Superior, WI
6-16-2010

After two weeks of rain the crew at the Superior Speedway did everything they could to get the track in racing condition.  Even without the predicted sun the rain held off and the track was ready to race.  It was also the annual Russ Laursen Classic sponsored by the Shack in Superioer, the race was named after the great racer who died unfortunately in 1970.

In the late models things started out like they would be written in a fairy book with Steve Laursen winning the first heat.  Steve is the son of Russ who the race is named after.  He was followed by Tim McMann and Joey Ogston.  But Steve had engine problems at the end of the heat and did not compete in the feature later in the night.  In heat two Pat Doar from New Richmond had things dialed in as he held off Chad Mahder and Joel Cryderman.  Heat race three was won by Jake Redetzke he was followed by Aaron Lillo and Don Copp.  Todd Frank making his first appearance of the year at the Superior Speedway won heat race four as he held off Adam Hensel and Darrell Nelson.  In the feature most of the race was lead by Pat Doar who has completed all 59 laps in feature races for the season and has also finished in the top 10 in his last 33 feature events at the Superior Speedway and he has completed an impressive 785 laps in his last 30 feature events.  But late in the race on a re-start Chad Mahder passed Doar coming out of turn two and went on to take the checkered flag.  Doar came in second followed by Copp, Redetzke and Ogston.  Out of the 24 drivers who started the feature only 8 made it to the checkered flag.

In the Modifieds it was Darrell Nelson who took heat race one followed by Greg Chesley and Al Uotinen.  In heat two it was Rick Rivord winning and he was followed by Jody Bellefeuille and Kelly Checkalski.  In the feature it was a familiar name in victory lane as Uotinen, who has completed all 60 feature laps in 2010 and has completed 190 laps dating back to last season.   He was followed by Checkalski and Bill Byholm.  Darrell Nelson did not finish the feature which had his streak of finishing in the Top 10 in his last 22 feature and also had his streak of 525 feature laps streak snapped.

There was some good racing in the Super Stock division with Joe Oliver winning heat one followed by Scott Lawrence and Keith Kern.  And in heat two it was Trevor Wilson and he was followed by Jim Campbell and Nick Oreskovich.  Joe Oliver completed the sweep as he won the feature later in the night.  Lawrence finished second, Wilson was third and Campbell coming in fourth.  Oliver, Lawrence and Wilson have completed all 52 feature laps run at the Superior Speedway this season.  Lawrence has also now finished in the top 10 in his last 19 features and Wilson in the top 10 in his last 13 features run.

The fast tacky track was a challenge for the Midwest Modified drivers with Cody Carlson winning his first heat of the season in heat one.  He was followed by Jeff Pohjonen and Tom Smart, who made the trip from Kakbeka Falls, Ontario.  Scott Herrick won heat two followed by Jesse Ogston and Zene Anderson, who will turn 70 on June 28^th.  Heat three was won by E.J. Heitala from Proctor followed by Jeff Marshall and Adam Archer.  Marshall had won the last two features in the division and it looked like he was going to cruise to his third straight but Herrick finally got past Marshall late in the race after a caution flag and went on to win his first feature of the season.  Marshall came in second followed by Heitala, Taylor Leuthner and Deven VanHouse.  Marshall, Herrick, Leuthner, VanHouse and Archer have all 48 laps of feaure racing this season.  Herrick with his win has also finished in the top 5 in his last nine feature races and in the top 10 in his last 13 and has now completed 317 consecutive feature laps at the Superior Speedway.

In the Pure stocks it was Chad Carlson in the station wagon leading the way in heat one, he was followed by his brother Tim and Austin Blom.  Heat two was won by Matt Madsen from Superior with last years track champ Richard Dzelak Jr. coming in second and Ken Tody finishing third.  The third heat was won by Pat VanErt with Matt Deragon finishing in second and Dustin Follet third.  Chad Carlson had the wagon on track in the feature as he completed the sweep with the win he was followed by Madsen, VanErt and Tim Carlson.  VanErt, Dzelak, Tim Carlson, Chad Carlson, Andy Udeen and Justin Madsen have completed all 42 laps of feature racing this season.  VanErt has finished in the top 10 in his last 9 appearances at the Superior Speedway and Dzelak has finished in the top 5 in his last 8 appearances at the track.

Next week’s racing action is Friday, June 25^th and it is sponsored by Fox 21 News.