Carlton’s Loucks Wins On Final Lap In Proctor

Wes Vork-NSO

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July 1, 2012

By: Jerry O’Brien

Neil Balduc of Bessemer, MI won the Midwest Modified feature at the Proctor Speedway Sunday night. Balduc started on the pole but got snookered by veteran Bill Matzdorf at the start. Matzdorf bolted from the outside of the second row and took the lead which he held until the white flag lap when Balduc who had been dogging Matzdorf’‘s tire tracks since the restart after the caution for Dan Wilson’s spin early in the 20 lap event, sailed by to the lead and took home his second feature win of the season.

Deven VanHouse and Loren Inman lurked in the top five for the entire event but couldn’t muster enough steam to challenge the two leaders. Balduc had his own battle for several laps as he had to let Matzdorf go while he battled with Kingsley to keep second. Balduc finally broke away from Kingsley, closed on Matzdorf and those two broke away to duke it out for the win. In the closing laps the top five pulled away from the pack which was led by Josh Heaviland.

Kevin Salin put in a stout run in the 20 lap Super Stock main event. Salin started inside the second row and got a great run off turn two on the initial lap to take the lead. Scott Lawrence charged through from the third row to join outside pole sitter Donnie Lofdahl in pursuit of Salin in the early going. Lawrence made a move to the outside off turn four to take second and edge ahead but the veteran Salin was up to the task and regained the point off turn two.

A caution flag slowed the action and, at the green, Salin led Lawrence, Lofdahl, Rick Simpson and Andy Davey. Dave moved to third but the caution flew again for Simpson at the exit of turn two and the veteran racer was out. This all happened in the first five laps and with fifteen to go, Lawrence grabbed the lead at the restart and drove away from the second place battle. The caution flag flew again for Roy Pumala. At the same time Mike Bellefeuille suffered extensive damage in turn one and was also through. Lawrence maintained the lead as Salin, Davey, Lofdahl and Pat Heikkinen squabbled for second.

Just before the midpoint of the race a pair of caution flags slowed the action and set up a single file restart. At the half way Mark Lawrence led Salin and Davey but the caution flag seemed to appear more than the green flag. Davey finally secured the second spot and battled with Lawrence for the win in the waning laps and was able to get close using the high side. The white flag appeared and Davey had one circuit to get it done but couldn’t quite make it as Lawrence took the win. Davey had to settle for second, Salin hung around got third Heikkinen was fourth and Lofdahl got back to fifth after being one of the cautions.

It was 20 laps for the Modifieds and pole sitter E. J. Hietala took the lead with Darrell Nelson hot on his heels along with Ryan Aho and Kevin Eder. Hietala lost control in turn four and spun collecting Nelson in a minor collision. This left Nelson in the catbird seat at the front as Eder shot forward into second surprising Aho while Jody Bellefeuille ran in fourth. Aho recovered and pulled up to Eder and they went wheel to wheel for second.

Nelson was in command and was never challenged until near the end when the caution flag appeared and Eder was tagged setting up a green/white/checkered finish. Nelson easily held off Aho for the win. Scott Heikkinen was third, Hietala made it back to fourth and Nick Musel hung around and finished fifth. It was the first time in several years that Musel had been behind the wheel of a race car.

Kyle Peterlin was on his game in the 25 lap WISSOTA Late Model feature as he started in the third row. It eventually came down to a hare and hound race between him and Darrell Nelson. At the green flag Joey Ogston took the lead with Tim McMann second and Peterlin quickly into third. Nelson ran fourth as Peterlin moved to the outside of McMann for second and made the pass.

Peterlin then ran down Ogston and made the move to the lead. Nelson soon disposed of Ogston and set out after Peterlin trying everything he could to get around the young driver. It looked as though a lapped car might play a part but they both navigated around it and continued the cat and mouse game. Harry Hanson brought out the only caution of the event with a spin in turn three. Nelson tried to get by Peterlin on the restart but failed and Peterlin led the rest of the way though Nelson was never very far away.

After the race Peterlin said his inside tires had really gone away and he was just hugging the marker tires in the corners and hoping for the best. It was a sweep for Peterlin. Nelson was second, McMann held onto third, Ogston was fourth and Aaron Lillo finished fifth.

The finale of the evening was 15 laps for the Proctor Pure Stocks. Former track champion Josh Loucks won the event; or rather it fell into his lap. Eric Anderson had planned to start the 7A at the back and just take the green flag but repairs were made to the ailing water pump and Anderson started in his planned start up near the front.

At the start there occurred a mess in turn four on the first lap as several cars tried to fit in a limited space. With no laps in, the restart saw Craig Horak take the multi hued green station wagon to the point. Anderson was second, Esten Nelson who won the make-up feature was third, Loucks was fourth and Glenn Dammer ran fifth. Horak continued to lead, Anderson maintained second and Loucks moved to third and Dammer, Nelson and Mike Blevins were in a struggle for fourth.

Horak was flummoxed by a lapped car and spun bringing out the caution. Officials went back a lap and Horak was restored to the front. Horak stayed in front for several laps until Anderson and Loucks shouldered by with Anderson in the lead. Horak then brought out the caution flag when he spun in turn one taking himself out of contention.

This left a green/white/checkered dash to the finish. Prior to the Horak spin Anderson’s car began to emit heavy smoke. Coming down the front stretch for the white flag Anderson headed the heavily smoking #7A off the pit exit falling to a 14th place finish while a surprised and elated Loucks steered the #8L to the checkered flag and the victory lane. Blevins, Nelson Dammer and Keith Koski finished in the top five.

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