6/26/2022
Ogilvie Raceway
Cole Searing Sails His Way Into Victory Lane in Saturday Night's Late Model Feature Race.
By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Ogilvie, MN (June 25) – The WISSOTA Structural Buildings Late Model Challenge Series made it’s first of three stops at Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway on Saturday night, and the night was filled with WISSOTA Dirt Race Action. 148 drivers signed in for the night, and at its close, Kyle Dykhoff, Zach Benson, Cole Searing, Justin Barsness, Dan Ebert, Tyler Larson and Jeremy Nelson went home with hardware.
The WISSOTA Streets Stocks kicked off the race night with Kyle Howland and Kurt Becken on the front row. Howland claimed the early lead with Thomas Worth and Kyle Dykhoff in top positions. Dykhoff moved low on the track surface and passed Worth for second. He then began to chase after Howland as Worth got a bit loose in the curve which allowed Andrew Hanson to snag third. By this point, Dykhoff caught Howland for the lead and dropped low on the race surface. After a quick side by side battle, Dykhoff nosed ahead and then stretched his lead. Kaiden Woodie moved into the third point and as leaders encountered slower drivers, Woodie caught Howland for second. At the last moment, Kaiden Woodie snagged the second point with Kyle Howland, Andrew Hanson and Justin Pogones in top points while Kyle Dykhoff rolled into victory lane.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds took the clay for the next race, and they experienced a handful of cautions throughout their event. Ashton Schulte and Matt Dickey led the drivers to green and after a few restarts, Cole Boston edged out the lead point. Boston raced alone in front with Schulte, Dickey and Kyle Kirberger battled three wide for second. Kennedy Swan moved in to join the top drivers while another caution occurred. When the race resumed, Zach Benson moved his way into the top five, and then cruised his way into the top point. With few laps to go, Benson led the drivers back to green and Boston made one final late charge. He sped to Benson’s door, but Zach Benson pulled away and took the win. Cole Boston settled for second with David Swearingen, Kennedy Swan and Brennan Gave as the top finishers.
25 WISSOTA Late Models lined the Ogilvie Raceway side by side for their 40 lap feature event. Travis Budisalovich and Cole Searing led the drivers to green and Searing claimed the immediate lead. Drivers raced two and three wide while they battled for positions the opening laps, but it was Searing and Budisalovich secure in the top two points. With seven laps on the board, Pat Doar’s car drifted high in turn one and scuffed the wall. A caution was triggered, and field reset with Searing alone at the point. Searing sped away as the race resumed while Jon Tollakson raced to the inside of Budisalovich. Tollakson slid by the 31 but Budisalovich came back to his door. They raced parallel in the curves until Budisalovich nosed ahead. As the race neared the halfway mark, Searing was ahead by a straight away and ready to battle slower drivers. Racers covered the entire surface as the top competitors weaved through slower traffic and put drivers down a lap. With five laps to go, a driver spun coming out of turn four and the yellow flag waved. Searing was still in command as the field was reset, but now had Budisalovich and Shane Edginton directly at his rear. Darrell Nelson tried to nose his way into the battle for second, but backed out. As the drivers came to the front-chute, Nelson dropped low and went three wide with Edginton and Budisalovich. The three drivers remained close a couple laps while Searing drove away. Budisalovich pulled ahead for the second point but Edginton was at his door in the turns. The checkers were raised and Cole Searing crossed the line to snag the win. Remaining top points went to Travis Budisalovich, Shane Edginton, Darrell Nelson and Kevin Eder.
Carter Matthews and Rachel Boston led the WISSOTA Hornets to the stand for the next race event. As the green dropped, Boston and Matthews remained side by side for the lead. Boston broke away from Matthews and pulled away from her competition while others battled three wide in the pack. Boston had her cruise set and put drivers down a lap as Justin Barsness moved in to battle Matthews for second. The top drivers were heavy in slower traffic while Barsness continued to chase Matthews. With the white flag high in the sky a final caution was triggered. Boston was alone on the restart with Matthews and Barsness on her bumper. The green dropped and Boston again drove away from the field. Hornets battled two and three wide the final lap for finishing positions, but Boston held her lead and took the checkers. After drivers went through post-race tech, Boston was disqualified, and the win was awarded to Justin Barsness. Carter Matthews, Marcus Ammerman, Jenna Hagemann and Mac Johnston rounded out the top points.
The WISSOTA Modifieds took the green but had an immediate caution due to a bad start. The drivers settled into their positions and retook the green with Jeremy Nelson in the lead. Dave Cain moved into second and raced to Nelson’s side. After a couple laps, Cain moved into the top position but Dan Ebert and Nelson remained glued to the 2c. Cain held the point a few laps, but Ebert slid to the high groove and made the pass for first. JT Johnson, Shane Sabraski and Darrell Nelson raced close for fourth and moved into to challenge Jeremy Nelson for third. Ebert remained in command as laps went by and the fight for third became a four-way battle. As the race came to a close, Dave Cain, Darrell Nelson, Shane Sabraski and Jeremy Nelson grabbed points two through five while Dan Ebert took the win.
Levi Randt and Tyler Larson were on the front row as the WISSOTA Mod Fours took the clay. After an immediate caution, Larson claimed the lead while other drivers were three wide. Jordan Fischer grabbed the second point with Robert Holtquist in third. Holtquist worked Fisher for second and slid by on the high side. Fischer came back to Holtquist’s side to retake second, but came up short and Holtquist secured the position. Landyn Randt challenged Fischer for third while they caught slower drivers. Landyn Randt then spun in turn four and the yellow waved. The drivers were sorted with Larson, Fischer and Holtquist in top points. As the green waved, Dean Larson, Tommy Pogones, Fischer and Holtquist went four wide for second. Tyler Larson kept his foot down and led the entire race and took the checkered flags. Dean Larson, Robert Holtquist, Tommy Pogones and Levi Randt rounded out the top five points.
The WISSOTA Super Stocks rolled onto the race surface for the final race of the night. Russell Kostreba and Dustin Nelson brought the drivers to the green but the yellow lights soon flickered on. D. Nelson brought the drivers back to green but Jeremy Nelson and Kostreba were at his rear. J. Nelson moved to D. Nelson’s door and Jeremy Nelson pulled away with the lead. Sabraski, who started 11th, weaved his way through traffic and made his way into second. J. Nelson had a solid lead established, but Sabraski was tracking him down. Two laps remained in the race and Sabraski was inside the 06 of Nelson. The white was raised with the top two drivers door to door, but the yellow flew before the lap was scored. One final caution slowed the drivers and when the green waved, Sabraski kept pressure on Nelson. Sabraski raced to Nelson’s door and they shot down the front chute for the checkers. The margin of difference was 0.19 seconds and Jeremy Nelson crossed first for the win. Shane Sabraski settled for second while Dave Mass, Dexton Koch and DJ Keeler grabbed remaining top points.
Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway will have next weekend off to enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends, but will be back in action on Saturday July 9th with our annual Fireworks Spectacular. The night will also feature the Rebel Midwest Modified tour, Steffes Street Stock Tour as well as Super Stocks and Hornets. Racing will resume at 6:30pm.
Article Credit: Photo By: Mike Wadsen
