by Chris Stepan

KASSON, Minn. (May 14, 2001) - The Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minnesota opened it's 2001 racing season after a one week delay due to weather with a nice field of cars in attendance in four divisions of competition. IMCA Modifieds, WISSOTA Super Stocks, WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds and WISSOTA Street Stocks will compete each week at Dodge County.

The Street Stock main event was the first on the card and saw Nathan Finley and Joe Wernecke sitting on the front row. Finley shot out into the lead at the start as Kevin Adams and Greg Erickson swapped the second and third positions for the first several laps. A good battle formed quickly for fourth between Jeff Brauer, Steve Goodenough and Arlen Diercks while Finley and Adams began to stretch their advantages over Erickson who was running alone in third.

Jason Gabriel son came to life near the midpoint of the event and began to pressure Diercks and Brauer for position, while Goodenough managed to get to the inside of Erickson for third. Finley looked impressive as he did not allow Adams to cut into his advantage much until a late race caution changed the entire complexion of the event, putting Adams right on Finley's rear bumper for a five-lap shootout to the checkered.

On the restart, Adams immediately shot to the high side and blasted by into the lead, bringing with him the trio of Goodenough, Brauer and Gabrielson. Adams was gone once he got into the lead, but Finley, Goodenough and Gabrielson raced three-wide for second into turn one as the white flag flew. Adams went on to pick up the win as Goodenough emerged from the pack to claim second, while Gabrielson, Brauer and Finley rounded out the top five.

WISSOTA's newest division, the Midwest Modifieds were up next with Greg Pfiefer taking command early in his silver bullet # 73 machine. Pfiefer shot out into the lead at the drop of the green, brining Chad Herman with him into second from his third row starting spot. Herman immediately closed in on Pfiefer, but Greg held the preferred line around the speedway and continued to show the way.

A great battle was waging on the speedway for fourth as well as Nick Kraemar and Matt Madsen were running side by side for position for several laps until Madsen powered by on the high side and immediately began to reel in Pete Wytaske, who was running alone in third.

Madsen found something on the high side and caught Wytaske, but could not make the pass. Meanwhile, back up front, Pfiefer was still in control, but Herman was dogging him very hard, but could not find a way by.

The laps began to come to a close, so Madsen again went to the high side to try to sneak by Wytaske into third and was able to get some bite up there, which drew him closer and closer as the laps clipped along.

As the white flag flew, Pfiefer had a nice lead over Herman, but Madsen was making one last ditch effort to get by Wytaske and as the two raced out of turn four for the checkered flag, Madsen carried his momentum by Wytaske to a solid third place finish. Mike Lawson rounded out the top five finishers.

The Super Stocks were up next with a pair of Spring Valley drivers in Jon Van Minsel and Mark Teske pacing the field to the green flag. Van Minsel got a great jump on the field and assumed the lead at the start, but Curt Myers made a move on the bottom of the speedway that carried him from his second row starting spot into second as the pack raced down the backstretch on the first lap.

Van Minsel was able to stretch his lead a bit as Myers and Teske were engaged in a seesaw battle for second over the first handful of laps. Myers was able to clear Teske on lap 4 and wasted no time at all setting off after Van Minsel up front. Myers reeled in Van Minsel in 2 laps and ducked to the inside of Jon on lap # 7 for the lead and was able to snatch it away.

After a quick caution, Myers set off on a Sunday drive as Bill Clemens made his presence felt as he began to battle with Van Minsel and Teske for second at the halfway point of the race. Clemens shot to the inside of Van Minsel and wrestled the third spot away on lap 14 and quickly came after Teske for second on the next lap. Clemens and Teske then began to put on a show that thrilled the crowd as they waged a way back and forth for the runner-up spot as Myers had left the pack in his dust.

Myers went on to pick up his second win in his rookie season while Clemens nipped Teske at the line for second. Van Minsel had a great run to finish fourth and Kelly Anderson rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Modified main event was the final race of the opening night and found Todd Scharkey and Mike Sorensen pacing the field. Sorensen took the lead at the start as Todd Klees quickly came up to battle with Scharkey for second. Good battles were developing all throughout he field as Nate Wasmund was having a great run and was contesting for the fifth position with Jay Ihrke and Chad Behne.

Sorensen and Scharkey continued their battle up front as Klees, Ihrke and Wasmund tried to track down Brad Waits, who was running a strong third. Waits and Klees duked it out for several laps until Waits was able to shoot by on the high side in turn two and then dive to the inside of Scharkey in turn three to take away the second spot.

Wasmund and Ihrke continued their tussle for position as Waits wasted little time coming after Sorensen up front. A caution flew over the field on lap 9 for a hard crash at the back of the pack, which slowed the action momentarily.

On the restart, Waits made a bid for the lead, but Sorensen used his momentum to carry him back into the top spot as Wasmund had moved into battle with Scharkey for third. Ihrke and Klees were also still locked in battle for fourth while Waits was all over the rear bumper of Sorensen and kept searching for a way into the lead.

Another caution flew for a crash in turn four on lap 16, setting up a four-lap shootout to the checkered. Sorensen again set out into the lead, but Waits was right there again looking for the fastest way around the track. Steve Wetzstein moved into join the battle with Klees and Ihrke for fourth as Waits again took a peek to the inside of Sorensen as the white flag flew. Waits made a hard charge to the inside as the lead duo raced side by side into turn three for the final time. Waits powered his # 24 hard into the corner and was able to edge by for the thrilling win over Sorensen. Scharkey held off Wasmund for third and Ihrke slipped by Klees for fifth at the stripe.

Racing action resumes at Dodge County this Sunday with action for IMCA Modifieds, WISSOTA Super Stocks, WISSOTA Street Stocks and WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds. This Sunday, the Modified feature will pay the winner $1,000 courtesy of Andy's Liquor. Racing is set to begin at 7pm.

RESULTS

IMCA MODIFIEDS

Feature: Brad Waits, Mike Sorensen, Todd Scharkey, Nate Wasmund, Jay Ihrke, Todd Klees, Steve Wetzstein, Chad Behne, Jim King, Darwin Karau

Heat 1: Sorensen, Wetzstein, Nathan Kilwine, Dana Lerum, Les Jonsgaard

Heat 2: Wasmund, Waits, T. Scharkey, Jordan Steier, Mike Hernke

Heat 3: Behne, Ihrke, Klees, Ken Hainka, Jeff Ringenburg

WISSOTA SUPER STOCKS

Feature: Curt Myers, Bill Clemens, Mark Teske, Jon Van Minsel, Kelly Anderson, Nick Herrick, Rick Franzen, Danny Olinger, Stacy Edgar, Josh Rodewald

Heat 1: Clemens, Don Eischens, Teske, Van Minsel, Rodewald

Heat 2: Myers, Herrick, Anderson, Franzen, Todd Miller

WISSOTA MIDWEST MODIFIEDS

Feature: Greg Pfiefer, Chad Herman, Matt Madsen, Pete Wytaske, Mike Lawson, Harland Morehart, George Schrump, Scott Grunvold, Dana Brunkhorst, Justin Hainka

Heat 1: Pfiefer, Madsen, Morehart, Ron Skalicky, Harland Morehart Jr.

Heat 2: Nick Kraemer, Lawson, Herman, Wytaske, Grunvold

WISSOTA STREET STOCKS

Feature: Kevin Adams, Steve Goodenough, Jason Gabrielson, Jeff Brauer, Nathan Finley, Arlen Diercks, Rex Welch, Greg Erickson, Mark Jennings, Joe Wernecke

Heat 1: Brauer, Erickson, Goodenough, Wernecke, Diercks, Jeremy Sommer

Heat 2: Adams, Welch, Gabrielson, Jennings, Finley