The opening night of the first ever Dairyland Dash saw several firsts achieved, including first-time winner Matthew Larson in the USRA Late Models.

The program suffered a three-hour rain delay just before the heats when a surprise, unpredicted downpour hit the track. The storm didn’t last but a few minutes but it did its damage, turning the track into a quagmire.

The track crew, along with much support from the drivers who brought their race cars out onto the track to help pack, were able to bring the track back into racing form. After the long delay, the action picked up right where it was halted and the complete show was finished off.

A tough group of spectators hung on through the long delay and were around to see the show completed at 2:23 a.m. Sunday morning.

The USRA Late Models made their first appearance of the year at the track with their current point standings showing Cade Nelson with a razor-slim 10-point advantage over Matthew Larson as they battle for a Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national title.

Their feature race saw those two as the class of the field with them battling for the win. Larson drew the pole for their 20-lap main and led from the start but Nelson closed in and put the pressure on the leader.

With a bold slide job, Nelson edged into the lead on lap eight but one lap later, Larson drove deep into the corner and regained the top spot.

The lone yellow of the race waved with 11 laps complete when Michael Hucovski, running in the top five, appeared to blow a motor and stalled on the front chute.

Larson picked up the pace on the restart and then drew away from Nelson. The last eight laps of the race went clean and green with Larson maintaining his edge and he drove home for the win.

Nelson settled for second with Ryan Howe runninig third from start to finish in the race. Josh Wahlstrom and Cory Ressie completed the top five. It was Larson’s first ever feature win at Rice Lake.

A large crowd was on hand for the opening night of the Dairyland Dash and one hundred and sixty two drivers signed in to race, one of the largest fields of drivers at the track in several years.

Round two of the Dairyland Dash continues on Sunday night with a full program again slated for all six classes.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Rice Lake Speedway, Rice Lake, Wis.
Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown

USRA LATE MODELS

Heat 1
1. (1) 77 Ryan Howe, Menomonie, Wis.
2. (7) 67 Josh Bach, Barron, Wis.
3. (4) 14 Steven O'Brien Jr., Red Wing, Minn.
4. (3) 39 Matt Platteter, Fountain City, Wis.
5. (2) 3 Tyler Stargardt, Marshfield, Wis.
6. (5) 73 Larry Fitzsimmons, East Bethel, Minn.
7. (6) 26D Chad Dawson, Isanti, Minn.

Heat 2
1. (1) 44 Cade Nelson, Hermantown, Minn.
2. (3) 19 Josh Wahlstrom, Rice Lake, Wis.
3. (2) 88 Michael Hucovski, Corcoran, Minn.
4. (5) 99F Mitchell Fenske, New Richmond, Wis.
5. (4) 52 Jason McFadden, Jim Falls, Wis.
6. (6) 65 Lucas Peterson, Stockholm, Wis.

Heat 3
1. (4) 8 Matthew Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn.
2. (3) 18 Ken Dallman, New Germany, Minn.
3. (2) 1 Kody Koski, New Richmond, Wis.
4. (6) 208 Cory Ressie, Alma, Wis.
5. (1) 17J Jared Bamberger, Clayton, Wis.
6. (5) 88P Bryan Pretzman, Cadott, Wis.

Feature
1. (1) 8 Matthew Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn.
2. (4) 44 Cade Nelson, Hermantown, Minn.
3. (3) 77 Ryan Howe, Menomonie, Wis.
4. (5) 19 Josh Wahlstrom, Rice Lake, Wis.
5. (10) 208 Cory Ressie, Alma, Wis.
6. (6) 18 Ken Dallman, New Germany, Minn.
7. (11) 99F Mitchell Fenske, New Richmond, Wis.
8. (7) 14 Steven O'Brien Jr., Red Wing, Minn.
9. (14) 73 Larry Fitzsimmons, East Bethel, Minn.
10. (15) 65 Lucas Peterson, Stockholm, Wis.
11. (13) 52 Jason McFadden, Jim Falls, Wis.
12. (9) 1 Kody Koski, New Richmond, Wis.
13. (2) 67 Josh Bach, Barron, Wis.
14. (12) 3 Tyler Stargardt, Marshfield, Wis.
15. (16) 26D Chad Dawson, Isanti, Minn.
16. (17) 17J Jared Bamberger, Clayton, Wis.
17. (8) 88 Michael Hucovski, Corcoran, Minn.
DNS – 39 Matt Platteter, Fountain City, Wis.
DNS – 88P Bryan Pretzman, Cadott, Wis.

For more than two decades, the United States Racing Association has attracted more and more racetracks and dirt track racers each year through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. During the 2023 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals hosted more than 1,000 nights of racing.

To learn more about the USRA, check out USRAracing.com. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here.

USRA competitors can register and purchase a license for the 2024 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series online at USRAracing.com/Register or call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone. You can also download the application at USRAracing.com/Downloads and then submit your completed form by email at office@usraracing.com.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, PBM Performance Products, YouDirt.com.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Deatherage Racing Opticians, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Gunshepherd.com, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, MSD Performance, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes Day Motor Sports, KS Engineering.