by Bob Peine

KASSON, Minn. (June 23, 2002) - It was a warm one on Sunday, June 23rd at the Dodge County Speedway. But that didn't stop drivers or fans for showing up for what turned out to be another excellent night of racing.

In the first feature event of the evening, the Midwest Modifieds took to the track for what promised to be a good one. Kenny Wytaske looked very strong from the drop of the green and took command early, followed by Nick Kramer and Joe Werneke.

Neil Eckhart was on the move early, and looked under Brian Hernandez for fourth, but Kenny Wytaske was starting to open up a big gap between himself and the rest of the field. Hernandez and Eckhart both found the way around Werneke, and Eckhart then went to work on Hernandez again, and took the position.

The first caution came on lap five, for the spinning car of Mitch Ford on the backstretch. Under green again, Eckhart once again looked to advance, and took the bottom to get by Kramer for second.

The next caution came on lap seven when Jesse Frericks was spun, and Dan Fagerlind was penalized for the caution and sent to the tail.

When racing resumed, Eckhart got a good run off of turn two and pulled to the outside of Wytaske, but just couldn't complete the pass. Hernandez picked up the pace and would move in to challenge Eckhart again for second, but it was not to be. Wytaske took the checkers first, followed by Eckhart, Hernandez, Chad Herman, and Nick Kramer, rounding out the top five.

In WISSOTA Super Stock action, the top spot would be furiously contested right from the start. A three car battle for the lead developed and it was Nick Herrick who would come out on top, to lead the early laps.

Bill Stettner was rapidly advancing on the leaders, and came up to challenge Kelly Anderson for second, which saw Stettner emerge with the position.

The first caution came when Dave Haberman and Mark Oltjenbruns went for a spin. Herrick still held the lead, followed by a very racy Bill Stettner and Kelly Anderson. Immediately, Stettner would go to work on Herrick and using the bottom, was able to take the lead. Dustin Nelson and Mark Wytaske seemed to get faster as the race went on, and Nelson started to pressure Anderson for fourth. Nelson made it stick and when Mark Teske tried to get by Anderson on the outside, the two cars made contact and both spun. Anderson was penalized for the contact and sent to the tail.

When the green waved again, a number of cars made a charge to the front, with Mark Teske moving up to second. Last week's feature winner, Tom Chrest, started 13th and eneded up finishing fourth, and Dustin Nelson who started 14th, would finish an amazing third. But it was Bill Stettner who held on to pick up the feature win.

Next up were the Modifieds, and it would be Jay Poidinger and LeRoy Scharkey making up thr front row. Scharkey with some very impressive runs over the past couple of weeks, would grab the lead, and jump out front to set a blistering pace.

The first caution came on lap two when a three car spin slowed the field under yellow.

Todd Klees was on the move early and would quickly move past Jay Poidinger for second. The next caution came when Todd Scharkey spun in turn two, and he would be forced to re-start from the tail.

Dave Siercks was having a very strong run, and worked his way in to the top five, after passing Nate Wasmond. But out front, it was all LeRoy Scharkey, who was building up a very big lead. Todd Klees still sat in second, and was also pulling away from the field, but could not seem to close in on Scharkey.

Jay Ihrke was starting to come on strong, after starting 11th, and was koncking on the door of the top five. Ihrke and Nathan Kilwine engaged in a great side by side battle for fifth, which Ihrke would eventually come out on top in.

After a very dominating performance, LeRoy Scharkey scored the victory, followed by Klees, Siercks, Wasmond, and Ihrke.

The WISSOTA Late Models were up next, with Nick Herrick and Jon Kurshinsky sharing the front row.

A very intense battle for the lead would develop early and continue throughout, with the cars of Kurshinsky, Duane Mahder, and Brad Waits.

At first, it looked like Mahder had the dominant car, passing Waits and Kurshinsky, and Waits too would get by Kurshinsky for second. Waits was coming back and starting to put heavy pressure on Mahder, with Kurshinsky never falling far behind.

This would continue for five laps and then Kurshinsky went upstairs, and rocketed by both Waits and Mahder, taking back the lead. Mahder drove hard on the bottom, and could get along side of Kurshinsky at times, but never re-gained the lead.

Waits continued to work on Mahder for second, and there were times a person could have thrown a blanket over the three lead cars, they were so close. And they had also pulled out quite a bit from the rest of the field.

The persistence of Waits paid off finally, as he would manage to get by Mahder to secure second, but didn't have the steam to catch Kurshinsky to take the lead. Kurshinsky would start to pull away towards the end, and came home first, followed by Waits, Mahder, Mike Sorenson, and Nick Herrick.

The fifth and final feature event were the WISSOTA Street Stocks, and the front row saw two of the best in all of WISSOTA country. Jeff Brauer and Dan Gullikson started side by side and would run the whole race nose to tail.

Brauer took the lead when the green flag dropped, and Dan Gullikson was locked on his bumper from the start and would remain there almost constantly. The exceptions were the times when Gullikson would get a nose under Brauer, and try to get along side. Jim Gullikson was running a strong third, not far behind the two leaders, when his night ended with mechanical troubles. This would move Arlen Diercks in to third, followed by Chuck Nerland and Greg Erickson.

The top five would not see any more changes of position, but it was definitely not for lack of trying. Dan Gullikson was all over the back of Brauer, and Nerland and Erickson had a great race going for fifth.

Brauer led every lap and picked up yet another victory at the Dodge County Speedway.

Another great night of racing, and a big thanks to all of the fans, drivers and sponsors who make it all possible every week. The next race is the return of the Thunderbird Open, on Thursday, June 27th at 7 PM. WISSOTA Late Models and WISSOTA Super Stocks only.

RESULTS

MIDWEST MODIFIEDS

Feature: Kenny Wytaske, Neil Eckhart, Brian Hernandez, Chad Herman, Joe Werneke, Greg Pfiefer, Jim Peterson, Harland Morehart, Jesse Frericks

Heat 1: Wytaske, Ryan Weber, Matt Stark, Kramer, Frericks

Heat 2: Eckhart, Scott Olson, Hernandez, Jim White, Ron Skalicky

Heat 3: Pfiefer, Peterson, Herman, Dan Fagerlind, Daryl Hainka

WISSOTA SUPER STOCKS

Feature: Bill Stettner, Mark Teske, Dustin Nelson, Tom Chrest, Mark Wytaske, Dan Nissalke, Nick Herrick, J.B. Stortz, Jon Duffy, Ben Paul

Heat 1: Herrick, Stettner, Paul, Mark Oltjenbruns, Chrest

Heat 2: Bill Clemens, Stacy Edgar, Wytaske, Kelly Anderson, Nelson

Heat 3: Teske, Stortz, Nissalke, Chris Klinger, Brandon Jensen

MODIFIEDS

Feature: LeRoy Scharkey, Todd Klees, Dave Siercks, Nate Wasmond, Jay Ihrke, Nathan Kilwine, Deny Barwald, Todd Scharkey, Bruce Angst

Heat 1: Jordan Steier, Angst, Kilwine, Barwald, Jim Arnold

Heat 2: Siercks, Wasmond, Ihrke, Jay Poidinger, Steve Wetzstein

Heat 3: Todd Scharkey, LeRoy Scharkey, Chad Behne, Klees

WISSOTA LATE MODELS

Feature: Jon Kurshinsky, Brad Waits, Duane Mahder, Mike Sorenson, Nick Herrick, Ryan Aho, Mark Teske, Paul Wrazidlo, Roger Herrick, John Chrest

Heat 1: Teske, Mahder, Nick Herrick, Wrazidlo, Aho

Heat 2: Kurshinsky, Waits, Breeschotten, Sorenson, Chrest

WISSOTA STREET STOCKS

Feature: Jeff Brauer, Dan Gullikson, Arlen Diercks, Chuck Nerland, Greg Erickson, Steve Goodenough, Troy Voth, Alan Oltjenbruns, Scott Burr, David Gustafson

Heat 1: Erickson, Diercks, Dan Gullikson, Steve Eischens

Heat 2: Brauer, Jim Gullikson, Goodenough, Bill Steinburg, Tony Sass