Larry Niebel – Pure Stock feature winner – photo by Kaz Grafix
Santanna Tates, Winnipeg Manitoba (June 8) Red River Co-op Speedway’s 2017 season has shifted into high gear with its third race of the season the action is just getting started. This Thursday, Red River Co-op featured 5 classes of racing. The weather was favourable, the track was smooth and fast which made for a great night of racing.
The 15 lap Pure Stock feature saw the #42 of Larry Niebel impressively make his way from tenth to first earning him his first feature win for the 2017 season. Rob Reese caused an early caution that sent the #21c of Cole Maydanuk spinning – but that didn’t stop Reese from moving through the pack and earning second for the night. Austin Overwater had a great run finishing third and Kevin Delaine picked up forth.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modified division featured a 19 car line up with the #24 of Victoria Stutsky in the pole position and the #3 of Jason Somack to her outside. When the green flag dropped it didn’t take long for Somack to find himself in first position and the #20 of Nick Audette to making a break for second. With Stutsky falling back to third she battled Paul Veert to keep her position. Despite her effort Veert took third and within no time picked up second from Audette. Somack worked to fend off Veert but couldn’t keep him away very long, the pair raced side by side with Veert taking first from Somack. Austin Hunter made his way up the pack from eighth and took third from Audette but a caution halted the race. On the restart Veert lead with Somack on his tail but Hunter crept up from behind and took second causing Somack to fall back to third. A second caution ended with a single file restart and Hunter chased down Veert for first but was unable to catch him before the checkered flag dropped. Hunter took home second, Somack third and Paul Veert picked up his second consecutive win at red river co-op speedway this year.
In the Northern Super Truck class teammates Dustin Enns and Jeff Rempel put on quite the show. Enns started in sixth and Rempel in seventh. They dominated the field, survived a couple of cautions, made it through lap traffic and battled it out side by side. Dustin Enns had the advantage in the end and earned himself a spot in victory lane. Rempel took home second and Jamie Vernaus, Dave Buffie, Dan Klim collected top 5 finishes.
In the Wissota Modified division pole-sitter Rene “Mr. Excitement” Poluyko led the race but it wasn’t long before the #48 of Jerome Guyot caught up to him taking the first place position. Poluyko found himself holding onto second as Rick Delaine and Ward Imrie battled for third but Delaine took second and Imrie moved in on Poluyko taking third. The pair continued to battle each other for second with Imrie ending up in second and Delaine in third. Guyot had an enormous lead between him and Imrie but lap traffic tightened the gap. With Imrie on his tail looking for first Guyot maintained his position and took home the win.
The Late Model Feature got off to a messy start. Paul Veert started on pole with Shane Holden to his outside but a caution on the start awarded to Mike Martin sent Multiple cars to the pit. On the restart Holden took the lead. Veert fell back to third and Kevin Sexton took second. Dustin Strand made his way from sixth taking third from Veert and second from Sexton. Mike Balcaen in forth and Bill Mooney in fifth both made their way around Veert moving up in spots. A second caution made it harder for Holden stay in first on the restart with Strand taking the lead and claiming the checker flag. Despite Holden’s efforts he continued to fall back but still earned himself a place in the top 5. Balcaen finished second, Sexton Third, Mooney Forth and Holden finished fifth for the night.
Action at Red River Co-op revs up again on Thursday, June 15 at 7:00 pm. Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Super Trucks, Pure Stocks and 4 Cylinders will be competing.
