Kenny Wytaske and Sabraski.

Brian Fetting used his outside pole position starting spot to take the lead early while Dave Haberman followed him through to the second spot. Two laps into the race and Cole Queensland moved up from eighth to third as he ran the high line on the speedway early. The first caution of the race flew while Cory Mahder, Qeensland and Haberman had a great race building for second. Fetting led on the restart but Queensland powered by on the top side only to have another caution fly negating the pass. Fetting pulled off with a flat tire allowing Haberman the lead. On the restart Tim Johnson, Cole Queensland and Cory Mahder had a great race for second. Mahder was squeezed out of the middle as Ryan Siegle moved up to race with him. The two of them made heavy contact down the front straight spinning into the infield bringing out another caution. Ryan Aho was in fifth on the restart but lost a tire going into two to bring out the caution again. Tim Johnson continued to lead up front through one more caution and held on for the win.

Bob Timm and Steve Arpin paced the field for the start of the USRA modified feature. After running side by side for the first lap Arpin got the spot with Mike Sorensen in third. Timm bobbled in two allowing Sorensen and Tim Donlinger to move into second and third. Arpin quickly got caught up to lapped traffic as the rest tried to chase him down. A caution with sixteen to go bunched the field back up. Corey Dripps and Steve Wetzstein had the best race going on the restart as they ran side by side for three laps in a battle for sixth. Another caution with twelve to go set up the winner of the race as Sorensen and Arpin raced out of four. The two cars touched slightly with Sorensen able to take advantage of it and take over the lead. With three to go Nate Wasmund was looking strong and worked under Donlinger for third only to slip up a lap later allowing Donlinger back into third. Sorensen came home with the win, followed by Arpin and Donlinger.

John Kaanta quickly darted into the lead with Barry Underdahl and Ben Mattick quickly moving into second and third. Only two laps were completed before the first caution of the event flew as the drivers were battling for the bottom side of the speedway. Duane Mahder and Lance Matthees had a good battle going for fourth during the early stages. Maathees took the spot with Jay Ihrke moving into a race with Mahder. Thirteen laps remaining found Mattick putting pressure on Underdahl as the leaders were working through lapped traffic. The top three steadily pulled away from the rest of the field until a late caution set up a green, white & checker dash to the finish. Kaanta held on for the win with Underdahl and Mattick finishing second and third.

Heat 3 – Kaanta, Ihrke, Underdahl, Keith Foss, Doug Herrick