Jenson Wins Two Features At Amsoil Speedway

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June 24

By Jerry O’Brien

SUPERIOR – For the first time all season the weather cooperated as warm temperatures and sunny skies brought out the best crowd of the young 2011 racing season at AMSOIL Speedway. A total of 90 cars were on hand to qualify for the five feature events as well as two make-up features from June 3rd.

The first make-up feature was for the Pure Stock division and was for 15 laps. Dustin Follett grabbed the lead after a caution at beginning of the second lap of 15 scheduled. Follett never let go of the lead and won going away over Steve Udeen, Josh Johnson, Corey Lonetto and Ashley Smith in the top five.

The final make up feature from June 3rd was for the WISSOTA Modified division. The 20 lap event went to Forest Lake, Minnesota’s Joey Jensen in the aptly numbered V2. He took off like the rocket namesake from the outside of row three and went three wide with Steve Lavasseur and Destin Lorimor to take the lead. Jensen slid high in turn four allowing Kelly Estey to close up just as the caution flag flew for a door panel from the #11 of Jody Bellefeuille. Jensen maintained the lead at the restart as Scott Hudack raced into second. Jensen recorded his third feature win of the season over Hudack, Estey, Rick Rivord and Al Uotinen. It was also Jensen’s 14th career feature win at AMSOIL Speedway.

Literally days of rain had made the speedway very soft with the clay absorbing a lot of water. Despite the track crew’s valiant efforts including completely grading the surface twice during the program, the track remained difficult to race on. Qualifying heats went to George Dalbeck and Skeeter Estey, Midwest Modifieds, Scott Lawrence, Cody Carlson and Donnie Lofdahl, Super Stocks, Cory Jorgenson and Jeff Provinzino, Late Models, Kelly Estey and Alan Hartel, Modifieds and Justin Madsen, Dustin Follett and Austin Blom in the Pure Stocks. The first attempt at smoothing the track came midway through the heat races.

First up for feature action were the Midwest Modifieds. Neil Balduc and Dan Kingsley led off the pack for the 15 lap event. Bolduc took the lead and Cody Wolkowski raced into second, Scott Herrick also got by Kingsley into third. Skeeter Estey was charging eighth and suddenly there was a five car pack battling for the lead on the fast but treacherous surface. Wolkowski made bold move and planted himself solidly in the lead while Balduc, Herrick and Dave Flynn driving the absent Taylor Leuthner in the #7 car skirmished for second.

Estey lost control and slid into the first turn wall bringing out the red flag as the #37 was hung up on the wall. Estey was not injured but it took several minutes for the towing crew to remove the car and repair the wall. The race restarted with six laps remaining and Wolkowski found himself in a battle with Flynn for the lead. Dalbeck, Balduc and Herrick battled for third position. Wolkowski slid high and Flynn ducked under to take the lead and the win, his first ever for the Super Stock driver in a Midwest Modified. Dalbeck got by Wolkowski to second, Balduc finished fourth and Herrick fifth.

Attrition played a huge part in the 20 lap WISSOTA Super Stock feature as only seven of the 21 cars that took the green flag were running at the checkered flag. There were only three caution flags in the entire event. Joe Olson got the outside pole start and led the first few laps. An early caution flag for contact between Donnie Lofdahl and Scott Lawrence put Lawrence on the sidelines. Olson soon found himself in a battle with Trevor Wilson and Cory Casari for the lead.

Cars began to fall by the wayside and the event became a struggle to survive. Laps were cut by five as Casari grabbed the lead and found himself in a battle with Wilson. A late caution for the #9 of Ronnie Malecki after it shucked a tire and gave Wilson a chance to work his way by Casari to the lead and the win. Casari finished second ahead of Jim Campbell who survive being stuck in the mud at the inside of turn four. Luck was with Olson as he held on for fourth, ahead of Super Stock rookie Shawn Rivord in fifth. Andy Grymala finished sixth ahead of his cousin Cody Carlson, another rookie. Those were the only cars running at the end.

Before the WISSOTA Late Models took to the track for their 20 lap feature, another extensive reworking of the track took place in hopes it would result in a better surface for the very fast cars. Kevin Carlson got the jump on the pole sitter Travis Budisalovich at the green flag with Chris Olson, Don Copp and Cory Jorgenson trailing. Carlson and Budisalovich battled for the point with Budisalovich taking the spot. Olson maintained third and Copp was fourth as Aaron Lillo and Jorgenson skirmished for fifth.

There was not much passing as the laps clicked off. Copp knuckled down and began to work by cars into second, setting his sights on Budisalovich. He tracked him down and was able to make the pass for his first win in some time. Budisalovich, Jorgenson, Carlson and Olson finished in the top five.

The WISSOTA Modified feature resembled the Super Stock 20 lap race as only six of 18 starters were around for the checkered flag. Joey Jensen won for the second time on the evening, his fourth win of the season and 15th at the speedway. Scott Hudack stayed around to race with Jensen as cars began to drop out and finished second. Al Uotinen finished third, Steve Lavasseur was fourth and Pat Cook was fifth. Scott Heikkinen in sixth was the only other driver on the track at the finish.

Due to the late hour the Pure Stock feature was postponed until Friday July 1st.

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