RACEMN LIDLIFTER MARRED BY TRAGEDY AT NCS

The RACEMN Modified Series presented by Octanetrade.com lifted the lid on it’s inaugural season hosting the series season opener Wednesday, June 16th at North Central Speedway (Brainerd, MN). A very talented group of drivers assembled with a 108 race teams packing the pits for the groundbreaking event. Fans, drivers, pit crew members, and sponsors from all over the Upper Midwest experienced and enjoyed some great racing before the tragic events that took place later in the evening.

The WISSOTA Midwest Modified A-main was the first item on the docket with 25 laps being put up on the board. Elizabeth, MN standout Travis Saurer took the lead using the high side of the speedway as the field stacked up behind. Dustin Scott settled into second early on behind Saurer as Shane Sabraski and Dan Wheeler began to make their way to the front. Wheeler, who started 10th, entered the top five and immediately began to close in on the lead trio. Scott stole the lead from Saurer on lap six using a power move on the bottom of the speedway to do so in turns three and four. Saurer continued to run the extreme top side of the speedway with Sabraski and Wheeler digging on the bottom. Back in traffic, Jason VandeKamp made some nice moves even with a flat tire. VandeKamp, who started the event in 16th, end a great run in 9th. Sabraski moved by Saurer for the second spot with nine laps remaining and began the long process of running down Scott for the lead. Sabraski closed in on the final lap but was never able to make a serious challenge as Scott went on to take the first ever RACEMN Modified Series checkered flags. Sabraski had another stellar run in second ahead of Wheeler, Saurer, and North Central Speedway regular Dan Severson. Wheeler, Scott, Sabraski, John Broking, Brandon Davis, and Chuck Olson all picked up heat race wins earlier in the show for the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds.

The WISSOTA Mod Fours rolled out onto the speedway next with Andy Deters and Josh Abrahamson manning the front row starting duties. Abrahamson took the lead at the drop of the green with Deters settling into second. A myriad of cautions kept the A-main from gaining any momentum before an incident took place in turn one that would cancel the rest of the night’s event. WISSOTA Mod Four pilot James Eblen’s #46 machine was launched into the air entering turn one where it hit a couple of track officials and knocked Eblen unconscious. As you well know, Eblen has been released and our prayers continue to be offered up daily while Tim and Keith recover. Abrahamson was awarded the win ahead of Corry VanMil, Rob VanMil, Andy Deters, and Tommy McCough.

All 21 drivers were locked in for the night’s 30-lap WISSOTA Modified finale when the incident occurred during the WISSOTA Mod Four feature event. As of right now, that feature event will be made up during the co-promoted RACEMN/USMTS show at North Central Speedway on Monday, September 6th (Labor Day).

We want to thank everyone who has been supportive through all of this and we look forward to continue to deliver you great events each and every time RACEMN makes a stop at your area facility.

Please continue to keep up with Tim and Keith on their CaringBridge sites and for more information on the RACEMN Modified Series log onto the series website at www.racemn.com.

WISSOTA Modifieds (Speedway Motors):
Feature- Postponed
Heat 1- Joey Jensen, Shawn Fletcher, Jeff Broking, Jason Voigt, Travis Saurer, Ron Jones, Paul Schultz, Erick Thiesse
Heat 2- Andy Jones, Curt Lund, Craig Thatcher, Jeff Hart, Clayton Wagamon, Tony Proell, Mark Blood, Rick Kobs
Heat 3- Dave Cain, Jason Miller, Scott Danzeisen, Erik Peterson, Brad Hanson, Dan Ebert, Chris Prussman, Tridell Champlin
Heat 4- Shane Sabraski, Kelly Estey, Dano Ostrander, Ryan Canon, Erik Bjroklund, John Sertich, Don Eischens, Tim Alexander
Heat 5- Brent Larson, Ryan Aho, Eric Martini, Justin Jones, Trent Follmer, Fred Aschenbauer, Bob Broking
B-main 1- Saurer, Hart, Jones, Ebert, Wagamon
B-main 2- Peterson, Hanson, Eischens, Follmer, Aschenbauer

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds (ASI Racewear):
Feature- Dustin Scott, Shane Sabraski, Dan Wheeler, Travis Saurer, Dan Severson, John Broking, Denis Czech, Ryan Kriese, Jason VandeKamp, Allen Gessell Jr, Justin Jones, Tom Gill, Jason Miller, Ryan Studanski, Jason Hall, Clayton Wagamon, Danny Vang, Chuck Olson, Andy Jones, Skeeter Estey, Brandon Davis
Heat 1- Wheeler, Saurer, Gessell Jr, Oestreich, R. Jones, Menk, Miller, Prieve
Heat 2- Scott, Vang, Studanski, Wagamon, Martini, Latvala, Weisman, Kugel
Heat 3- Sabraski, VandeKamp, A. Jones, Mueller, Newgard, Nelson, Rayman
Heat 4- Broking, Gill, Czech, Estey, S. Gill, M. Miller, Ebert, Prueser
Heat 5- Davis, Kriese, Severson, Gerdes, Bowers, Gaclach, Engholm, John Nelson
Heat 6- Olson, Hoffman, Hall, Nelson, Pew, Johnson, Kendall, Eystad
B-main 1- J. Jones, A. Jones, Nelson, Hoffman, Weisman
B-main 2- Miller, Estey, R. Jones, Oestreich, Gerdes

WISSOTA Mod Fours (AFCO Racing Products):
Feature- Josh Abrahamson, Corry VanMil, Rob VanMil, Andy Deters, Tommy Mcgough, Brandon Kellen, Ross Mead, Dwight Gilyard, James Eblen, Brandon Lindquist, Darrin Lawler, Dallas Buchholz, Mike Rau, Matt Staab, Tom Silver, Tom Sabraski, Chad Funt, Conrad Schwinn, Kyle Thell, Jason Bloch
Heat 1- C. VanMil, Abrahamson, Deters, Mead, Buchholz, Lawler, Rau
Heat 2- R. VanMil, Sabraski, Schwinn, Mcgough, Silver, Bloch, Staab
Heat 3- Kellen, Thell, Gilyard, Eblen, Funt, Lindquist