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Danzeisen takes first Mod Nationals crown at Viking

Danzeisen takes first Mod Nationals crown at Viking
By Ray Beste

Alexandria, MN (July 3rd, 2010) - For Herman, MN driver Scot Danzeisen, success as been the norm. The 10-time Viking Speedway Modified champion has won nearly every Modified special event ever offered up at the speedway. Until Saturday night, however, Danzeisen had failed in his first five tries to take home the Minnesota Modified Nationals crown. That would change in a big way, however, when Danzeisen scored one of the biggest wins of his career taking home the $7,000 crown in grand fashion. In other action, Mike Peterson took his second win in as many days in the WISSOTA Super Stock division while Brian Haben garnered his first ever Viking Speedway win in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified A-main. Sunny skies and a packed grandstand greeted racers during day two action the 6th Annual Minnesota Modified Nationals.

Like day one, Mike Peterson took the early lead during action in the WISSOTA Super Stock finale. Peterson used his familiar high line and was scored the leader at the conclusion of the first lap. Sixth starter Cory Tammen immediately worked his way forward as he took over the second spot just six laps into the event. Jeff Kluver and Jon Stepan waged the most entertaining battle on the speedway for the third spot while Peterson was checked out, out front. Kluver would ultimately take the position from Stepan on a late double file start. Ashley Donald moved up six positions from his 12th starting spot to cap a great run in the sixth spot while Peterson took his second win in as many days out front. In the end it was Peterson ahead of Tammen, Kluver, Stepan, and Jason Vejtruba.

The WISSOTA Midwest Modified A-main was dominated by Holloway, MN driver Brian Haben. Haben took the lead from his outside row one starting position and was never seriously challenged during the 20-lap affair. The battle for the second spot was a good one between Shane Sabraski and Matt Weisman. The duo raced side by side for the better part of six laps before tenth starting Sabraski ultimately grabbed the position with three laps remaining. The story of the race, however, was Roscoe, MN driver Pete Loecken. Loecken, who started 19th, ended a beautiful run in the fourth position. Out front it was all Haben taking the win over Sabraski, Weisman, Loecken, and Steve Houle.

After driver introductions and a four wide salute to the fans, order was restored for the 60-lap, $7,000 to win Minnesota Modified Nationals A-main event. Travis Saurer and Dale Mathison led the 25-car starting field to the green as they lit the wick off of turn four. Mathison made a bonsai move for the inside of the Speedway but Saurer did not lift as he held the early advantage out front. Saurer continued to rail the high side and was scored the leader at the conclusion of the first lap. The top of the speedway looked to be the preferred line but Kelly Estey was on the march via the bottom groove. Estey worked the bottom of the speedway during the first 30 laps moving up ten positions up into seventh when the fuel stop took place on lap 30. At that point it was Mathison over Saurer, Danzeisen, Jason Thoennes, and Dave Cain. After the teams refueled, Mathison once again took off into the lead. Mathison would lead the next thirteen circuits before popping over the banking in turn two giving the lead to Danzeisen in the process. Back in traffic, Don Eischens looked to have the strongest car on the speedway as He and Kelly Estey battled for the fifth spot. Eischens took the spot from Estey with ten laps remaining while Danzeisen was gone out front. Cain made some stellar moves moving up three positions into second while Shayne Laske looked very strong in third. With three laps up on the board, Laske took a peak to the inside of Cain for the second spot. Laske, however, received some bad luck as his machine began to slow on the final lap. Out front it was all Danzeisen as he took the win in convincing fashion over Cain. Jason Grimes moved up one position passed Laske after his machine finally stalled coming for the checkers while Eischens rounded out the top five. Estey, Thoennes, Shane Edgington, 23rd starter Josh Thoennes, and Craig Thatcher rounded out the top ten for the open wheel extravaganza.

From everyone at FYE Motorsports as well as the staff at Viking Speedway, We'd like to thank all the fans, pit crew members, sponsors, and drivers that came out to make the Minnesota Modified Nationals a success. Please check back to vikingspeedway.net and fyemotorsports.com for further events.

SUMMARY:

WISSOTA Modifieds:
Feature- Scot Danzeisen, Dave Cain, Jason Grimes, Shayne Laske, Don Eischens, Kelly Estey, Jason Thoennes, Shane Edgington, Josh Thoennes, Craig Thatcher, Shane Sabraski, Trent Follmer, Darrell Nelson, Dale Mathison, Mike Storck, Matt Smith, Travis Saurer, Terry Engebretson, Andy Gordon, Erik Peterson, Nate Heinrich, Ryan Aho, Jeremy Houle, Jayme Lautigar, Jay McDonald
B-main 1- McDonald, Storck, Edgington, Peterson, Tofte
B-main 2- Sabraski, Estey, Lautigar, Jo Thoennes, Heinrich
B-main 3- Smith, Aho, Eischens, Houle, Christiansen
LCQ- Heinrich, Christiansen, Tofte, Canon, Holtan

WISSOTA Super Stocks:
Feature- Mike Peterson, Cory Tammen, Jeff Kluver, Jon Stepan, Jason Vejtruba, Ashley Donald, Steve Beach, Irvin Cook, Matt Miller, Terry Merten, Andy Bangsund, Cody Lee, Ron Host, Dave Read, Patrick Heikkinen, Cale Berry, Jeff Flaten, Jeff Crouse, Jeremiah Passow
Heat 1- Crouse, Host, Flaten, Read, Kluver, Beach, Passow, Bangsund, Miller, Merten
Heat 2- Vejtruba, Peterson, Tammen, Stepan, Lee, Donald, Cook, Berry, Heikkinen

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds:
Feature- Brian Haben, Shane Sabraski, Matt Weisman, Pete Loecken, Steve Houle, Travis Saurer, Ron Saurer, Jason VandeKamp, Nick Bruder, Darrin Braaten, Ryan Schleusner, Scott Gill, Travis Vanderby, Brett Hoium, Dustin Bitzan, Troy Berends, Brady Gerdes, Josh Muzik, Marshal Tofte, Jason Hoffman, Matt Suckow, Jeff Marshall, Skeeter Estey, William Lund
Heat 1- T. Saurer, Muzik, Schleusner, Hoium, Estey, Gill, Bruder, Laage, Olson
Heat 2- Haben, Suckow, Sabraski, VandeKamp, Hoffman, Tofte, Reents, Johnson, Krahn
Heat 3- Berends, R. Saurer, Gerdes, Vanderby, Loecken, Werk, Greeley, Blascyk, Quinn
Heat 4- Houle, Weisman, Braaten, Marshall, Lund, Bitzan, Berg, Spanswick
B-main 1- Tofte, Bitzan, Gill, Bruder, Greeley
Saurer takes the qualifier during night one at Viking
By Ray Beste
Alexandria, MN (July 2nd, 2010) - Travis Saurer earned the right to sit on the outside pole for Saturday night's $7,000 to win main event by taking the win in the WISSOTA Modified Qualifying Feature Friday night at Viking Speedway. In other action, Mike Peterson reigned victorious in the WISSOTA Super Stock division while Thunder Bay, ONT traveler Jeff Marshall drove a flawless race on his way to victory in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified division. Fans, drivers, and pit crew members alike from all over WISSOTA country convened at the steeply banked 1/2 mile located on the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Alexandria, MN.

The WISSOTA Super Stocks were first on the card with Mike Peterson taking the early lead. The action was hot and heavy early on with drivers battling for position all over the speedway. A scary crash that occurred down the backstretch took place eight laps into the event which claimed the run of several drivers. Everyone was okay with Peterson continuing on out front. Jon Stepan and Cory Tammen battled hard for the second spot during the remainder of the event with Stepan ultimately winning the battle. Back in traffic, Winnipeg, MB traveler Ashley Donald moved up 12 spots during the duration of the A-main starting 22nd and finishing 10th. In the end it was Peterson taking the win ahead of Stepan, Tammen, Ron Host, and Cody Lee.

The WISSOTA Midwest Modified A-main featured a great battle between three of the best in the business. Jeff Marshall took the early lead while Shane Sabraski and Travis Saurer were left to do battle for second. Sabraski worked the bottom with Saurer up on the shelf. Marshall continued to lead out front with Saurer moving by Sabraski for the second spot nine laps into the event. Saurer quickly closed up on the backside of Marshall for the top spot while a myriad of cautions halted action nearing the midway point of the race. On the restart, Marshall began to distance himself from the field with Saurer holding in second. Back in traffic, Brian Haben had a nice run moving up nine positions during the event taking home a nice sixth place finish. Marshall stretched his advantage in the remaining laps and went on to take the win. Saurer continued his run of consistent finishes coming home second ahead of Sabraski, Matt Weisman, and Princeton, MN legend Ron Jones.

Dale Mathison and Travis Saurer shared the front row starting duties for the WISSOTA Modified Qualifying A-main. Saurer took the lead from the outset with Mathison settling into second. Seventh starter Jason Thoennes worked the bottom of the speedway during the 25-lap event moving up three positions into second while the rest of the field worked the top. Scot Danzeisen used a couple of nice moves to move up four positions during qualifying action coming home sixth. In the end, however, it was Saurer turning in a dominating performance taking the win. Mathison settled into a groove taking home second ahead of Craig Thatcher, Thoennes and eighth starter Jason Grimes. Saurer picked the outside pole for Saturday night's $7,000 to win A-main which would give the pole to Dale Mathison.
SUMMARY:

WISSOTA Modifieds:
Qualifying Feature- Travis Saurer, Dale Mathison, Craig Thatcher, Jason Thoennes, Jason Grimes, Scot Danzeisen, Dave Cain, Andy Gordon, Darrell Nelson, Terry Engebretson, Shayne Laske, Trent Follmer
Heat 1- Gordon, Alexander, Cain, Lund, Edgington, Eischens, Storck, Holtan, Gulbrandson, Romdalvik
Heat 2- Mathison, Sabraski, Danzeisen, Tofte, Davis, Lemke, Thoennes, Schroeder, Blascyk, Paul
Heat 3- Follmer, Aho, Saurer, Estey, Lautigar, Houle, Sertich, Sersha, Jeff Broking, Canon
Heat 4- Engebretson, Smith, Nelson, Peterson, Wildman, Gierke, Wilms, Koehntop, Greer
Heat 5- Thatcher, Thoennes, Bitzan, Noble, Wieberdink, Strand, Heikkinen, Ron Jones, Jensen
Heat 6- Grimes, McDonald, Laske, Christiansen, Heinrich, Bayer, Dykstra, Carpenter, Olson

WISSOTA Super Stocks:
Feature- Mike Peterson, Jon Stepan, Cory Tammen, Ron Host, Cody Lee, Jason Vejtruba, Jeff Flaten, Jeff Kluver, Jeff Crouse, Ashley Donald, Dave Read, Terry Merten, Irvin Cook, Alan Johnson, Patrick Heikkinen, Andrew Bangsund, Jeremiah Passow, Andy Hofteig, Dominic Baker, Jim Gullikson, Travis Forcier, Frank Fabio, Matt Miller, Don Eischens
Heat 1- Eischens, Stepan, Tammen, Forcier, Vejtruba, Merten, Johnson, Donald
Heat 2- Flaten, Lee, Miller, Bangsund, Fabio, Passow, Heikkinen, Read
Heat 3- Peterson, Hofteig, Host, Crouse, Baker, Kluver, Gullikson, Cook

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds:
Feature- Jeff Marshall, Travis Saurer, Shane Sabraski, Matt Weisman, Ron Jones, Brian Haben, Austin Arneson, Brett Hoium, Brady Gerdes, Steve Houle, Jason VandeKamp, Skeeter Estey, Jason Hoffman, Randy Laage, Dustin Bitzan, Scott Gill, Nick Bruder, Ryan Schleusner, Kyle Reents, Todd Berg, William Lund, Josh Muzik, Pete Loecken, Marshal Tofte
Heat 1- T. Saurer, Jones, Hoffman, Reents, Bitzan, Muzik, Laage, Werk, VandeKamp
Heat 2- Arneson, Gerdes, Tofte, Bruder, Gill, Vanderby, Krahn, Johnson, Olson
Heat 3- Weisman, Sabraski, Lund, Haben, Berg, Quinn, Braaten, Blascyk
Heat 4- Marshall, Hoium, Houle, Loecken, Estey, Schleusner, Spanswick, Berends
B-main 1- Muzik, Laage, VandeKamp, Schleusner, Quinn

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