Larson Double Dips Superior Mods & Lates at FallFest

Brent Larson Captures First Superior Stop for Como Mod Series

             The final midweek special of the 2006 racing season at the Superior Speedway kicked off with the first ever visit by the all new Como Oil & Propane Modified Series to the speedway, along with DTRA Late Models, Midwest Modifieds and Pure Stocks on a beautiful weather night in the twin ports. Lake Elmo, Minnesota driver Brent Larson was the man to beat tonight, not only after racing to his first ever Como Mod Series win in the non-stop 30-lap Modified main event, but also after he raced to the win in the 35-lap DTRA Late Model event as well. Dan Wheeler picked up his 6^th win in 7 tries in Superior tonight as well in the Midwest Mods, while Rick Kesty raced to the Pure Stock victory.

             Dan Wheeler has made a habit of visiting the Arnie Ranta Motorsports Winner’s Circle in Superior when he is in town and tonight was no exception. Wheeler blasted off from the 4^th starting spot in the 15-lapper and took the lead on lap 3. Once out front, Wheeler quickly disappeared, leaving the battle for second. Deven VanHouse and Tom Smart were engaged in a spirited battle for second, while Nick Lavato was working his way through traffic after starting 9^th on the grid. Wheeler was quick to jump back out front after the only caution flag flew on lap 9, but Lavato shot into second on the restart and tried to challenge Wheeler for the lead over the final 5 circuits. While the leaders were racing hard up front, 12^th starting Wayne Engen moved in on his teammate VanHouse for third in the late stages, stealing the spot with 3 laps to go. Wheeler was able to hold off Lavato for his 6^th win in Superior , but Lavato’s second place finish was good enough for him to secure his first ever Superior Speedway track championship. Engen edged VanHouse and Greg Chesley at the line to round out the top five.

            The $2,000 to win Superior FallFest Late Model main event was the second event onto the speedway, which was lead to the green by Tim McMann and Brent Larson. This event saw it’s share of problems, being slowed by 5 caution flags and a red flag throughout the 35-lap marathon event. Larson took command on lap 2 and was gone, while Pat Doar and Steve Laursen were wrapped up in a good battle for second. Terry Casey joined the mix and made it a three-car scramble for second while Larson drove away out front in his #b1. After the fifth caution flag on lap 9, the event went the next 26 laps caution-free and produced a thrilling battle for the lead in the late stages of the event. Doar and Larson began to circle the Superior Speedway side by side with the back of the field just in front of them. Doar would get great runs to the outside of Larson down the straightaways, but a slower car would halt his momentum through the turns, while would allow Larson to drive back off into the lead. This battle occurred for the final 7 circuits, with Larson’s line a bit more open and a little quicker, assisting him to the $2,000 payday. Doar ran second with Laursen third, 11^th starting Darrell Nelson in fourth and Harry Hanson rounding out the top five.

            The Como Oil & Propane Modified Series 30-lap main event was the next event to come out onto the speedway and saw Brent Larson and Kelly Estey pace the field to the green. Once underway, Larson stole the lead from Estey on the second lap and consistently drove off into the night, leaving Estey to fend off challenges from Darrell Nelson and Joey Jensen. Both Nelson and Jensen marched by and quickly began a great battle for second amongst themselves, while Larson was all alone out front. During the mid-point of the event, Estey, Dean Yrjanainen and Pat Doar were involved in a great battle for 4^th, while the leaders were beginning to encounter lapped traffic. Larson raced virtually uncontested to his first ever Como Mod Series feature win and his second win of the evening, capping off a $3,200 payday for the Lake Elmo , Minnesota driver. Jensen snuck by Nelson for second on lap 20 and held it to the checkered with Estey holding off Doar for fourth at the line.

            The final feature of the night saw the Pure Stocks rip off a 15-lap non-stop affair with Rick Kesty charging from 7^th to the lead on lap 3 and never looking back. Kesty drove off, while Tom Morinville, Randy Visger, Steve Christman and Glenn Dammer were battling for second. Kesty was the class of the field and raced to another Superior feature win, while Visger ran a career-best second ahead of Christman in third.

            The Superior Speedway’s year end blowout event is quickly approaching as Budweiser presents the 18^th annual Northern Nationals on Friday and Saturday, September 8^th & 9^th. For more information regarding the remaining events at the Superior Speedway, please check out www.superiorspeedway.com or call (715) 497-8916.

Event Summary:

DTRA Late Models

Feature: Brent Larson, Pat Doar, Steve Laursen, Darrell Nelson, Harry Hanson, Mike Balcaen, Joey Jensen, Tom Nesbitt, Mike Nutzmann, Eric Breeschoten

Heat 1: Nelson, Doar, Larson, Balcaen, Todd Gehl

Heat 2: Laursen, Brandon Jensen, Tim McMann, Rick Egersdorf, Nick Musel

Heat 3: Terry Casey, Nesbitt, Darin Meierotto, Hanson, Gregg Hill

DTRA Modifieds

Feature: Brent Larson, Joey Jensen, Darrell Nelson, Kelly Estey, Pat Doar, Dean Yrjanainen, Don Copp, Billy Byholm, Paul Schultz, Al Uotinen
Heat 1: Nick Nelson, Scott Hudack, Uotinen, Yrjanainen, Rick Cannata

Heat 2: Jensen, Jeff Hart, Doar, Robbie Lore, Jayme Lautigar

Heat 3: Estey, Schultz, Copp, Duane Dale, Cory Jorgenson
Heat 4: D. Nelson, Larson, Byholm, Erik Bjorklund, Jody Bellefeuille
Dash: Larson, Estey, Nelson, Schultz, Jensen
B-feature 1: Matt Sorenson, Ross Lightner, Kelly Checkalski, Rick Rivord, Dennis Checkalski
B-feature 2: Brandon Jensen, Jeff Spacek, Steve Arpin, Jeff Lien, Ricky Roche

Superior Pure Stocks

Feature: Rick Kesty, Randy Visger, Steve Christman, Dan Larsen, Tony Ciurleo, Glenn Dammer, Al Rapp, Jeff Tormondson, Troy Wiseth, Steve Kresal

Heat 1: R. Kesty, T. Ciurleo, Tormondson, Kresal, Rapp

Heat 2: Wiseth, Larsen, Pete Ciurleo, Christman, Jacob Morinville
Heat 3: Dammer, Visger, Ed Kesty, Tom Morinville, Zene Anderson

DTRA Midwest Modifieds
Feature: Dan Wheeler, Nick Lavato, Wayne Engen, Deven VanHouse, Greg Chesley, Tom Smart, Alan Bohlman, Lonny Loeschke, Jesse Ogston, Jim Schweitzer

Heat 1: Chesley, Lavato, Jeff Pohjonen, Chais Eliason, Willy Thompson

Heat 2: VanHouse, Schweitzer, Jim Latvala, Engen, Shawn Phillips
Heat 3: Bohlman, Loeschke, Smart, Wheeler, Ogston

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