Viking Season Opener Draws 160 Cars
Stepan Opens Up 2006 Campaign With A Bang
By Ray Beste - All The Dirt Racing News
Alexandria, Mn (April 22, 2006) - Jon Stepan debuted his brand new 2006 Affordable Chassis Super Stock in grand fashion Saturday night as he held off Scot Danzeisen and Tim Johnson for the win. Other winners on opening night included Korey Krafthefer in the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, Rusty Kollman in the WISSOTA Street Stocks, Danzeisen in the WISSOTA Modifieds, and John Seitz in the WISSOTA Late Models. 160 cars participated in five WISSOTA sanctioned divisions.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds were first on the docket for their A-main with Korey Krafthefer and Jason Grimes manning the top two positions in the front row. Krafthefer took the early lead with Grimes all over the backside of his machine. After starting 5th, Danny Bayer made some impressive moves working his way by Dallas Gulbrandson for the third spot on the bottom of the speedway in turn three. After a restart on lap three, Krafthefer, Grimes, and Bayer really started getting after it for the lead. On lap five, Brock Gronwald used a diamond maneuver to dispose of Gulbrandson on the bottom of the track in turn two.
As Grimes and Krafthefer continued to battle for the point Bayer moved up and raced Grimes side by side for second. After qualifying through a B-main, WISSOTA Midwest Modified rookie Brady Peterson of Cottage Grove, Mn worked his way into the top ten moving by Scott Paulson and Jason Schoep for position. On lap eight it was Grimes pulling even with Krafthefer as the two drag raced down the frontstretch in an attempt to see who would be the victor. Krafthefer held the line and continued on out front. After one final yellow the field bunched up with four laps remaining. On the final lap, Brock Gronwald used a nifty move to get by Danny Bayer on the bottom of the speedway in turn four. Out front it was all Krafthefer as he went on to take the first checkered flag of the season. Grimes had a great run in second with Gronwald, Bayer, and Gulbrandson rounding out the top five.
North Dakota Street Stock pilots Dave Rohweder and Rusty Kollman shared the front row as head flagman Mike Commerford dropped the green flag. Kollman grabbed the early lead with Rohweder in tow. On lap two a rare occassion happened as Scott Paulson looped his machine in turn two. After a series of yellow it was still Kollman, Rohweder, Scott Horn, Derek Bernstein, and Joe Pellman manning the top five positions. Mike Flickenger, in his first race in several years, looked very strong as he moved by Brandon Jacobson for the sixth spot using the bottom groove in turn two. Derek Bernstein made it an all North Dakota top three as he moved by 2005 track champion Scott Horn for third with two laps remaining. Kollman held off a few late race advances from Rohweder and went on to take his first ever win at the speedway. Rohweder, Bernstein, Horn, and Pellman all were members of the top five as well.
With speedway rivals Jon Stepan and Scot Danseizen sharing the front row for the WISSOTA Super Stock A-main, the fans anticipated an action packed race. The boys did not dissappoint as Stepan grabbed the early advantage. On lap two, Kevin Robertson looped his machine in turn two bringing out the first yellow. Todd Carter moved by Scott Baker for the fourth position on lap three grabbing some bite on the bottom of the track exiting turn two. Five laps clicked by before it was Stepan, Danseizen, and Tim Johnson all battling for the top spot. Stepan and Danseizen worked the middle of the track while Johnson chose to use the diamond maneuver. With five to go, Eric Fuchs looped his machine bringing another yellow. Two laps clicked by before John Nord made contact with Johnson entering turn one. Nord was charged with the caution and went tail end for the incident. On the final lap the front trio filed into turn three with Stepan taking the checkers first and Johnson sneaks by Danseizen for the runner spot. Baker and Mike Christianson rounded out the top five.
The high powered WISSOTA Modifieds were next to take to the speedway with twenty-four drivers making the call. Scot Danseizen grabbed the early lead with Jason Thoennes and Ryan Canon battling for the runner up spot. Zach Johnson moved his way up into fourth getting around Chad Ohnstad on the bottom of the track in turn four. Canon and Thoennes continued to battle for second while Danseizen began to stretch the advantage out front. On lap eleven, Shawn Nolan spun in turn two bringing out the final yellow of the event. With Danseizen out front, many battles began to seize up behind. After starting deep in the field, Jamie Lemke and Jeremy Kerzman began to work there way to the front one car at a time. Each driver moved up eleven positions with Lemke coming home 9th and Kerzman 11th. Danseizen held the point out front with Thoennes holding off Canon for the runner up spot. Chad Ohnstad and Zach Johnson each garnered top five positions as well.
Two of the best in the business shared the front row for the WISSOTA Late Model A-main with John Seitz and Jeff Wildung manning the front row duties. Seitz grabbed the early lead and began to really stretch out his early advantage. Wildung battled handling problems and Don Shaw moved into the second position. On lap three, Shawn Kirwin, Curt Gelling, Jeff Hinkemeyer, and Zach Johnson tangled in turn two. Gelling was the only one able to continue. With the track rubbered up from top to bottom the Late Models really got around the speedway in a hurry. Jason Thoennes grabbed the fourth spot from Rick Sweet on lap twelve and set his sites on Wildung for the third spot. With seven to go, Rick Nelson looped his machine on the backstretch setting up a seven lap dash to the finish. Shaw took some late race attempts at Seitz but it was not enough as John went on to take the victory. Wildung, Thoennes, and Sweet were all members of the top five as well.
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