7/29/2018
Buffalo River Speedway
Skalicky collects second career modified win at Buffalo River Race Park
GLYNDON, Minn. – After a string of tough luck over the past couple of weeks, Jesse Skalicky of Fargo returned to victory lane in the IMCA modifieds Saturday night at Buffalo River Race Park. Skalicky wasted no time grabbing the lead as he jumped from fourth to the top spot in the opening set of turns.
“I knew the track was going to be fast up top,” said Skalicky of his thrilling three wide pass for the lead, and ultimately, the win. “Once we got going, I had to make something happen right away.”
Once out front, Skalicky checked out from the field. The rookie modified driver looked like a seasoned veteran as he ran all 20 laps on the extreme high side of the track with his right rear tire just inches away from the edge of the banking.
In the closing laps, Rob VanMil moved into the second spot. VanMil’s lap times were faster than Skalicky’s, but Skalicky’s full straightaway advantage was more than enough for him to hold off VanMil.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work to get back to victory lane here tonight,” said Skalicky. “When you have weeks when nothing is going your way, it falls down on your crew and your sponsors. Everybody came together on this one, it wasn’t just me. The crew won this one tonight.”
The win was Skalicky’s second career win with the IMCA modifieds. He picked up his first win at Buffalo River Race Park on June 3rd.
The IMCA stock cars made just their third-ever appearance to Buffalo River Race Park. After finishing second to Brandon Schmidt the previous two nights, Rob VanMil of Barnesville parked his No. 40 in victory lane.
VanMil took the point on a three-wide pass for the lead on a lap-two restart. Schmidt was hot on VanMil’s heels in the early going, but VanMil proved that he was the class of the field.
A pair of restarts at the midway point kept VanMil from pulling away from the rest of the field. Dustin Hoffert snuck by Schmidt for second in the final stages, but didn’t have anything for VanMil.
“I always love winning here, especially in a stock car. I’m glad the track added the stock cars to the schedule tonight,” said VanMil in victory lane.
VanMil, who won the first two stock car events at Buffalo River Race Park at last year’s Corn Cob Nationals, remained as the only stock car winner at the speedway with his third win.
“It’s pretty incredible to be the only stock car winner here so far. Hopefully we can keep that going,” said VanMil.
Tim Estenson of Fargo cruised to his 20th win of the season in the INEX legends. After starting ninth on the grid, Estenson took the lead from Dylan Johnson at the midway point. Dean Julsrud followed Estenson into second and remained within striking distance. Estenson held a steady line around the low side of the track in the closing laps to claim his eighth win of the year at the speedway.
Adam Goff of Minot picked up the IMCA hobby stock feature win. Goff led all 15 trips around the semi-banked quarter-mile oval for his first win of the season at Buffalo River Race Park.
Joe Lewis bested his younger brother, Noah, for the junior slingshot win.
Zak Kwiatkoski picked up the NLSA lightning sprint win over Josh Abrahamson. Car count was lower than usual as Greenbush Race Park in Greenbush, Minn., another home track for the NLSA Lightning Sprints, also raced.
Matt Pederson picked up his fourth sport compact win.
SUMMARY
IMCA Modifieds:
Feature: 1. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 4D-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. 69-Justin Jones, Bemidji, Minn.; 4. 60-Tyler Hall, Fertile, Minn.; 5. 84-Michael Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.
IMCA SportMods:
A Feature 1: 1. 40-Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 2. 41-Doug Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 3. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 22-Vince Jegtvig, Dilworth, Minn.; 5. 33H-Jake Hagemann, Brainerd, Minn.
IMCA Stock Cars:
Feature: 1. 40-Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 2. 73H-Dustin Hoffert, Underwood, N.D.; 3. 219-Brandon Schmidt, Hillsboro, N.D.; 4. 18-Mike Anderson, Walcott, N.D.; 5. 28-Norm Olson, Glyndon, Minn.
INEX Legends:
Feature: 1. 14T-Tim Estenson, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 5-Dean Julsrud, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. 5D8-Dylan Johnson, Durbin, N.D.; 4. B1-Brody Carlsrud, Moorhead, Minn.; 5. 1-Steven Kuntz, Bismarck, N.D.
IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature - 1. 30A-Adam Goff, Minot, N.D., 2. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo, N.D., 3. 37N-Nick Nelson, Georgetown, Minn.; 4. Kyle Hallgren, Hankinson, N.D., 5. 11S-William Smith, Glyndon, Minn.;
IMCA Sport Compacts:
Feature: 1. 4P-Matt Pederson, Lake Park, Minn.; 2. 6T-Randy Thompson, Lake Park, Minn.; 3. 33L-Austin Lammers, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; 4. 77H-Daniel Harstad, Fergus Falls, Minn.; 5. 44T-Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Submitted By: Mike Spieker
