By Mike Spieker
WEST FARGO, ND (July 27) – Eighty-one race teams invaded Red River Valley Speedway for the first Wednesday night program since September 30, 2011 at the three-eighths mile dirt oval. Austin Arneson, Luke Johnson, Steven Kuntz and Billy Carou all visited KRJB 106.5FM Victory Lane.
Thirty-four IMCA Modifieds entered the Corwin, Charlie’s Philly Steaks, and Popeye’s Chickens-sponsored event, but the field was trimmed to the fastest 24 cars for the 25-lap Fredrikson & Byron
feature race.
The father-son duo of Todd and Jarrett Carter led them to the green flag, but Detroit Lakes, MN driver Michael Griffin came from inside row two to take the lead on the opening lap. Behind Griffin there was a four wide battle for second down the back straightaway, which was won by Billy Vogel.
Vogel chased down Griffin to take the lead on lap two and opened up a fairly comfortable lead over Griffin and Dave Shipley. Meanwhile, the man on the move was Austin Arneson in his U Motors #10. Arneson had wheeled his way from 11th to fourth in just three laps and found himself in second by lap five.
It didn’t take long for Arneson to track down Vogel’s 10 car length advantage. Arneson placed his successful bid for the lead while he and Vogel were in heavy lapped traffic with 13 circuits remaining. Once out front, Arneson cruised to the feature win over Vogel, Shipley, Griffin, and Cale Arneson.
The NDSCS INEX Legends feature began with a six-car battle for the point, which was ultimately won by Dean Julsrud. The Barnesville, MN driver led until Red River Kart Club graduate, Tim Estenson stole the lead with 10 to go. Farther back in the pack, 11th place starter Steven Kuntz was charging through the field as he passed four cars in one lap to move into second. The following circuit Kuntz drove by the #14T of Estenson and went on to lead the final five laps to score the victory.
It was another dominating performance by the driver of the #7C in the A Transmission City IMCA Hobby Stock division as Jamestown’s Billy Carou drove to yet another RRVS feature win. Carou started outside of the fourth row and took the lead away from Tim Church with six to go and held off a very fast Kasey Ussatis in the closing stages to pick up the victory.
The Eide Bailly IMCA Sport Mods had a wild finish with several cautions in the late stages. Luke Johnson stole the lead from Taylor Grove on lap three to take the lead as Jesse Skalicky slid into second from his 10th starting position.
Skalicky then set his sights on Johnson, but Skalicky just wasn’t quick enough to reel in the Corey’s Car Care #8J to challenge for the lead. A caution on the white flag lap changed all of that, however, as Skalicky lined up right behind Johnson with Scott Jacobson to his inside. Jacobson, who ran third on the grid, had rebounded after going to the tail of the field early for spinning out Johnson.
As the race resumed, Johnson and Skalicky raced hard into turn one, but once again Jacobson drove into the left rear of Johnson and spun him out. Jacobson was charged for his second caution and was sent to the trailer.
Another green-white-checkered finish ensued with Johnson running down low and Skalicky upstairs riding the rim. Johnson had the advantaged exiting turn two and went on to score his second RRVS win of the season.
Racing continues on August 12th as Steffes Auctioneers and the North Dakota Corn Growers Association present Friday night racing at Red River Valley Speedway, starting at 7pm.
RESULTS:
IMCA Modifieds:
1. Austin Arneson
2. Billy Vogel
3. Dave Shipley
4. Michael Griffin
5. Cale Arneson
6. Dev Malmlov
7. Michael Greseth
8. Rob VanMil
9. Tyler Peterson
10. Michael Johnson
11. Jarrett Carter
12. Jason Grimes
13. Jason Strand
14. Cody Peterson
15. Jeff Odden
16. Rusty Kollman
17. Rich Pavlicek
18. Brennan Borg
19. Justin Jones
20. John Corell
21. Bob Banish Jr.
22. Luke Lick
23. Nolan Olmstead
24. Todd Carter
IMCA Sport Mods:
1. Luke Johnson
2. Jesse Skalicky
3. Kelly Jacobson
4. Chris VanMil
5. Cody Fuller
6. Matt Talley
7. Taylor Grove
8. Vince Jegtvig
9. Kraig Kasin
10. Billy Michaelsohn
11. Scott Jacobson
12. Tyler McDougall
13. Dustin Hartwig
14. Paul Colvin
INEX Legends:
1. Steven Kuntz
2. Andrew Jochim
3. Tim Estenson
4. Josh Julsrud
5. Dylan Johnson
6. Tim Brockhouse
7. Dean Julsrud
8. Casey Hendrikson
9. Kaitlyn Skalicky
10. Mariah Henrickson
11. Devyn Stocker
12. Brian Hanson
13. Tony Brockhouse
14. Grady Shearer
15. Jarrett Julsrud
16. Brandon Erickson
17. Alex Braseth
18. Shaun Erickson
19. Ryan Braseth
IMCA Hobby Stocks/Pure Stocks:
1. Billy Carou
2. Kasey Ussatis
3. Tim Church
4. Wade Moerke
5. Austin Veralrud
6. Tim Shiek
7. Brad Orvedal
8. Taylor Saari
9. Clare Miller
10. Maranda Borg
11. Torey Fischer
12. Brennan Urbach
13. Adam Goff
