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Knudtson Steals One Late

Knudtson Steals One at Red Cedar

Brad Erickson

Menomonie, Wisconsin (May 05, 2017) Design Built Structures.sponsored the Red Cedar Speedway and the WISSOTA Poly Dome Dirt Track Series sanctioned Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, Modifieds, and Late Models along with the Red Cedar Pure Stocks and Hornets. Feature winners included John Kaanta, Ashley Anderson, Tommy Richards, Nick Koehler, Michael Knudtson, Michael Blevins, and Bradley York.

The T.L. Sinz Plumbing Late Model heats were won by Mike Prochnow and John Kaanta and once again, it was pole sitter Kaanta who led the feature from cover to cover. Darrell Nelson closed late to pose a challenge for the lead, but Kaanta was cooler than the other side of a pillow, and picked up the pace to ease back out into a two car advantage to the checkered flag. Aj Diemel, Mike Keller, and Jake Redetzke rounded out the top five.

The Tim’s Automotive Modifieds saw Cory Mahder, Mike Anderson, and Matt Leer score heat wins. The polesitter Ashley Anderson took the lead and never looked back as he eased away into the night on a nonstop run to the checkered flag. Mike Anderson moved from the second row into the runner up position followed by fifth starting Mahder, Matt Leer, and Kerry Halopka.

The Johnson Motors Super Stocks heats were won by Jesse Redetzke, Jim Harris, and Tony Falkner. It was Falkner’s first heat win and it came while celebrating his birthday. The initial start of the feature was slowed due to a spinning Luke Schultz. The second attempt saw Adam Soltis move to the point. A few laps later, the strong running Chad Gullixson, fresh off leading all but the last lap of his heat, spun and drew the caution. Soltis held the lead on the restart, bud Danny Richards eased past to take the top spot.

A spinning Schultz saw him back the car into the turn three wall and slow the action once again. Back under green, it was Troy Fransway making hard contact into the turn three wall as the Super Stock drivers struggled for grip on the slick racing surface. As they restarted, Richards found himself challenged by Solitis but was holding his own. A multi car spin and crash in turn four brought the field to a halt and eliminated several midpack cars. The restart saw a one lap sprint to the line which Richards covered. Solitis cruised home to a solid second place over Ben Hillman, Bart Steffen, and Steve Thomas. The fourth and fifth finishing cars were both on their first night out for the year.

The Southworth Chevrolet Midwest Modifieds ran four heats won by Jacob Smith, Nick Koehler, Peter Jokinen, and Shane Halopka. The front row of Tyler Werner and Jake Smith led them to the green and after an aborted first try, it was Werner leading early. Werner controlled the race for several laps when a spinning John Ford regrouped the field. Werner had a slight bobble after coming to green on the restart and Jake Smith squeezed to the lead. Smith set the pace but a charging Koehler moved low and inside for the point.

Soon, Michael Truscott, who had started in the fourth row, found his way into third and then to second position as Shane Halopka followed him to through. Koehler looked in control at the white flag, but a spinning car drew the yellow. A green, white, checked shootout saw Koehler pick up where he left off and motor to the victory. Halopka moved into second on the start, but Truscott rebounded to retake the position on the last lap. It was Gunnar Watkins making a big move in the two lap shootout coming from outside the top five to fourth as Jake Smith rounded out the top five.

Sam Fankhauser and Hunter VanGilder won the Street Stock heats as it was Armond Love and Ashley Wahlstrom leading the parade to the start of the feature. It took four tries to get a lap in under green with the third attempt being the most costly as Wahlstrom appeared to stall at the start, collecting several cars in the meley. Officials called for a single file start and Love held the advantage. Under green, Danny Richards went low as Fankhauser went high and they drove three wide for the lead. It was Richards, then Fankhauser, as Michael Knudtson drove into third.

Hunter Van Gilder took advantage of Knudtson sliding high and he drove into the top three. It was Fankhauser hounding Richards for the lead, moving underneath and making it a two wide battle for the win. Richards was strong however, as he weathered the storm at the moment and moved back to the point alone. Knudtson was able to regain third and he moved in to challenge the leaders as they battled each other. On the final lap, Fankhauser again was able to pull even with Richards and on the backstretch, they made heavy contact. It was Knudtson seizing the moment as he moved high and past for the lead a half lap from the checkers. Fankhauser suffered a flat tire and Richards set chase for Knudtson. Richards was able to challenge for the lead before the checkered flag flew, but he would run out of time as Knudtson beat him to the line. VanGilder was scored third as Fankhauser was able to limp to fourth over fifth finishing Jake Hessler.

The Pure Stock heats were topped by a couple of local strong runners in Kent Harmon and Dustin Doughty but it was the defending national champion, Michael Blevins claiming the feature win. The start of the feature saw Jeff Tisdale leading but Krysta Doughty moved to the front. One lap later, Tisdale drew the caution with a spin. Dustin Doughty went to the work area under yellow and both restarted from the rear. On the restart, Harmon and Blevins split the leader as it was Blevins getting the better of the two for the top spot. Last place starting George Richards, who had missed his heat race, moved into the top three.

A caution flag was displayed for debris on the frontstretch and under yellow, Dustin Doughty left the race. The restart saw Harmon make a serious challenge for the lead but Blevins prevailed and drove to the win. It was Harmon in second as cars waged a three wide scrimmage for third. At the checkered flag it was Richards, Krysta Doughty, and a recovering Tisdale in fifth.

Two heats of Hornets were won by William Voeltz and Jason Holte. The feature saw Bradley York and Derek Krumrie bring them to green. It was York, then Sean Svee early as Jordan Langer filled out the top three. Voeltz made significant contact with Krumrie in turn three, collecting Jason Holte dropping them all off the pace but the race remained green. The yellow flag flew shortly thereafter for an unrelated spin and the field was reset. It was York controlling the pace and race all the way to the win as Jordan Langer continued his strong 2017 campaign, coming home in second. Sean Svee was scored in third as Holte and Voeltz recovered to finish in the top five.

The Red Cedar Speedway will return to racing on May 12, 2017, as Sports Rider presents the best tradition in racing with Meet the Driver Night. All seven classes with the WISSOTA Poly Dome Dirt Track Series sanctioned Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, Modifieds, and Late Models, along with the Red Cedar Speedway Pure Stocks and Hornets will all be in action. Once again, Realtor Shelly Watkins will pay out $50.00 to the hard charger. The money is awarded to the feature winner who won from the furthest position in the field. Sixth starting Michael Blevins won the Hard Charger bonus on this night of racing.

T.L. Sinz Plumbing Late Model Feature: John Kaanta, Darrell Nelson, AJ Diemel, Michael Keller, Jake Redetzke, Jesse Glenz, Mike Prochnow, Greg Nippoldt, Rick Hanestad, James Giossi, Cole Spacek (DNF), Robbie Johnson (DNF)

Heat One: Mike Prochnow, Darrell Nelson, AJ Diemel, James Giossi, Greg Nippoldt, Cole Spacek (DNF)

Heat Two: John Kaanta, Jesse Glenz, Jake Redetzke, Michael Keller, Rick Hanestad, Robbie Johnson

Tim’s Automotive Modified Feature: Ashley Anderson, Mike Anderson, Cory Mahder, Matt Leer, Kerry Halopka, Darrell Nelson, Kevin Adams, Neil Balduc, Jake Hartung, William Byholm, Tanner Byholm, Josh Hessler, Jake Hanson, Curt Myers, Kevin Eder (DNF), Steve Hallquist DNS, Cory Bruggeman DNS

Heat One: Cory Mahder, Ashley Anderson, Curt Myers, Jake Hartung, Josh Hessler, Kevin Eder (DNF)

Heat Two: Mike Anderson, Kerry Halopka, Neil Balduc, Steve Hallquist, Jake Hanson, Tanner Byholm

Heat Three: Matt Leer, Kevin Adams, Darrell Nelson, Cory Bruggeman, William Byholm

Johnson Motors Super Stock Feature: Tommy Richards, Adam Soltis, Ben Hillman, Bart Steffen, Steve Thomas, Jesse Redetzke, Nick Traynor, Tony Falkner, Michael Knudtson, Jim Harris, Chad Gullixson (DNF), Terran Spacek (DNF), Troy Fransway (DNF), Luke Schultz (DNF), Jay Oricchio DNS, Tyler Lamm DNS, Rick Hallquist DNS

Heat One: Jesse Redetzke, Tommy Richards, Ben Hillman, Steve Thomas, Nick Traynor, Jay Oricchio

Heat Two: Jim Harris, Chad Gullixson, Adam Soltis, Troy Fransway, Michael Knudtson, Tyler Lamm

Heat Three: Tony Falkner, Bart Steffen,Terran Spacek. Luke Schultz (DNF), Rick Hallquist DQ

Southworth Chevrolet Midwest Modified Feature: Nick Koehler, Michael Truscott, Shane Halopka, Gunnar Watkins, Jacob Smith, Grant Southworth, Josh Wahlstrom, Tyler Werner, Denny Cutsforth, Clark Swartz, Peter Jokinen, Shadow Kitchner, Steve Haas, Dan Larson Jr, Calvin Iverson, Jason Vokovan, Christopher Johnson, Derek Haas, John Ford, Cole Chernosky (DNF), Matt Klukas (DNF), Travis Anderson (DNF), Jared Gorka DNS

Heat One: Jacob Smith, Grant Southworth, Clark Swartz, Shadow Kitchner, Calvin Iverson, Christopher Johnson

Heat Two: Nick Koehler, Michael Truscott, Gunnar Watkins, Cole Chernosky, Dan Larson Jr, John Ford (DNF)

Heat Three: Peter Jokinen, Tyler Werner, Matt Klukas, Derek Haas, Jason Vokovan, Jared Gorka

Heat Four: Shane Halopka, Josh Wahlstrom, Denny Cutsforth, Steve Haas, Travis Anderson DQ

Street Stock Feature: Michael Knudtson, Danny Richards, Hunter VanGilder, Sam Fankhauser, Jake Hessler, Armond Love, Travis Loew, Michael Blevins, Jess Seim, Ron Hanestad (DNF), Warren Hanson (DNF), Ashley Wahlstrom (DNF)

Heat One: Sam Fankhauser, Ron Hanestad, Jake Hessler, Armond Love, Warren Hanson, Jess Seim

Heat Two: Hunter VanGilder, Michael Knudtson, Danny Richards, Ashley Wahlstrom, Travis Loew, Michael Blevins (DNF)

Pure Stock Feature: Michael Blevins, Kent Harmon, George Richards, Krysta Doughty, Jeff Tisdale, James Thur, Dustin Doughty (DNF), Cole Hill (DNF), Kent Deutsch (DNF), Brendan Uetz DNS

Heat One: Kent Harmon, Krysta Doughty, James Thur, Cole Hill, George Richards DNS

Heat Two: Dustin Doughty, Michael Blevins, Jeff Tisdale, Kent Deutsch, Brendan Uetz

Hornets Feature: Bradley York, Jordan Langer, Sean Svee, Jason Holte, William Voeltz, Dean Butler, Jake Halterman, Robert Fawcett, Dave Clausen, Josh Craighton (DNF), Chad Walera (DNF), Lucas Brackin (DNF), Adam Hackbarth (DNF), Derek Krumrie (DNF), Dustin Zetter (DNF)

Heat One: William Voeltz, Bradley York, Jordan Langer, Jake Halterman, Lucas Brackin, Dustin Zetter, Josh Craighton, Dave Clausen
Heat Two: Jason Holte, Sean Svee, Derek Krumrie, Chad Walera, Dean Butler, Robert Fawcett, Adam Hackbarth

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