Arpin Practices the $7,000 Smile
By Ray Beste
Alexandria, Mn (July 5th, 2008) - Steve Arpin dominated Saturday night's 50-lap A-main picking up the $7,000 paycheck at Viking Speedway's 4th Annual Minnesota Modified Nationals. Arpin's win broke Specialty Fabricating's streak as the Chassis Builder in victory lane. WISSOTA Midwest Modified driver Josh Thoennes picked up the victory in his division's feature event while Scott Paulson endured an unbelievable battle from Shawn Wageman and Cory Rosen to score the win in the WISSOTA Street Stocks. The weekend proved to be a successful one with drivers, fans and pit crew members alike coming out in droves for the annual event located at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Alexandria, Mn.
The WISSOTA Street Stocks were once again the first to get the call. Two of the best in the business in Scott Paulson and Cory Rosen shared the front row as the field stock up two by two behind. The green flag dropped with Paulson gaining a slight advantage off of turn two. Rosen and fourth starter Shawn Wageman wasted little time moving up to do battle with Paulson as the three danced three wide several times for an eight laps stretch. Rosen worked the bottom with Wageman in the middle and Paulson up top. The first three runners were unable to shake free and the trio continued their unbelievable battle for the lead. Tenth starter Jim Williams moved up six positions during the 15-lap affair while the aforementioned drivers continued to get after out front. Seventeenth starter Cory Tammen proved that his car was working well moving up eleven positions in just fifteen laps. Tammen could've used a late caution to see if he could've joined the fray out front. Rosen shook free from Wageman with two laps to go and tried everything he could to overtake Paulson. Paulson, however, held the groove out front and went on to score yet another Viking Speedway win. A hard fought second went to Rosen ahead of Wageman, Williams and Jason Babcock. Scott Horn and Paulson each scored heat race wins earlier in the evening for the WISSOTA Streets.
Speedway regular Brian Haben and Big Lake, Mn invader Karth Mitchell shared the front row starting duties for the WISSOTA Midwest Modified A-main. Haben took the early advantage from the get go while the field seen many great battles back in traffic. Josh Thoennes stole the lead from Haben on lap three using the high side in turn two which left Haben to do battle with Matt Suckow and Jeff Marshall. Suckow, who started third battled hard with Haben, with Haben eventually holding the spot. Eighth starter Shane Sabraski hung near the middle of the pack early on before making a huge charge late in the race. Sabraski cracked the top five with six laps remaining before disposing of Marshall, Suckow and Haben on restarts. The final yellow of the event waved with four laps remaining which would give Sabraski a chance at Thoennes. Thoennes continued to wheel his machine around the high side of the speedway and eventually went on to score the win. Sabraski had another great run in the second spot ahead of Haben, Suckow and the always hard charging Jeremy Kerzman. Haben, Suckow, Sabraski and Marshall were all victorious in WISSOTA Midwest Modified qualifying action earlier in the show while Brian Krog reigned victorious in the consi.
With all the events of the weekend in the books, the 25-car WISSOTA Modified field rolled out onto the speedway. 50- laps were put up on the board with a planned fuel stop on lap 20. Driver introductions were performed with each driver strapping into their respective machine. Kelly Estey and Steve Arpin brought the 25-car field off of turn four and it was underway. Arpin immediately grabbed the lead on the opening lap while the field stretched in tow. Zach Johnson held the third spot early on while Scot Danzeisen made some nice moves. Danzeisen cracked the top five just three laps in while Arpin was bolted to the speedway out front. Danzeisen was able to work his way past Scott Gilbertson and Johnson to take over the third spot twelves laps into the event while Arpin was on cruise control out front. Dave Cain moved up six positions early on finding himself in the fourth spot when the red/checkered flags waved on lap 20. When order was restored, Arpin once again cruised off to a comfortable advantage this time leaving Estey and Danzeisen to battle for the runner up spot. Danzeisen took the spot on lap 34, with Estey regaining the spot just two laps later. Blooming Prairie, Mn legend Mark Noble began to make his presence known with eighteen laps remaining as he wheeled by Jason Thoennes for the sixth spot. Thoennes, however, battled back and regained the spot just one lap later. Many hard charging efforts were found during the remaining laps while Arpin maintained a huge lead out front. Ryan Aho, Thatcher and Noble had made considerable ground on the field as they battled in an attempt to enter the top five. With five laps remaining the final yellow flag of the event hung over the field. On the restart, Thoennes was able to work to the outside of Cain moving into the fourth spot in the process. Ninteenth starter Aho was very impressive in his first ever Mod Nationals finishing second after disposing of Thatcher for the seventh spot with just two laps remaining. Out front it was all Arpin picking up his first ever Minnesota Modified Nationals title, as well as his first Viking Speedway victory. Scot Danzeisen had a mighty impressive run in the second spot ahead of Estey, Thoennes and Cain. The final eleven drivers that qualified through the B-mains and last chance qualifiers included: Joey Jensen, Mark Noble, Brock Gronwold, Shane Sabraski, Ryan AHo, Dale Mathison, Craig Thatcher, Jeff Hinkemeyer, JJ Schuelke, Corky Thomas and Blake Jegtvig.
FYE Motorsports and Viking Speedway would like to thank all the drivers, fans and pit crew members that made the 4th Annual Minnesota Modified Nationals a success.
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