7/18/2021
Ogilvie Raceway
Williamson Holds off Competitors to snag Big Payday on Night 2 of Mod Wars
Ogilvie, MN (July 17) – Saturday night wrapped up the Inaugural Mod Wars at Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway. The night was full of excitement and action with Zach Benson, Dustin Holtquist, Mac Johnston and Alex Williamson taking home wins.
As checkers flew in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified B Feature, Kevin Hautala got into the wall and ended up on his side. The race went red as track personnel rushed to the scene and assisted Hautala in climbing from his car. About 40 feet of fencing was damaged in the incident and people came out of the woodwork to help replace it. Track officials, Wagamon Family members, USMTS officials, Racecar drivers, Racecar driver’s dads and the spectators in trackside got the section of fencing replaced in record time. Races resumed and the night progressed as scheduled.
First up were the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds. Travis Schulte and Jason VandeKamp brought the drivers to green, but it was VandeKamp who took the lead. Zach Benson snagged second while Travis Schulte, Ashton Schulte and Kyle Kirberger battled three wide for third. Benson moved in to challenge VandeKamp and was able to fly by for the lead. The drivers began to space out as laps went by, and with seven to go, Benson caught slower cars. Kirberger ran the third point and reeled in VandeKamp as they weaved through traffic. Kirberger and VandeKamp would remain bumper to bumper the remaining laps of the event. Zach Benson took the checkers and rolled his #17B into victory lane with Jason VandeKamp, Kyle Kirberger, Travis Schulte and Brandon Mehrwerth in the top five.
Skyler Smith, Robert Holtquist and Dustin Holtquist came down the front chute three-wide for the top point when the WISSOTA Mod Fours went green. Dustin Holtquist pulled ahead of the competition with Skyler and Robert in tow. The top three broke away from the pack but Smith kept pressure on Dustin Holtquist. As slower drivers came into play, Dustin broke away from Smith, and Robert Holtquist closed in. As the final lap was ran, Robert Holtquist and Smith were three-wide with a slower driver for second. Dustin Holtquist took the win with Robert Holtquist, Skyler Smith, Dean Larson and Tommy Pogones as the top finishers.
The top six starters in the WISSOTA Hornets remained close and raced two-by-two the first handful of laps of their feature event. Marcus Ammerman, Alex Aderman, Mac Johnston, Justin Schelitzche, Nate Servaty and Jesse Turnvall swapped for top points and kept close until lap seven. Mac Johnston finally broke free of the six pack, however a caution soon followed. Johnston brought the drivers back to green with Justin Schelitzche and Alex Aderman in tow. Schelitzche kept close to Johnston and kept pressure on him the final laps of the race. Mac Johnston however held his lead and took the checkers in his #13J. Remaining top points went to Justin Schelitzche, Nate Servaty, Alex Aderman and Jesse Turnvall.
The big USMTS Modifieds and WISSOTA Modifieds rolled onto the track, and after lots of fireworks and a four-wide salute, the final race of the event was underway. Alex Williamson and Ryan Gierke brought the drivers to the green, and Williamson sped off with the lead. Jody Bellefeuille snagged second while Gierke held third. Cars quickly spread over the entire race surface and after six short laps, Williamson was putting drivers a lap down. The yellow flag then appeared and after three cautions, Williamson was back in command. Bellefeuille held the second point while Gierke, Shane Sabraski and Jake Timm raced three-wide for third. Timm earned the point while other drivers remained three and four wide on the race surface. Williamson established a good lead with WISSOTA driver, Jody Bellefeuille, holding second. A few more cautions slowed the drivers, but when the race resumed, Williamson, Landon Atkinson and Bellefeuille were three wide for the lead. Williamson pulled out of the curve first, Atkinson slid into second while Bellefeuille held third. Williamson continued to lead the final laps and won the $10,000.00 pay day! Landon Atkinson, Jody Bellefeuille, Jacob Bleess and Ryan Gierke snagged the top positions.
Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway will be back in action next Saturday with our regular classes as well as the Fastlane Super Stock Series. Racing will begin at 6:30pm.
Article Credit: Tami Jo Kuehn