2021 ABC Raceway “Six Cylinder” Rules

Any American made car with a minimum 108” wheelbase. No V-6 engines allowed.
All cars have a minimum weight requirement based upon their engine type, with
driver, after each of their respective races. See below for weight requirements:
GM: 2,600 lbs.
Ford: 2,650 lbs.
Mopar: 2,650 lbs.
AMC: 2,650 lbs.
• There will be no team drivers allowed. All points will be awarded to
individual drivers.

1. ENGINE

Any American made car with a minimum 108” wheelbase. No V-6 engines allowed.
All cars have a minimum weight requirement based upon their engine type, with driver, after each of their respective races. See below for weight requirements:
GM: 2,600 lbs.
Ford: 2,650 lbs.
Mopar: 2,650 lbs.
AMC: 2,650 lbs.
• There will be no team drivers allowed. All points will be awarded to individual drivers.

A. GM, Ford, Mopar, and AMC. 1-BBL version carburetor allowed only. No overhead cams allowed. Maximum cubic inch limits are as follows: GM: 250 C.I.; Ford: 240 C.I.;
Mopar: 225 C.I.; AMC: 258 C.I.

B. Only engine parts allowed will be of the standard 1BBL version with any stock 1BBL intake manifold. Crankshaft and connecting rods must be O.E.M to block with no lightening, grinding, knife edging or polishing of any type. No aftermarket rods or crankshaft. Aftermarket rod bolts allowed. Straight cut cam gears, 3-keyways allowed. Any battery allowed. 17.5V maximum output step-up allowed, as well as step-downs. Mini starters allowed, aluminum pulley allowed. Balancing of motor legal. No marine engine parts allowed. No reverse spin rotation motors.

C. Maximum overbore of .060 allowed.

D. Heads must match cubic inch displacement of block.

E. Any hydraulic cam allowed. Hydraulic lifters only Mopars are allowed to use a solid cam if it is stock for year and make of motor.
a. Any stock single wire valve springs allowed, up to 1.270 diameter. Valve spring shims allowed. Steel retainers and keepers allowed. Lifters must be stock diameter for make of engine and no mushroom lifters allowed. Lifters must be steel or iron and must be free to rotate.
b. Rocker jam nuts and screw in studs allowed. Studs may be be pinned. No roller type or roller-tip rockers allowed. O.E.M. type stamped steel rockers only, slots can be elongated. No stud girdles allowed. Lifter bores may not be bushed.
C. Any stock size six cylinder valves per manufacturer. No titanium valves allowed.
F. No grinding, polishing or porting of any kind on the head or intake. Valve seats may be ground no more than 1⁄4” below top of seat. Head may be milled. Angle milling allowed. Push rod holes may be enlarged. Shortened push rods will be allowed.

a. No excessive bead blasting of intake. Required dimensions to be determined by Board; will become effective and enforceable at date of Board’s approval.
G. Stock type distributors only. Stock type module, stock type coil. Location must match distributor being used. Any mechanical or vacuum advance allowed. No multiple spark boxes allowed. No magnetos allowed. No crank trigger ignition. Welding mechanical advance open is allowed.
H. No electronic traction controls.
I. Exhaust manifold must be the 2” diameter version with a 1/8” tolerance. No grinding, polishing or machining of any kind.
J. Maximum piston deck clearance is “0”. If a straight edge catches piston at T.D.C. it will be considered illegal.
K. Any cast or hypereutectic cast piston allowed. The depth of the “D” cup must be a minimum of .060”, with the size of the “D” to be 2.400” minimum from the flat side
to the outside edge. Any rings allowed. See “Drawing A” for piston dimensions. Cutting of piston top to match these dimensions is allowed. These are minimum dimensions, do not be less than these.
L. Stock Stroke +.005 inch maximum.
M. Any fan, water pump, and oil pan allowed. No electric fan or electric water pump allowed. Any steel OEM balancer or any steel SFI approved balancer allowed. No after market power steering pump allowed. Serpentine belt not allowed.

N. Engines must be tied down with a chain or solid motor mount. Minimum of 90” from center of rear end housing to back of block with a one-inch (1”) tolerance.

O. Stock carburetor for make and model of engine for Ford, Chrysler and AMC.

a. GM must use Rochester 1BBL carburetor.

I. Devices below the carburetor designed to increase the flow of air are not
permitted. Maximum 1⁄4” gasket allowed.
II. All air entering the engine will be required to enter through the top of the carburetor.
III. 5” maximum straight bore spacer between top of carburetor and bottom of air cleaner.
P. Any radiator is allowed without altering the outside appearance of body. (Such as cutting the hood).
Q. Balancer cover allowed.

2. TRANSMISSIONS
A. Stock transmissions overdrive, 3-speed or 4-speed allowed. No automatic transmissions allowed. All transmissions must have all working gears. No lightening of rotating parts. GM-to-GM, Ford-to-Ford, etc.

B. No cutting or drilling on back of flywheel. (See attached spec. sheet)

a. Flywheels to be all steel, showing part number. Stock pressure plate only. Stock type or solid hub clutch disc allowed. Solid disc recommended for safety reasons. Solid hub disc must have full circle lining.

C. No aluminum, chopped or Corvette-style flywheels. No aluminum pressure plates allowed. No lightening of any clutch parts.
D. Steel bell housing mandatory or 1/8” steel 360 degree shell of minimum 4” width or SFI explosion blanket.

E. Manual linkages or hydraulic clutch cylinder allowed.

3. TIRES AND WHEELS
A. Hoosier Dirt Stocker 500 or Hoosier Wissota 35. There will be no defacing or altering of manufacturer’s identification markings on the tire. You may not remove any letters, words or numbers that would identify the tire.
B. Steel wheels only, up to 8” allowed.
C. Bead lock optional on right rear only. No other bead locks or screws allowed.
D. Oversized lug nuts mandatory.
E. Up to 1” wheel spacers or adapters allowed.
F. Grooving and sipping of tires to be allowed.
G. No chemical treating of tires.
H. Mud plugs allowed.
4. FUEL
A. No electric, belt driven or piston type fuel pumps allowed. Must be stock diaphragm type fuel pump.
B. Gas only. Racing gas allowed. Ethanol enriched gasoline may be used. No alcohol, no nitrous, no nitrous devices allowed. No methane or propolene oxide allowed.

C. Fuel overflow hoses must be mounted below cell.

D. Fuel lines in driver’s compartment must be enclosed in metal tubing. (It is recommended that fuel lines not be in driver’s compartment).

5. CAR BODIES
A. Any after market body and plastic nose piece allowed.
B. Must have complete body. Must be centered on front stub. Metal, aluminum or fiberglass hoods and roofs are allowed. (Look at Wissota Super Stock Rules for guidelines).
C. Inner panels, dash and trunk may be removed. Floorboard must be of steel and a minimum of 20-gauge thickness from the firewall to the rear of the driver’s seat on the driver’s side. If passenger floor is removed, driver’s compartment must be tinned in (completely enclosed).
D. Area around driver’s compartment must be enclosed (cockpit style).

E. Must have full roofs. Maximum of a 2” slope on roof line.

F. Car must have neat appearing paint job with an 18” minimum height number in contrasting color on both doors and roof. Must have numbers on front and rear of car.

G. Optional back panel from top deck tin to bumper, a minimum of nine inches, extending from left to right side.

H. Spoilers must be 4 inches in height. Spoiler supports can be 5 inches in height.

6. SUSPENSION
A. Front and rear sub frames must be tied together with a 108” wheelbase (one-inch tolerance allowed).

B. Stock steering rods and A-frames for front stub. A-frames may be reinforced. Rag joints must be replaced with a steering U-Joint. Stock steering box only. No steering quickeners allowed.

C. Any rear shackle up to 4-1⁄2 inches from hole center to hole center. Equal length side to side.

D. No rack and pinion steering.

E. Aluminum lower blocks and adjustable lowering blocks are allowed.

G. Front suspension: all components must be steel unaltered O.E.M. in O.E.M. location and replaceable by O.E.M. parts. Exceptions are: tube type upper A-frames are allowed and upper A-frame mounts may be moved in or out to adjust for camber. After market upper ball joints are allowed. Lower A-frames must be stock but may be cut for shock. Lower A-

frame mounts must not be altered and must be in stock location. Spindles and bottom control arms must be the same side-to-side. Bottom A-frame bushings must be in stock location. Bottom A-frame bushings must have bolt hole in the center of bushing, not an offset bolt hole. Lower ball joint may be aftermarket, but must be steel and must remain in stock location plus or minus .25”. Any stock anti-sway bar may be used. Steel heim joints and steel swedge tubes are allowed on outer tie rods.
H. Stock passenger car spindles and hubs only. No fabricated spindles or hubs. Intermarriage is permitted within manufacturers (GM for GM, Ford for Lincoln or Mercury) but rotors, calipers and spindles must match. On stock-finned rotors, rotors must remain stock diameter with stock calipers and stock caliper mounts. No lightening or grinding.
I. All coil springs whether front or rear suspension must be a minimum outside diameter of 4-1/2 inches. After market springs allowed. No fiberglass leaf springs allowed. Multiple holes allowed on front leaf spring mount. Sliders allowed in rear leaf spring mounts only.
J. Rear suspension: multiple holes will be allowed on rear suspension mounts. Lower and upper control arm mounts must be mounted solid to the tube. No birdcages or adjustable mounts allowed. Springs, fixed or pivoting, must be mounted on the lower control arm or the axle tube itself, and must be the same on both sides. Springs may not be mounted behind axle tube. Weight jacks are allowed. No coil-overs or coil-over eliminators of any sort allowed on front or rear of car. Steel rear suspension arms only, any bushing for upper or lower control arms may be a maximum outside diameter of 2-1/2 inches and must be round. Bushings may be made of any material. One (1) shock per wheel only with a total of 4 shocks per car. Front side of shocks can be covered. No remote or external canister shocks allowed. Racing shocks allowed. Non-adjustable shocks, steel only. No air shocks, air bags, load levelers or overloads allowed. No milling, drilling or lightening up on any frame or suspension parts allowed. Rear shocks must be mounted behind the rearend. No anti-sway bar may be used on the rear. No lift bars, snubber bars, J-bars or any other traction devices allowed. Panhard bar allowed on 3-link suspension only.
K. 3-link suspension: (refer to diagram) third link runs parallel with the frame, perpendicular to the axle. Panhard bar mount and upper control arm mount must be a minimum of 9 inches from the center of the housing on the right hand axle tube. Panhard bars must be mounted behind rear end.
L. After market pedals with balance bar allowed.
M. Steering: Steering box must remain in stock location and be mounted in original holes. In cockpit steering may be modified to suit driver’s taste. But must be kept on the left side of the cockpit. No center steering. Solid steel steering joint mandatory in steering shaft. Boxing in of steering column not allowed. No rack and pinion steering.
N. Balance bar brake systems with bias handle removed is allowed.
O. Shock claim allowed. Drivers finishing sixth or worse, and on the lead lap, may claim shocks of one car that finished in first through fifth position. Each car is allowed two claims per year, and can claim up to four shocks per each claim event. Cost of claim is

$50 per shock.

7. REAR ENDS
A. GN as well as Grand National type rear ends allowed.

B. May run half-ton Ford rear end. Locked rear ends or posi-traction allowed. No aftermarket traction devices allowed. Mini and full steel spools allowed. No aluminum carriers. No limited slip type rear ends allowed, (Gold Track, Detroit, Lockers, etc.). Aftermarket axels allowed. No gun-drilled axles, no lightening axles.

C. Any gear ratio allowed.

D. Any passenger car or truck stock appearance rear end may be used.
E. Quick change rear ends are not allowed.
F. No lightweight metal rear ends allowed including aluminum, titanium, or magnesium except aluminum leaf spring blocks, shackles, trailing arms with steel heim joints, and aluminum drive plates and dust caps may be used but only on Grand National rear ends. Steel rear suspension/trailing arms
8. BRAKES
A. Drum brakes or disk brakes on rear.

B. Aftermarket or manual pedal system for clutch, brake, and throttle allowed. Aftermarket brake reservoirs allowed.

C. No brake shut-off valves allowed.

D. Must have four working brakes.

E. Brake residual valve OK if located within six inches (6”) of master cylinder and BEFORE the “T” on EACH line.

F. Must have brakes on each wheel, this includes 4 calipers and 4 rotors (no aluminum calipers). Must be able to lock up all 4 wheels. Rear brakes may be drum or disc type. No floating brake caliper mounts allowed. No carbon fiber brakes (steel components only). Sliders allowed in rear leaf spring mounts only.
9. ROLL CAGES
A. All cars must have a six-point (6 point) roll cage securely mounted to frames.

B. Minimum of three (3) bars along drivers door and must follow the contour of the door.

Must have a minimum of two (2) bars along side of passenger door.

C. Bars to be 1 1⁄2” O.D. with a .095” wall thickness or 1 3⁄4” O.D. and 3/32” wall
thickness. No galvanized or black pipe allowed.

D. All cars must have a 1⁄2” diameter bar in the middle of the windshield opening. Must
have a screen or a minimum of four (4) – 1⁄2” bars in front of driver.

E. All welds must be 360 degrees and pass a safety inspection.

F. Roll cages must be squared with frame rail. No leaning or bent cages.

G. Roll cages must have a foot and leg protection bar. See Modified chassis spec. for illustration.

I. Vent post mandatory on all cars.

J. Minimum of 18-gauge steel plate required in driver’s door, extending from rear of seat to knee area.

10. BUMPERS
A. Nose cone or stock bumper mandatory on front. Rear bumpers mandatory, may be fabricated, must have rounded or capped corners.
11. SAFETY
A. Helmets are required and must be a minimum of SNELL SA2010 or SFI 31.1/2010 or newer. Manufacturer tag and SNELL/SFI sticker must not be removed. Helmet must be worn at all times when the car is on the track and must accompany the vehicle at the time of inspection. Full-face helmets mandatory with a face shield or eye protection.

B. All competitors must wear a driving suit of flame retardant nature. If the driving suit is a two-piece suit, both the top and bottom must be worn at all times.

C. It is mandatory for the exhaust system to be mounted in such a way as to direct spent gasses away from the cockpit and from area of possible fuel spillage.

D. Safety approved fuel cells are mandatory. Fuel cells must be enclosed in a metal case of 18-gauge steel and must have a protective hoop at the rear that extends at least one inch (1”) below the fuel cell. The fuel cell overflow must go to the bottom of the cell on the outside and must be fastened at the bottom of the cell, or a ball check valve must be used. All fuel cells must have a minimum of two (2) – 2” x 1/8” metal straps or equivalent metal surrounding the fuel cell. Must have safety tether on fuel cell cap.

E. Batteries must be securely mounted outside of the driver’s compartment.

F. A competition shoulder harness, at least three inches (3”) wide and a lap belt at least three inches (3”) wide are required. All belts and shoulder harness must not be no older than three years (3 years) and have dating tag. If belts are older than three years of age, you will not be allowed to race. No OEM factory type shoulder belts or straps will be allowed. Metal to metal buckles are required on the shoulder harness and lap belt. The harness must be mounted in at least five (5) points below the driver’s shoulders (sub strap). Full window nets are mandatory; no homemade window nets, with arm restraints as being optional.

G. A kill switch is required and must be in reach of the driver with the shoulder harness and lap belt fully cinched. This kill switch must be clearly marked “on” and “off”.

H. Minimum of one (1) drive shaft hoop is required and must be constructed of at least the equivalent of 1⁄4” by 2” steel and must be mounted in such a manner as to contain the drive shaft in case of breakage. The drive shaft must be painted white.

I. It is mandatory that all cars be equipped with a quick disconnect steering wheel.

J. Fire extinguisher is highly recommended within reach of driver with the shoulder harness and lap belt fully cinched.

K. All glass, mirrors and chrome must be removed from both inside the driver’s compartment and outside of car.

L. No sharp edges in driver compartment. Roll bar padding is encouraged.

M. All cars must have an aluminum racing seat with headrest securely mounted to roll cage or frame in stock position.

N. All weights must be painted white and have your car number on it. Must have a minimum of two (2) 7/16’ bolts per weight.

O. We recommend that protection be added behind driver’s seat so that spring cannot enter into cockpit.

P. Leg saver guard or drive shaft hoops required as described below:
A. Guard must mount between driveshaft and interior tin. Minimum 12-gauge steel or 3/16 thickness aluminum must run from back of the driver’s seat to the foot well and must be a minimum of 15” high. Driveshaft hoop must be a minimum of 5” from U-Joint and a maximum of 9” from U-Joint.
B. Driveshaft hoops may also be used. The first hoop must be no more than 36” from the motor plate; the second hoop must be 14” from the first hoop; and the third hoop must be 14” from the second hoop. All three hoops must be tied together with a minimum of one inch diameter tubing.

The 2020 rules are frozen for 2 years unless any unforeseen equipment becomes unavailable.
Disallowed if not allowed.
If the rules do not specifically allow a part or component, or do not allow specific alterations or modifications to a part or component, then that part component or modification is disallowed. Because of new technology, anything that is not listed in the rules must be brought to the Board for pre-approval prior to racing.
TEAR DOWN (protest) RACE CARS SUBJECT TO BEING PROTESTED
Any race car competing in the feature event, which; has a driver who executes a protest with a board member or track official prior to the start of the feature race and has tendered the required protest fee in cash.
A. Protest fee: $100.00 for the top end or $250.00 for both top and bottom end. $50.00 for the suspension or driveline. Three (3) items only.
The upper end teardown includes, but is not limited to: the removal of the carburetor, spacer plates or adapters, valve covers, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, valve train components and heads. The lower end teardown includes, but is not limited to: removal of oil pan, crankshaft, rods and pistons. Suspension and drive train includes but is not limited to three (3) items in this category: transmission, drive shaft, springs, front and rear, rear end and all suspension parts and components.
DISPOSITION OF PROTEST FEE
If, after teardown, the engine or racecar is found to be legal, 100% of the protest fee will be paid to the protested driver. If after the teardown, the engine or racecar is found to be illegal, 100% of the protest fee will be returned to the protesting driver.
PROTEST PROCEEDURE
After the feature race, a track official will notify the driver of the relevant racecar that his/her racecar has been protested. The protested driver shall then proceed directly to the designated area for inspection and teardown pursuant to the protest. Track officials and allowed representatives will then proceed, in accordance with the class protest, to tear down the engine or suspension for the protested racecar.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO PROTESTS
A driver may only protest one car per race. Only the Board of Directors/Officers has the final word on the legality of the racecars involved in a protest. The ABC Raceway and the Board of Directors/Officers reserve the right to inspect, teardown and enforce the Six Cylinder rules at any time prior, during or after the race program and retain the right to enforce all the rules and penalties herein written. No person shall prevent or interfere with the protest procedure.
RIGHT OF IMPOUND

The ABC Raceway reserves the right to impound any or all parts of the protested racecar.
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS RELATED TO PROTEST
If any engine parts or suspension, drive train parts are found to be illegal whether discovered through a post race inspection or teardown, as a result of a protest or in connection with inspection by racetrack officials there shall be a fine of $200.00 and a suspension of thirty (30) days from the ABC racing season, suspension will carry over into the following season if applicable, loss of all points earned to date, and forfeiture of all money and awards earned for that event.
CONFISCATION OF ILLEGAL PARTS
The ABC Raceway and the Board of Directors/Officers will confiscate any illegal parts. Confiscated parts become the property of the ABC Raceway and may be disposed of at its discretion. Failure of a participant to surrender illegal parts for confiscation shall result in a separate penalty, in addition to any other penalties for illegal parts under these rules, of two (2) times the estimated retail value of the illegal parts (as determined by the ABC Board of Directors and its Officers).
WITHDRAWAL OF PROTEST
If a driver declares an intent to protest, and tenders the required fee, and then the driver changes his/her mind and withdraws the protest, then the driver forfeits all money and awards for the event, and shall lose all points earned to date.
REFUSAL OF PROTEST / REFUSAL OF IMPOUND
A driver, who refuses to allow an inspection or teardown pursuant to a protest, shall be subject to the penalties as follows:
First Refusal: Upon first refusal to allow an inspection/tear down pursuant to a protest, driver forfeits all cash and all contingency winnings for the event any trophies earned in the feature, plus loss of all points earned to date, plus the driver shall be fined $1,000.00 and suspended for thirty (30) days of the ABC racing season. This suspension will carry over into the following season if applicable.
Second Refusal: Upon second refusal, driver forfeits all cash and all contingency winnings for the event, any trophies earned in the event, and loss of all points earned to date. In addition, driver shall be fined $2,500.00 and suspended for one (1) calendar year from date of infraction.
PRESENCE AT TEARDOWN
Protested car’s driver or one (1) person selected by protested driver must be present. Pit crew, ABC Raceway Board of Directors/Officers, protesting car’s driver, track official and security may be present.
ALL DECISIONS REMAIN FINAL

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Nelson, Spacek, Sabraski, Bahr Dominate at 47^th Red Clay Classic

by Nick Gima & John Kimmes

               Ashland, WI, October 1 – Outstanding feature performances, a capacity crowd of over 3,500, and a car count in excess of 200 were just a few of the many highlights of the 47^th annual Red Clay Classic at the ABC Raceway on Friday and Saturday.

The 2022 season finale for the award-winning northern Wisconsin track – presented by FastLane Motorsports & Custom Powdercoating of Ashland; Red’s Auto of Ironwood, MI; and Tim’s Automotive Machine of Bloomer – drew 208 entries – 37 WISSOTA Late Models, 54 WISSOTA Modifieds, 60 WISSOTA Super Stocks, and 57 WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds – to compete for a purse well in excess of $100,000, along with over $20,000 in contingencies and bonuses donated by a number of groups and businesses. As a result of those bonuses, several non-winning drivers took home larger paydays than the feature winners.

Hermantown, MN’s Darrell Nelson started the $6,000-to-win, 50-lap WISSOTA Late Model feature on the pole and led every lap on his way to his third RCC title but first in a Late Model.

Nelson – who had only won one other time at ABC in a Late Model, and that was just this past July – immediately shot to nearly a second-and-a-half lead ahead of a pack that included Nick Anvelink, Pat Doar and Jody Bellefeuille. Fifth-running Chad Mahder’s car spun to bring out the first of four caution flags on lap 3, and on the restart Doar stuck close to Nelson as the lead pair pulled away.

For the next six laps Doar threw every trick in the book at the leader, making for a thrilling show before the fun was delayed on lap 9, when 2007 RCC Late Model winner Rick Hanestad’s car slowed amid heavy traffic on the front straight, causing several drivers to bump and spin.

Nelson and Doar again pulled away on the re-do, and Doar again took a shot at the lead with a strong inside move, but Nelson pulled away to lead by 1.3 seconds when the yellow lights came on again on lap 16 for a three-car tangle.

On the restart Bellefeuille pressured Anvelink for third, while behind fifth-place Sam Mars there was an entertaining side-by-side battle for sixth between Derek Vesel and Sam’s dad, six-time RCC winner Jimmy Mars. Bellefeuille’s great run ended, however, with a spin on the front straightaway on lap 21, bringing about the final stoppage of the night.

From that point on Nelson would not be challenged, while Anvelink worked his way by Doar on that final restart and spent the rest of the race trying to catch the leader. A couple of laps later Vesel got by Sam Mars for fourth, and just past midrace Jimmy passed his son to move into the top-five.

Nelson’s lead was over three seconds when he caught the back of the running order with less than 20 laps remaining, and Anvelink cut that gap by about half within ten laps. But Nelson expertly maneuvered through the backmarkers, and when Anvelink caught the lappers Nelson again pulled away, winning by an impressive 3.9 seconds for his 11^th career win at Ashland.

Doar held on to third ahead of a determined Vesel and Jimmy Mars to complete the top-five, while Sam Mars, 20^th-starting Mike Bellefeuille, 16^th-starting Shane Edginton, 15^th-starting Kevin Eder and Dave Flynn rounded out the top-ten.

“My luck has been good all month,” Nelson stated in Victory Lane when asked about the benefit of starting toward the front during recent invitational races. He then alluded to his team and his car, pointing out, “You’re splitting hairs when working on set-up, but when you hit it, it works.”

At the conclusion of Friday’s heat-race action, 16 Late Model drivers took to the track for a 16-lap special Red’s Auto Fans’ Choice Feature. Rick Niemi started from the pole and was impressive in leading the first 15 laps, withstanding heavy challenges from first defending RCC champ Diemel and then Mahder before both drivers spun themselves out of contention.

But a late-race restart put Jimmy Mars directly behind Niemi, and Mars slipped by Niemi coming to the white and stole the $800 win away. Eder, Harry Hanson and Kevin Burdick completed the top-five.

Jeff Spacek of Phillips, a six-time ABC Raceway track champion, also started from the pole and led every lap on his way to a very popular WISSOTA Modified win – his second in this event and the 61^st of his career at Ashland, which is third-best on the track’s all-time win list.

At the start Spacek immediately ran away from a heated battle between two other past RCC champs – AJ Diemel and Ashley Anderson – before Anderson got the edge during lap 2. Adam Hensel trailed that pair, while Shane Halopka moved by Kelly Estey into fifth on lap 3, just before Jake Hartung slid sideways onto a mud-berm on the inside of the entrance to turn 3 for the race’s first caution stop.

Halopka, a two-time RCC winner in the Midwest Mods, replaced Hensel a couple of laps after the restart, and Anderson moved up to challenge Spacek for the lead just after that, but Spacek – running a smooth, higher line around the three-eighths-mile oval – held off the three-time RCC champ and eventually extended his advantage to over a second-and-a-half as he approached slower traffic.

Adam Ayotte’s spin on lap 15 gave Spacek some open field to run, and on the restart he once again drew away while Anderson and Diemel exchanged second. Over the next 11 laps Spacek stretched his lead to 2.6 seconds – or roughly half a straightaway – before he again caught tail-enders, and this time he picked his way through traffic without much resistance in coming home with his first win at ABC since August 2019, but this one worth $4,000.

“The reality has got to set in yet,” an exasperated Spacek stated in Victory Lane. “We got to lapped traffic, the yellow flew, we got some clean air, and away we go!”

Diemel outdueled Anderson late in the run for second, and Halopka got by Anderson just before the checkers for third. An solid run by 2020 track champ Pat Cook earned him fifth-place money, followed by Hensel, Jody Bellefeuille, Nelson, 16^th-starting Michael Truscott, and 21^st-starting Dan Ebert.

Soon-to-be-crowned national WISSOTA Super Stock champion Shane Sabraski of Rice, MN, grabbed the lead five laps in to his 30-lap A-feature, fought off some stout early challenges, and eventually ran off to his second straight Red Clay Classic win, after last year’s victory in the Modifieds.

Front-row mates Terran Spacek – the defending RCC Supers winner and nephew of Jeff – and two-time defending ABC Super Stock points champ Steve Stuart were engaged in a terrific battle throughout the race, initially for the lead. But Sabraski made a daring outside move on Spacek for second on lap 3, then repeated the move to take the lead from Stuart on lap 5.

As Sabraski tried to get away, Stuart switched to his preferred higher line around the red-clay oval, while Spacek hugged the bottom, and Stuart held second for a handful of laps before Spacek edged ahead. Dan Severson’s spin on lap 9 brought the field back to restart formation, and before Sabraski could get away from the battle for second Jason Havel looped his ride on lap 13.

After the restart Eric Olson, the 2010 RCC Supers winner who had started this race 14^th, moved up behind Cole Chernosky, who had been running fourth since early in the race. Again Stuart used high-side momentum to take second, and again Spacek fought on the low line to take it back, while Sabraski pulled to a 1.5-second cushion before a lap 18 caution slowdown for debris.

Olson moved by Chernosky to fourth on that restart and closed in on the ongoing dogfight for second, while Sabraski built a lead of nearly 2.8 seconds over the next eight laps until Havel’s second spin stopped the race for the final time with three laps to go. On this re-do Stuart dropped to the bottom to try to block Spacek’s line, allowing Chernosky to power around Spacek and pull up alongside Stuart. Sabraski motored away to the $3,000 victory, while Chernosky edged by Spacek for second, 3.2 seconds behind the winner.

“You never know where the track changes when you’re out front,” Sabraski said of his tenth career ABC Raceway win and fourth here this season, including third in the Supers.

Stuart and Olson were close behind, as second through fifth finished less than seven-tenths of a second apart. Tommy Richards, who won this race in 2016; 23^rd-starting Jordan Henkemeyer, Andrew Mackey, Shawn McFadden and Nick Traynor made up the second-five.

Tony Bahr of Haugen methodically worked his way forward before taking over the lead of the 25-lap WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature and speeding away to his second RCC win, worth $1,500.

Polestarter Jason Schill set the early pace over Jason VandeKamp, Justin Bassa and Cody Carlson as Bahr settled into fifth. Bassa, who had an impressive early run, moved by VandeKamp on lap 2 for second, and Bahr moved up to displace VandeKamp on lap 4, while Scott Splittstoesser took over fifth. Bahr continued his forward progress by going around Bassa for second on lap 7, and it took just three more circuits for him to eliminate Schill’s quarter-second lead and take over as pacesetter.

Bassa had just gotten by Schill for second on lap 15 when Splittstoesser’s car broke loose, costing him several positions. However, the caution light came on at nearly the same time for a separate incident, putting Splittstoesser back to fifth for the restart and igniting a great four-car battle for the runner-up spot. Then Bassa’s great run came to an end when he pushed too hard while trying to retake second from Schill on lap 18 and spun for the race’s final stoppage.

Splittstoesser, Schill and Carlson ran three-wide for second behind Bahr after the restart, with three-time ABC Mid-Mod points champ Paul Suzik on the charge from his 17^th-place starting spot to fifth. Bahr pulled away from that battle to a two-second winning advantage for his third win at ABC and second this season here, while Splittstoesser edged Carlson for second, just ahead of Schill.

“The car felt really good,” Bahr told the crowd from Victory Lane afterwards. “I saw Scott alongside and moved to the middle to get some momentum going.”

Splittstoesser was particularly emotional and happy about his second-place run, telling the capacity crowd about his battle with cancer throughout the racing season.

A post-race inspection disqualified Schill from his fourth-place finish, handing that position to Suzik, while David Simpson followed to fifth. The second-five included two-time RCC Mid-Mod winner Truscott, Zach Benson, VandeKamp, Kennedy Swan, and two-time ABC points champ Tyler Vernon.

Prior to racing on Saturday, longtime race fan Vince Mattson was recognized as the ABC Raceway’s “Superfan” presented with a trophy. Mattson has attended nearly every race ever at ABC over the track’s 57 seasons, including every one of the 47 Red Clay Classics, as well as events at many other area tracks, and his days as an avid race fan in this area date back to the early 1960s.

The weekend’s most frightening moment came Saturday during the third Super Stock semi-feature, when Tom Karaba’s car got sideways and was bumped, causing it to flip wildly along the front straightaway. Fortunately, after a few tense moments, Karaba was helped from his badly-twisted machine and walked away from the incident without any significant injuries.

All four feature runners-up accepted the “Bridesmaid’s Challenge” and donned formal gowns and held bouquets for their post-race photos and interviews in Victory Lane, earning each of them an additional $2,200 complements of Neighborly Bar of Ashland. As a result, each took home larger incomes than their respective race winners.

Doar scored the Northern Clearing Fast Lap Bonus in the Late Model feature with an early lap of 15.437 seconds (87.452 mph), while other Fast Lap Bonuses went to Spacek in the Modifieds (16.790 seconds; 80.405 mph), Sabraski in the Supers (17.272; 78.161), and Bassa in the Mid-Mods (17.549; 76.927).

Hard-charger bonuses were presented in each of Saturday’s features, with Dalbeck Sales of Wakefield, MI; Clint Larson Trucking of Duluth, MN; and Tyler Maki, in honor of the late racer Jim Maki Sr, contributing to all four divisions, with Joe Provo Racewear (Modifieds) and Mashlan Business Services (Super Stocks) also donating generously. Mike Bellefeuille (Late Models), Ebert (Mods), Henkemeyer (Supers) and Truscott (Mid-Mods) all benefitted from these bonuses.

A special collection was raised by local fan group Finlander Corner in honor of the late Midwest Mod driver Ryan Adamzak of Ashland, donating the funds to the drivers finishing ninth and seventh in the Mid-Mod feature, as Adamzak’s car wore the number 97. The fan response was tremendous, and after a scoring error correction and Schill’s DQ, Benson and Swan were presented just over $3,100 each, giving Benson a ABC Raceway Midwest Mod-record $3,550 payday.

All of Friday’s heat race winners and Saturday’s semi-feature winners received $100 bonuses from Dirt Race Central and commemorative T-shirts from SSR Race Cars.

The weekend started with temperatures in the low 70s and bright sunny skies as fans and racers arrived in the Chequamegon Bay area on Thursday and Friday, and by the end of Friday’s preliminaries the temps had only dropped to the mid-50s. Saturday brought more sun but cooler, Fall-like weather, with temperatures barely reaching 60 during the day and dropping into the upper 40s after dark, thanks in part to an increasing northeasterly breeze off of Lake Superior.

For information on the ABC Raceway, log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Results

WISSOTA Late Models

Feature: 1-10: Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Nick Anvelink, Bonduel; Pat Doar, New Richmond; Derek Vesel, Hibbing, MN; Jimmy Mars, Menomonie; Sam Mars, Menomonie; Mike Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Shane Edginton, East St Paul, MB; Kevin Eder, Ashland; Dave Flynn, Superior.

11-20: Jeff Massingill, Keewatin, MN; Jake Redetzke, Menomonie; Paul Niznik, Medford; Danny Vang, Deerwood, MN; Jayme Lautigar, Gilbert, MN; Jesse Glenz, Chippewa Falls; Cole Schill, Hawley, MN; Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Chad Mahder, Bloomer; Skeeter Estey, Kelly Lake, MN.

21-24: Harry Hanson, Eveleth, MN; Tim McMann, Duluth, MN; Rick Hanestad, Boyceville; AJ Diemel, Elk Mound.

Heat 1: Anvelink; Mahder; McMann; Edginton; Estey; Vang; Marcus Simonson, Milltown; Kevin Carlson, Hermantown, MN; Rick Niemi, Eveleth, MN; George Ledin Jr, Britt, MN.

Heat 2: Doar; R Hanestad; Vesel; Diemel; M Bellefeuille; Max Nelson, Milaca, MN; Robbie Johnson, Wilson; Buddy Hanestad, Boyceville; Tim Lillo, Superior.

Heat 3: J Bellefeuille; S Mars; J Mars; Eder; Massingill; Glenz; Lance Matthees, Winona, MN; Aaron Wilson, Eau Claire; Kevin Burdick, Proctor, MN.

Heat 4: D Nelson; Redetzke; Hanson; Flynn; Lautigar; Schill; Niznik; Trevor Wilson, Superior; Travis Budisalovich, Minneapolis, MN.

Semi-Feature: Vang; Glenz; Niznik; Schill; Matthees; M Nelson; Burdick; Niemi; Ledin; T Wilson; Simonson; Carlson; Lillo; B Hanestad; Johnson; Budisalovich; A Wilson.

Fan’s Choice Feature: 1-10: J Mars; Niemi; Eder; Hanson; Burdick; Redetzke; J Bellefeuille; S Mars; D Nelson; Doar.

11-16: Flynn; Mahder; Glenz; M Nelson; Diemel; Estey.

WISSOTA Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Jeff Spacek, Phillips; AJ Diemel, Elk Mound; Shane Halopka, Greenwood; Ashley Anderson, Elk Mound; Pat Cook, Washburn; Adam Hensel, Baldwin; Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Michael Truscott, Chippewa Falls; Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, MN.

11-20: JT Johnson, Milaca, MN; Todd Gehl, Solon Springs; Al Uotinen, Superior; Cory Mahder, Elk Mound; Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Bill Byholm, Glidden; Kelly Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Dan Kingsley, Superior; Dave Cain, Corcoran, MN; Paul Niznik, Medford.

21-25: AJ Roschen, Somerset; Adam Ayotte, Elk River, MN; Steve Hallquist, Fall Creek; Jake Hiatt, Mason; Jake Hartung, Elmwood.

Heat 1: Hensel; Bellefeuille; Byholm; Truscott; Ebert; Ayotte; Sabraski; Hartung; Cody Wolkowski, Thunder Bay, ON; Kelly Checkalski, Poplar; Cole Spacek, Phillips.

Heat 2: Halopka; Cook; Nelson; Roschen; Brent Prochnow, Colfax; Skeeter Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Dale Ames, Huron, SD; Hunter Anderson, Phillips; Danny Thomas, Knapp; Tyler Luger, Oxford; Kyle Helling, Rice Lake.

Heat 3: A Anderson; Gehl; Hallquist; Hiatt; Mike Anderson, Jim Falls; Brandon Copp, Brule; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls; Josh Beaulieu, Bemidji, MN; Pat Hoffman, Rice Lake; Lance Schilling, Laporte, MN; Scott McKinnon, Thunder Bay, ON.

Heat 4: Diemel; K Estey; Kingsley; Cain; Cory Williams, Spring Valley; Mark Kangas, Eveleth, MN; Shane Howell, Buffalo, MN; Shane Kisling, Butternut; Brad Johnson, Wilson; John Kallas, Hurley.

Heat 5: J Spacek; Mahder; Niznik; Johnson; Uotinen; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Rick Rivord, Superior; Donnie Lofdahl, Duluth, MN; Mark Hanson, Chippewa Falls; Taylor Olson, Colby.

Semi-Feature 1: Ebert; Uotinen; M Anderson; Sabraski; Kangas; H Anderson; Hoffman; Kisling; Wolkowski; Luger; Hanson; Kallas; Olson; Helling; S Estey; Lavasseur; Rivord.

Semi-Feature 2: Ayotte; Hartung; Ames; C Spacek; Howell; Beaulieu; Dunbar; Kaden Blaeser, Chippewa Falls; Checkalski; Lofdahl; Thomas; Williams; Schilling; McKinnon; Prochnow; Johnson.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

Feature: 1-10: Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Cole Chernosky, Thunder Bay, ON; Terran Spacek, Phillips; Steve Stuart, Ashland; Eric Olson, Ladysmith; Tommy Richards, Mondovi; Jordan Henkemeyer, Sauk Rapids, MN; Andrew Mackey, Duluth, MN; Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Nick Traynor, Barron.

11-20: Ron Mahder, Elk Mound; Patrick Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Scott Lawrence, Superior; Darin Meierotto, Superior; Andy Grymala, Superior; Tucker Quinn, Ladysmith; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Dan Severson, Crosby, MN; Doug Koski, Chisholm, MN; Willie Johnsen Jr, Superior.

21-24: Jason Havel, Rice Lake; Kyle Copp, Brule; Kevin Salin, Iron, MN; Les Duellman, Winona, MN.

Heat 1: Beeksma; Richards; Grymala; Koski; Terry Kroening, Colby; Myron Basina, Bayfield; Kenneth Davis, Elk Mound; Josh Schmidt, Becker, MN; Wayne Stricker, Highbridge; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN.

Heat 2: Spacek; Copp; Oreskovich; Johnsen; Randy Graham, Trego; Rich Bishop, Ladysmith; Chad Johnson, Colfax; Tucker Budreau, Zimmerman, MN; Don Livingston, Washburn; John Garrity, Thunder Bay, ON.

Heat 3: Traynor; Lawrence; Havel; Stefan Hogue, Altoona; Robert Lore, Embarrass, MN; Dylan Leu, Medford; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland; DJ Keeler, Superior; Chris Wark, Zimmerman, MN.

Heat 4: Stuart; Mackey; McFadden; Leslie Leu, Medford; Jeff Eisner Jr, Merrill; Tom Karaba, Superior; Brian Carl, Duluth, MN; Josh Saunders, Spooner; Jase Lien, Mora, MN; Jim Campbell, Two Harbors, MN.

Heat 5: Sabraski; Chernosky; Olson; Matt Deragon, Ashland; Henkemeyer; Mike Sirois, Duluth, MN; Scott Geiger, Dorchester; Wayne Dean, Strum; Chris Johnson, Superior; Ryan House, Neebing, ON.

Heat 6: Severson; Salin; Quinn; Duellman; Mahder; Will Fisher, Shell Lake; Meierotto; Dan Peterson, Foxboro; Matt Larson, Lake Elmo, MN.

Semi-Feature 1: Koski; Meierotto; Kroening; Eisner; Chad Johnson; Wark; L Leu; Basina; Larson; House; Schmidt; Sirois; Garrity; Dean.

Semi-Feature 2: Johnsen; Henkemeyer; Tristan LaBarge, Kelly Lake, MN; Fisher; Keeler; Jensen; Graham; Bishop; Carl; Peterson; Deragon; Lien; D Leu; Budreau.

Semi-Feature 3: Duellman; Mahder; Davis; Livingston; Saunders; Lore; Hogue; Stricker; Geiger; C Johnson; Jason Quarders, Prairie Farm; Mashlan; Karaba.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Tony Bahr, Haugen; Scott Splittstoesser, Cottage Grove, MN; Cody Carlson, Superior; Paul Suzik, Ironwood, MI; David Simpson, Thunder Bay, ON; Michael Truscott, Chippewa Falls; Zach Benson, Princeton, MN; Jason VandeKamp, Scandia, MN; Kennedy Swan, Chippewa Falls; Tyler Vernon, Mason.

11-20: Mike Schnider, Cameron; Paul Ripley, Duluth, MN; Dalton Mains, Foxboro; Brady Uotinen, Superior; Ryan Savoy, Superior; Tommy Richards, Mondovi; Evan Checkalski, Duluth, MN; Will Moelter, Elk Mound; Justin Bassa, Cotton, MN; Ross Fuhrman, Ashland.

21-23: Derrick Reed, Emerald; Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Cole Chernosky, Thunder Bay, ON.

Heat 1: VandeKamp; Reed; Hudack; Uotinen; Tanner Gehl, Solon Springs; Eric Anderson, Chisholm, MN; Bryan Lund, Ashland; Zach Slayton, Springbrook; Ryan Barningham, Bayfield; Neil Dees, Hurley.

Heat 2: Bahr; Benson; Schnider; Brandon Jensen, Ellsworth; Checkalski; Jesse Aho, Twin Lakes, MI; Trenton Woodbeck, Thunder Bay, ON; Matt Jacobson, Bessemer, MI; Ashley Mehrwerth, St Stephen, MN; Kevin Eder, Ashland.

Heat 3: Carlson; Moelter; Richards; Paul Ripley, Duluth, MN; Jimmy Latvala, Solon Springs; Shane Howell, Buffalo, MN; Brandon Mehrwerth, Foley, MN; Dylan Miller, Hibbing, MN; Matt Larson, Lake Elmo, MN; Ryan Bauer, Chippewa Falls.

Heat 4: Splittstoesser; Simpson; Savoy; Truscott; Wyatt Boyum, International Falls, MN; Travis Anderson, Colfax; Chris Bretting, Washburn; Dakota Smith, Chippewa Falls; Mitchell Kesan, Medford.

Heat 5: Bassa; Swan; Fuhrman; Chernosky; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Austin Blom, Saginaw, MN; Kenny Rogers, Unity; Diamond Bressette, Spooner.

Heat 6: Jason Schill, Centuria; Mains; Suzik; Vernon; Les Duellman, Winona, MN; George Dalbeck, Wakefield, MI; Ross Siiter, Esko, MN; Casey Kintner, Mountain Iron, MN; Andrea Keeney, Ridgeland.

Semi-Feature 1: Uotinen; Truscott; Boyum; E Anderson; T Anderson; Lund; Gehl; Bretting; Smith; Kesan; Dees; Slayton; Barningham.

Semi-Feature 2: Chernosky; Checkalski; Jensen; Aho; M Dunbar; Blom; A Mehrwerth; D Dunbar; Woodbeck; Jacobson; Bressette; Rogers.

Semi-Feature 3: Vernon; Ripley; Howell; B Mehrwerth; Latvala; Miller; Dalbeck; Duellman; Larson; Bauer; Siiter; Keeney; Kintner.

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Stuart, Groom, Jarecki Repeat as ABC Raceway Champs; Copp, Dunbar, Jorgensen Claim First Titles

by Nick Gima

               Ashland, WI, August 27 – With storm clouds looming to the south and west, the ABC Raceway put on a fast-paced program to close out the regular-schedule portion of its 58th stock car racing season.

Mountain Dew and North Star Beverage of Hurley presented “Championship Saturday Night,” a 16-race program that was completed in less than 2-1/2 hours despite a delay for a minor rain sprinkle that interrupted one of the features.

When the program was over, the track named its season point champions. Successfully defending their titles from ’21 were Ashland drivers Steve Stuart in the WISSOTA Super Stocks, Dennis Groom in the ABC Six-Cylinders, and DeJay Jarecki in the WISSOTA Hornets.

In addition, Marcus Dunbar of Marenisco, MI, added a second WISSOTA Midwest Modified title to the one he earned in 2020; and Brandon Copp of Brule (WISSOTA Modifieds) and Cory Jorgensen of Duluth, MN (WISSOTA Pure Stocks) became first-time ABC champs.

Mike Anderson of Jim Falls returned to ABC after a favorable run in last Saturday’s Outlaw Wraps & Apparel WISSOTA Modified A-feature to make it two wins in a row to close out the season here. Anderson was even more dominant this time around while again leading from start to finish.

Anderson started outside on the front row and immediately shot to the lead, with Shane Kisling following him past polestarter Hunter Anderson to second. Second-in-points Rick Rivord took over third a circuit later, and on lap 4 Rivord worked his way past Kisling into second.

The 20-lapper ran off non-stop, and Mike Anderson built on his lead with every tour around the sticky-fast three-eighths-mile red-clay oval; by mid-race his lead was over four seconds on Rivord. Kisling, though, had his plate full in trying to fend off Copp and Pat Cook. On lap 12 Copp and Kisling made contact while Copp attempted a pass for position, and this caused both drivers to scramble into recovery mode while opening up the bottom lane for Cook. By the time cooler heads prevailed, Cook and Copp had taken third and fourth, respectively.

Anderson handled lapped traffic over the final five laps without issue and cruised to a 4.4-second margin of victory, or about the length of a straightaway. Rivord ran a solid race to earn second in both the feature and the final points standings, with Cook, champion Copp, and Kisling completing the top five.

Copp joins his father Don (eight titles) and uncle John (one) as an ABC Raceway champion.

Stuart tied Brandon’s dad with his eighth track championship after a fifth-place finish in the Arrowhead Auto Glass WISSOTA Super Stock feature. Their eight titles each are second only to Scott Lawrence, who has 14 at Ashland.

The other story of the night was Patrick Beeksma of Ironwood, MI, the former four-time ABC Six-Cylinder champ who won a feature for the first time in his eight years in a Super Stock – and his first win here since 2013. Like Anderson, Beeksma started his 20-lap A-main outside on the front row, and he rode the perimeter of the Ashland oval to the landmark win.

The first six laps of the run saw Beeksma, DJ Keeler and Kyle Copp in a terrific battle for the lead, with the trio pulling away from Andrew Mackey and the others. Josh Saunders’ spin on lap 5 and a tangle between championship contender Nick Oreskovich and Mackey on lap 6 momentarily delayed the fun up front, but after the lap 6 restart Beeksma found a rhythm up on the cushion and pulled away.

One more stoppage for Saunders’ second spin on lap 10 was the only other delay, after which Beeksma had things well in hand, extending his lead to over a second when he took the checkers for his 31^st career win here. After the last restart Keeler fell victim to a mad scramble for the second position, which was won by Copp over Terran Spacek, Shawn McFadden and Stuart.

Dunbar had clinched the WISSOTA Midwest Modified title by taking the green flag in his heat race, so the feature was an exercise in patience for the hard-charging young second-generation driver. But Superior’s James Vendela wasn’t about to “settle” for anything, charging to the front from his third-row starting spot after just six laps and flying to his first feature win here in over two years.

Tyler Vernon used the pattern set by Anderson and Beeksma and darted to the lead from the outside-front-row starting position. Vendela moved quickly through traffic and claimed second within the first four laps, and he had an opportunity to steal the lead away from Vernon after a caution flag for a Diamond Bressette spin on lap 5 bunched up the field.

It had begun lightly sprinkling just prior to the start of the Mid-Mod main, and during the yellow-flag slowdown the showers picked up a bit, making the track very slippery and dangerous for the restart. However, the cars stayed out on the track for a good 15 minutes to run the precipitation in, and the race was cut from its original 20 laps to 15 when the green came back out, in order to help get the entire program completed.

Once back under green, Vendela worked outside on Vernon, Duane Dunbar dove inside, and after the three-wide move Vendela was out front to stay. Dunbar and Vernon battled for a bit before Vernon grabbed second, which he held on to until the checkers, and during the final lap Jimmy Latvala stole third away from Dunbar. Second-in-points Paul Suzik wound up fifth, and Marcus Dunbar secured his title with a sixth-place effort.

With only seven starters in the WISSOTA Pure Stock feature, Jorgensen – who started sixth – needed a top-five run to secure his first ABC title, especially with second-in-points Aaron Bernick starting outside on the front row.

But Jorgensen finalized the title quickly, moving up to third just three laps into the ten-lap A-main as Bernick battled with Travis Hazelton for the lead. Hazelton took over the top spot on the same lap as Jorgensen took third, and with no caution flags to bunch up the field, Hazelton continued on unchallenged for his fifth win of the season here.

Jorgensen, the 2019 national Pure Stock champion, grabbed one more spot by getting past Bernick with four laps left, but Hazelton, who has been traveling here from Chippewa Falls to compete somewhat regularly, was well on his way to a 2.4-second advantage at the final stripe. Bernick held off visitor Mitchell Kesan for third, and Tyler Kachinske took fifth.

Groom wisely played a conservative card on this night, which paid off with a fifth-place paycheck and his second consecutive ABC Six-Cylinder championship. Second-in-points Dalton Truchon of Ashland, however, was determined to chalk up one more feature win before the Sixes drivers put their cars away for the off-season.

A three-car mess on the opening lap eliminated a good chunk of the 12-car starting field, but the next 12 laps went without delay. That was good for Truchon, who had grabbed the lead from the pole and continued pacing the field after the green came back out.

A strong-running Shane Basina took second place from Mathew Rohlfing just after the restart, but within five laps Truchon was ahead by over a second. Tyler Hudack charged up to fourth in the late stages and, thanks to a Brad Hanson spin, was in position to steal second away on the green-white-checkered restart.

But Truchon was too strong on this night, disappearing to a 1.4-second margin of victory over Hudack. Basina held on for third, ahead of Bubba Anderson and Groom.

Jarecki had already nailed down his second straight WISSOTA Hornets title before last Saturday’s feature took to the track, but he wasn’t about to take the conservative approach. With Halvor Lines Speedway (Proctor, MN) champ AJ House in the field, Jarecki went on the attack and garnered his eighth feature win of the season and sixth in a row at ABC.

House got by polestarter Kristy Marken for the initial lead and stayed out front until mid-race. Jarecki, who started outside on row 2, had a little tougher time getting around Marken and Jonathan Popp, but once into second he reeled in House in short order.

Jarecki’s inside move on House with five laps left secured his 22^nd career win at ABC, and the lead pair were well ahead of Popp, Brandon Hummelmeier and Marken, who completed the top-five in close order.

The staff of the ABC Raceway will now take a few weeks to prepare for the 47^th annual Red Clay Classic, to be presented by FastLane Motorsports & Custom Powdercoating, Red’s Auto, and Tim’s Automotive Machine on Friday and Saturday, September 30-October 1. Over 200 WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks and Midwest Mods are expected to compete for a total purse in excess of $110,000 in one of the most prestigious dirt-track stock car racing events in the Upper Midwest.

More info will be provided in the coming weeks regarding the Red Clay Classic. The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For information, log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Results

WISSOTA Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Mike Anderson, Jim Falls; Rick Rivord, Superior; Pat Cook, Washburn; Brandon Copp, Brule; Shane Kisling, Butternut; Jake Hiatt, Mason; Hunter Anderson, Phillips; Jack Rivord, Superior; Bill Byholm, Glidden; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI.

11-16: Tyler Luger, Oxford; Cody Wolkowski, Thunder Bay, ON; Todd Gehl, Solon Springs; John Carpenter, Hibbing, MN; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Terran Spacek, Phillips.

Heat 1: H Anderson; R Rivord; Hiatt; J Spacek; J Rivord; Wolkowski; Gehl; Carpenter.

Heat 2: Copp; Cook; M Anderson; Kisling; Byholm; Luger; Dunbar; T Spacek.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

Feature: 1-10: Patrick Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Kyle Copp, Brule; Terran Spacek, Phillips; Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Steve Stuart, Ashland; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; DJ Keeler, Superior; Andrew Mackey, Duluth, MN; Matt Deragon, Ashland; Randy Graham, Trego.

11-17: Don Livingston, Washburn; Wayne Stricker, Highbridge; Myron Basina, Bayfield; Will Fisher, Shell Lake; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland; Rita Anderson, South Range; Josh Saunders, Spooner.

Heat 1: McFadden; Stuart; Mackey; Graham; Basina; Stricker; Fisher; Anderson; Oreskovich.

Heat 2: Keeler; Spacek; Beeksma; Copp; Deragon; Livingston; Saunders; Mashlan.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: James Vendela, South Range; Tyler Vernon, Mason; Jimmy Latvala, Solon Springs; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Paul Suzik, Ironwood, MI; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Ross Fuhrman, Ashland; Ryan Barningham, Bayfield; Bryan Lund, Ashland; Bob Carver Jr, Maplewood, MN.

11-17: Matt Larson, Lake Elmo, MN; Chris Bretting, Washburn; Tacoma Randall, Rice Lake; Diamond Bressette, Spooner; Neil Dees, Hurley; Zach Slayton, Springbrook; Tad Schoonover, Eagle River.

Heat 1: Vernon; Bressette; Barningham; D Dunbar; Slayton; Bretting; Dees; Randall; Lund.

Heat 2: Latvala; Vendela; M Dunbar; Suzik; Fuhrman; Carver; Schoonover; Larson.

WISSOTA Pure Stocks

Feature: 1-7: Travis Hazelton, Chippewa Falls; Cory Jorgensen, Duluth, MN; Aaron Bernick, Duluth, MN; Mitchell Kesan, Medford; Tyler Kachinske, Duluth, MN; Nate Rose, Duluth, MN; Joe Pajtash, Trego.

Heat: Hazelton; Kesan; Bernick; Rose; Kachinske; Jorgensen.

ABC Six-Cylinders

Feature: 1-10: Dalton Truchon, Ashland; Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Shane Basina, Bayfield; Bubba Anderson, Trego; Dennis Groom, Ashland; Jakob Bond, Mason; Mathew Rohlfing, Cable; Brad Hanson, Glidden; Bella Bretting, Washburn; Julian Root, Ashland.

11-12: Austin Olby, Marengo; Jacob Johnson, Cable.

Heat 1: Truchon; Rohlfing; Basina; Johnson; Root; Bretting.

Heat 2: Bond; Anderson; Hudack; Olby; Hanson; Groom.

WISSOTA Hornets

Feature: 1-7: DeJay Jarecki, Ashland; AJ House, Cloquet, MN; Jonathan Popp, Iron River; Brandon Hummelmeier, Ashland; Kristy Marken, Duluth, MN; Josh Rowe, Duluth, MN; Noah Rose, Duluth, MN.

Heat: Jarecki; House; Marken; Rowe; Popp; Hummelmeier; Rose.

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ABC’s Red Clay Classic is a Northland Racing Tradition

by Nick Gima

               Ashland, WI, September 24 – Now that the Upper Midwest is in the midst of cool, crisp Fall weather, stock car racers and their fans are taking in the high-profile, big-purse post-season programs that tracks throughout the region host from Labor Day through mid-October.

And of all the post-season shows in this region, few are as prestigious or as anticipated as the ABC Raceway’s Red Clay Classic.

The 47^th edition of this end-of-season tradition, to be presented by FastLane Motorsports & Custom Powdercoating of Ashland, Red’s Auto of Ironwood, MI, and Tim’s Automotive Machine of Bloomer, will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 30-October 1, at the award-winning northern Wisconsin oval located just south of Ashland. This year’s version will again entice upwards of 200 WISSOTA-sanctioned Late Model, Modified, Super Stock and Midwest Modified racers to compete on the historic three-eighths-mile red-clay oval for their share of a purse in excess of $110,000 – one of the area’s largest payouts for a dirt-track stock car racing event.

The big money being offered and the chance to see drivers from as many as six different states and two Canadian provinces regularly draws well over 4,000 ardent fans from these same locales – and sometimes even further – to converge on the Chequamegon Bay area for a weekend of fun and excitement, as well as a family-style atmosphere, as many use the opportunity to gather with their fellow fans one last time until next Spring brings a new racing season.

Every track hosts some sort of season-closing event – commonly referred in racing circles as “invitationals,” although they are certainly open to all fans and any racers with a car that meets the proper rules. Some track promoters may even hold two or three extra events after the regular season has run its course. But the Red Clay Classic has become somewhat unique in that many racers and fans see the event as a fitting end to a long race season, based as much on the many goings-on supporting the event as on the racing action itself.

“The Red Clay Classic is something special to our racers and fans,” stated ABC Raceway Board president Eric Erickson recently. “It started out as the very last race event held among our local tracks, and many fans continue to see it that way.

“Because of that reputation, we continue to look for ways to make the Classic a bit more than just a great racing weekend, and the fans and racers have responded by coming back year after year, and bringing new fans along as well.”

All the effort of the Raceway’s all-volunteer staff in preparing for the Red Clay Classic seems to have paid off, as once again there will be much more to the weekend than just racing. As one fan who has been attending the Classic for well over 30 years has often put it, “It’s the best last race of the year.”

As in years past, the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with the Raceway to make Ashland and the Chequamegon Bay area a welcome destination for race fans during RCC weekend. Special sales events held by downtown merchants, farmers’ markets, and various sightseeing opportunities have been enjoyed by many visiting here for the races.

The Raceway itself holds costume and campsite-decorating contests each year for the fans to partake in, for fun and prizes. (By the way, this year’s costume theme is “Superheroes.”) Also, a fireworks display adds to the pomp and pageantry of Saturday’s feature races.

The Raceway will once again have deejay-provided music at the track after Friday’s preliminary races, giving fans an opportunity to enjoy even more fun with friends.

Some years back, the Neighborly Bar of Ashland became a popular pre-weekend spot for racers and fans alike to gather and “let off a little steam” before the race weekend began. In time, the popular local tavern, with help from former ABC Raceway Modified track champion Kevin Eder, started a “Bridesmaid’s Challenge” fund, raising money through raffles and other activities at the tavern to create a bonus fund to be divided among the second-place finishers of Saturday’s features – provided they put on a formal gown in Victory Lane after their race.

One newer event that provides the fans a chance to be more involved with the racing is the Red’s Auto Fans’ Choice feature on Friday night. Fans can go to the ABC Raceway’s FaceBook page to vote for their favorites from those drivers pre-registered for this year’s Classic. The top 16 vote-getters will be entered into a race that pays $800 to win and $100 to start.

Other events, such as the annual golf scramble at the Chequamegon Bay Golf Course, downtown trolley rides, and more have added to the allure of the Red Clay Classic in recent years. And, of course, the on-site camping that the Raceway and its cooperative neighbors provide draws over 350 RVs each year to stay at or near the track, helping to make the ABC Raceway the second-largest populated community in Ashland County – at least for that weekend.

“The Red Clay Classic has, in some ways, become a bit of a standard for post-season race events in our region,” said Erickson. “Many tracks have drawn from the things that we do here, and some have improved on them. We just need to keep doing what we do well – and keep adding to our event – to make sure that the fans and racers continue to attend.”

More information regarding the ABC Raceway and the 47^th annual Red Clay Classic are available on the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com, and via its FaceBook page.

ABC Raceway – 47^th Red Clay Classic at a glance

what – 47^th annual Red Clay Classic, presented by FastLane Motorsports & Custom Powdercoating, Red’s Auto, and Tim’s Automotive Machine

when – Friday & Saturday, September 30 & October 1 (rain date Sunday Oct 2)

incudes – dirt-track stock car racing action featuring WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks and Midwest Modifieds

purse – in excess of $110,000 estimated total, with feature winners’ shares of $6,000 (Late Models), $4,000 (Modifieds), $3,000 (Super Stocks) and $1,500 (Midwest Mods)

bonuses – Neighborly Bar “Bridesmaid’s Challenge” – to runners-up in each of Saturday’s feature races (amount to be determined based on funds raised); Northern Clearing Inc Fast Lap Award – $100 per feature; Clint Larson Trucking Hard Charger Award – $125 per feature (based on positions gained at finish from originally-posted starting position); Dirt Race Central bonus – $100 to each heat and semi-feature winner

defending race winners – Late Models – AJ Diemel, Elk Mound; Modifieds – Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Super Stocks – Terran Spacek, Phillips (no Midwest Mod race run due to rain)

Friday schedule – pit gate opens at 12:30 pm; grandstand gate opens at 3:30 pm; hot laps begin at 5:30 pm; draw cut-off 6 pm; racing starts at 7 pm (heat races only)

Saturday schedule – pit gate opens at noon; grandstand gate opens at 2:30 pm; all on track activities begin at 4 pm (semi-features and features)

Spectator ticket prices – adult grandstand tickets $25 per day or $45 two-day pass; kids ages 6-12 $15 per day or $25 two-day pass; add $10 for reserved seat (must purchase in advance of event date)

Pit admission prices – $35 per person Friday, $40 per person Saturday, or $70 two-day pass; driver draw fee waived if driver pre-registers by Sept 29 via My Race Pass app or website; drivers must race on Friday in order to be eligible to race on Saturday

Ticket info – e-mail to tickets@abcraceway.com; also available via www.myracepass.com

Pit info – e-mail to tickets@abcraceway.com or call Cheryl at (715) 746-2390

Camping info – all camping sites on Raceway grounds have been reserved for 2022 RCC; primitive camping available only at privately-owned neighboring properties marked as such on first-come-first-served basis

Motel info – call Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce at (715) 682-2500

Raceway grounds restrictions – no four-wheelers/ATVs/UTVs allowed on Raceway grounds at any time throughout the race weekend

Other activities – online fan voting for Red’s Auto Fans’ Choice feature after Friday’s heat races (top 16 entries); dance with deejay-provided music at Raceway immediately following Friday’s heat races; 4-person scramble golf tournament begins Saturday at 9:30 am at Chequamegon Bay Golf Club, Ashland

The staff of the ABC Raceway will now take a few weeks to prepare for the 47^th annual Red Clay Classic, to be presented by FastLane Motorsports & Custom Powdercoating, Red’s Auto, and Tim’s Automotive Machine on Friday and Saturday, September 30-October 1. Over 200 WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks and Midwest Mods are expected to compete for a total purse in excess of $110,000 in one of the most prestigious dirt-track stock car racing events in the Upper Midwest.

More info will be provided in the coming weeks regarding the Red Clay Classic. The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For information, log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

The 2022 regular racing season at the ABC Raceway concludes on Saturday, August 27, when Mountain Dew and North Star Beverage of Hurley present “Championship Saturday Night.” Each of the track’s six weekly divisional champions will be determined by the conclusion of the night’s heat and feature race action.

The grandstand gates and pits will open at 5 pm, with hot laps starting at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm. 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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Results

Randall Returns to ABC Raceway Victory Lane; Grymala Grabs First Win Here

by Nick Gima

               Ashland, WI, August 20 – Jim Randall of Rice Lake led his feature flag-to-flag and picked up the $1,500 winner’s check during the second visit to the ABC Raceway by the WISSOTA Street Stocks in the past three weeks on another cool, humid Saturday night.

The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce presented the quick-moving program, which was completed in under three hours. A combination of high humidity and cool temperatures helped create another lightning-fast red-clay race surface, resulting in multiple fast-lap records falling for the third straight week. In addition, over two dozen backpacks were given away to young fans as they prepare to go back to school in the Chequamegon Bay area, and Steve Parsons of Wausau presented five-foot-tall trophies to the feature winners as part of his traveling program promoting organ and tissue donor awareness at Wisconsin tracks in honor of his late daughter, Kim.

It was somewhat difficult for several of the 15 Street Stock drivers to get used to the tacky-fast red-clay surface, and attrition played a role in the event despite the yellow flag only having to be waived twice. On the initial start of the 20-lap headliner a four-car tangle in the first turn delayed the proceedings, but Randall, who started on the pole, pulled away from Kolby Kiehl and the rest of the field and stayed a safe distance out front for most of the next 17 laps.

Former ABC Pure Stock champ Andrew Hanson stormed up from his row 3 start to slip past Joseph Ott for third on lap 3 and kept the pressure on Kiehl throughout the long green-flag run. By lap 7 Hunter VanGuilder, who had won here two weeks ago and started the feature 11^th, had gained fourth and joined right in to the battle for second.

Kiehl had been cutting into Randall’s lead ever so slightly over the back half of the race and was within 1.2 seconds of the leader when the second caution stoppage occurred. In the midst of a battle for position among the second five, Kyle Genett – who seemed to be struggling more than most with set-up on the sticky surface – dug into the bottom of turn 4, causing his car to break loose and lift into the air, seemingly standing on its nose for a split-second before landing hard on all four tires.

Randall sped away in the three-lap sprint to the finish and scored his first win here since August 2007 and only the third of his career here, all coming in the Street Stocks. Kiehl was a half-second back for runner-up honors, and VanGuilder got third after the restart. Hanson’s car suffered significant front-end damage during the second half of the run but still managed to hold on to fourth ahead of Alex Myers.

The Arrowhead Auto Glass WISSOTA Super Stocks were not racing for track points on this night, as several ABC regulars were competing in the FastLane Motorsports Northland Super Stock Series event at Ogilvie, MN. So the smallest Super Stock feature field here in decades – just six cars – took to the track for a 15-lap feature.

And that was just fine with Superior’s Andy Grymala, who cut his racing teeth running Six-Cylinders here early in his 21-year racing career. Grymala came from the third row, gained the lead by lap 6, and sped to his first-ever feature win here.

Aaron Mashlan forged ahead of polestarter Rita Anderson for the early lead – the first time Mashlan had ever led a feature at Ashland – and he maintained a smooth, steady pace. Grymala needed until lap 2 to get by Myron Basina for second but exercised veteran patience until Mashlan offered the opening for the lead.

Grymala extended his advantage to 3.2 seconds before the race’s lone stoppage occurred, when Mashlan and Basina tangled with five laps left. The restart put Greg Kuklinski – driving the car he co-owns but which has been piloted for the past two seasons by Steve Stuart – on Grymala’s right flank, but the track’s all-time leading feature winner couldn’t keep up with Grymala, who blew the field away by 3.7 seconds at the checkers.

Mashlan held on for a career-best third, ahead of Basina and Anderson.

Last week Brandon Copp took advantage of another driver’s bad break to win the Outlaw Wraps & Apparel WISSOTA Modified feature and strengthen his grip on that division’s points lead. On this night it was Copp who suffered the heartbreak, but no one really could take advantage of it.

Instead it was visiting Mike Anderson of Jim Falls who paced the field start-to-finish for the win.

Anderson started on the pole and immediately pulled away from a great duel for second between rookie Hunter Anderson and veterans Bill Byholm and Jake Hiatt. Eventually Hunter took control of the position but found himself over two seconds behind the leader after just eight laps, while Hiatt and Byholm had Copp charging up behind them.

Unfortunately something broke on Copp’s racer that caused him to spin into the infield grass right at mid-race, ending his night in frustration and bringing the field back to Mike Anderson’s back push-bar for the restart. Then, on the first turn back under green, Hunter Anderson bumped one of the large infield marker tires, causing him to lose control for a moment and dropping him to the back of the running order.

The rookie’s miscue gave Mike Anderson all the breathing room he needed, as he flew to a 2.4-second final advantage for his third career win here. Hiatt held off Jack Rivord for second, and long-distance visitor Billy Kendall scored fourth-place money ahead of Byholm.

Rick Rivord’s sixth-place run, combined with Copp’s 11^th-place DNF, means that Copp would need to finish in the top-five in order to claim his first points title here if Rivord scores the feature win in next Saturday’s finale.

Ironwood, MI’s Paul Suzik is on a late-season mission to chase down WISSOTA Midwest Modified points leader Marcus Dunbar for that division’s crown, as Suzik won that division’s feature for the third time this season and second week in a row.

Suzik and Dunbar started side-by-side on the fourth row of the 20-lap A-main, but after Neil Dees’ spin on the initial start it was visitor Tad Schoonover who set the early pace. Suzik was having much more luck than Dunbar in weaving his way through traffic, slipping by Ryan Barningham into fourth by lap 2 and then taking second on a gutsy three-wide inside move two laps later. On lap 6 Suzik worked another inside move on Schoonover to take the lead, and from there, with no caution flags to help the field, Suzik was untouchable.

James Vendela and Dunbar each made moves to get by Schoonover during mid-race, and the pair staged their own entertaining battle for several laps, with Vendela holding on for runner-up honors a full 5.2 seconds – or over a straightaway – behind the winner. Schoonover was impressive in nailing down fourth ahead of Ross Fuhrman.

Dunbar still holds enough of a points cushion heading into the final night next Saturday that a top-20 finish in the feature will secure his second career championship here, even if Suzik scores a third straight win.

Certainly one of the most entertaining races of the night was the WISSOTA Pure Stock feature, where championship points leader Cory Jorgensen of Duluth, MN, held off a determined Travis Hazelton for his fourth win of the season.

Jorgensen, who did not make the call for last week’s Pure Stock headliner and saw his lead all but vanish in the standings, started the non-stop ten-lapper behind polestarter Aaron Bernick and made a low-lane three-wide pass for the lead work on the first lap. Hazelton nearly duplicated the move to take second a circuit later, and the lead pair ran off to decide the win, running practically nose-to-tail.

On more than one occasion Hazelton leaned on Jorgensen’s back bumper, to see if he could shake the leader loose, but the veteran and current national WISSOTA points leader maintained both his composure and the lead. Hazelton could not find a way by as Jorgensen held on for a winning edge of about a third of a second, and further back Tyler Kachinske won a four-car dogfight for third ahead of a charging RJ Holly and Bernick.

Jorgensen will need one more top-five finish, should Bernick win next weekend’s feature here, to claim his first-ever ABC championship.

Shane Basina of Bayfield also led from green to checkered to claim his third ABC Six-Cylinder feature of the season. Basina didn’t know it at the time, but at the checkers no one was within 5.4 seconds of him – just shy of the length of a straightaway.

Basina started on the pole and fended off Trenton Bond for a couple of laps until Bond’s car slowed in a shower of sparks and smoke. Running mid-pack, divisional points leader Dennis Groom got caught behind Bond’s slowing car and lost valuable ground to most of the field.

Basina had built a lead of over 2.5 seconds by mid-race and extended it to over 3.6 seconds by lap 9, with Bubba Anderson fending off strong challenges by youngsters Austin Olby and Jakob Bond right to the finish. Basina cruised to the huge win and moved into third place in the standings, while Groom recovered for a fifth-place performance, helping him add to his healthy cushion over Dalton Truchon in the points.

Ashland’s DeJay Jarecki continued his dominance of the Lightning Storm Graphics WISSOTA Hornets, collecting his seventh win of the season and fifth in a row here.

Jarecki started last on the three-car feature grid but was unable to get by Brandon Hummelmeier and Holly until lap 3. But once he squeezed by, he continued on to win the non-stop eight-lapper. Hummelmeier was several car-lengths back as runner-up, and Holly was an equal distance back for third.

With the win, Jarecki has clinched his second straight Hornets title here with one full night of racing remaining. He also nailed down the same division’s title at Superior the night before, with two features remaining to be run there in the regular season.

The record book was re-written again several times, including Suzik’s new Midwest Mod fast lap of 16.406 seconds (82.287 mph average), Randall’s Street Stock circuit of 17.674 seconds (76.383 mph), and Hazelton’s Pure Stock single-lap standard of 18.767 seconds (71.935 mph), all set during heat race action.

The 2022 regular racing season at the ABC Raceway concludes on Saturday, August 27, when Mountain Dew and North Star Beverage of Hurley present “Championship Saturday Night.” Each of the track’s six weekly divisional champions will be determined by the conclusion of the night’s heat and feature race action.

The grandstand gates and pits will open at 5 pm, with hot laps starting at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm. 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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Results

WISSOTA Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Mike Anderson, Jim Falls; Jake Hiatt, Mason; Jack Rivord, Superior; Billy Kendall III, Walker, MN; Bill Byholm, Glidden; Rick Rivord, Superior; Pat Cook, Washburn; Shane Kisling, Butternut; Tyler Luger, Oxford; Hunter Anderson, Phillips.

11-12: Brandon Copp, Brule; Jeff Spacek, Phillips.

Heat 1: J Rivord; Byholm; Hiatt; H Anderson; Luger; Cook.

Heat 2: M Anderson; Kendall; Copp; Kisling; R Rivord; Spacek.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

Feature: 1-6: Andy Grymala, Superior; Greg Kuklinski, Ironwood, MI; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland; Myron Basina, Bayfield; Rita Anderson, South Range; David Elliott, Minocqua.

Heat: Grymala; Kuklinski; Basina; Mashlan; Anderson; Elliott.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Paul Suzik, Ironwood, MI; James Vendela, South Range; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Tad Schoonover, Eagle River; Ross Fuhrman, Ashland; Matt Jacobson, Bessemer, MI; Ryan Barningham, Bayfield; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Neil Dees, Hurley; Jeff Hanninen, Marengo.

11: Diamond Bressette, Spooner.

Heat 1: Suzik; M Dunbar; D Dunbar; Barningham; Dees; Bressette.

Heat 2: Vendela; Fuhrman; Schoonover; Jacobson; Hanninen.

WISSOTA Street Stocks

Feature: 1-10: Jim Randall, Rice Lake; Kolby Kiehl, Barron; Hunter VanGilder, Rice Lake; Andrew Hanson, Iron River; Alex Myers, Cameron; Warren Bartelt, Medford; Adam Soltis, Ladysmith; Danny Richards, Mondovi; Jordan Kurtti, Bruce Crossing, MI; Joseph Ott, Spooner.

11-14: Eric Haupt, Trego; Dylan Baskin, Arkansaw; Kyle Genett, Auburndale; Michael Tuma, Weyerhaeuser.

Heat 1: Bartelt; Soltis; Tuma; Ott; Myers; VanGilder; Tom O’Brien, Webster; Genett.

Heat 2: Randall; Kiehl; Kurtti; Hanson; Haupt; Baskin; Richards.

WISSOTA Pure Stocks

Feature: 1-9: Cory Jorgensen, Duluth, MN; Travis Hazelton, Chippewa Falls; Tyler Kachinske, Duluth, MN; RJ Holly, Marengo; Aaron Bernick, Duluth, MN; Rob Grabon, Rice Lake; Justin Judnic, Rib Lake; Zene Anderson; Superior; Steve Pohl; Manitowish Waters.

Heat: Grabon; Jorgensen; Hazelton; Kachinske; Bernick; Judnic; Anderson; Holly; Pohl.

ABC Six-Cylinders

Feature: 1-10: Shane Basina, Bayfield; Bubba Anderson, Trego; Austin Olby, Marengo; Jakob Bond, Mason; Dennis Groom, Ashland; Jacob Johnson, Cable; Dalton Truchon, Ashland; Mathew Rohlfing, Cable; Forrest Schultz, Ashland; Julian Root, Ashland.

11-12: Brad Hanson, Glidden; Trenton Bond, Mason.

Heat 1: Anderson; Olby; Basina; J Bond; Rohlfing; Hanson.

Heat 2: Groom; Schultz; Truchon; T Bond; Johnson; Root.

WISSOTA Hornets

Feature: 1-3: DeJay Jarecki, Ashland; Brandon Hummelmeier, Ashland; RJ Holly, Marengo.

Heat: Jarecki; Hummelmeier; Holly.

On Saturday, August 20, the ABC Raceway will welcome back the WISSOTA Street Stocks for an increased-purse event, with the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce presenting the program. In addition, the track will host a back-to-school backpack giveaway for the younger fans. The show will be another seven-division race program, as the Super Stocks will be included but not running for track points. The grandstand gates and pits will open at 5 pm, with hot laps to be run at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm.

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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Hron Sprints to ABC Northern Renegades Win

by Nick Gima

               Ashland, WI, August 13 – On a cool mid-August night during which divisional points leaders as well as track fast-lap records took a beating, Ken Hron of Grand Rapids, MN, ran to a clean sweep of the action for the visiting Northern Renegades Traditional Sprints at the ABC Raceway on Saturday.

The program, presented by the Heartland Communications Group of radio stations in the Chequamegon Bay area, was run on a smooth, sticky, lightning-fast three-eighths-mile red-clay surface that had been prepped to near-perfection after light misting rain moved through the area early Saturday afternoon. This resulted in track records broken in three of the seven divisions run here on this night, including by Hron, who set the new standard for the wingless 360 sprints while winning the division’s first heat of the night with a lap of 15.768 seconds (85.616 mph avg), then bettered that lap with a tour at 15.536 seconds (86.895) en route to the second-heat win.

Hron started alongside polestarter Paul Schultz for the sprints’ 15-lap A-feature, won the drag race to the first turn, and never looked back for his first career feature win on the historic northern Wisconsin oval. After Lucas Logue took second from Schultz just two laps in, the race’s only yellow-flag stop came about due to Travis Case’s spin, eliminating Hron’s 1.09-second advantage.

Over the remaining 12 laps, however, there would be no catching Hron, who had rebuilt his cushion to over 1.6 seconds within a couple of laps of the restart and extended it to nearly 2.5 seconds in the late stages on his way to his landmark win.

Logue, who won the feature in the Renegades’ visit here in June, trimmed the final margin down to just under 2.2 seconds at the checkers, well ahead of a great battle for third won by Brandon Copp, who borrowed Jake Barsness’ racer for his first-ever try at wheeling a sprint car. Copp won an exciting three-car battle for third over Danny Wait Jr and Schultz.

Prior to the sprint car run, Copp took advantage of a controversial call and grabbed his third feature win of the year at ABC in the Outlaw Wraps & Apparel WISSOTA Modifieds.

The first 15 laps of the 20-lap “big Mod” headliner clicked off quickly, with polestarter Jeff Spacek running out to an early healthy advantage. Copp, who had started outside on row 4, worked the outside groove expertly as he swept around fourth-starting Colin Chaschuk into fifth within the first couple of laps, then dove low to follow Jake Hiatt and Jack Rivord past Shane Kisling to claim fourth.

Copp trailed closely as Hiatt and Rivord swapped second spot often over the middle stages of the run, but eventually they left an opening on the outside line and Copp took advantage to edge into second on lap 12. Hiatt fought back and gave Copp a great race for the position, with the rookie Rivord just a few feet behind, as the threesome reeled Spacek in.

With five laps remaining, Spacek’s car broke loose in turn 4, forcing the next three behind him to take evasive action. Copp slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting Spacek broadside and his car stopped cold, with his motor shutting down from the jolt. This brought about the only caution stop of the races, and after a long discussion officials determined that Spacek’s near-spin was ruled the cause of the incident.

Copp, who hails from Brule, restarted at the front and held off the last challenges from Hiatt for the win, which strengthened his grip on the Modifieds’ points lead. Rivord followed closely behind in third, with Rick Rivord and Chaschuk completing the top five at a distance.

During Modified heat race action earlier, the Canadian visitor Chaschuk set a new track record for the division with a lap of 15.703 seconds (85.971 mph) on his way to a win. Copp set a fast lap in his heat of 15.791 seconds (85.492), which was also under Ashley Anderson’s previous mark of 15.821 seconds (85.330), set about a year ago.

The one divisional points leader whose night took the worst turnaround was Nick Oreskovich, who blew a motor up while running third and coming to the white flag in his Arrowhead Auto Glass WISSOTA Super Stock heat race. He and his crew hustled his car onto his trailer and hightailed it for his home in nearby Mason in order to change the motor, but by the time he made it back to the Raceway, his division’s 20-lap main event had already started without him.

Oreskovich’s sour luck became Steve Stuart’s good fortune, as the defending Super Stock champ from Ashland came from the fourth row to claim his fourth feature win of the year and retake the division’s points lead for the first time since mid-June.

Polestarter Jeff Eisner was under direct pressure from the drop of the green in feature, but he held on for the first seven laps as Don Livingston, Andrew Mackey and Shawn McFadden battled three-wide at times for second. Stuart, who has made the outside line around the Ashland oval work to his advantage all season, swept around McFadden and Livingston for second on lap 6 and was about to dispose of Eisner when Livingston looped his ride to bring about the race’s only stop.

After the restart Stuart sped past Eisner and ran strong, consistent laps to build up a huge lead, while McFadden stole second on lap 8 and trailed Stuart at an ever-increasing distance. By the time the checkered flag flew Stuart had a lead of over 3.5 seconds on McFadden, while Matt Deragon passed Mackey for third on the final lap. Patrick Beeksma completed the top five.

On his way to an earlier heat win, Stuart posted a quick circuit of 16.390 seconds (82.367 mph), replacing Oreskovich’s previous Super Stock fast lap of 16.478 seconds (81.927) set in 2017.

Paul Suzik of Ironwood, MI, is determined to make things interesting in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified points chase, as his second feature win of the season trimmed just a bit more of the difference away from points leader Marcus Dunbar.

Tyler Hudack looked to be in command of the Mid-Mod 20-lapper early, beating polestarter Ryan Barningham to the lead and extending it to as much as three-quarters of a second on James Vendela over the first five laps. From there, however, Vendela, with Dunbar in tow, closed that gap up by half before the caution lights came on for debris on the track left behind by Diamond Bressette’s broken suspension on lap 9.

Dunbar dove low to steal the lead from Hudack on the restart, but Suzik, who started the race inside on row 4 but was running fourth at the time of the caution, gave Dunbar a taste of his own move with a low-line pass for the lead on lap 11. Dunbar fought back, and the lead pair ran side-by-side until Suzik gained a sliver of an edge just before lap 15, when Vendela and Marcus’ dad Duane Dunbar collided to stop the race for the final time.

Suzik held on over the final laps and grabbed the win by .7 seconds over the junior Dunbar, who had his hands full fighting off threats from a fast-closing Cody Carlson. Jimmy Latvala and Ross Fuhrman, who started dead last on the 15-car grid.

Another driver whose points championship margin took a major blow on this night was Cory Jorgensen. The WISSOTA Pure Stock points leader from Duluth, MN, finished third in his heat but did not come out for the feature.

This left the door open for Aaron Bernick, who started the 12-lap Pure Stock main on the pole and led the first couple of laps, before Travis Hazelton slipped past. From there Hazelton, the Chippewa Valley pilot who has taken quite a liking to Ashland’s red-clay oval, put the field away for his fourth feature win here this year.

The run went without a delay, allowing Hazelton to pull away to a final 5.1-second advantage – better than a straightaway – on the fierce battle for second between Bernick, Tyler Kachinske and Tom Treviranus. The trio shuffled positions on nearly every lap before Bernick eventually nipped Kachinske at the line for runner-up honors – and drawing to within three points of Jorgensen with two races remaining. Treviranus was in close formation with the other two but settled for fourth, while RJ Holly cruised home a distant fifth.

Hudack, who started on the pole of the Midwest Mod feature but settled for sixth, started eighth on the 15-car ABC Six-Cylinder A-main grid and won his first feature since 2015.

Polestarter Bubba Anderson, with a badly-smoking car, drew away from the field early and led the first six laps of the race, despite constant pressure from cousins Trenton and Jakob Bond. In fact, Anderson and Trenton Bond were dead-even at the start-finish line to complete lap 2 – just before points leader Dennis Groom spun to bring about the race’s only stoppage.

After the restart Jakob kept his cousin occupied for a circuit, allowing Anderson to gain a little breathing room. But Hudack, who restarted seventh, moved all the way to second by the end of lap 7 and then chipped away at the leader’s .7-second buffer. Within two more tours Hudack had an inside run on Anderson, and once out front the Ashland product powered away to a commanding 2.6-second win.

Anderson held on for second ahead of Jakob Bond, Trenton Bond, and rookie Jacob Johnson.

Although the result of the Lightning Storm Graphics WISSOTA Hornets feature was very familiar – Ashland’s DeJay Jarecki scored another dominant win – the way the race played out and ended was anything but usual.

The divisional points leader started inside on the second row and had worked his way to the lead before the first of the race’s ten laps was completed. From there the defending track champ disappeared to a straightaway-plus advantage en route to his track-leading sixth feature win and the 20^th of his career.

Behind him, though, was a rather intriguing battle between Holly, Brandon Hummelmeier, and first-night rookie Brandon Anderson. The trio never gained much separation from one another, and they frequently swapped running positions – right up until the final turn.

Going into turn 3, contact between Hummelmeier and Holly caused Holly to spin. Anderson, trailing closely, tried to avoid the incident but bumped Hummelmeier, who turned due right and nailed the guardrail nose-first and hard, which then caused his car to turn over onto its roof. None of the three drivers finished the race, although fortunately no one was injured.

Oddly enough, for the second time this season Jarecki was the only Hornet to take the checkered flag in a feature here. Officials ruled that Holly, Anderson and Hummelmeier would complete the running order in second through fourth, respectively.

On Saturday, August 20, the ABC Raceway will welcome back the WISSOTA Street Stocks for an increased-purse event, with the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce presenting the program. In addition, the track will host a back-to-school backpack giveaway for the younger fans. The show will be another seven-division race program, as the Super Stocks will be included but not running for track points. The grandstand gates and pits will open at 5 pm, with hot laps to be run at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm.

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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Results

WISSOTA Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Brandon Copp, Brule; Jake Hiatt, Mason; Jack Rivord, Superior; Rick Rivord, Superior; Colin Chaschuk, Neebing, ON; Pat Cook, Washburn; Cody Wolkowski, Thunder Bay, ON; Hunter Anderson, Phillips; Al Uotinen, Superior; Shane Kisling, Butternut.

11-14: Bill Byholm, Glidden; Tyler Luger, Oxford; Mike Klippenstein, Proctor, MN; Jeff Spacek, Phillips.

Heat 1: Chaschuk; Spacek; J Rivord; Wolkowski; Anderson; Cook; Luger.

Heat 2: Copp; Hiatt; Kisling; R Rivord; Byholm; Uotinen; Klippenstein.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

Feature: 1-10: Steve Stuart, Ashland; Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Matt Deragon, Ashland; Andrew Mackey, Duluth, MN; Patrick Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Jeff Eisner Jr, Merrill; Randy Graham, Trego; Myron Basina, Bayfield; Don Livingston, Washburn; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland.

11: Rita Anderson, South Range.

Heat 1: Stuart; Beeksma; Livingston; Deragon; Basina.

Heat 2: McFadden; Mackey; Eisner; Mashlan; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Anderson.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Paul Suzik, Ironwood, MI; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Cody Carlson, Superior; Jimmy Latvala, Solon Springs; Ross Fuhrman, Ashland; Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Sean O’Brien, Manitowish Waters; Kolby Reed, Thunder Bay, ON; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; James Vendela, South Range.

11-15: Austin Blom, Saginaw, MN; Neil Dees, Hurley; Bryan Lund, Ashland; Diamond Bressette, Spooner; Ryan Barningham, Bayfield.

Heat 1: Vendela; Hudack; Barningham; D Dunbar; Bressette; Reed; Dees.

Heat 2: Suzik; M Dunbar; Carlson; Latvala; O’Brien; Blom; Lund.

WISSOTA Pure Stocks

Feature: 1-7: Travis Hazelton, Chippewa Falls; Aaron Bernick, Duluth, MN; Tyler Kachinske, Duluth, MN; Tom Treviranus, Hawthorne; RJ Holly, Marengo; Anthony Woodhull, Superior; Brent Mindock, Prentice.

Heat: Bernick; Treviranus; Cory Jorgensen, Duluth, MN; Hazelton; Mindock; Kachinske; Woodhull; Holly.

ABC Six-Cylinders

Feature: 1-10: Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Bubba Anderson, Trego; Jakob Bond, Mason; Trenton Bond, Mason; Jacob Johnson, Cable; Austin Olby, Marengo; Mathew Rohlfing, Cable; Dalton Truchon, Ashland; Dennis Groom, Ashland; Shane Basina, Bayfield.

11-15: Forrest Schultz, Ashland; Julian Root, Ashland; Brad Hanson, Glidden; Bella Bretting, Washburn; Jimmy Stearns, Superior.

Heat 1: Hudack; Groom; J Bond; Truchon; Johnson; Schultz; Bretting.

Heat 2: Anderson; Olby; T Bond; Basina; Rohlfing; Root; Hanson; Stearns.

WISSOTA Hornets

Feature: 1-4: DeJay Jarecki, Ashland; RJ Holly, Marengo; Brandon Anderson, Superior; Brandon Hummelmeier, Ashland.

Heat: Jarecki; Hummelmeier; Holly; Anderson.

Northern Renegades Traditional Sprints

Feature: 1-7: Ken Hron, Grand Rapids, MN; Lucas Logue, Rush City, MN; Brandon Copp, Brule; Danny Wait Jr, Cohasset, MN; Paul Schultz, Grand Rapids, MN; Travis Case, Swan River, MN; Brad Larson, Ely, MN.

Heat 1: Hron; Logue; Schultz; Copp; Larson; Case; Wait; Tyler Wass, Big Fork, MN; Chris Lewis, Grand Rapids, MN.

Heat 2: Hron; Schultz; Case; Logue; Copp.

ABC 8/13/22 Sprints results

On Saturday, August 13, the ABC Raceway will host the Northern Renegades traditional sprint tour, while the “big Mods” will also return to make a seven-division program, to be presented by the Heartland Communication Group of Chequamegon Bay area radio stations. The grandstand gates and pits will open at 5 pm, with hot laps to be run at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm. WSBZ, 93.3 FM, will air race and weather updates from 4:30-6 pm on Saturday.

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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Swan, Treviranus are First-Time ABC Raceway Feature Winners

by Nick Gima

               Ashland, WI, August 6 – First-time feature winners, fund-raiser raffles and kids racing their bikes on the historic red-clay oval were the themes of the night at the ABC Raceway on Saturday.

The Ashland-Bayfield County Sportsmen’s Club presented the six-division “Small Car Classic” program in which WISSOTA Street Stocks replaced the track’s usual WISSOTA Modified contingent. The purses paid out on this night included $500 to win for each of the feature winners except in the WISSOTA Hornets, which were offered a season-high $300 to win.

Kennedy Swan, the talented 15-year-old from Chippewa Falls, broke through with her first-ever feature win at ABC by taking the lead just after a mid-race restart and holding on. Swan started outside on row 2 and was in the thick of the lead pack throughout the 20-lap run.

After a first-corner three-car tangle, Jimmy Latvala edged ahead of polestarter Ross Fuhrman for the early advantage before a series of yellow flags were thrown for a Marcus Dunbar spin, a three-car mess on the front straight that collected Dunbar, and a stalled Duane Dunbar. Following the last of those stoppages, Paul Suzik worked a high-side pass of Latvala to take the lead away on lap 4, just before another melee stopped the show on lap 5.

Suzik, Latvala and Swan inched away from the rest of the pack before a Diamond Bressette spin on lap 7 brought about another yellow. It was after that restart that Swan made an inside move stick to grab the lead, and she survived one final stoppage – for a grinding crash involving Bressette and Mitch Kieber on lap 12 – while fending off Suzik’s challenges for her one-second margin of victory.

Latvala was right on Suzik’s rear bumper at the checkers, while Marcus Dunbar recovered to climb all the way to fourth, and William Moelter was awarded fifth.

The other first-time winner on this night was Tim Treviranus, who drove to the WISSOTA Pure Stock feature win. The veteran Hawthorne driver was making his first visit of the season here, trying to get the bugs out of daughter Jessie Limberios’ car.

Division points leader Cory Jorgensen looked to have the upper hand on polestarter Kevin Bartelt through the first turns, but his car slipped high in turn 2, allowing RJ Holly, Tyler Kachinske, Travis Hazelton and Aaron Bernick to get by. Bernick then made a three-wide pass for second hold up on lap 2, with Hazelton staying with him to third.

By lap 5 Hazelton had overtaken Bernick and was threatening Holly for the lead over the next three circuits, before Bernick’s spin on lap 8 brought out the race’s only caution flag – and the first of the night overall, as there had not been a single yellow flag thrown throughout the heats.

Holly held on as long as he could, but eventually Treviranus, who took second from Hazelton on lap 9, worked inside on Holly to take over the lead on lap 11, with Hazelton following to second. The lead pair pulled away over the closing laps, and Treviranus held on for a third-of-a-second advantage for his landmark win. Holly was a distant third, and Brent Mindock took fourth in his first feature race at Ashland since 2001, ahead of Jorgensen.

Rice Lake’s Hunter VanGuilder captured the visiting Street Stocks’ 12-lap A-feature – his second career win in three visits to the northern Wisconsin speedplant. VanGuilder also took advantage of a restart to claim the lead and then fought off a late challenge.

VanGuilder dove low on the opening lap to threaten polestarter Warren Bartelt and Michael Tuma for the early lead, but Tuma outlasted the others to set the pace by lap 2. Then on lap 3, a hard crash collected four cars running in tight formation just behind the lead pair, taking out Caiden Engel and Ty Agen while sending Bartelt to the back.

VanGuilder used the restart to get an inside run on Tuma and took the lead away, with former ABC Raceway Pure Stock champ Andrew Hanson following VanGuilder to second. From there VanGuilder and Hanson drew away from the balance of the field, with the leader extending his edge on every lap, until VanGuilder crossed under the checkered flag a full 1.25 seconds ahead of Hanson.

Tuma trailed in third, ahead of Bartelt and Eric Haupt.

Although the division was a little low on cars, the Arrowhead Auto Glass WISSOTA Super Stock feature battle was a thriller, as Nick Oreskovich held off a determined Steve Stuart for his second win of the year here.

Oreskovich, the divisional points leader from Mason, grabbed the initial lead as fellow front-row starter Patrick Beeksma slowed in front of the field coming out of the first set of turns with a mechanical issue. After that, Oreskovich had to contend with Stuart directly on his back bumper and Shawn McFadden staying nearly dead even with the leader on the low groove. The top three in points pulled away before Randy Graham’s spin brought everyone together for a lap 2 restart.

Don Livingston looped his ride one lap after the race went back to green, and shortly after that restart Graham’s car lost power and pulled off the track. By this time McFadden had lost touch with Oreskovich and Stuart, who were putting on a nose-to-tail battle up front. Occasionally Stuart showed his car’s nose to the inside, but Oreskovich held his line and his high-groove momentum.

Only in the final couple of laps did Oreskovich pull away to any kind of cushion, finishing just .61 seconds ahead of Stuart while adding to his slim lead over Stuart in the points standings. At a distance behind the third-finishing McFadden were Myron Basina and Aaron Mashlan.

It was looking like another driver would get his first-ever feature win in the ABC Six-Cylinder class, but this time a caution stoppage spoiled the opportunity.

It was polestarter Austin Olby’s race to lose, as he set the pace right from the drop of the green, although a lap 3 restart after Dalton Truchon’s stalled ride had stopped the event tested Olby’s nerve. But the sophomore driver endured and, in fact, extended his lead over a long green-flag run during the race’s middle stages.

Behind him Bubba Anderson kept the pressure on, while Dennis Groom and Mathew Rohlfing stayed close in third and fourth. On lap 8 Olby held a half-second edge when Julian Root spun his racer, and on the ensuing restart Anderson took himself out of contention when he spun in front of the pack.

That’s when Groom, the divisional points leader and defending Sixes champ, dove low on lap 11 to work past Olby for the lead, and from there the Ashland veteran pilot pulled away to a 1.7-second final margin for his fourth win of the season which, combined with Truchon’s early-race issues, padded his tenuous points lead. Rohlfing got by Olby with three laps remaining for a season-high second-place effort, while Olby edged Jakob Bond for third, ahead of rookie Jacob Johnson.

Despite a little controversy at the start of the Lightning Storm Graphics WISSOTA Hornets feature, the usual suspect – Ashland’s DeJay Jarecki – settled the issue by scoring another feature win.

The controversy came in the form of visiting Justin Schelitzsche, who hustled over from finishing a night of points racing in Proctor, MN, just in time to pull into ABC’s pits for the Hornets’ A-main. After some discussion, Schelitzsche was allowed to start the feature last on the six-car grid, with track officials scrambling to research the proper course of action for such a situation.

Schelitzsche was fast early on, getting completely through the field and taking the lead going into turn 3 on the very first lap. However, Jarecki, who started alongside Schelitzsche in the back row, grabbed second before the initial circuit was completed and chased down the leader within a couple more laps.

Jarecki went the long way around Schelitzsche on lap 3 to take the lead and, despite being only a couple of car-lengths ahead, held on to win his fourth feature on the season and solidify his points lead. Kristy Marken won a race-long battle with Holly for third, and Noah Rose came home fifth.

Winners of the kids’ bike races included Zander Pagels (ages 3-5), Kennedy Cook (ages 6-8), Tatum Cook (ages 9-11), and Cole Marquardt (ages 12-up).

Nearly 40 bikes and a couple of scooters were donated by various race teams and local businesses for the young fans in the stands on this night. The generous contributors included Robert & Sandy Lowndes, 22RVR Racing, Vendela Racing, Anderson Motorsports, Myron Basina Racing, Mashlan Business Services, McFadden Racing, Mudflaps Motorsports, Rohlfing Racing, Jacob Johnson Racing, Copp Racing, Oreskovich Racing, Mashlan Racing, Jake Nevala Racing, Deragon Racing, DTM Motorsports, Patti’s Family Day Care and Groom Racing, Northern Clearing Inc, the Ashland Walmart store, Kieber Racing, Shane Basina Racing, Randy Graham Racing, Hiatt & Son Trucking, Jake Hiatt Racing, the ABC Raceway, and in memory of the late Bill Muhlig.

Sixes driver Jake Nevala also purchased a racing helmet and collected several local-driver autographs on it; the helmet was also donated as a giveaway on this night.

On Saturday, August 13, the ABC Raceway will host the Northern Renegades traditional sprint tour, while the “big Mods” will also return to make a seven-division program, to be presented by the Heartland Communication Group of Chequamegon Bay area radio stations. The grandstand gates and pits will open at 5 pm, with hot laps to be run at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm. WSBZ, 93.3 FM, will air race and weather updates from 4:30-6 pm on Saturday.

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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Results

WISSOTA Super Stocks

Feature: 1-9: Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Steve Stuart, Ashland; Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Myron Basina, Bayfield; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland; Randy Graham, Trego; Don Livingston, Washburn; Patrick Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Matt Deragon, Ashland.

Heat: Stuart; Oreskovich; Beeksma; Deragon; McFadden; Livingston; Graham; Mashlan; Basina.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Kennedy Swan, Chippewa Falls; Paul Suzik, Ironwood, MI; Jimmy Latvala, Solon Springs; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; William Moelter, Elk Mound; Sean O’Brien, Manitowish Waters; Ross Fuhrman, Ashland; Matt Jacobson, Bessemer, MI; Austin Blom, Saginaw, MN; Ryan Barningham, Bayfield.

11-16: Mitch Kieber, Ironwood, MI; Diamond Bressette, Spooner; Neil Dees, Hurley; Tanner Gehl, Solon Springs; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Bryan Lund, Ashland.

Heat 1: Suzik; D Dunbar; Bressette; Latvala; Jacobson; Kieber; Blom; Lund.

Heat 2: M Dunbar; Fuhrman; Swan; O’Brien; Gehl; Moelter; Barningham; Dees.

WISSOTA Street Stocks

Feature: 1-7: Hunter VanGilder, Rice Lake; Andrew Hanson, Iron River; Michael Tuma, Weyerhaeuser; Warren Bartelt, Medford; Eric Haupt, Trego; Ty Agen, Chippewa Falls; Caiden Engel, Bruce.

Heat: VanGilder; Bartelt; Engel; Tuma; Agen; Hanson; Haupt.

WISSOTA Pure Stocks

Feature: 1-10: Tom Treviranus, Hawthorne; Travis Hazelton, Chippewa Falls; RJ Holly, Marengo; Brent Mindock, Prentice; Cory Jorgensen, Duluth, MN; Tyler Kachinske, Duluth, MN; Kevin Bartelt, Chippewa Falls; Nate Rose, Duluth, MN; Aaron Bernick, Duluth, MN; Skylar Findley, Clayton.

11: Steve Pohl, Manitowish Waters.

Heat 1: Hazelton; Treviranus; Bernick; Holly; Mindock; Rose.

Heat 2: Jorgensen; Bartelt; Kachinske; Findley; Pohl

ABC Six-Cylinders

Feature: 1-10: Dennis Groom, Ashland; Mathew Rohlfing, Cable; Austin Olby, Marengo; Jakob Bond, Mason; Jacob Johnson, Cable; Forrest Schultz, Ashland; Shane Basina, Bayfield; Julian Root, Ashland; Cody Eichmann, Park Falls; Trenton Bond, Mason.

11-16: Bella Bretting, Washburn; Bubba Anderson, Trego; Jake Nevala, Ashland; Dalton Truchon, Ashland; Jimmy Stearns, Superior; Adam Traaholt, Ashland.

Heat 1: Groom; Truchon; Anderson; T Bond; Basina; Stearns; Traaholt.

Heat 2: Nevala; J Bond; Rohlfing; Olby; Schultz; Johnson; Root; Bretting.

WISSOTA Hornets

Feature: 1-6: DeJay Jarecki, Ashland; Justin Schelitzche, Waconia, MN; Kristy Marken, Duluth, MN; RJ Holly, Marengo; Noah Rose, Duluth, MN; Brandon Hummelmeier, Ashland.

Heat: Jarecki; Holly; Marken; Hummelmeier; Rose.

ABC 8/6/22 Streets, kids bike races results

To start the final month of the regular season, the ABC Raceway will next host its first-ever Small Car Classic, to be presented by the Ashland-Bayfield County Sportsmen’s Club, on Saturday, August 6. WISSOTA Street Stocks will join the Super Stocks, Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks, Sixes and Hornets, and the rescheduled kids’ bike races will also be held.

The Hornets will run for $300 to win in their feature on this night, while the other five classes will race for $500 to win in their respective A-mains.

The Raceway has announced that it will add a second appearance by the Street Stocks on August 20, with $1,500 on the line for the feature winner that night. All six of the track’s regular weekly divisions will also be on hand, although the Supers will run for National points only (no track points) on that night.

The Northern Renegades’ traditional sprint cars are still slated for an August 13 appearance, and the regular season will conclude on August 27, with season champions to be crowned on that night.

The grandstand gates and pits will open this coming Saturday at 5 pm, with hot laps to be run at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm. WSBZ, 93.3 FM, will air race and weather updates from 4:30-6 pm on Saturday.

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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Two More for Sabraski During FastLane Series Stop at ABC

by Nick Gima

               Ashland, WI, July 30 – Shane Sabraski continued his tear through the FastLane Motorsports Northland Super Stock Series with his fourth straight sweep of heat and feature action on the tour at the ABC Raceway on Saturday night.

Neither a stout field of 32 WISSOTA Super Stocks nor an over-two-hour mid-program delay due to a local power outage could stop the Rice, MN, star as he not only chalked up the feature win in that class but also in the WISSOTA Modifieds on his march towards 800 overall career feature victories.

NAPA Auto Parts of Ashland & Washburn presented the program, which also saw Tanner Gehl collect his first-ever feature win in the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds. Travis Hazelton, Dalton Truchon and DeJay Jarecki were A-main winners as well, as another great turn-out of fans enjoyed the warm mid-summer conditions and hung around despite the long delay.

The power outage occurred midway through the Super Stock semi-feature, affecting half of the Raceway’s facility as well as some neighboring properties. The race was completed as dusk was just reaching the Chequamegon Bay area, while local power company service crews were summoned to investigate the occurrence. When power was restored at 11 pm, the 26-car Super Stock feature field was quickly called onto the track.

Polestarter Scott Lawrence took early command of the 30-lap, $700-to-win main event, just ahead of Series points leader Dustin Nelson, the fourth-starting Sabraski and Terran Spacek. The close-knit foursome swapped positions over the first two laps before the race’s lone yellow flag waived for a four-car jumble, after which Spacek stole the lead away from Lawrence on the restart.

Sabraski got by Lawrence within the next couple of laps and closely trailed Spacek as the lead pair pulled away and caught tail-runners by lap 10. While Spacek and Sabraski negotiated traffic, Nelson caught up and worked inside against Sabraski to steal second, and on lap 17 Nelson grabbed the lead as Spacek opted to work the high side to try to get by some more slower cars which were hugging the preferred lower line. Sabraski also took advantage to take second away, and on lap 19 he moved outside on Myron Basina, while Nelson dove low, and completed a three-wide pass for the lead.

Over the final 11 laps Sabraski weaved expertly through the field on his way to a 1.28-second advantage, which was trimmed to .724 seconds at the checkers by Nelson as the leader found himself bottled up behind another slower car. The win was Sabraski’s fourth in as many FastLane Series events – he did not compete in the Series opener at Grand Rapids, MN, on July 14 – and moved him well into contention for the Series points title with two events remaining (at Proctor, MN, and Ogilvie, MN).

Spacek followed at a distance, with Lawrence and Nick Oreskovich completing the top five.

The 20-lap Modified feature immediately followed, and Sabraski practically picked up right where he left off, but this time he benefitted greatly from the race’s only caution stop.

Jeff Spacek grabbed the early advantage from polestarter Shane Kisling and sped away to a 1.4-second lead within just four laps. Sabraski, who started eighth on the 13-car grid, had already worked his way around Pat Cook and national big-Mod points leader Jack Rivord into fifth by lap 2, then went low to pass Alex Van Natta and Bill Byholm for third two circuits later.

On lap 7 Sabraski caught and dispatched Kisling for second and began to cut away at Spacek’s 2.3-second cushion, and he had already trimmed a half-second off over the next go-around before the caution flag came out for Brandon Copp’s spin, thus eliminating the leader’s healthy margin.

It took a couple of laps after the restart, but Sabraski finally made an inside pass of Spacek stick at mid-race, and from there the leader was not to be harassed. Cook also took full advantage of the race’s lone restart, quickly moving up to third within a lap and then getting by Spacek for second on lap 12.

Cook and Spacek entertained the crowd with a great battle for runner-up honors, and further back a five-car dogfight ensued for fourth between Van Natta, Kisling, Copp, and cousins Jack and Rick Rivord. But none of that mattered to Sabraski, who pulled away to a dominant 3.25-second victory – his third of the season here and ninth of his career at ABC. Cook outlasted Spacek for second, and Van Natta held on to take fourth ahead of Copp.

Gehl took advantage of his pole-position start and led flag-to-flag in the 20-lap Midwest Mod feature, although a restart tested the youngster’s mettle late in the run. Gehl, a third-generation racer from Solon Springs, had only won once before at Ashland – and that was in a Pure Stock during his 2020 championship season here.

Gehl looked smooth as he grabbed the immediate lead and pulled away from the fierce battles for position behind him, extending his edge to 1.4 seconds by lap 3 as James Vendela and Jesse Polson tussled for second. Within another half-dozen circuits young Canadian David Simpson had moved up to challenge Vendela, while former track champ Paul Suzik worked the outside line to close in on that battle, but Gehl continued to pull away.

With four laps remaining Simpson finally overtook Vendela for second, and before the lap was completed Suzik swept around Vendela for third. Then Polson and Ross Fuhrman got together to bring out the race’s only slowdown – and eliminate Gehl’s massive 4.5-second lead. Fortunately for the leader, Simpson and Suzik were too busy battling with each other side-by-side for second to keep up, as Gehl pulled away to his landmark win by .83 seconds. Suzik grabbed runner-up honors from Simpson in the closing laps, and George Dalbeck and Duane Dunbar completed the close-formation top five.

The WISSOTA Pure Stock feature ran off its ten laps without delay, with polestarter Tyler Kachinske beating Aaron Bernick to the early advantage. Hazelton, who hauls here from Chippewa Falls to become a track regular, followed Kachinske to second and pressured the youngster immediately, diving low to take over pacesetter duties as Kachinske worked the outer groove.

Midway through the 10-lapper Hazelton had built a 1.5-second lead, and he continued to improve on that as Kachinske was challenged by track and WISSOTA national points leader Cory Jorgensen throughout the back half of the race. Hazelton crossed under the checkers for the third time this season a full 2.13 seconds ahead of Jorgensen, who edged Kachinske for second. Bernick and Steve Pohl followed at a distance for fourth and fifth, respectively.

A spin by polestarter Jake Nevala in the first turn spoiled the start of the ABC Six-Cylinders’ 15-lap main, but Nevala maintained the lead position over the first four laps after the restart, ahead of Truchon and a side-by-side battle for third between Mathew Rohlfing and Tyler Hudack. On lap 4, however, Truchon muscled his way by Nevala on the inside and took over the lead for good.

Rohlfing’s spin on lap 5 bunched up the already tightly-packed field for the restart, after which Truchon drew away to as much as a 1.7-second advantage. Hudack, driving his sister Tiffany’s championship-winning car, cleared Nevala for second but needed another caution slowdown in order to catch the leader – and he got it when Nevala was spun again with two laps to go. But Truchon was not to be denied, as the Ashland youngster held a .85-second advantage at the finish for his second win of the season and fifth of his career here.

Nevala, rookie Jacob Johnson, and Jakob Bond rounded out the top five.

Jarecki continued his dominance of the WISSOTA Hornet field on his hometown track, running away to his fourth feature win of the season and the 18^th of his career here. The division’s defending champ and current points leader started outside on the front row and was never challenged, but behind him polestarter RJ Holly had his hands full with visitor Carter Matthews, who got by Holly for second after two laps.

Matthews appeared to be gaining on Jarecki in the closing laps, but the leader had established too much of a cushion to overcome and Matthews settled for second. Holly was a ways’ back in third, and another long-distance visitor, Alyssa Nelson, and first-nighter Jonathan Popp completed the top five.

To start the final month of the regular season, the ABC Raceway will next host its first-ever Small Car Classic, to be presented by the Ashland-Bayfield County Sportsmen’s Club, on Saturday, August 6. WISSOTA Street Stocks will join the Super Stocks, Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks, Sixes and Hornets, and the rescheduled kids’ bike races will also be held.

The Hornets will run for $300 to win in their feature on this night, while the other five classes will race for $500 to win in their respective A-mains.

The Raceway has announced that it will add a second appearance by the Street Stocks on August 20, with $1,500 on the line for the feature winner that night. All six of the track’s regular weekly divisions will also be on hand, although the Supers will run for National points only (no track points) on that night.

The Northern Renegades’ traditional sprint cars are still slated for an August 13 appearance, and the regular season will conclude on August 27, with season champions to be crowned on that night.

The grandstand gates and pits will open this coming Saturday at 5 pm, with hot laps to be run at 6:15 followed by heat-race action at 7 pm. WSBZ, 93.3 FM, will air race and weather updates from 4:30-6 pm on Saturday.

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, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

Results

WISSOTA Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Pat Cook, Washburn; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Alex Van Natta, Minocqua; Brandon Copp, Brule; Rick Rivord, Superior; Cole Spacek, Phillips; Shane Kisling, Butternut; Jack Rivord, Superior; Jake Hiatt, Mason.

11-13: Mike Klippenstein, Proctor, MN; Bill Byholm, Glidden; Tyler Luger, Oxford.

Heat 1: Rivord; J Spacek; Copp; Kisling; Hiatt; R Rivord; C Spacek.

Heat 2: Sabraski; Van Natta; Byholm; Cook; Luger; Klippenstein.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

Feature: 1-10: Shane Sabraski, Rice, MN; Dylan Nelson, Merrifield, MN; Terran Spacek, Phillips; Scott Lawrence, Superior; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Dustin Nelson, Ogilvie, MN; Randy Graham, Trego; Austin Niemeyer, Brainerd, MN; Patrick Beeksma, Ironwood, MI; Andrew Mackey, Duluth, MN.

11-20: Shawn McFadden, Ashland; Steve Stuart, Ashland; Matt Deragon, Ashland; Tucker Quinn, Ladysmith; Cory Casari, Montreal; Andrew Johnson, Brainerd, MN; Jake Froemke, International Falls, MN; Don Livingston, Washburn; Chris Johnson, Superior; Stefan Hogue, Altoona.

21-26: DJ Keeler, Superior; Jeremy North, Huron, SD; Josh Schmidt, Becker, MN; Myron Basina, Bayfield; Jeffrey Frey, Ogilvie, MN; Aaron Mashlan, Ashland.

Heat 1: Sabraski; Mackey; Niemeyer; Livingston; Schmidt; Dan Peterson, Foxboro; Mashlan; Rita Anderson, South Range.

Heat 2: Dylan Nelson; Graham; Deragon; Casari; C Johnson; A Johnson; Allan Cleveland, Breckenridge, MN; Thomas Karaba, Superior.

Heat 3: Spacek; Dustin Nelson; Stuart; Keeler; Beeksma; Josh Saunders, Spooner; Basina; William Fisher, Shell Lake.

Heat 4: Oreskovich; Lawrence; McFadden; Quinn; Froemke; Hogue; North; Frey.

Semi-Feature: A Johnson; Hogue; Basina; Frey; R Anderson; Karaba; North; Peterson; Cleveland; Mashlan; Saunders; Fisher.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

Feature: 1-10: Tanner Gehl, Solon Springs; Paul Suzik, Ironwood, MI; David Simpson, Thunder Bay, ON; George Dalbeck, Wakefield, MI; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; James Vendela, South Range; Ross Fuhrman, Ashland; Dane Olson, Littlefork, MN; Jesse Polson, Superior; Mitch Kieber, Ironwood, MI.

11-17: Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Marcus Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Matt Jacobson, Bessemer, MI; Jimmy Latvala, Solon Springs; Bryan Lund, Ashland; Ryan Barningham, Bayfield; Neil Dees, Hurley.

Heat 1: Suzik; Vendela; Gehl; Fuhrman; Latvala; Hudack; Jacobson; Lund; Diamond Bressette, Spooner.

Heat 2: Polson; Olson; Simpson; M Dunbar; D Dunbar; Dalbeck; Kieber; Barningham; Dees.

WISSOTA Pure Stocks

Feature: 1-5: Travis Hazelton, Chippewa Falls; Cory Jorgensen, Duluth, MN; Tyler Kachinske, Duluth, MN; Aaron Bernick, Duluth, MN; Steve Pohl, Manitowish Waters.

Heat: Brent Mindock, Prentice; Hazelton; Jorgensen; Bernick; Kachinske; Pohl; RJ Holly, Marengo.

ABC Six-Cylinders

Feature: 1-10: Dalton Truchon, Ashland; Tyler Hudack, Ashland; Jake Nevala, Ashland; Jacob Johnson, Cable; Jakob Bond, Mason; Forrest Schultz, Ashland; Shane Basina, Bayfield; Mathew Rohlfing, Cable; Austin Olby, Marengo; Dennis Groom, Ashland.

11-13: Trenton Bond, Mason; Bubba Anderson, Trego; Julian Root, Ashland.

Heat 1: Hudack; Groom; Truchon; Schultz; Anderson; T Bond; Jimmy Stearns, Superior.

Heat 2: Rohlfing; Johnson; J Bond; Nevala; Olby; Basina; Root.

WISSOTA Hornets

Feature: 1-6: DeJay Jarecki, Ashland; Carter Matthews, Clearbrook, MN; RJ Holly, Marengo; Alyssa Nelson, Merrifield, MN; Jonathan Popp, Iron River; Brandon Hummelmeier, Ashland.

Heat: Jarecki; Matthews; Nelson; Holly; Popp; Hummelmeier.