July 13, 2015 at 2:46 p.m.
Upsets thrill fans at TNT Speedway
Upsets thrill fans at TNT Speedway
Even though the racing season is at its midway point, Merrill's Louis Malluege already has a 168-point lead on his nearest competitor in the Stinger class. Malluege has won everything at TNT, except one of the many gifts given away during intermission. His strongest challenger over the last month has been Tomahawk's Paul Winker.
Enter new driver Quentin Morrison of Eagle River. Morrison went into the night with only one night of seat time. The odds that Morrison would beat Malluege? None were available from our friends in Vegas. Then again they always say anyone can beat anyone on any given night.
For Morrison, Saturday was that night. He started from pole position and held the lead from start to finish. Malluege battled his way from the outside position in Row 2 to hang on Morrison's bumper right to the checkered flag.
The high-banked track had been expertly prepared to start the night, so racers found many different grooves - dry on the bottom side, tacky on the high side. The line that had the most use early on was about 10 feet from the bottom. That meant the drivers had different choices as to what line they would use. It also meant that if they set their car up for one line, the setup may not work if they had to use a different line.
The multi-groove surface was on full display during the 12-car Pure Stock feature. The track required drivers to make moves through traffic using every part of the wide track. Some were able to do this, others found it difficult. This was evident by some cars getting lapped, while others looked as if they were racing on asphalt.
Jake Ison of Eagle River quickly passed traffic to take the lead. While Ison was extending his lead, Jason Melton, Herb Dettman, David Blackberg and Steve Melton were in a fierce battle for the second spot. To make the race even more exciting, Ison and the other four came upon a crowded field of lapped cars. Blackberg was able to grab the second spot.
As Ison negotiated lapped traffic, Blackberg cut into his lead. As the race was heading into its final stretch, Ison and Blackberg were side by side going for the win. When the checkered flag flew it was Ison who held Blackberg off for the win.
"Great show last night again. Unfortunately, I have bad news. I lost a cylinder last night with three to go," commented Blackberg.
In the TNT Pro Truck Rhinelander's Cory Allen entered the night with only a four-point lead over Eagle River's James Koga. In the feature Allen proved how important setup is. He cruised past the talented field to get the win. John Johnson Sr., kept Koga in check and finished second.
Saturday night at TNT Motor Speedway was a night to remember for the Melton family as they remembered Braylee Lynn Melton. Braylee would have celebrated her first birthday Saturday, however she was born with Anacelphathy or Open Spina Bifada, a condition that did not allow for survival. While it was Northern Living Construction Autograph night, it could have easily been promoted as family night. The racing family joined with the Melton family in remembering Braylee via a special parade lap at the start of the night.
It was a successful night for the Melton family on the racetrack. Following top five finishes for both Jason and Steve in the Pure Stock feature, Dan Melton won the WISSOTA Midwest Modified main event. Earlier in the night, Eagle River's Guy Carley ran away from everyone in the modified heat race. However, in the feature, Dan Melton ran over every speck of clay on the track to get the win.
One lap Melton would take a high line, then the next lap he would be in the middle of the track. As Carley tightened the gap, Melton had to move to the inside to keep him at bay.
The Valeria family was smiling when Eagle River's Ryan Valeria picked up his first TNT Motor Speedway Feature win in the WISSOTA Street Stock class. Valeria had the pole and ran an excellent line throughout the race to hold off one of the best WISSOTA Street Stock racers in the entire Midwest, Tomahawk's Nate Langberg.
With Valeria in the lead, Langberg had his hands full working his way from the middle of the pack to get into position to challenge Valeria. Langberg was in an exciting battle with Brit Bromann. Going into the fourth turn, Bromann hit Langberg. That crash damaged Bromann's car and he was unable to finish the race. That altercation also brought out the caution and moved Langberg right up to the bumper of Valeria. It also put the husband-wife team of Steve and Heidi Karshbaum, along with Jason Jenson, back into position to challenge Valeria for the win.
Valeria was able to hold off the talented field to get the victory.
The Larson brothers are 1-2 in the Micro Sprint 600 class points standings, but it wasn't Denver and Dylan Larson that impressed the fans. It was West Bend's Andy Rein. Rein's Yamaha-powered sprinter hit speeds that the track had never seen. Going 95 mph, Rein easily won both the feature and the feat races.
Rein's nephew, Dayton, wasn't as fortunate in the Junior Sprints. Chain problems forced him out of the feature. Phelps' Dustin Kangas went into the night with an amazing 93-point lead. The 10-year-old kept his unbeaten streak going by winning the feature and the heat. 5-year-old Elliot Brownrigg-Johnson of Lac du Flambeau continues to improve, taking second.
An extensive seven-class schedule of racing continues this coming Saturday night at TNT Motor Speedway. The dirt track has announced that it will host a Side-Side/UTV race on Aug. 8. This will be in addition to the full schedule of racing Saturday. TNT Motor Speedway is located south of Three Lakes on U.S. Highway 45. Hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m.
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