Proctor’s Fill The Stands Night A Success

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May 23

Jerry O’Brien

PROCTOR – Sunday night despite somewhat threatening weather, a good crowd of fans took advantage of the Northland News Center Jam the Stands night featuring $6 adult tickets. 91 cars in five divisions filled the pits for a night of competitive WISSOTA AMSOIL Dirt Track Series racing. With a track surface that was twice as good as the opening night, competition was sure to be very close.

After qualifying heats were complete, it was time for some feature racing. Up first were the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds with 18 of the 19 on hand starting the 20 lap main event. At the green flag pole sitter Jimmy Latvala bolted to the front as Skeeter Estey shot from outside the second row to battle for the lead. Justin Jones, Don Smith and Neil Bolduc ran in the top five. Justin Jones joined the lead duo to make it a three car battle on the first lap. Estey won out, settled down in the lead and began to extend it. Jones began to look for the second spot held by Latvala while Smith ran alone in fourth. Tenth starting Rob Weber challenged Bolduc and Johnny Broking for fifth.

Estey widened his lead until Broking spun off turn four bringing out the first of three caution flags just at the half way point. At this point the top five realigned with Estey on the point, then Jones, Latvala, Smith and Bolduc. Weber, Deven VanHouse, E. J. Hietala who had started 18th, Adam Archer and Lance Solem ran in the top ten. At the green Estey continued his strong run but another caution flag a lap later bunched the pack again. With nine to go the green flag again appeared only to be replaced with a red one as Bolduc spun coming off turn four, Dan Doran spun to avoid him and received a solid T-bone hit to the driver’s side of the #5. The ambulance was called to the site as precautionary measure. Doran was taken into the ambulance for a check over. The order at the restart saw Estey continue to lead Jones, Latvala and a streaking Hietala who was into the top five and battling Weber for fourth.

Broking slipped at the exit of turn four and was nearly T-boned by Tommy Turcotte bringing out what would prove to be the final caution flag. The restart came with five laps remaining and Estey led to the checkered flag having run in the top spot the entire distance. Jones, Hietala, Weber and VanHouse finished in the top five. Two uncharacteristic slips by the always steady Latvala late in the event relegated him to a tenth place finish.

Next out of the pits to do battle was the Proctor Pure Stocks with Matt Hammitt on the pole. Al Rapp flexed some muscle as he took last season’s championship winning car from outside row three to the lead battling with Pete Ciurleo, Rich Dzelak and Tim and Chad Carlson ahead of some unbelievable four wide racing mid-pack. The leaders quickly began to lap cars and Rita Anderson lost control tapping Chad Carlson to bring out the first caution flag. Rapp’s advantage vanished with the caution bringing Dzelak, Ciurleo and the Carlson brothers to his back bumper. Undaunted Rapp sailed off to a commanding lead only to have that vanish with the appearance of the yellow flag brought out when Jon McKinnon looped in turn one after contact from Josh Loucks.

On the restart Chad Carlson got a great run and grabbed second but again the caution flag was out as Cory Lonetto turned around at the bottom of turn four. With Rapp still in the lead the green flag flew and Dzelak got a run on Chad Carlson and grabbed second and charged toward the front runner only to fall back into Carlson’s clutches. It became a four car battle for the lead with the laps winding down and Dzelak and Carlson overwhelmed Rapp as Dzelak picked up the hard fought victory. Chad Carlson, Rapp, Tim Carlson and Jordan Grimm rounded out the top five. Grimm had started in the 11th position.

Next out on the very good racing surface were the mighty WISSOTA Late Models led by Cory Jorgenson from the pole and veteran Tim McMann on his right. McMann shot into the lead from a three wide first turn scrum as Harry Hanson and Don Copp swept past Jorgenson into second and third. Hanson appeared to be on a mission diving to the inside off turn two nipping McMann for the lead.

Darrell Nelson arrived in fourth from his fourth row starting spot to challenge Copp for third. Aaron Lillo and Jeff Provinzino skirmished for fifth with Provinzino winning that battle. Nelson worried at McMann for second and slipped by as Hanson pulled out a huge lead over the field. Nelson slowly began to reel in Hanson and at the half way point the top five order stood at Hanson, Nelson, McMann, Copp and Provinzino. Kyle Peterlin ran in the sixth spot after starting 11th. Nelson moved to within five car lengths of Hanson moving to the top shelf to run him down. On lap 16 of 25 Nelson used the high side to sail past Hanson on the back stretch.

The final order was Nelson, Hanson, Provinzino, McMann and Peterlin in the top five. Copp had a slip in the late going and ended up 11th. Kevin Eder and Zach Wohlers were the front row for the 20 lap.

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