5/12/2024
Wissota Late Model Challenge Series
Searing Speeds to Victory at Viking’s Challenge Series Return
The 2024 Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star rolled along at the Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minnesota for the track’s season opener and saw Cole Searing win the 30-lap feature driven by Diamond Buick GMC for his second victory of the young season by working by leader Sam Mars early and then holding off a hungry pack in a crazy 1 lap dash to the checkered.
A stacked field of 39 WISSOTA Late Model competitors checked in at the Alexandria, Minnesota half mile oval and saw Menomonie, Wisconsin’s Sammy Mars start the night by setting fast time with a lap of 19.0242 seconds around the half mile oval, while Mars, Jeff Provinzino, Jake Redetzke and Tyler Peterson topped the four qualifying heat races early in the night’s program. Joel Bennett and Don Shaw won the night’s b-mains to set the 25-car feature starting lineup.
Mars and Peterson earned the front row for the night’s $3,000 to win, 30-lap feature event with Mars getting the upper hand on the initial start and leading the field into turn number one and lead the opening lap for the second night in a row.
The first caution of the night flew on lap three for a Dave Mass mechanical breakdown, which bunched the field back up and allowed the field to pressure Mars on the next restart.
Todd Frank bought out the next yellow a lap later, but on the following restart, Mars took back off out front, while Peterson and Searing battled hard for the runner up spot. The duo ran side by side for several laps with Mars pacing the field, setting a blistering pace as he ran alone into the night.
Behind the leaders, Nick Panitzke, Ryan Mikkelson, Shane Sabraski and Jeff Massingill were also locked in a great race for fifth as the laps clicked by quickly.
Great battles were ongoing throughout the field until the next caution flew on lap 27 for Mikkelson flat tire, setting up a three-lap dash to the finish.
Peterson and Searing pulled out all the stops and ganged up on Mars on the restart with Searing sweeping by into the lead as the field scored lap 28, before another caution slowed the action.
On the green-white-checkered restart, Searing lead back to green, but Peterson, Mars, Sabraski and Provinzino were all in a tight pack with Sabraski ending up off the speedway, bringing out the fifth and final caution of the night.
On the final restart, Searing raced off for his second straight night, while Peterson was able to nip Mars at the line for runner up honors. Behind Mars, Provinzino and Kollin Hibdon rounded out the top five.
Sixth through tenth saw Pat Doar, Joel Bennett, Nick Panitzke, Kevin Burdick and Kevin Eder cross under the double checkered to round out the entire top ten.
Dusty Bitzan won the WISSOTA Modified feature, while Matthew Dittman won the WISSOTA Hornet main. Ty Agen won the WISSOTA Street Stock feature, Corey Storck won the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature and the WISSOTA Super Stock feature was postponed due to the track’s 10:45pm curfew.
Tonight’s contingency award winners included:
Collins Bros. Towing Long Tow Award – Ty Hample (712 miles)
Hiller Auction Quick Qualifier Award – Sam Mars (19.024 seconds)
MyRacePass Pole Award – Sam Mars (68.00 points)
Olsen Custom Farms Hard Luck Award – Jon Tollakson
Wehrs Machine Hard Charger Award – Pat Doar (+13)
GTX Rookie of the Race – Kollin Hibdon (5th)
Full results can be found on MyRacePass.com
The Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota hosts the Challenge Series tomorrow night, Sunday, May 12th with a 6pm start time.
For upcoming schedule information and tickets, visit www.WISSOTAChallengeSeries.com.
Submitted By: Nikki Cook
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