Northland Sports Online

Proctor Speedway Names Track Champions

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Aug 19, 2012

By: Jerry O’Brien

The final weekly event of the 2012 racing season is in the books and the track champions have been named. Kyle Peterlin, Darrell Nelson, Scott Lawrence, Deven VanHouse, and Esten Nelson walked away with the crowns for the five divisions.

On the WISSOTA Late Model side, Kyle Peterlin of Hibbing, MN took home the Late Model championship for the season. Peterlin entered the final feature event with a four point lead over fellow Iron Ranger Harry Hanson of Eveleth. Peterlin’s second place finish behind winner Todd Gehl coupled with Hanson’s fifth place finish was enough to insure the track title for him.

Despite a Did Not Finish for Darrell Nelson in the 20 lap WISSOTA Modified feature, his point lead was enough to ensure the Modified title for the veteran driver at the Proctor Speedway for 2012.

Scott Lawrence of Superior, WI won his Super Stock heat race and drove to a second place finish in the 20 lap feature which was more than enough to make sure the 2012 Super Stock crown would be his.

Deven VanHouse’s heat race win along with a third place finish in the 15 lap main event was enough to lock down his Midwest Modified track title at the Proctor Speedway Sunday night.

Esten Nelson held enough of an edge in the Pure Stock point standings that a DNF and 17th place finish in the evening’s 15 lap feature was not enough to cost the Grand Marais resident his first track title at the Proctor Speedway.

Dale Suomala made a strong move at the start of the Midwest Modified feature and took the lead, but some slipping and sliding cost him the lead before he could cross the stripe to finish t he first lap. It was national points hunter Cory Crapser that came out at the head of the pack and sailed off to the big lead.

Danny Vang, who had started inside the fourth row soon vaulted into second and gave chase. Dan Kingsley ran third and point leader Deven VanHouse slid into fourth past Andrew Inman.

Meanwhile, as the event progressed without a caution flag, Crapser and Vang did battle way ahead of the second and third place runners and found themselves in a tight pack of cars doing battle for position. Vang and Crapser found themselves behind a car soon to be lapped and each chose a side to pass. Vang came out on top with Crapser stymied and suddenly five car lengths behind the new leader.

Vang went on to take his fourth feature win at Proctor Speedway. Crapser finished second with VanHouse in third one place ahead of Kingsley who had been his closest competitor for the track title.

Darrell Nelson just needed to take the green flag in the 20 lap WISSOTA Modified feature to nail down the track crown in the division. Rick Cannata drove out to the early lead from outside of the front row.

Nelson made his way into the second spot and began to cut into Cannata’s big lead. He quickly tracked him down and raced out front bent on putting an exclamation point on his 2012 track title. But those plans went by the wayside as he suddenly dived into the infield out of the event.

Cannata was left at the head of the field with a huge lead again. At the half way point Cannata was cruising along well out in front of Brad Hanson, Scott Heikkinen, Nick Musel, E. J Hietala and Ken Hron all running in a pack. Cannata continued to cruise along and Hanson was unable to cut into the lead despite his best efforts. Hron burst out of the pack to finish third ahead of Jody Bellefeuille and Musel.

Scott Lawrence didn’t need to take the green flag in the 20 lap WISSOTA Super Stock feature in order to win the 2012 crown. It was Mike Bellefeuille who jumped out to the lead at the green flag with Kevin Salin, Jeremy Fink, Nick Oreskovich and Tom Cianni trailing.

Bellefeuille was cruising in the high groove and pulling away when Bob Preble took a spin in turn four. Bellefeuille maintained his lead at the restart with 14 laps remaining and Lawrence up to fourth. Another caution flag appeared when Ashley Smith spun in turn three.

Bellefeuille got a good restart as the half way point was reached with Fink, Cianni, Salin and Lawrence following. With nine laps remaining another caution period occurred when Salin found the front stretch wall. Now it was Bellefeuille hoping to hold back the charge of Lawrence who had advanced to second. Bellefeuille was up to the task and went on to take his first feature win at the speedway. Lawrence, Fink, Slin and Pat Heikkinen finished in the top five.

Kyle Peterlin entered the final regular season WISSOTA Late Model main event with a four point lead on Harry Hanson. Todd Gehl, who was racing in his eighth feature of the season after recovering from an illness that kept him out of the car for most of the season, took the lead at the outset and was determined not to give it up.

Peterlin ran in second as Hanson was stuck in ninth. Gehl pulled out five car lengths on Peterlin who was just ahead of Tim McMann, Darrell Nelson and Zach Wohlers. Meanwhile further back Hanson was struggling as he was boxed in by Dave Esse and Kevin Carlson as the three raced for position.

The caution flag flew when Wohlers turned around in turn three. Gehl was up to the task on the restart and kept the lead as Hanson made his way to fifth at the half way point. The top five positions did not change the remainder of the event with Peterlin’s second place finish enough to take the track title from Hanson. Gehl, Peterlin, McMann, Nelson and Hanson rounded out the top five.

Esten Nelson had a good enough point lead in the Pure Stock standings that an early caution flag charged to the Grand Marais, MN driver and a subsequent 17th place feature finish still wasn’t enough to take the 2012 track title away from him.

Fellow Grand Marais driver and good friend Craig Horak took over the lead in the 15 lap event and drove the green #26H Station Wagon to the win. Meanwhile Nelson was making a charge through the field and had made it up to sixth when a flat right front tire sidelined the #77. Despite the trials and tribulations, Nelson was crowned the 2012 Pure Stock champion.

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