6/8/2024
Princeton Speedway
3 Make-Up Features and a Full Race Program Completed at Princeton Friday Night in Just Over 3 Hours Time!
By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Princeton, MN (June 7) – Friday was a busy night at the Princeton Speedway as three make-up features were completed from a couple weeks ago, as well as a complete show of WISSOTA Dirt Track Race Action.
After some heat races were in the books, the Make-Up features began with the WISSOTA Modifieds first on the agenda. An immediate caution reset the field, however at the end of lap one, Brandon Copp claimed the lead. Clayton Wagamon grabbed second with JT Johnson, Dave Cain and Jody Bellefeuille in top points. Laps clicked by and cars covered the track surface when the yellow appeared. Copp brought the drivers back to green with Wagamon and Cain on his rear. Wagamon and Cain raced side by side for the second point for a couple laps, until Cain secured the point. Cain chased after Copp for the lead, however Brandon Copp kept his foot down and took the win. Dave Cain, Clayton Wagamon, JT Johnson and Jody Bellefeuille grabbed top points.
Robert Holtquist and Tommy Bawden brought the WISSOTA Mod Fours to the track for their Make-Up feature, and when the green waved, Holtquist took the lead. As laps passed, Bawden caught and challenged Holtquist for the lead, but Holtquist pulled away and top drivers spaced out with lapped traffic in sight. Just then a caution was triggered, and the drivers were reset. Rob Holtquist brought the drivers back to green as the race resumed, and Dustin Holtquist raced to the rear of his dad. With the white flag raised, the Holtquist’s were door to door for the lead, and as the checkers flew, Robert Holtquist took the win. Remaining top points went to Dustin Holtquist, Tommy Bawden, Tyler Larson and Rowan Tramm.
The WISSOTA Hornets were the final Make-Up feature of the night with Eric Pfundt and Payson Patrin on row one. The top two drivers were still door to door at the end of lap one with Jenna Hagemann on their tails. Patrin nosed ahead after a few laps for the lead with Hagemann and Brandon Nyberg putting pressure on Pfundt. The drivers in second through fourth kept close for points with Justin Schelitzche close behind. Patrin was comfortable in the lead with a great battle to his rear, as the race came to a close. Payson Patrin took the win, however after cars attended post-race tech, the win was awarded to Brandon Nyberg with Jenna Hagemann, Justin Schelitzche, Bobie Arnes and Anthony Jenson as the top five.
The regular race night schedule continued on with heats for the remaining classes, and then the regular feature races began with the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds first. TJ Wyman and Cole Elton brought the drivers to green, and they remained door to door the opening laps. Elton pulled ahead with the top point as others raced three-wide for positions. Laps went by without issue allowing Elton to pull away from the field as Ryan Putnam made his way next to Wyman for second. Putnam took the point and began to chase down Elton as the yellow appeared. Drivers were sorted with Elton in command, but Putnam took second on the restart and put pressure on Elton. Elton and Putnam were nose to nose as they crossed the line with Putnam getting the slight advantage. With just a few laps to go, Ryan Putnam secured the top point and took the win. Cole Elton, Paul Ripley, Justin Jones and TJ Wyman rounded out the top points.
The WISSOTA Street Stocks rolled on the track with Tommy Pogones and Steve Eggersgluess on row one. Pogones snagged the early lead with Eggersgluess and Kyle Howland in tow. Pogones stretched his lead as others raced door to door for points. Pogones remained in control after a caution reset the field, but Levi Randt kept close to Pogones’ rear. A pair of 11’s fought for second behind Pogones. Jeff Ekdahl of the #11JR took the second point and raced to Pogones’ door, but Pogones pulled away. The final laps went by and Tommy Pogones took the win followed by Jeff Ekdahl, Levi Randt, Kyle Howland and Steve Eggersgluess as top drivers.
A solid field of WISSOTA Modifieds lined up for the next feature with Devin Fouquette and Travis Schulte on row one. Fouquette grabbed the immediate lead with Schulte holding second. The top two had a marginal lead as others were nearly three-wide for points. Jody Bellefeuille sat comfortably in third when Eric Lamm moved in to battle. Lamm and Bellefeuille were door to door for third as Fouquette caught slower drivers. Schulte began to close the gap with Fouquette as they worked through lapped traffic until Schulte made contact with a track tire and the yellow waved. Fouquette retook the lead as the green waved, but Bellefeuille raced to his door. Fouquette felt the heat of Bellefeuille as laps passed and Bellefeuille continued to move to his door. Devin Fouquette kept his cool the remaining laps, held off his competitors, and took the win. Jody Bellefeuille took second with Tyler Kaeter, Eric Lamm and Brandon Copp in the top five.
Blake Hawker and Casey Traxler raced door to door the opening laps of the WISSOTA Mod Four Feature with Ashton Schwinn in third. A quick caution slowed the drivers with just a few laps complete, and the drivers were realigned. The battle for first resumed between Hawker and Traxler when the green reappeared with Schwinn back in third. Hawker edged out the top point, Traxler kept close, as Tommy Bawden made his way into third. Another caution slowed the drivers and Hawker brought them back to green. Traxler moved back to Hawker’s door and the battle for first heated up again. A few cautions kept the drivers at a stop and go pace as drivers spun in the curves. Casey Traxler took the lead the final restart, and held the point the final laps to take the win. Remaining top points went to Blake Hawker, Josh Litzau, Tyler Larson and Gerry Nohner.
The WISSOTA Hornets were the final race of the night, and when the green waved, Anthony Jenson took the lead. Five drivers battled for second to Jenson’s rear, going three and four-wide through the curve. Jenna Hagemann claimed the second point and Jonanthan Aderman settled in third while others battled. Bobie Arnes slid to Aderman’s door and they battled for third with a four-wide battle behind them. The Hornet race was full of action as they rounded the ¼ mile curves. With no cautions, Jenson established a solid lead, while Arnes took third and raced to Hagemann’s door for second. The closing laps went by, and the race came to a close with Hagemann and Arnes still glued to one another. As the checkers waved, Jenna Hagemann took second with Bobie Arnes, Justin Schelitzche and Jacob Bayerl in the top five points as Anthony Jenson took the Win.
In about 3 hours and 20 mins, the final checkers waved, and the Princeton Speedway was able to complete a full race program as well as three Make-Up features. Next Friday night will be an exciting night at the Bullring as we will Welcome the UMSS Winged and Traditional Sprint Cars, MN Micro Sprints in addition to our WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, Hornets and Street Stocks. It’s going to be a jam-packed night of action, with racing beginning at 7:00pm.
Article Credit: Photo By: HighSide Race Shots