Redetzke Gets First ABC Win in LM Challenge Series Special
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, July 24 -- Young Jake Redetzke of Eau Claire shadowed Darrell Nelson for 31 laps, then slipped by in traffic and ran away to his first ABC Raceway feature win on Friday night during the first-ever visit by WISSOTA’s Dart Late Model Challenge Series.
The special AmsOil Dirt Track Series event, presented by the Bad River Lodge, Casino & Convention Center, was combined with FastLane Motorsports’ Super Stock Challenge, won by Duane Dale of Aurora, MN, and the Six-Cylinder Summer Sizzler, in which CJ Polacek of Phillips took top honors.
After Travis Budisalovich’s spin on the initial attempt to start the WISSOTA Late Model main event, the 40-lapper ran off uninterrupted, with Nelson and Redetzke putting on quite a show. Nelson won the race to the first corner and set a quick pace while polesitter Redetzke followed in his tire tracks. Kevin Carlson took one quick but unsuccessful look to the inside on Redetzke on the first lap, and that would be as close as anyone would get to either of the leaders until they caught up to slower traffic.
Steve Laursen made a daring slide in front of Carlson going through turn 3 to take third on lap 4, and although a tight set-up would not allow him to keep up with the lead pair he was able to build and maintain a substantial margin over any threats from the rest of the field.
Series points leader Don Copp slipped inside on Canadian visitor Joel Cryderman on lap 5 to take fifth as Nelson and Redetzke continued to draw further away from the pack, eventually building up to a near-straightaway advantage. Redetzke shadowed Nelson’s every move and occasionally stuck a nose to the inside through a corner, never letting Nelson forget he was there.
The leaders caught Keane Laakson on lap 12 as Laakson slowed to exit the track. Two laps later Nelson caught the next backmarkers and threaded his way by them with expert ease, but Redetzke stayed right on his rear bumper as Copp put an inside move on Carlson to take fourth away, with Cryderman soon following Copp’s lead to fifth.
Once Nelson and Redetzke cleared a few of the slower cars and found some running room they again resumed their battle, with Redetzke sneaking the occasional inside peak for the lead.
On lap 24 Redetzke decided it was time to take over, and with traffic all around to help him the youngster grabbed the lead with an inside pass. But Nelson stayed alongside and, after two laps, used the slower Darin Meierotto as a pick and reclaimed the point. Redetzke was determined to get that lead back, however, and on lap 29 he pulled alongside Nelson again. The two raced nearly side-by-side for two more laps before Redetzke finally cleared Nelson, this time taking the lead for good.
Once out front there wasn’t much to hold Redetzke back, as he lapped several more cars on his way to a half-straightaway win. Nelson was a full straight ahead of third-finishing Laursen, while a few lengths behind him followed Copp and Cryderman in close order.
Pat Doar worked his way up to sixth in the final rundown, while Carlson held on for seventh. Rick Hanestad was scored eighth at the stripe, just ahead of 17th-starting Terry Anvelink. Second-in-Series points Lance Matthees was tenth, the last car on the lead lap.
An enthusiastic Redetzke explained the pass for the $3,000 win in Victory Lane afterwards by saying, “Darrell had me covered, but I knew I had a shot in lapped traffic.” Once out front Redetzke didn’t know how much he had pulled away, saying, “I was runnin’ scared!”
The race was completed in just a shade over 14 minutes, with Nelson posting the race’s only sub-17-second lap (16.853) early in the event.
Heat winners earlier in the program included Paul Brust, Copp and Doar. Brust also took his first Debbie’s Dash win of the summer. |
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The drama of the 25-lap WISSOTA Super Stock A-main was enhanced just before race time when Rivord Trucking doubled the winner’s share to $1,000. Consequently there were several anxious moves that created a small handful of caution flags.
Dale, the Raceway’s WISSOTA modified points leader, took the early advantage from his outside front-row starting spot, while second-row starter Greg Kuklinski muscled his way under polesitter Nick Oreskovich into second in the first turn. Dave Flynn spun in turn 3 and collected Kevin Eder and Joe Oliver to bring out the first caution flag after one completed lap, and the first attempt to restart was delayed by debris on the track.
Kuklinski got a great jump on Dale on the next try and had the lead going into the first turn, but Dale responded with a strong drive off turn 2. Eric Olson then used a daring move down low to sneak past both Oreskovich and Kuklinski on lap 2 and filled in behind Dale.
On lap 6 Flynn spun again, and at that same moment track points leader Brian Mikkonen’s night ended when he coasted into the infield. Kuklinski reclaimed second spot from Olson on the restart, and two laps later the race was again slowed for parts laying on the track.
The race then stayed under green for an extended time, during which Dale built a comfortable cushion. Olson took advantage of the continual pace by working his way past Kuklinski again, and seventh-starting Scott Lawrence became a factor by mixing it up with Olson for several laps, with Mike Bellefeuille closing fast.
Dale looked to be well in command and on his way to an easy win when Ron Hmielewski looped his ride coming out of turn 4 with four laps to go, tightening up the field. Over the final laps Olson took several shots at taking the lead from Dale, and coming out of the final corner he pulled alongside the leader, with Lawrence directly behind. But Dale held on to win his first super stock feature and fourth overall here by less than two-hundredths of a second - about eight feet - with new points leader Lawrence right on Dale’s trunklid. Bellefeuille was not that far back in fourth, while Rich Bishop charged late to finish fifth. |
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The Six-Cylinder feature was extended to 20 laps on this night, and first place paid double the usual amount ($400), so the wick seemed to be turned up on the track. After a three-car mess to start the run, polesitter Greg Jaeger set the pace early while fellow front-row starter Polacek fell in line behind him. Pat Beeksma drew alongside Polacek a couple of times over the first few laps before taking second away on lap 5, and the lead trio drew away.
The race cruised along quickly to its midpoint, with Beeksma running alongside Jaeger and Polacek waiting patiently for an opening. Just then Bryan Anderson spun coming off turn 2, bringing the field back together. On the restart Jaeger bobbled just enough to allow Beeksma to get away with the lead, and Polacek took the opportunity to steal second.
Fifth-running Tyler Luger spun with six laps left, closing Polacek up to Beeksma’s trunklid. Three laps later Polacek made a move around Beeksma for the lead, but debris on the track negated the move. Polacek took another shot at the lead after the restart, but again the yellow light came on for car parts on the track. Finally Polacek was redeemed when a combination of an outside pass and Beeksma’s engine losing a cylinder gave the second-generation driver his second feature win of his career in just three weeks, while Don Muzzy came out of nowhere to streak around Beeksma for second. Jaeger held on to fourth just in front of Shawn McFadden, Jr. |
 | Next up at the three-eighths-mile red-clay oval is race number 4 of the eight-race Como Oil & Propane Modified Series, presented by the NAPA Auto Parts of Ashland and Washburn. Over 50 of the area’s top mod drivers will converge on the track for their shot at the $1,000 winner’s check. WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds will also be on hand for a $400-to-win show, and the sixes will be back in action as well.
Adult admission tickets are just $12, while kids ages 12 and under get in free with a paid adult admission. Hot laps are set for 6:15 pm, and racing will start at 7. “Race Night” will air live on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, from 4:30-6 pm with at-the-track news and weather updates. The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990.
Results
WISSOTA Late Models
Feature: Jake Redetzke, Eau Claire; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Steve Laursen, Cumberland; Don Copp, Brule; Joel Cryderman, Thunder Bay, ON; Pat Doar, New Richmond; Kevin Carlson, Hermantown, MN; Rick Hanestad, Boyceville; Terry Anvelink, Bonduel; John Kaanta, Elk Mound; Paul Brust, Rice Lake; Lance Matthees, Winona, MN; Pete Parker, Kaukauna; Tim McMann, Duluth, MN; Travis Budisalovich, Cottage Grove, MN; Darin Meierotto, Superior; Cory Jorgensen, Hermantown, MN; Paul Parker, Kaukauna; Adam Hensel, Barron; Keane Laakson, Stone Lake.
Heat 1: Brust; Redetzke; Budisalovich; Meierotto; Kaanta; Anvelink; Pete Parker.
Heat 2: Copp; Nelson; Laursen; Carlson; McMann; Hansel; Jorgensen.
Heat 3: Doar; Cryderman; Hanestad; Laakson; Matthees; Paul Parker.
Debbie’s Dash: Brust; Carlson; Nelson; Redetzke; Copp; Cryderman; Doar; Laursen.
WISSOTA Super Stocks
Feature: Duane Dale, Aurora, MN; Eric Olson, Ladysmith; Scott Lawrence, Superior; Mike Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Rich Bishop, New Richmond; Shane Kisling, Sarona; Greg Kuklinski, Ironwood, MI; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Jeff Tardy, Hibbing, MN; Joe Oliver, Superior; Randy Spacek, Phillips; Charlie Anderson, Ironwood, MI; Ken Truscott, Greenland, MI; Willie Johnsen, Superior; Trevor Wilson, Superior; Roy Pumala, Mason; Dave Elliott, Minocqua; Ron Hmielewski, Marengo; Art Hyde, Washburn; Brian Mikkonen, Iron River; Dave Flynn, Superior; Donnie Lofdahl, Proctor, MN; Kevin Eder, Ashland; Tad Schoonover, Eagle River; Don Koivisto, Saxon.
Heat 1: Kuklinski; Dale; Lawrence; Kisling; Lofdahl; Oliver; Schoonover; Koivisto; Elliott.
Heat 2: Tardy; Bellefeuille; Olson; Spacek; Eder; Johnsen; Pumala; Hyde.
Heat 3: Wilson; Bishop; Oreskovich; Flynn; Mikkonen; Anderson; Hmielewski; Truscott.
Six-Cylinders
Feature: CJ Polacek, Phillips; Don Muzzy, Ironwood, MI; Pat Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Greg Jaeger, Mellen; Shawn McFadden, Jr, Ashland; Chuck Hawkinson, Mellen; Scott Ovaska, Marengo; Dale Coddington, Hayward; Neil Adamczak, Ashland; Zach Pagels, Marengo; DeJay Mihalek, Ashland; Ken Tyykila, Iron River; Tyler Luger, Iron River; Bryan Anderson, Mason; Bobby Durand, Mason; Adam Traaholt, Ashland; Warren Beede, Iron River; Forrest Schultz, Ashland; Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Jonathon Popp, Iron River; Justin Bretall, Grand View.
Heat 1: Luger; P Beeksma; Beede; Muzzy; Hawkinson; Mihalek; Tyykila; Durand.
Heat 2: Ovaska; Jaeger; Coddington; Adamczak; Anderson; Popp; Mashlan; Traaholt.
Heat 3: Pagels; Polacek; McFadden; Tim Beeksma, Ashland; Bretall; Hudack; Schultz. |
