July 6, 2016 at 2:32 p.m.
Grasse wins to kick off Eagle River Speedway Challenge Series
Grasse wins to kick off Eagle River Speedway Challenge Series
Grasse fended off all comers following a pair of late-race caution flags to take the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature and the first race of the three-round Eagle River Speedway Challenge Series.
Grasse got out to a sizable lead 15 laps into the 20-lap feature before a caution came out. That put four-time defending track champion Jesse Aho of Toivola, Mich. right on Grasse's bumper for the restart. Once again Grasse jumped out to a good lead, only to see the caution fly again with two laps to remaining.
Aho, along with Dorchester's Mark Rose, Tripoli's C.J. Hedges Jr., and Duane and Marcus Dunbar from Marenisco, Mich., were all in the mix for the restart. Grasse jumped out to a lead again. Only this time, Aho stuck with Grasse right to the checkered flag.
Grasse held on for the win, and took the lead in the Eagle River Speedway WISSOTA Midwest Modified Challenge Series point standings. The top five drivers in points after the three-race series will share in an additional purse of more than $2,000.
The second round of the Eagle River Speedway WISSOTA Midwest Modified Challenge Series will take place July 22. The final race of the special series is set for Aug. 26.
The night started with a wreck in the Micro Sprint 600 heat race. While leading the race, Woodruff's Fred Suchy hit the wall coming out of the track's hairpin third turn. While Suchy was able to walk away uninjured, his car sustained extensive damage.
It was a rough night to be the leading in the Micro Sprints. Rhinelander's Jake Schilleman was running away from the field in the feature until front axle problems forced him off the track. Before that, Denver Larson had car problems and had to leave the race. With Suchy, Schilleman, Denver Larson out - and Jake Reif unable to get to the starting line for the start of the feature - the race turned into a war of attrition.
The only two left running by the time the checkered flag flew were Dylan Larson and Jerry Reif. Jerry Reif won the earlier heat, but Larson, a 14-year-old from Shiocton, took the feature.
The closest race on Auto Value night at the race track took place in the WISSOTA Street Stock feature. Five cars had a shot at going to the Auto Value Victory Lane in the final laps. Eagle River's Ryan Valeria felt pressure form Bruce Crossing, Michigan's Jordan Kurtti throughout the race. Ryan Glembin and Brit Bromann were not far behind and Iron River, Michigan's Frank Gasperini came on hard at the end of the race.
When the checkered flag flew, Valeria held on to get the win.
Eagle River's David Blackberg saw a three-week run atop the Pure Stock class come to an end Friday. Rhinelander's Jason Eisel scored his first feature win on Eagle River's challenging tri-oval. Eisel jumped out to an early lead and held off the night's two heat-race winners - Dennis Lacrosse and Don Scharf. Lacrosse finished second and Scharf faded to finish fourth. Dustin Miller completed a Rhinelander sweep of the top three positions in the feature.
The Junior Sprint class is showing fans that the future is bright when it comes to dirt track racing. Conover's Dayton Rein won the feature and Phelps' Dustin Kangas won the heat. Josie Rae Reif, Aaron Towne and Josh Nevaroski rounded the field.
Harry's Fireworks put on a spectacular fireworks show after the races.
The Eagle River Speedway Challenge Series turns to the Street Stocks this Friday night. The drivers will be competing for $1,500 in additional purse money following the two-race series.
Also this Friday Sport ATVs will make an appearance at the track. Their race will be held addition to the regular schedule of five classes.
Eagle River Speedway will also begin construction of the XTreme Challenge course for side-by-side off-road vehicles in preparation for their race at the track July 15.
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