SPRING VALLEY, Minn. - What a picture perfect day for racing in Southern Minnesota on Saturday with blue skies, a light breeze and mid-70s temps.

The crowd was absolutely awesome on the night and the drivers showed up in force with 141 cars checking into the back gate on Championship Night at the Deer Creek Speedway.

Nate Wasmund and Steve Wetzstein battled for the lead early in the EZ fabricating USRA Modified feature with Jay Ihrke in third.

A restart with 20 laps to go saw Wetzstein leading, but Wasmund quickly took the lead on the low side.

Tim Donlinger now challenged Ihrke for the second spot while Brad Waits quickly closed up from the back.

Donlinger took second with 15 to go while Waits sat in fourth.

Wasmund looked strong down low and was running the same line as Donlinger until lap 12 when Donlinger moved another lane lower and worked past Wasmund for the lead.

Waits moved into second on the next lap, running up against the outside wall.

Ten to go and Donlinger was leading by less than a half-car-length.

With five to go, Waits took control of the race, the win and 2008 track title.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series
Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008

USRA MODIFIEDS

"A" Feature: 1. Brad Waits, 2. Tom Donlinger, 3. Steve Wetzstein, 4. Jay Ihrke, 5. Nate Wasmund, 6. Les Duellman, 7. Mark Noble, 8. Todd Scharkey, 9. Steve Arpin, 10. Doug Hillson, 11. Layne Meyer, 12. Joe Wernecke, 13. Jeff Schluetter, 14. Bob Timm, 15. Darwyn Karau, 16. Brady Peterson, 17. Josh Mattick, 18. Dwaine Hanson, 19. Jason Cummins, 20. Shawn Peterson, 21. Josh Angst, 22. Mike Sorensen, 23. Neil Eckhart, 24. Terry Timmerman.

"B" Feature #1: Hanson, Peterson, Ted Marrs, Greg Jensen, James Parker, Shaun Olson, Aaron Rake, Tom Paulson.

"B" Feature #2: Schluetter, Timm, Mick Glenn, Tyler Clark, Brian Shaw, Tom Brink, Ryan Gustin.

Heat 1: Duellman, Wasmund, S. Peterson, Cummins, Angst, Marrs, B. Peterson, Olson, Paulson.

Heat 2: Donlinger, Scharkey, Eckhart, Arpin, Sorensen, Schluetter, Glenn, Brink, Timm.

Heat 3: Waits, Noble, Ihrke, Wernecke, Mattick, hanson, Jensen, Parker, Rake.

Heat 4: Hillson, Wetzstein, Timmerman, Karau, Meyer, Clark, Shaw, Gustin.