9/12/2024
Wissota Late Model Challenge Series
Sabraski Wins The Battle; Searing Wins The War Claiming Challenge Series Title
For Immediate Release – September 11th, 2024
The 2024 season for the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star wrapped up its 26th season in existence at the I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and fans saw Shane Sabraski race to the win and Cole Searing picked up the $10,000 Challenge Series Championship as well.
Jordan Tollakson started the night by setting fast time amongst the 51-car field with a lap of 16.296 seconds around the high banked oval, while Kollin Hibdon, Shane Edginton, Cole Searing, Shane Edginton, Dave Mass and Lee Grosz winning the six qualifying heat races early in the night’s program. Chad Becker, Danny Vang and Joel Bennett won the three b-mains.
Grosz and Sabraski earned the front row for the night’s 40-lap, $2,600-to-win feature event with the 7a getting the upper hand on the initial start from the pole and leading the field into turn number one on the opening circuit.
Sabraski ran alone out front early with Hibdon and Mass battling for second over the first three circuits until the first caution of the event flew on lap 4 for a Shane Edginton spin.
On the restart, Sabraski took back off into the lead, only to have the pace slowed immediately on the restart for a Grosz/Budisalovich tangle on the frontstretch, eliminating Budisalovich from competition.
On the second restart, Searing moved in on Mass for third with Hibdon in the mix as well. Grosz’s night ended on lap later with a breakdown in turn four, necessitating the third early caution in the 40-lapper.
Once back underway, Hibdon raced to second as laps clicked off quickly with two and three wide battles the norm throughout traffic with entertaining races for third, as well as fifth, while Sabraski slipped away, building up a 7 second advantage out front. As the field reached the halfway point, Sabraski led Hibdon, Mars, Searing, and Mass.
The battle for second began to tighten between Hibdon, Mars, Searing, Mass and Don Shaw until the final caution of the night flew on lap 30 for Johnny Broking, who rolled to a stop in turn four.
On that start, Sabraski again took flight and led the final ten laps, while all eyes were on the battle behind him between Mars and Searing as they swapped the runner up spot several times, as Shaw and Mass were also in a great battle for fourth.
Sabraski raced to the decisive victory, ahead of Mars, who held off Searing for the runner up spot. Behind Searing, Shaw got Mass for fourth with Zimpel, Hibdon, Tollakson, Peterson and Mikkelson rounding out the top ten.
Searing’s third place finish was just enough to wrap up his second career Challenge Series Championship by a mere six points over Peterson. Sabraski finished third in the final series point standings and picked up the GTX Rookie of the Year title in the process. Jeff Provinzino ended fourth in the points with Ryan Mikkelson in fifth. Sixth through tenth were Kevin Burdick, Jeff Massingill, Joel Bennett, Rick Niemi and Adam Ayotte. Gunner Frank and Patrick Kelley completed the top twelve in the final point standings.
Cole Elton won the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature, while Tim Johnson won a wild WISSOTA Super Stock feature race. Dave Cain won the Modified feature and Braden Brauer won the Street Stock main event to cap off the night.
Full results can be found on MyRacePass.com
For series information, visit www.WISSOTAChallengeSeries.com
Submitted By: Nikki Cook
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