May 23, 2016 at 1:56 p.m.
Glembin, Hedges win WISSOTA  classes in Eagle River Speedway opener
Glembin, Hedges win WISSOTA  classes in Eagle River Speedway opener
The fans were treated to a number of exciting races including a finish in the WISSOTA Street Stock feature that was so close both drivers made the trek to the Auto Value Victory Lane and waited for officials to decide who had won.
Eagle River's Ryan Glembin and Tomahawk's Nate Langberg were locked in a bumper-to-bumper race for the first 18 laps. Then, with only two laps to remaining, Langberg made a move to get around Glembin. The two raced side-by-side going into the final lap. Then on the final lap, the defending Street Stock track champion appeared to fall behind Glembin, only to make a move to the outside coming off the final turn to the finish line.
The two appeared to be even at the finish line. Langberg was the first to go to Victory Lane, followed by Glembin. After review, track officials award the win to Glembin.
"Car was bad (expletive) fast for the first 11 laps. Then we started having fuel/carb(uretor) problems," commented Glembin, the grandson Ken Glembin, who built the one-third mile tri-oval 42 years ago.
While the WISSOTA Midwest Modified Feature turned into a blowout, a surprise winner found victory lane. C.J. Hedges Jr. of Tripoli, last year's Pure Stock champ at Eagle River Speedway, made the jump in class to win the opener.
Hedges not only won the feature, he lapped nearly half the field. His closest competition was Eagle River's Tadd Schoonover who was a half a lap behind at the checkered flag.
"Simply crazy! Started the night off with hot laps, I tapped the wall on the back straight away," Hedges said. "Then a few adjustments went out for the heat and car handled better. Few minor adjustments after the heat and wow. I can't thank everyone enough for all there help to get me in this thing. A lot of hard work from everyone and a lot of sponsors got this win tonight. And hopefully more to come."
Toivola, Michigan's Jesse Aho, the four-time defending track champion in the Midwest Modifieds, finished fourth.
The Midwest Mod heats were a family affair with Marenisco, Michigan's Duane Dunbar taking Heat 1 and his son, Marcus, capturing Heat 2. The elder Dunbar finished third in the feature while Marcus Dunbar finished fifth.
With Hedges moving up from Pure Stock to Midwest Modifieds, the class he dominated last year was up for grabs Friday night.
Last year's runner-up Don Scharf is next in line. However Rhinelander's Dustin Miller made it known early in the night that he has his sights set on the class title.
Miller held tight to Scharf's bumper for most of the first heat race. Then, with the race winding down, Miller made the move and went on to get the win.
The feature looked like a replay of the heat. Scharf held the lead, with Miller right on his heels. Lap after lap, fans were waiting for Miller to make his move and get around Scharf but, this time, old age and treachery beat youth and exuberance.
Scharf, who has logged more laps at Eagle River Speedway than any other driver in the history of the track, ran a strong line. Miller simply could not get around him, giving Scharf the feature win.
The Micro Sprint 600 racers hit speeds in excess of 85 MPH on a tacky racing surface. Andy Rein of Kewaskum had the field covered until mechanical problems caused him to leave the track.
Escanaba, Michigan's, Matt Peterson was the benefactor of Rein's misfortune and went on to win feature.
Shiocton's Dylan Larson finished second.
While Rein may have made the long trip home disappointed, his nephews, Zach and Dayton, had an exciting race with Phelps' Dustin Kangas for the win in the Junior Sprints. Kangas won the heat, but Zach and Dayton made it a Rein 1-2 finish in the feature.
Racing returns to Eagle River Speedway this Friday night with a full five-class program and the first appearance of the season of the Speedway Trucks.
The Midwest Micro Sprint Series will come to the track June 3, and then on June 10, dozens of bicycles will be given away to kids as a part of the annual Tori Stevens Memorial Race.
Hot laps begin at 7 p.m. with racing at 7:30.
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