Nelson Qualifies For Race of Champions In South Dakota With Win

Aug 12, 20`1

By: Jerry O’Brien

Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, MN won Race of Champions qualifying features Sunday August 12 at the Proctor Speedway. The wins qualify him for the Races of Champions in each division at the 2012 WISSOTA 100 in September held at the South Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, SD should he choose to make the trip. Scott Lawrence, Superior, Deven VanHouse and Glenn Dammer won the other feature events.

Donnie Lofdahl led the first three laps of the 20 lap Super Stock Main event until the caution flag flew for the stalled car of pat Heikkinen that rolled to a stop in turn three. Point leader Scott Lawrence took advantage of the restart as he jumped to the front at the green flag with a good run off turn two. Lawrence led Lofdahl, Kevin Salin, Andy Davey and Ashley Smith and raced out to an eight car length lead.

The only change in the top five before the mid-point came when Davey got the better of Salin and went to third. Lawrence increased his lead to three quarters of a straight away while Lofdahl held a like amount of distance over Davey. A caution flag flew with seven laps remaining which closed up the pack. Lawrence went on to take the win, his fifth of the season, ahead of Lofdahl, Davey, Salin and Brian Carl. Lawrence has qualified for the 2012 Pace of Champions.

The field for the WISSOTA Modified feature was a tiny one and, as a result, only ran a ten lap feature. At the start Nelson was gone and Nick Musel, Jody Bellefeuille and Scott Heikkinen duked it out briefly for second. Nelson raced out to almost a half lap lead and won literally going away. Bellefeuille, Musel and Heikkinen finished in that order. It was Nelson’s fourth Modified win of the season at the speedway.

Jeff Engelmeier led early and often in the 15 lap Pure Stock feature, Glenn Dammer, Esten Nelson, Dustin Follett and Craig Horak battled in a pack for second. A pair of caution flags slowed the action, the first for a Lucas Carlson spin in the first turn, the second for a tangle between Andy Leino and Annika Hammitt. Leino’s number 06 suffered a broken drive shaft.

At the restart Engelmeier held onto the lead over Dammer but some rubbing in the pack resulted in the front bumper being partially ripped off the front of the #3D. The caution flag was shown so the errant part could be removed. Unfortunately racing without a bumper on either end is not allowed and Follett was disqualified. Engelmeier led off at the restart with Nelson second and Dammer third. Dammer got by to the lead and went on to win his first feature in some time while driving his father’s car.

The start in the 20 lap Midwest Modified feature was called off when the car of Jim Inman rolled to a stop on the back stretch. The next try was successful and Dan Kingsley took the lead ahead of Danny Vang, Josh Heavirland, John Kaiser and point leader Deven VanHouse. Kingsley drove away to a good lead while Vang, Heavirland and Kaiser battled for second and were soon joined by VanHouse. Kaiser surged to second and began to track down Kingsley.

The caution flag appeared for a tangle between Heavirland and Dan Larsen in turn one. At the green Vang made run on Kaiser and took the lead as VanHouse got by Kingsley and Neil Balduc joined the action. VanHouse got past Vang and saw daylight at the front but again the yellow flag flew when Kingsley, Kaiser and Kyle Matuska tangled in turn one.

On the restart Vang was overwhelmed by Balduc and Kingsley inside and out falling back to fourth. VanHouse was cruising out ahead of the pack and went on to take his third feature win of the season. Kingsley, Balduc, Vang and Kaiser finished in the top five.

Harry Hanson led Tim McMann at the start of the 20 lap Late Model feature followed by Joey Ogston, Kyle Peterlin and Aaron Lillo. A caution flag flew when Dave Esse and Lillo tangled on the front stretch with a pair of laps concluded. Hanson held onto the lead at the restart and Darrell Nelson appeared in third.

Hanson continued in control as the laps slipped by. Hanson then made a slip at the top of turn two and Nelson shot by leaving Hanson to fend off Peterlin. Nelson led the rest of the way for his fourth Late Model win of the season. Peterlin, Hanson, McMann and Ogston rounded out the top five.

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