LANSING, Minn. - It was a sunny start of racing action Friday night at the Chateau Raceway powered by Miner's Outdoor Power & Rec. Shortly after the pits were thinned out, however, some light showers hit some folks as they were leaving the track but Mother Nature held off just long enough to allow the action to be completed.

The USRA Modifieds put on quite a show for the first half of their feature. Ben Mattick of Hayfield, Shawn Peterson of Cottage Grove and Dustin Stienbrink of Austin went three wide off the drop of the green for the lead. Out of turn 2, the trio sorted out with Mattick taking the point and Peterson falling in line second.

Peterson pulled back up on the outside of Mattick on lap 3 and the pair ran that way for the next four laps, swapping the spot numerous times as they circled the track.

On laps 4-5, it was Peterson with the advantage by a nose at the line. On lap 6, Mattick put his nose to the line first to get the lead back. On lap 7, down the back-stretch out of turn 2, Mattick got a good push and pulled back in front of Peterson as they completed the next lap nose to tail.

Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie moved his way up to third behind the lead pair and was looking to make it a three-way battle for the lead when he blew a right rear tire and popped a spring out onto the track, bringing out a caution on lap 16.

Off the restart, Mattick maintained his lead over Peterson but it was another driver who drew some attention making a big move as Wally Bustad of Austin popped through the middle of the field and shot all the way up to third.

The race ran caution-free the rest of the way with Mattick stretching out his lead and Bustad closing it up on Peterson to challenge for second, but Peterson held onto the spot with Bustad coming home third ahead of Doug Hillson of Blooming Prairie and Brian Shaw of Brownsdale.

The drivers did a great job before the races providing rides in their cars for all the kids in attendance. Next week the track will have Trick or Treat Night for the kids. There will not only be trick or treating, but any youngsters who show up in costume will be admitted free. Race time is 7:30. The Chateau Raceway is located, just five miles north of Austin in Lansing, Minn.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn.
Friday, July 31, 2009

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Ben Mattick, Hayfield; 2. Shawn Peterson, Cottage Grove; 3. Wally Bustad, Austin; 4. Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie; 5. Brian Shaw, Brownsdale; 6. Dustin Steinbrink, Austin; 7. Greg Jensen, Albert Lea; 8. Jeremy Misgen, Ellendale; 9. James Parker, Dodge Center; 10. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie; 11. Jacob Dahle, Morristown; 12. Josh Mattick, Austin.

Heat #1: 1. Hillson; 2. Peterson; 3. Dahle; 4. Steinbrink; 5. Misgen; 6. Parker; 7. J. Mattick.

Heat #2: 1. Jensen; 2. Myer; 3. Shaw; 4. B. Mattick; 5. Bustad.