July 27, 2015 at 2:53 p.m.
Circumstances jumble points standings in WISSOTA classes at Eagle River Speedway
Circumstances jumble points standings in WISSOTA classes at Eagle River Speedway
A crash in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature and work for another racer has set the stage for the possibility that both of the WISSOTA-sanctioned classes could see a new class champion at the end of the year.
An accident in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature caused serious damage to Jesse Aho's car. Defending WISSOTA Street Stock Champion Jordan Kurtti has a work commitment outside of the area and will not be able to finish the racing season.
It was in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature where Aho and the leader, George Dalbeck, were involved in an altercation. On a restart following a caution, Aho took an outside line to make the pass on his fellow Upper Peninsula racer. Dalbeck got loose and went high on the track, causing the two cars to collide. The impact forced Aho's car to get airborne. When it landed, his car went head on into the concrete wall. Aho's car received extensive damage, and Aho most likely will not be able to compete in that car for the rest of the year.
Aho, who was running second, chose the outside of the second row for the Delaware-style restart, a common staple at local short tracks in which the leader is the only car in the front row.
"(I) chose the outside line on the Delaware restart. Car was really good up high and the leader was loose in the corners," explained Aho.
The three-time defending WISSOTA Midwest Modified champion at the challenging Eagle River Speedway went on to say, "On the restart I drove the car in hard and the 23 drifted higher than the previous laps, making slight contact with Dalbeck (and) sending the front of the car airborne 5 to 6 feet. (It) then landed in time to hit the wall head on at full speed."
The crash had fellow racers concerned.
"He (Jesse Aho) hit the wall hard! I was lining up for the next race, and watched him smack the wall," commented C.J. Hedges Jr of Tomahawk, who went on to win the Pure Stock feature. "I quickly headed out to the track from the pits. He hit it so hard I took my helmet off and jumped out of the car to see if he was OK. Just glad Jess is OK. His car is bent up, or should I say, really bent up,"
Hurley's John Kallas response after the accident, "Hope Jesse is OK, after that scary ride."
Aho did not suffer any serious injuries from the accident.
Dalbeck went on to win the feature. Duane Dunbar of Marenisco, Mich. took second.
Aho has a 38-point lead over Eagle River's Tad Schoonover. The maximum any driver can score in one night is 55 to 57 points, depending on the number of cars in the field, under the WISSOTA points system.
An employment opportunity in Texas will cause Kurtti to abdicate his WISSOTA Street Stock crown, but the Bruce Crossing, Mich. driver left Eagle River Speedway a winner, taking Friday night's feature. Tomahawk's Nate Langberg, who trails Kurtti by only 10 points, is in line to take the top spot in the standings beginning next week.
Ryan Valeria of Eagle River took a second in the feature and won the heat race.
Celebrating his feature win was Kurtti's mother, Vikki.
"What a way to end your racing this year, with the feature win," she wrote on Facebook.
Hedges extended his lead in the Pure Stocks to 35 points over Eagle River's Don Scharf with Friday's win. Hedges went from the middle of the pack and was in a side-by-side battle with Scharf for the second spot, while Eagle River's Dennis Lacrosse was in the lead. Scharf got loose exiting the hairpin third turn, sending Hedges into the infield. After the restart Hedges set his sights for Lacrosse, and went on to pass him for the win.
Scharf and Rhinelander's Dustin Miller won the heat races in the Pure Stock class.
Shiocton's Denver Larson added to his point lead in the Micro Sprint 600 Class. The Shiocton driver held off his younger brother Dylan and Eagle River's Ty Springer in both the feature and the heat.
Tommi Jo Springer took the Junior Sprint feature and heat. Conover's Dayton Rein and Woodruff's Hunter Tingley continues to improve.
This Friday night's program at Eagle River Speedway will feature side-by-side/UTV racing, the Harry's Fireworks Show (rescheduled from July 3) and a tribute to longtime Midwest Modified driver Bob "Bobbi-O" Kleinschmidt, who is battling health issues. Gates will open at 5 p.m.
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