September 10, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
Rain washes out TNT Speedway finale
Three Lakes track hands out awards
Rain washes out TNT Speedway finale
Steady mid-afternoon rain showers forced track officials to cancel the racing portion of the fall special at 4:15 p.m., just over two hours before racing was scheduled to begin. Though the sun poked through for a while, it ended up being a good decision as another downpour hit the track around 7 p.m.
The night was not a total wash, however, as drivers, crew members, track employees and fans gathered under the covered concession area for the year-end party and awards ceremony. Following a good meal courtesy of the folks at TNT, the trophies for the 2012 season were handed out.
In addition to presenting trophies to the top five in points leaders in each of the five divisions, the track had three special awards to hand out.
Two drivers shared TNT Speedway's Rookie of the Year award - Laona's Jake Terry and Rhinelander's Jesse Dettman. Terry finished as the runner-up in the standings this year in the WISSOTA/AMSOIL Dirt Track Series Street Stocks at TNT. Dettman finished fourth in a highly-competitive TNT Pure Stock class.
The Most Improved Driver award went to Argonne's Jeff Mullins, who went from just another car in the field last year in the WISSOTA/AMSOIL Street Stocks to the track champion this year. It was Mullins' second full season in the class. TNT Speedway's Sportsman of the Year, as voted on by his fellow drivers, went to Eagle River's Brcue Belland.
Belland finished second in the WISSOTA/AMSOIL Midwest Modified standings this year at TNT Speedway. Tomahawk's Jeff Klopstein Jr. edged out the 2010 and 2011 track champion by six points for the title. Tomahawk's C.J. Hedges Jr, Joe Kin of Greenland, Mich., and Rhinelander's Dan Melton rounded out the top five in points.
Behind Mullins and Terry in the WISSOTA/AMSOIL Street Stock points was Jordan Kurtti of Bruce Crossing, Mich. Kurtti, the defending track champion, entered the regular season finale Aug. 25 tied will Mullins for the lead in the class, but a blown engine during the make up feature ended his chances at a repeat. Sugar Camp's Ben Pitlik and Rhinelander's Dustin Miller rounded out the top five.
Rhinelander's Brit Bromann made it three track championships in four years for the Bill Slizewski-owned No. 21 car. Denny Tushoski piloted the car to championships in 2009 and 2011. Bromann defeated fellow Rhinelander driver Dan Schultz by 17 points for this year's title. Three-time Pure Stock champion, John Johnson Sr. of Lac du Flambeau, Dettman and Rhinelander's Tyler Lundberg rounded out the top five.
Gleason's Brandon Langbecker edged out Merrill's Zach Degner by four points in the TNT Stingers. Gleason's Kasey Gross, who won nine features but missed two shows, finished third. Rhinelander's Richard Barlowski and Merrill's Louis Malleuge rounded out the top five in points.
Sean Thayer was the runaway winner in the TNT Truck Class. The Birnamwood driver combined to win 25 races - 13 features and 12 heats - in 28 starts. Birnamwood's Erik Kessen, Gleason's Larry Roper Jr., Birnamwood's Forrest Crandall and Birnamwood's Sean Janssen rounded out the top five.
The managing group at Three Lakes TNT Speedway would like to thank the drivers, crews, fans and sponsors that made the 2012 racing season a success. Special thanks goes to Sowinski Farms for providing potatos and sweet corn for the concession stand this year, to Pitlik and Wick for the use of the grader, to Tushoski's Premier Collision Center for the use of their two trucks and to Schneider Electric for the installation of new lights.
Plans for the 2013 season are in the works. Drivers and fans are encouraged to periodically check the track's website, www.tntspeedway.com, for updates.
Jeremy Mayo is the track announcer at TNT Speedway. He may be reached at [email protected].
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