6/18/2017
Buffalo River Speedway
Tyler Peterson Claims First Win at Buffalo River Since 2013
By Mike Spieker
GLYNDON, Minn. – Two brief showers slowed the show Sunday evening at Buffalo River Race Park, but a solid crowd of diehard race fans stuck through a one hour rain delay to watch some great racing at the high-banked quarter-mile.
The last time Tyler Peterson recorded at win at BRRP came in 2013, back when he was in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified ranks. Peterson ended that streak on Sunday as he topped the stout field of IMCA Modifieds to grab his first win in the track’s premier division.
“It feels nice to get back to victory lane here at one of my closest tracks to home,” Peterson said. “I loved racing here back when I ran WISSOTA Midwest Mods. It feels great to get our first Modified win here, too, because it’s been a long month for us.”
Peterson took the lead on the opening lap and held a comfortable advantage until Rob VanMil challenge him for the lead. With eight laps to go, VanMil placed a bid for the lead, but got into the right rear quarter panel of Peterson, which sent him spinning to a stop in turn two.
VanMil was charged for the incident, which sent him to the tail of the field.
Peterson ran the final circuits relatively uncontested as he went on to score the victory.
“After the final restart, I moved down to the bottom because that was the faster lane,” continued Peterson of Hickson, N.D. “That helped us pull away from the field and get the win.”
The IMCA SportMod feature got off to a rocky start as polesitter, Dustin Hartwig, broke exiting turn two. The caution flag waved, but just as it did, Vince Jegtvig lost the handle on his machine and collected Luke Johnson head on.
Hartwig and Jegtvig were done, but Johnson continued despite a gapping hole in the hood of his No. 8J.
When the race continued, Dan Dowling led the field, as Johnson quickly worked his way up to second. Dowling and Johnson battled side by side for the lead, but the two made contact with each other in turn two and spun in front of the field. Johnson was charged for the caution.
On the restart, Kelly Jacobson got by Dowling before Chris VanMil got by Jacobson in the final laps. VanMil went on to score the win; his second of the year at BRRP.
Kevin Thomas, Sr. was the NLSA Lightning Sprint feature winner. The driver hailing from Cullman, Ala. utilized a mid-race restart to drive by Josh Abrahamson and Presley Truedson to take the lead. Once out front, Thomas, Sr. was untouchable as he cruised to his third win of the season at BRRP.
Torey Fischer picked up a thrilling win in the IMCA hobby stocks. The West Fargo driver drove by Thursday night’s winner at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Nick Nelson, in the closing laps to to secure the win. The win marks Fischer’s second win in the last three weeks.
The INEX legends feature went to Flasher, North Dakota’s Troy Hoff. Hoff overcame challenges from Andrew Jochim, Josh Julsrud and Tim Estenson in the latter stages of the event. At one point, Hoff, Jochim and Estenson were three wide for the lead until the caution flag waved.
Hoff’s win was his second at Buffalo River and sixth win overall.
Brady Moore won his first IMCA Sport Compact feature.
IMCA Modifieds:
Feature - 1. Tyler Peterson, Hickson, N.D.; 2. Allen Kent, West Fargo, N.D.; 3. Tyler Hall, Fertile, Minn.; 4. Bryce Borgen, Perley, Minn.; 5. Michael Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.
IMCA SportMods:
Feature - 1. Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 2. Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. Matt Talley, Sabin, Minn.; 4. Dan Dowling, Wheatland, N.D.; 5. Mike Johnson, Menahga, Minn.
NLSA Lightning Sprints:
Feature - 1. Kevin Thomas Sr., Cullman, Ala., 2. Presley Truedson, Kennedy, Minn.; 3. Roland Bernard, Lockport, Man.; 4. Zachary Kwiatkoski, Grand Forks, N.D.; 5. Jason Berg, West Fargo, N.D.
INEX Legends:
Feature - 1. Troy Hoff, Flasher, N.D.; 2. Josh Julsrud, Barnesville, Minn.; 3. Andrew Jochim, Glyndon, Minn.; 4. Donavin Wiest, Wishek, N.D.; 5. Dauntae Martin, Bismarck, N.D.
IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature - 1. Torey Fischer, West Fargo, N.D.; 2. Nick Nelson, Georgetown, Minn.; 3. Tim Gonska, Brainerd, Minn.; 4. Tim Church, Moorhead, Minn.; 5. Brandon Schmidt, Hillsboro, Minn.
IMCA Sport Compacts:
Feature - 1. Brady Moore, Ulen, Minn.; 2. Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 3. Chase Golliet, Fargo, N.D.; 4. Kyle Helgedalen, Ulen, Minn.; 5. Levi Lease, Harwood, N.D.
Submitted By: Mike Spieker