5/30/2021
Ogilvie Raceway
VandeKamp and Goulet Take Wins on Night 1 of MN Mod Nationals, while Sabraski Doubles Up
Ogilvie, MN (May 29) – Saturday was night one of the 16th Annual Wehrs Machine Minnesota Modified Nationals driven by Boston Trucking, and 95 drivers signed in to battle. The night was packed with door to door WISSOTA Dirt Race Action, and at the end of the night, Jason VandeKamp and Hunter Goulet went home with trophies while Shane Sabraski snagged two.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds kicked off the night’s events with Kyle Kirberger and Scott Bintz on the front row. Kirberger claimed the lead as the green waved, however Bintz and Jason VandeKamp kept close. Kirberger, Bintz and VandeKamp were nearly three wide in the turns as Bintz slid to Kirberger’s door. The drivers remained glued to one another until Bintz broke away. VandeKamp moved in to challenge Kirberger as the yellow waved. Bintz brought the drivers back to green, and as they went into the curve, Bintz, VandeKamp and Zach Benson were three wide for the top point. VandeKamp emerged as the leader with Benson chasing him in second. The top drivers sped around the high side of the track, and with five laps to go, they encountered slower traffic. As one lap remained, Benson moved to VandeKamp’s side, and with a slower driver in the mix, they had a drag race to the finish line. Jason VandeKamp crossed the line first and snagged the win in his FYE Motorsports #16. Zach Benson, Justin Froemming, Kyle Kirberger and Scott Bintz rounded out the top five.
Trajan Schmidt and Josh Zimpel led the WISSOTA Super Stocks around the race surface and Zimpel snagged the early lead. Shane Sabraski shot next to Zimpel and wasted no time to take the lead point. Zimpel held second with Dexton Koch, Trevor Nelson and Dylan Kromschroeder three wide for third. Koch secured third and moved to the low groove to challenge Zimpel. Sabraski had a solid lead established as Koch secured the second point. With the race half over, Sabraski was making his way around slower drivers with Koch trying to close the gap. Koch made some ground on Sabraski, however once he was also in traffic, Sabraski stretched his lead. Shane Sabraski kept his cruise set and took the checkers in his West Metro Buick GMC #7a. Dexton Koch, Josh Zimpel, Trevor Nelson and Jim Gullikson claimed top points.
The mighty WISSOTA Modifieds rolled on the track with Jeremy Nelson (4) and Jody Bellefeuille on the front row. As the green waved, Nelson and Bellefeuille battled for first while Dave Cain, Mike Anderson and Shane Sabraski raced three wide behind them. The top two drivers remained door to door as Sabraski moved to the high groove and slid next to them. As the drivers exited turn four, Sabraski was in command. Nelson and Bellefeuille moved back to Sabraski’s door, and the drivers were three wide again. Sabraski broke free of his competitors, meanwhile Nelson and Bellefeuille jockeyed for the second point lap after lap. Sabraski prepared to put drivers down a lap with the battle for second nearly too close to call. The yellow lights flickered on and drivers were sorted and aligned. Sabraski led the drivers to the green, but Nelson and Bellefeuille drove to battle him in the turn. When they exited the curve, Sabraski retook his position in the lead. Nelson finally broke free of Bellefeuille for the runner up point as Cain moved in. Cain passed Bellefeuille for third and looked ahead at Nelson. The top drivers spaced out, as once again, Sabraski weaved his way around slower traffic. Another caution occurred, and with five laps to go, the Mods had a few cautions. As the race resumed, Sabraski never looked back and rolled the iconic #7a into victory lane for the second time of the night. Remaining top points went to Jeremy Nelson (4), Dave Cain, Jody Bellefeuille and Clayton Wagamon.
Matthew Dittman and Hunter Goulet raced door to door for the top point when the WISSOTA Hornet feature began. Goulet nosed ahead as a caution slowed the drivers. Goulet sped off when the green reappeared and Carter Rieland worked Dittman for second. Dittman however sped off and began to reel in Goulet. Contact occurred between a couple drivers in turns three and four, and after a slow moment, all drivers kept going and the race remained green. Goulet held the lead throughout the race and took his first ever win at the Ogilvie Raceway. Matthew Dittman took second with Jesse Turnvall, Joseph Wilber and Jonathan Aderman as the top finishers.
Article Credit: Tami Jo Kuehn
