Proctor Holds Race Against Cancer Night

July 29, 2012

Northland Sports Online

It was a full day Sunday at the Proctor Speedway. American Cancer Society Relay For Life presented the annual Race Against Cancer and Fan Appreciation night. The day started with a free picnic at the speedway along with a show of race cars capped off with a night of racing.

14 drivers took advantage of the offer of free pit admission if they would bring their cars for display starting at noon, the most that have ever taken the offer in the five year history of the event.

Feature action began with 20 laps for the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds. Dan Doran started from the pole but it was Dan Larsen who grabbed the lead at the outset. The caution flag flew right away as Doran went off turn one. The restart saw Neil Balduc get the jump on Larsen but Larsen was back out in front across the back stretch. Balduc retook the lead as Danny Vang raced up from the fourth row to take second ahead of Deven VanHouse and Larsen.

Vang got tipped around in turn one by Justin Oestreich bringing out the caution flag. On the restart Balduc was caught napping as Vang and VanHouse got by but the caution flag again flew setting up another restart. This time Balduc was ready but VanHouse got the hole shot but still another caution flag appeared.

On this restart it was Vang out front then VanHouse and Balduc. Larsen ran fourth but some distance back. The top three battled amongst themselves as they pulled away from the rest. It came down to a battle for the win between Vang and VanHouse side by side for several laps before VanHouse surged ahead and went on to the win. Vang, Balduc and Larsen followed by Bill Matzdorf were in the top five. Matzdorf had started tenth. It was VanHouse’s second win of the season at the track.

Next the Pure Stocks were trotted out for their 15 lap feature. Matt Hammitt surged to the lead for a brief time ahead of Glenn Dammer and Justin Bassa but it was point leader Josh Loucks who captured the point followed by heat winner Mike Sirois Dammer, Bassa and Esten Nelson.

Sirois’ run ended with a flat tire as Bassa again took second. Jon Hammitt and Jeff Engelmeier were also in the mix up front. The only caution flag of the event flew when rookie Tyler Carlson went off turn four.

The restart was single file and Loucks expanded his lead as Jon Hammitt, Bassa, Nelson and Engelmeier battled behind him. Loucks won and padded his point lead as Bassa finished second Jon Hammitt third Nelson fourth and Engelmeier fifth.

Ryan Aho got a great jump and sailed around the outside from row two to the lead in the 20 lap Modified feature. Justin Jones, Paul Schultz, Nick Musel and Al Uotinen ran just behind.

Darrell Nelson was charging forward from last where he started due to a flat tire and DNF in his heat and was seventh in the early going. Nelson’s charge continued and soon he was third behind Jones and Aho along with Schultz, Musel and Jody Bellefeuille. Nelson put on a surge and took the lead.

The caution flag flew when Scott Miller broke a drive shaft. Aho was right behind Nelson at the restart and took back the lead with a strong outside move in the fourth turn and led the rest of the way. Nelson, Bellefeuille, Musel and Jeff Tardy rounded out the top five.

Willie Johnsen got a strong start and took the lead in the Super Stock feature, but the caution appeared when Mike Bellefeuille went off the top of turn two. Bellefeuille was out and Johnsen kept the lead on the restart over Scott Lawrence, Ronnie Malecki, Scott Lawrence, Jeff Tardy and Donnie Lofdahl.

The caution flag flew again when Pat Heikkinen spun in turn four. Johnsen held the point as Brian Carl joined the top five until Heikkinen grabbed the spot. Lawrence pulled up inside Johnsen but couldn’t quite make the pass as the caution flag flew again as Carl and Heikkinen continued their battle for fifth.

At the green Tardy got a great run on Lawrence and Johnsen, but couldn’t quite pull it off until the next time by. As Tardy pulled away the order behind him stood at Johnsen, Lawrence, Lofdahl and Carl. Tardy raced out to a big lead until Carl spun in turn four.

There was a quick caution flag on the restart when Johnsen spun on the back stretch. There were six laps remaining at the green with Tardy out front, Lawrence now in second and Lofdahl third. Tardy went on to take the win over Lawrence, and Lofdahl. Kevin Salin and Malecki finished in the top five.

The final feature of the evening was 20 laps for the Late Models with Dave Esse and Terry Lillo leading the way. Harry Hanson shot up off turn four to grab the lead with Darrell Nelson to second. The caution flag flew and Lillo was out. At the green it was Hanson, Nelson, Don Copp, Esse and Joey Ogston. Kyle Peterlin was on the move and took over fifth after starting dead last. Nelson was closing on Hanson as Peterlin slipped into fourth.

Another caution flag flew when second running Nelson spun by himself in turn two, a rare mistake for the veteran. There were eight laps remaining at the restart with Hanson at the point. Another time for the caution flag as Esse spun off turn two. Hanson got a good start and Peterlin found himself in second with Kevin Carlson in third and Nelson back up to fourth.

Peterlin encountered problems with the #23 on the back stretch bringing out the caution flag again. The restart came with three laps remaining and that was plenty of time for another caution flag as Esse went off in turn three. Hanson made it to the checkered flag without further incident. Carlson, Nelson, Copp and Tim McMann were top five finishers.

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