5/3/2019
Randy Buss Ice Breaker Classic at Red Cedar Speedway
Menomonie, Wisconsin- The Red Cedar Speedway presented the 4th Annual Randy Buss Ice Breaker Classic sponsored by Keyes Chevrolet and Mars Race Cars as the memory of Randy Buss was celebrated, as is becoming tradition at the opening event in Menomonie. Mr. Buss would have been pleased indeed as from the drop of the first green flag to the final checkered being waved in the air, the racing action was spectacular. The WISSOTA Pure Stocks, Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, Modifieds, and Late Models competed on a smooth and fast racing surface which allowed for three wide racing throughout the night. Kudos to the track workers for preparing a spectacular racing surface. The feature winners were Jeff Tisdale, CJ Wagner, Jesse Redetzke, Shane Halopka, Michael Truscott, and John Kaanta.
The Late Model heats were won by Jesse Glanz and Greg Nippoldt as John Kaanta and Rick Hanestad graced the front row at feature time. Immediately at the drop of the green, Kaanta moved to the point as Cole Shill moved from the second row into the runner up position. Hanestad moved high on the track and Nippoldt bolted from the third row to third on the field. Jake Redetzke was the man on move as he forged his way from the seventh starting position and overtook fourth. As Kaanta was driving into the night, Redetzke continued to look impressive and methodically moved into the top three and then took over the runner up spot and set out to try to run down Kaanta.
Hanestad found his brand-new MB Customs racecar coming to him and he too regained, moving into fourth on the high side and changing grooves to the bottom to overtake third. Kaanta was on cruise control as Redetzke was cutting into his lead in chunks. The master was perfect in traffic however, and continued to lead as later in the event, Pat Doar began to work his way into the top five and find himself in fourth. On the final circuit, Redetzke put it in the third turn as deep as it possibly could go and reached Kaanta’s tail, but Kaanta was too much and drove to the win, having led cover to cover. Redetzke followed him home in an impressive second as Hanestad, Doar, and strong run for Nippoldt saw him finish in the top five.
The Modified heats were won by Cory Mahder and Kevin Adams as Michael Truscott and Josh Hessler held the front row at feature time. The initial start saw Mahder coming to a grinding halt against the front stretch wall ending his night just past the dropping of the green flag. It was the only yellow flag of the event and the restart saw Truscott, also driving a brand-new MB Customs racecar, move away from the field and drive impressively to the feature win.
Truscott put distance on the field and missed the outstanding show behind him as some of the masters used every inch of the racing surface to ply their trades. Grant Southworth moved from row two to grab second position early as it was Kevin Adams coming from fifth into third in the bottom groove. Ashley Anderson took his brand-new MB on an impressive ride as he carved the track in the high line and passed Hessler and Adams as he charged through the field.
Mike Anderson too was moving all over the track in his new SSR racecar as he dove hard under Adams for position and drove under Hessler shortly thereafter. Ashley Anderson ran down Southworth and overtook the runner up position, and although he tried hard to catch the leader, he followed Truscott under the checkered flag. Southworth raced home in third in front of Mike Anderson as Hessler blasted home in fifth.
Dan Gullikson and Adam Soltis won their respective heats in the Super Stocks and Tommy Richards and Tony Falkner led them to green in their main event. You don’t have to be a racing junkie to know it does not bode well for the field when Tommy Richards is on the pole, but the racing action proved that there is a reason the races are run before the winner is crowned. At the drop of the green flag, Jesse Redetzke moved from outside of row two to the lead and quickly showed he was the man to beat.
Richards dropped into second and set chase as Falkner ran in third. Gullikson, who started eight on the field charged through the group and found third himself shortly thereafter. A caution flag for a spin collecting cars in turn four slowed the action and on the restart, Gullikson took advantage and moved in front of Richards but it was once again Redetzke in the lead. Another turn four spin grouped the field again, but the restart was single file. Redetzke held the point as Richards moved under Gullikson and the two raced side by side for position.
Redetzke was untouchable as he raced the Dan Arneson owned 207 to the win. Gullikson and Richards fought hard for second and it was Gullikson at the line. Nick Oreskovich had driven to fourth as Lukas Koski looked good, finishing fifth.
The Midwest Modified heats were won by Shane Halopka and David Simpson and Halopka become the third driver on the night who had traditionally driven different chassis to win in his brand-new MB Customs racecar. Halopka had no issues taking the lead on lap one from the second row and driving off into the night. Behind him, Matt Klukas and Travis Anderson raced for position. Anderson’s front tire rolled over the cushion in turn four and he nosed into and then slammed the barrier hard, drawing a caution and ending his night on the hook.
The restart saw Halopka in control as Josh Wahlstrom was impressive and overtook the runner up position. Cole Searing moved from eighth at the start into third as ninth starting Calvin Iverson powered into fourth. As the race ran on, the front three distanced themselves slightly as Iverson slapped the outer wall. He fell back to sixth but was still fast as he worked himself back to forth, just beating Simpson to the checkers who rounded out the top five.
The Street Stocks saw Ron Hanestad and Danny Richards capture heats as Hunter VanGilder and C.J. Wagner were side by side on the front row at the start of the feature. The two raced each other cleanly door to door for seven laps, putting on a spectacular show up front. It was Wagner in his station wagon appearing racecar who eventually forged a fender out front and then took over the lead. Wagner looked impressive as Dustin Doughty came from seventh on the field to third. Ron Hanestad looked strong in fourth as Wagner set sail out front.
Doughty drove low into second position as the first caution of the event flew for a breakdown on the track. The car was cleared, and the race restarted with Wagner once again holding the point. The final caution flew for a spinning Travis Loew, but the restart saw Wagner in command as he drove to his first ever Street Stock feature win over Doughty. Danny Richards used the low line late to take third over Hanestad as Mike Knutson finished a very strong run from 14th on the field after heat trouble to score a top five finish.
Jeff Tisdale looked excellent on the night as he swept the Pure Stocks. He moved from row two to second and moved high to drive side by side for the lead with George Richards. Tisdale impressively took over the position and although Richards would stick his nose back under the leader,Tisdale inched away. Dean Pronschinske ran a solid third as Nick Carvelli and Charlie Pitcavage motored home in the top five.
The Red Cedar Speedway returns to action on Friday, May 03, 2019, as the WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Hornets take the track.
Article Credit: Brad Erickson
