Gasperini, Aho, Blackberg among Eagle River opening night winners

Iron Mountain, Michigan’s Frank Gasperini passed Eagle River’s Dustin White for the lead on lap 10 and cruised to victory in B-Modified feature win during the season opener at Eagle River Speedway last Tuesday night.

Former B-Mod track champion Jesse Aho of Twin Lakes, Mich. scored the Late Model feature win in his rookie debut in the division. The IMCA Stock Car era was officially ushered in with hometown racer and defending division champion David Blackberg fighting off the hard-charging driving of another former track champion Rod Snellenberger to score the opening night win.

In the B-Modified feature Rhinelander’s Dan Melton sprinted into the lead from his pole position at the drop of the green. A yellow flew on lap 3 and White sprinted into the lead on the restart. Gasperini, who started sixth on the grid, carefully began slicing his way through the field and caught White and began applying the pressure. 

Gasperini was able to wrestle the lead away from White at the event’s halfway point. Gasperini faced a late race surge from Mass City, Michigan’s Kory Joliff in the waning laps but Gasperini hung on to score the opening night win. 

Joliff, Ryan Brown, Dave Dishaw and White rounded out the top five.

The Late Model feature went green-to-checkered with Aho taking advantage of his front row starting spot to lead every lap en route to victory. Former track champion Jason Zdroik took second-place money, followed by Shawano’s Aaron Reivitis and Tomahawk racers Travis and Zack Friske.

It was a classic duel in the IMCA Stock Car main as a pair of heavyweights went 20 rounds. Snellenberger led much of the early going with Blackberg snatching the lead from Snellenberger on lap seven. A caution with four circuits remaining tightened up the field and the lead duo pulled away from the pack and despite Snellenberger’s best efforts Blackberg was not to be denied as he captured the win. Snellenberger placed second, followed by Jonathan Miller, Jason Eisel and Jordan Kurtti.

Prentice’s Brent Mindock earned a clean sweep in the Pure Stock class by winning both the heat and the feature. Tomahawk’s Trevor Schumann pulled off the same feat in the 600 Micro Class while Mass City, Michigan’s Wyatt McIntyre was awarded the win in the Street Stock feature following a post race inspection after McIntyre crossed the finish line in second place.

Hometown driver Mason Meier stormed into the lead on lap two and kept the lead through a pair of cautions to win the Pro 300 Micro Sprint feature while Manitowish Waters Archer Peter scored the clean sweep in the Semi-Pro 300 Micro class.

Weekly racing will resume tonight, June 18. The first green flag flies at 7:30 p.m. For further information fans are advised to check the track’s Facebook page.