Mathees Wins 2007 Viking Fall Classic
By Ray Beste
2007 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.
ALEXANDRIA, MN (October 6) - Lance Matthees scored his first WISSOTA Late Model feature win of the season at Viking Speedway during night two of the fifth annual Viking Fall Classic on Saturday, October 6.
The $4,000 win did not come easy for Matthees, who endured pressure from Jeff Wildung and Joel Cryderman during the 40-lap event. Jamie Lemke danced side by side with Craig Thatcher for 27 laps before being declared the winner in the WISSOTA Modified division while Don Shaw scored the win in the WISSOTA Super Stocks for the second straight year. Danny Bayer, who started 20th, survived a late race challenge from Ron Saurer to win the WISSOTA Midwest Modified finale and Jason Vande Kamp scored his second Viking Speedway victory of the season in the WISSOTA Streets.
The fifth Annual Viking Fall Classic attracted AMSOIL Dirt Track Series drivers from all over WISSOTA country during the final weekend of national points racing in 2007. Saturday's portion of the program included Super Stock heat races followed by B features and main events for all five divisions.
A very stout field of 52 WISSOTA Super Stocks were raring and ready to go the previous night, but due to curfew restrictions, their five heat races were bounced to Saturday’s portion of the show. The top four finishers in each transferred to the night’s feature event.
Dr. Scott Brown of Winnipeg, MB dominated the first heat race. Back row starter Scott Lawrence challenged Brown during the latter stages but had to settle for second ahead of Dennis Charles, Tim Borgeson and Chris Quast.
Lisbon, ND ace Todd Carter won the second heat race ahead of Dave Mass, a past winner of the event, who steadily moved forward during the 10-lap event en route to a second place finish. Speedway regulars Irvin Cook, Corky Thomas and Jon Stepan rounded out the top five.
Ever since purchasing a Brunette Chassis in early August, Grove City, MN driver Zach Schultz has been very steady behind the wheel. He won heat three despite heavy pressure from Mike Anderson, who eventually finished second ahead of Joel Collins, Jeff Flaten and Brainerd, MN ace Tim Johnson.
Speedway regular Mike Peterson did what many have struggled to do during past Viking Fall Classics; keep Don Shaw out of the top spot. After starting in row three, Shaw steadily worked his way forward and ended a nice run in second behind Peterson. Longtime racing veterans Scott Baker and Al Cleveland each picked up transfer spots and Valley City, ND driver Tim Compson finished fifth.
The fifth and final heat race was dominated by Cameron, WI driver Curt Myers. Cory Tammen, who started the event in row four, steadily worked his way to the front using the extreme top side of the speedway and finished second. Enderlin, ND driver Kevin Robertson finished a strong third followed by Larry Lund and Roger Host in Scot Danzeisen’s former car.
The top two finishers in each of two Midwest Modified B features advanced to the main event.
Kensington, MN mudslinger Korey Krafthefer won the first B feature virtually unchallenged. Zach Schultz, Brandon Nelson and Dan Menk battled for second until Schultz stole the final transfer spot. Nelson, Menk and Rusty Kollman rounded out the top five.
Buddy Thorstad of Morris, MN checked out on the field in the second B feature and left the final transfer spot up for grabs between Jason Hoffman and Shane Sabraski. On the final trip around the speedway, Hoffman and Sabraski made contact out of turn four and Sabraski was ultimately awarded the transfer spot. Jeremy Kerzman started 15th and finished fourth ahead of Danny Vang.
The top three from each Street Stock B feature punched their ticket to their division’s main event. Row six starter Mike Jans worked the extreme top side of the speedway and passed a bevy of cars on his way to victory in the first qualifier. Hanley Falls, MN driver Brandon Jacobson followed Jans to the front and finished second while Aaron Leininger picked up the final transfer spot just ahead of Jason Long and Jerome Guyout.
Princeton Speedway regular Rod de Bernardeaux, who rarely races at Viking Speedway, won the second B feature and once again locked himself into the feature. Viking Fall Classic defending champion Keith Tourville worked his way through traffic after starting midpack and finished a strong second ahead of Andrew Bangsund, Travis Berends and Justin Pogones.
The WISSOTA Super Stocks came out next to decide what four drivers would move on after the division’s two B features.
Tim Johnson scored the victory in the first race behind the wheel of D.J. Dondelinger’s #8. Local Jeff Kluver finished a strong second while Grand Meadow, MN driver Ryan Siegle narrowly missed a transfer spot in third ahead of Roger Host and Dale Gangl.
Speedway regulars Jon Stepan and Jason Blascyk finished first and second, respectively, in the second qualifier. Jim Gullikson pressured Blascyk for the final transfer spot but came up short in third followed by Jeff Hapala and Jason Thoennes.
Scott Tofte grabbed the early lead in WISSOTA Modified B-main one. Tofte led early before looping his machine in turn four bringing out the yellow and had to restart 14th. Scott Gilbertson went on to win the event while Tofte’s rally ended a very close third behind Mark Froelich.
Morris, MN driver Dave Storck dominated the second B feature while Shane Sabraski fought off Dennis Bitzan out of the final turn and picked up the second transfer spot. Rick Delaine and Joe Bean rounded out the top five.
After Proctor Speedway rained out, New Richmond, WI driver Pat Doar came to Viking and started 13th in the first Late Model B feature. Cody Skytland grabbed the lead early on while Doar steadily moved his way forward and mounted a late charge but Skytland fended him off for the win. Corey Nelson missed the final transfer spot in third ahead of Ed Turnbull and Brad Jensen.
Local product Shaun Peterson took the early lead in the second B feature before Dave Mass went by and picked up the win. Dave Zimmerman did his best to pass Peterson for the second and final transfer spot but never mounted a serious challenge. Zimmerman, however, received a provisional for the highest finisher from the 2006 event. Ardy Eilers and Jon Henkemeyer completed the top five.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds then rolled out onto the speedway for their 20-lap, $1,000 to win main event. After a four-wide salute to the fans, there were two beautiful grooves for racing when the green flag waved over front row starters Marshal Tofte and Travis Saurer. Tofte grabbed the lead while sixth starter Bryan Dyrdahl worked his way forward. Dyrdahl stole second from Saurer and later on he passed Tofte for the lead on lap seven.
Bayer started 20th and was flirting with the top 10 when the first yellow flag waved at the midway point. Dyrdahl retained the lead under green with Tofte in second. Row six starter Pete Loecken entered the top five with eight laps remaining. One by one, Bayer passed his foes en route to second with six laps remaining. Dyrdahl continued to impress, however, and appeared to have an answer for Bayer’s moves.
A plethora of cautions halted action in the latter stages, which played into Bayer’s hands. With four laps remaining, Bayer used a power move in turn three to dispose of Dyrdahl for the lead. The story of the race, however, was yet to be told. Thirteenth starter Ron Saurer used the extreme high side of the speedway to take third from Tofte. Saurer quickly moved by Dyrdahl for second before the final caution of the event waved with two laps remaining.
Bayer continued to work the middle groove after the restart with Saurer up on the ledge. On the final trip around the speedway, Saurer closed in on Bayer for one last run in turns three and four. Bayer, however, held his line, didn’t make any mistakes and went on to score the biggest win of his young career. Saurer ended a great run in second ahead of Dyrdahl, Troy Berends and Tofte. Berends, who started 15th, was awarded third later on after Dyrdahl was also presented the hard-charger award.
Forest Lake, MN driver Jason Vande Kamp took the early lead during action in the 20-lap WISSOTA Street Stock finale. Row eight starters Dave Rohweder and Tim Johnson passed several cars early on and neared the top 10 just a few laps into the event. Row five starter Cory Rosen made a bevy of moves on his way to the front and was up to second with 12 laps remaining.
Vande Kamp and Rosen raced door to door and put on a good old fashion slobber-knocker during the remainder of the event. Tenth starter Shawn Wageman took over fourth early while the battle for the lead waged on. With seven laps remaining, Rosen tried an inside move once again but Vande Kamp closed the door.
Rohweder and Spencer Johnson each moved up several positions and each finished just outside the top five in sixth and seventh, respectively. Rosen threw everything but the kitchen sink at Vande Kamp during the remaining laps but it was not enough to keep the #16 out of victory lane. Ryan Buer finished third, Wageman fourth and Cory Tammen fifth. Scott Horn picked up the hard charger award after starting 25th and finishing ninth.
With track conditions perfect, speedway officials decided to run the WISSOTA Late Models next. Veterans Troy Olson and Jeff Hinkemeyer shared row one when the green flag dropped. Fourth starter Matthees put his Rocket chassis up on the shelf early on and was scored the leader at the conclusion of lap two. Hinkemeyer and Olson battled for second early on before Wildung moved from a row four starting spot to do battle with the pair. Wildung moved into second just eight laps into the race while Matthees continued to considerably stretch his advantage out front.
Thirteenth starter Cryderman was up to eighth 10 laps into the event and Doar was also marching through the field. After starting 23rd, Doar entered the top 10 just 18 laps into the contest. As the laps wound down, Wildung crept closer and closer to Matthees. Zach Johnson disposed of both Olson and Hinkemeyer for fourth near the midway point of the race before Cryderman and Olson battled for position. The yellow flag waved with 17 laps remaining.
Cryderman got a great jump on his competitors during the restart and entered the top five behind Johnson and Wildung pressured Matthees out front. Doar also used a great jump to advance a few positions and lock himself into a duel for sixth with Olson.
After another caution with 11 laps remaining, Cryderman made a banzai run for the bottom of the track in turn one, where he passed Johnson for third and began to pressure Wildung for the runner-up spot. Matthees stretched his lead out front while Doar entered the top five with six laps remaining. Wildung was pulling away from Cryderman when the yellow flag once again waved with four laps remaining.
With Matthees out front ahead of Wildung, Cryderman, Johnson and Doar in the single-file restart, Cryderman once again headed for the ditch in turn one. Cryderman passed Wildung for second and closed in on Matthees for the lead down the backstretch. During the final trip around the speedway, Matthees and Cryderman dueled door to door down the backstretch. Matthees, however, used his top groove momentum to pick up the win by a half of a car length ahead of Cryderman. The win was Matthees’ first of the season and was worth $4,000. Wildung capped a great run in third while Johnson and Doar rounded out the top five.
Doar picked up the hard charger award starting 23rd and finishing fifth. Between his B feature and the main event, Doar passed a gaudy 29 cars during the day.
Lemke took the early lead during the opening circuit of the 35-lap WISSOTA Modified finale. Sixth starter Scot Danzeisen made an unbelievable move when he ducked under four competitors and grabbed second as the field raced out of turn two. Lemke was scored the leader at the conclusion of the first lap while Danzeisen settled into second. Fourth starter Craig Thatcher quickly moved into third and didn’t waste any time pressuring Danzeisen.
Thatcher stayed low and passed Danzeisen for second on lap seven while Lemke stretched his advantage out front. Back in the pack, “Mr. Modified” Jay McDonald began a spirited march toward the front as he worked the cushion past several of his competitors. Veteran Dave Storck did the same; he moved up eight positions during the first eight laps after starting 22nd. With 23 laps remaining, Thatcher closed in on Lemke and the duo began to race side by side for the lead. Lemke manhandled his machine around the cushion while Thatcher worked the ditch.
Dave Cain worked the high side and after he entered the top five, he retired off the backstretch with a flat tire. Mark Noble appeared to be a factor near the midway point before he retired pitside with mechanical failure. Row nine starter Jason Thoennes went to the extreme high groove and cracked the top five with six laps remaining, which was about the time smoke began pouring out the backside of Lemke’s #17L. The final caution of the event waved with five laps left.
Lemke once again climbed the hill in turn one after the restart, slammed the right rear on the cushion and blasted off to a nice lead down the backchute. Thatcher was poised for Lemke to make a mistake but the error never came and Lemke cruised on to the big win. Thatcher settled for second ahead of Danzeisen, Don Eischens and Thoennes.
Storck and McDonald both passed 14 cars during the event and shared the hard-charger award. Lemke was very excited in victory lane as he shared hugs with his loved ones and had a big smile for the camera. It was found out later that the cause of the smoke was a busted rear axle tube.
The WISSOTA Super Stocks came out for the final feature with Mike Peterson and Zach Schultz paired up on the front row. Schultz grabbed the opening lap advantage while Scott Brown quickly moved into third. Todd Carter battled door to door with Schultz for the lead until Brown disposed of Carter for second via the bottom of the track in turn four and immediately set off to catch Schultz. Schultz led until lap 10 when Brown blasted by on the bottom.
Several double-file restarts helped Shaw, who cracked the top four near the midway point of the race. Shaw moved into third two laps later and quickly began to pressure Schultz for second. Shaw went to the bottom in turn three and disposed of Schultz for the runner-up spot while Brown clung to the lead. Shaw, with the help of another restart, closed in on Brown with 11 laps remaining. Shaw then made the pass for the lead stick one lap later.
Brown battled back and the casual fan was still unsure as to who would be the victor. After falling back a few spots early on, 21st starter Tim Johnson began to work his way through the field. Johnson worked the extreme top side of the speedway while most cars ran middle to bottom. During the final trip around the speedway, Johnson worked his way past Carter for the seventh spot. During that same lap, Dave Mass, Mike Anderson and Scott Lawrence battled for fourth, which ultimately went to Mass.
Shaw, meanwhile, went on to score his second Viking Fall Classic WISSOTA Super Stock triumph in as many years. Brown turned some heads with his runner-up finish ahead of Schultz, Mass and Anderson. Johnson picked up the hard charger award starting 21st and finishing seventh.
All in all it was a great weekend at the Viking Speedway. Viking Speedway would like to thank all the fans, drivers, sponsors and race related people that made the weekend a success. Without all the help received by the aformentioned people, a show of this magnitude could not go on.
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