LANSING, Minn. - There was plenty of excitement Friday night at the Chateau Raceway powered by Miner's Outdoor Power & Rec. To start with, it was night one of the three-night Freedom Series being held over the Fourth of July Weekend at Southeastern Minnesota's three race tracks with the USRA Modifiedsrunning for a combined weekend points fund and the opportunity to cash in for extra prize money for sweeping three features over the weekend.

Light rain sprinkles which had greeted fans and drivers alike as they were showing up for the races let up in time to get the show started. Unfortunately, six laps into the USRA Modified feature it started up again and the race was red-flagged. The event will be completed next Friday night, July 10.

The USRA Modifieds were paced to the green flag by a front row of Greg Jensen of Albert Lea and Jason Cummins of New Richland. Cummins came off the outside of the front row to grab the lead going into turn 1 with Jensen falling in line second. Ben Mattick of Hayfield jumped from row 3 up to third on the first lap, getting around Mike Sorensen of Rochester who started just ahead of him in row 2.

Corey Dripps of Waterloo, Iowa, also starting inside the row behind Mattick and Sorensen, followed the two forward to get an early spot in the top-5.

With Cummins sprinting away from the field and Jensen getting a nice edge over third, it left the other three to battle for third on back.

There was some good racing going on for the spot until the first caution came out as the field was trying to work lap 7.

By the time they were lined back up light rain was starting and they made one attempt to try and restart the race. However the track surface was too slick and cars started spinning right away, bringing the caution back out. Drivers made the decision not to try to restart and again and the field went to the pits to see if the rain would let up.

After about a 15-minute wait, the decision was made to restart the race next week with six laps completed in the scheduled 24-lap feature.

The three heat winners on the night were Josh Reisch of Luverne, Jay Poidinger of Somerset, Wis., and Jacob Dahle of Morristown.

Along with the extra feature races there will be more explosive action next week at Chateau Raceway as well. The track will have its annual fireworks extravaganza. Fans will want to be early to get there favorite seats for the nights racing and fireworks as an excellent crowd is always on hand for the spectacular show. Race time is 7:30 every Friday night at the Chateau Raceway, located just five miles north of Austin.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn.
Friday, July 3, 2009

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature - Rained out, to be completed July 10.

Heat 1: 1. Josh Reisch, Luverne; 2. Jason Cummins, New Richland; 3. Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa; 4. Ben Mattick, Hayfield; 5. Mike Lawson, Owatonna; 6. Wally Bustad, Austin; 7. Adam Martinson, Richfield.

Heat 2: 1. Jay Poidinger, Somerset, Wis.; 2. Joe Wernecke, Dodge Center; 3. Greg Jensen, Albert Lea; 4. Thomas Brink, Winona; 5. Matt Olson, Albert Lea; 6. Josh Mattick, Austin; DNS - Bobby Swanson, Kasson.

Heat 3: 1. Jacob Dahle, Morristown; 2. Mike Sorensen, Rochester; 3. Joel Alberts, Mantorville; 4. Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie; 5. Dustin Steinbrink, Austin; 6. Darwyn Karau, Kasson; DNS - Jeremy Misgen, Ellendale.