Brady Smith Wins Dart Challenge Series At Amsoil

Wes Vork-NSO

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July 20, 2011

By Jerry O’Brien

SUPERIOR, WI – Solon Spring’s Brady Smith who cut his racing teeth on the local race tracks before moving on to the national stage, returned home Thursday night July 20 to win the $2000 WISSOTA Dart Machinery Challenge Series event at AMSOIL Speedway. Smith advanced from starting 21st out of 26 cars to win the event.

Starting from the inside of the 11th row, Smith worked his way forward and, by the half way point in the 40 lap event was running in the top three behind leader Jake Redetzke and Lance Matthees. As the top three began to lap cars, it was still a three horse race for the win. Smith got by Matthees into second and closed on Redetzke. Matthee’s #90 began to show smoke and fell off the pace rolling to a halt on the front stretch.

The caution flag, the fourth of the event, set up a shoot out between Redetzke and Smith with four laps remaining. At the green, Redetzke held the lead but Smith was able to move to the inside and led the lap by the length of a nosepiece. Smith completed the pass across the back stretch to take the popular win. Redetzke, defending Series champion John Kaanta, Adam Hensel and Chad Mahder rounded out the top five.

The event started out with Darin Meierotto on the pole next to Redetzke. It was reported that Meierotto was forced to do work on the engine of the #36 after his third heat win and wasn’t sure it would last the full distance. After leading the first few laps Meierotto was forced to drop out leaving the point to Redetzke followed by Darrell Nelson, Lance Matthees and John Kaanta.

Meanwhile Smith and Adam Hensel had been advancing from deep in the pack, Smith from 21st and Hensel from 19th to run in the top ten positioning themselves for a run at the lead. Also making a nice run forward was Kyle Peterlin who started 18th and worked his way up to sixth at the checkered flag. Chris Olson was seventh, Darrell Nelson eighth; Jeff Provinzino ninth after starting 24th and Joey Ogston was tenth. Marshall Fegers, Harry Hanson and Cory Jorgensen rounded out the cars that were running at the finish.

A dozen cars did not finish and one, Todd Gehl did not start after sustaining damage in a heat race.

Skeeter Estey won his fifth Midwest Modified feature of the season at the speedway. It started out as a two car breakaway with Estey leading George Dalbeck after an early side by side battle for the lead. Estey pulled out front and was never challenged on his way to the checkered flag. There were no caution flags in the 15 lap event. Rob Weber and Estey won the pair of heat races. Weber, Jeff Lien, Jr. and Scott Herrick rounded out the top five.

Super Stock points leader Jeff Tardy won the 20 lap feature over early leader Dave Flynn. Shawn Rivord recorded perhaps his best finish at AMSOIL Speedway since moving into the Super Stock ranks this season, finishing third ahead of Joe Olson. Defending track champion Mike Bellefeuille finished fifth after starting 12th. A single caution flag slowed the action for the car of Al Rapp which was up against the fourth turn wall.

Dustin Follett won the 15 lap Pure Stock feature in what turned out to be a runaway. Justin Madsen led the early circuits over brother Matt Madsen, Dale Soumala and newcomer Dustin Doughty. Follett began to move forward on the outside and swept into second. He moved alongside Madsen and took the lead.

A single caution flag slowed the action when Udeen and point leader Ashley Smith clashed in turn one. Smith returned to her position and Udeen was sent to the tail. Follett was the winner over Justin Madsen, Jeff Engelemeier, Soumala and Smith in the top five.

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