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Laske & Sabraski rule open-wheelers at Norman Cty
By Josh Johnson
© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.
ADA, MN (May 8) - More than 70 racers made the trek to Norman County Raceway Thursday when the race track held its WISSOTA AMSOIL Dirt Track Series season opener presented by Halls Auto Body.
Shayne Laske proved he will be tough to beat once again in the WISSOTA Mod Four class this season; the defending national champion rocketed into the lead soon after the green flew in that division’s feature race. Polesitter Josh Abrahamson stayed with Laske briefly at the start, but Laske proved too tough.
While Laske put distance between himself, Abrahamson and Corry VanMil, a battle for fourth raged between Jay Lere and Cory Ohnstad, who started ninth. Ohnstad eventually took over fourth, but was unable to track down third place VanMil in the closing stages. Laske went on to score the win followed by Abrahamson, VanMil, Ohnstad, and Lere.
Fans around WISSOTA have witnessed the battle in the national points standings in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified division between Shane Sabraski and Brock Gronwold during the past couple of years. Fans in Ada were able to watch the battle continue when the two hard-chargers shared the front row for the feature.
When the green flag dropped, Gronwold grabbed the advantage and dove low in turn one to take the lead. However, Sabraski fought back and threw a slide job on the leader in turn three. Gronwold bounced back, shot by off turn four and reclaimed the lead. Sabraski drove beside Gronwold down the frontstretch a lap later and once again drove into the lead, this time in turn one.
Soon after, rookie Dan Ebert, along with Dustin Strand, closed in on the front two and together they began to hound Gronwold for second. Shortly after, Strand took second while Ebert cruised into third. Ebert dove under Strand in turn one a lap later and the two raced side-by-side down the backstretch. Ebert sealed the deal and took over the second spot, and set his sights on the leader Sabraski.
Ebert got his chance to make a run at Sabraski moments later when a lapped car held up Sabraski momentarily, but the leader proved too strong for the rookie driver and went on to capture the feature win. Ebert followed in a close second, while Strand, Gronwold and Danny Strem rounded out the top five.
Brian Strand and Michael Greseth held the front row for the 13-car WISSOTA Modified feature and Strand rocketed into the early lead. Second row starter Chad Ohnstad moved under Greseth in turns one and two a lap later, but Greseth held the spot. Ohnstad tried a second time in three and four but to no avail. A couple laps later, Greseth made a run on Strand but was unable to take advantage. Soon after, a caution waved for the idle car of Alex Engelstad, who was able to restart the race.
When racing resumed, Strand retained the lead while Greseth fought off Ohnstad and Sabraski for second. Soon after, the battle for second came down to Greseth and Sabraski. While Strand was running alone out front, his car suddenly slowed and Sabraski moved to the lead. Strand kept his car going, but slipped back to third behind Sabraski and Blake Jegtvig, who snuck into second.
Sabraski drove unchallenged during the closing laps and went on to score his second feature victory of the night. Jegtvig held on to second at the end, while Strand came away with third. Ohnstad and Greseth were the next two.
Dan Bolstad scored the victory in the Four Cylinder feature ahead of Winnipeg invader Frank Veert, while Justin Olson took advantage of the misfortune of leader Ken Crane to take the win in the Pure Stock feature.
Racing returns to the 4/10 mile dirt track Thursday night for Anderson-Richards Oil and Propane, and Visser Grading night at the races. For more information about the Norman County Raceway, visit the website, www.ncraceway.com, or call (218) 791-7169 on race day.
WISSOTA Modifieds:
Feature - Shane Sabraski, Blake Jegtvig, Brian Strand, Chad Ohnstad, Michael Greseth, Dev Malmlov, Jason Grimes, Alex Engelstad, Blake Borgen, Mark Trautner
Heat 1 - Brian Strand, Steven Pfeifer, Chad Ohnstad, Dev Malmlov, Blake Borgen
Heat 2 - Michael Greseth, Blake Jegtvig, Shane Sabraski, Alex Engelstad
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds:
Feature - Shane Sabraski, Dan Ebert, Dustin Strand, Brock Gronwold, Danny Strem, Ryan Mikkelson, Chris Tuchscherer, Kylie Abrahamson, Travis Saurer, Bryce Borgen
Heat 1 - Brock Gronwold, Dan Ebert, Danny Strem, Chris Tuchscherer, Kylie Abrahamson
Heat 2 - Shane Sabraski, Dustin Strand, Karl Tollefson, Zach Naastad, Bryce Borgen
WISSOTA Mod Fours:
Feature - Shayne Laske, Josh Abrahamson, Corry VanMil, Cory Ohnstad, Jay Lere, Tyler Hall, Jim Erdmann, Larry Niemi, John Hintz
Heat 1 - Josh Abrahamson, Jay Lere, Larry Niemi, Matt Ohnstad, John Hintz
Heat 2 - Shayne Laske, Corry VanMil, Tyler Hall, Jim Erdmann, Cory Ohnstad
Four Cylinders:
Feature - Dan Bolstad, Frank Veert, James Cooper, Scott Beckman, Tyler Hall, Spencer Kuehl, Patrick Lundon, Chris Geray, Andy Fischer, Nick Duncan
Heat 1 - Scott Beckmanm, Michael Griffin, Tom Andring, Spencer Kuehl, Andy Fischer
Heat 2 - James Cooper, Daniel Bolstad, Daniel Bertek, Patrick Lundon, Allison Christian
Heat 3 - Frank Veert, Tyler Hall, Eric Lundon, Chris Geray, Tyler Holmstrom
Pure Stocks:
Feature - Justin Olson, Chad Geray, Tim Shiek, William Beckman, Dan Beckman, Marcus Lundon, Scott Beckman, Andy Wagner, Ken Crane, Aaron Kappes
Heat 1 - Tim Shiek, William Beckman, Dan Beckman, Scott Beckman, Dean Lundon
Heat 2 - Ken Crane, Chad Geray, Justin Olson, Andy Wagner, Marcus Lundon
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