June 20, 2016 at 1:48 p.m.
Aho and Valeria take WISSOTA features at Eagle River Speedway
Aho and Valeria take WISSOTA features at Eagle River Speedway
In the Micro Sprint 600 heat, 14-year-old Ty Springer jumped out to an early lead. The Eagle River racer hit speeds over 85 mph. However, in the 5th lap, all the crowd could see was a big blue cloud of smoke and Springer's sprinter came to a halt.
Then in the Micro Sprint 600 feature, Deerbrook's Jake Reif worked his way around Woodruff's Fred Suchy early in the race. It appeared Reif was going to walk away from the competition. That is until mechanical problems arose and he had to leave the race.
Jake' father, Jerry, went on to win the race.
In the Junior Sprint final Zach Rein looked to be on his way to the Auto Value Victory Lane, until he lost a rear wheel in the final lap. A few feet down the track, Josie Rae Reif, running second, had mechanical problems and also came to a stop. Phelps' Dustin Kangas took the victory.
"It looked like a night where the last one standing would be standing in the Victory Lane," commented Eagle River Speedway Track Promoter Kevin Dawson.
After losing the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature in the season opener, the only other race that the popular one-third mile tri-oval had run this year, Jesse Aho won the feature. In the season opener, CJ Hedges, Jr. "spanked" the field. This set up what was expected to be a duel between two defending champions, Aho and Hedges. However, it was not meant to be as Aho's closest competition came from Eagle River's Tad Schoonover.
Hedges, the defending Pure Stock champion, finished in sixth place.
"I really think that this year the Midwest Modified Class is going to be up for grabs. Schoonover is getting used to his new car. If Hedges wasn't involved in an accident at another track the previous week, he would have run stronger tonight. Then you put in (Jerry) Grasse and the boys from Marenisco, this class is going to be exciting," replied Eagle River Speedway's Director of Competition Mike Trinka.
One of the biggest surprises of the night took place in the WISSOTA Street Stock class. Eagle River's Ryan Valeria had a motor issue with his car, so Bruce Crossing, Michigan's Jordan Kurtti loaned Valeria his car. Valeria then came out and not only won the heat but also the feature.
"'Flying' Ryan was impressive! Here he jumps in a car he is not familiar with and not only wins, but he had little competition, other than Nate (Langberg)," stated track announcer, Skip Schulz.
It's not just the WISSOTA-sanctioned class championships that are going to be competitive, so will the Pure Stock class. With last year's champion, Hedges, moving up to the Midwest Modifieds, many are wondering if this is the year that the runner-up many times over the years, Eagle River's Don Scharf, is going to make this the year he wins the points title. Scharf won the feature in the season opener.
Another racer in the running for the Pure Stock points championship last year was Eagle River's David Blackberg. But neither Scharf nor Blackberg would win the three heat races. The heats were won by Dennis Lacrosse, Ken Valeria, and Dustin Miller.
It was in the 15-car feature that Blackberg ran away from the pack to take the checkered flag.
The Speedway Trucks made their debut on Friday night. The top truck racer on dirt in northern Wisconsin, Rhinelander's Cory "Cowboy" Allen, took the heat and was expected to be the one to beat in the feature.
Allen may have won the feat, but Pelican Lake's Herb Dettman was untouchable in the feature. Allen was involved in a tangle up toward the end of the race and finished fifth.
Eagle River's Matthew Britt worked his way through the seven-car field to win the one-on-one spectator race.
This Friday night will be the make-up of the postponed Tori Stevens Memorial Race.
The race was postponed due to rain. The race is a fundraiser to help find a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which took the life of 11-year-old Tori Stevens from Tomahawk.
Over 30 new bicycles were donated by racers, sponsors and fans.
The bikes will be given away to children Friday night.
History will also be made at the June 24 race, as for the first time in the 42-year history of the track, the races will be broadcast live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on WCUIP, 105.7, and will be "streamed" on the Internet.
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