Strand, McRae, Hunter and Teunis Dodge Raindrops to Win at Red River Co-op Speedway

Steven Bradley, Winnipeg, MB (September 24) Red River Co-op Speedway hosted 6 classes of racing on Saturday evening. Precipitation in the area kept officials in hurry mode all night as they managed to get all the races in before rain started falling around 8:30PM. With the Jamestown Stampede rained out, national WISSOTA point chasers made the trip from down south looking to add to their season points tally. The track started off tacky, but dried out nicely for the features.

In the WISSOTA Midwest Modified division, Austin Hunter picked up 3 spots and got by Dustin Strand with a few laps remaining to earn the feature win. Christopher Leek, Stoney Kruk and Grant Hall finished in the top 5 of the 22 car field.

In the WISSOTA Street Stock class, Shawn Teunis racked up RRCS win number 9 of the season and took a stranglehold on the point standings by finishing ahead of second place Peter Letkeman. Art Linert placed third while Jesse Teunis and Steve Boone rounded out the top 5.

In the WISSOTA Modified series, Lee McRae picked up his first RRCS feature win after working over Jerome Guyot. Danny Staff held off Scott Greer for third while Jordan Duray rounded out the top 5.

In WISSOTA Late Model action, national points leader Dustin Strand defeated Ricky Weiss for the win and collected maximum points by sweeping the event. Mike Martin ended his night in third ahead of Bill Mooney and Kevin Sexton.

In Pure Stock racing, Derek Pollock survived a late race attack from Rob Reese and held him off to earn his fifth RRCS win of the season. Kevin Delaine held off Austin Overwater for third while Zac Brennan rounded out the top 5.

In the Northern Super Truck series, Jeff Rempel survived a short rain delay, contact from a lap truck and a late race caution to tip-toe to the feature win. Rene Poluyko recovered from a bad starting spot to finish second while Rod Fidler edged Jamie Vernaus for a third place finish.

In WISSOTA Late Model action, front row starter and RRCS points leader Shane Edginton took a hit in points by opting to start at the back and parking his ride after taking the opening green flag.

Mike Martin moved up 2 spots to take the early lead while national WISSOTA points leader, Dustin Strand settled into second.

On lap 2, Ricky Weiss was performing well in the return to his home track after picking up 4 spots and moving into third.

On lap 6, Walt Morris was ticketed for setting of a chain reaction that caused Paul Veert to knock a tractor tire onto the racing surface to cause a caution.

On the restart, Weiss got by the 2 cars ahead of him in turns 3 and 4 to move to the point. On the following lap, Dustin Strand moved Martin back to third on a pass exiting turn 2 and set his eyes on the leader.

Over the next 8 laps it looked like Weiss would be celebrating his homecoming in victory lane as he opened up a decent lead on Strand, however a caution on lap 14 for the spinning car of rookie Shane Holden erased Weiss’s lead and put Strand on his rear bumper.

On the restart, Strand and Weiss both took turns leading over the next 2 sets of corners as each driver performed some pretty nice cross-overs, but Strand won that battle and emerged with the lead.

Strand was eventually able to open up some distance on Weiss and managed to collect the win – sweeping the series and building on his national points lead. Weiss finished his run in second while Mike Martin, Bill Mooney and Kevin Sexton all collected top 5 finishes.

Dustin Strand and Ricky Weiss each collected heat wins earlier in the night.

In WISSOTA Modified racing, Jordan Duray used the pole to take the early lead. Duray held the point for the opening 4 circuits until Jerome Guyot made a pass for the lead exiting turn 2 – bringing Lee McRae with him for second.

A caution fell on lap 5 when RRCS points leader Ward Imrie looped his car in turn 2 and got sent to the back for the restart.

Guyot maintained the point when green flag racing resumed. On lap 6, Ryan Kereluk climbed into the top 3 after a pass on Duray exiting turn 2.

A second caution reset the field on lap 9 when Kereluk slipped over the turn 2 brim – surrendering third position after being sent to the back.

On the restart, Guyot continued to lead but was soon under attack from McRae. McRae used the next 2 laps to work over and eventually take the lead from Guyot exiting turn 4.

McRae stuck his car to the high line and held the point for the remaining laps as he collected his first RRCS win of the season. Guyot finished in second while Danny Staff, Scott Greer and Jordan Duray ended their nights in the top 5.

Ward Imrie and Kevin Sexton each picked up heat wins earlier in the night.

In the WISSOTA Midwest Modified class, an opening lap caution reset the 22 car field after Tom Morriseau slipped over turn 3.

On the restart, Stoney Kruk picked up 4 spots to take over the lead exiting turn 4. On lap 4, Dustin Strand got by both Austin Hunter and Murray Kozie on the back stretch to secure second position.

A caution fell on the next lap when Jason Somack was deemed responsible for setting off a chain reaction that sent Lance Schill into the turn 4 retaining wall and did extensive body damage to the right side of his car. Another caution fell 2 laps later after Kozie’s car went up in smoke right in front of Christopher Leek. Luckily, everyone managed to avoid the dead car and the field lined up for the restart.

When the green flag flew, Strand took over the lead with Hunter securing second ahead of Kruk. On lap 12, Leek completed a pass on Kruk exiting turn 4 to climb into the top 3.

On lap 13, Hunter knocked Strand off the point after a nice pass in turn 1 just before a caution fell when Jason Somack sent rookie Victoria Stutsky spinning exiting turn 2. That was Somack’s second ticket of the night and he was sent to the pits.

The field lined up for a single file restart and Hunter managed to maintain the lead. Hunter collected the win ahead of Strand while Leek, Kruk and Grant Hall all earned top 5 placings.

Dustin Strand, Christopher Leek and Lance Schill all drove from the back to the front to pick up heat wins.

In the WISSOTA Street Stock division, Peter Letkeman got by the front row pairing on the opening lap to take the early lead.

Shawn and Jesse Teunis raced into the top 3 after Brad Wall slid high in turn 2 on lap 2.

Shawn Teunis caught and passed Letkeman for the lead at the flag stand on lap 5 just as Art Linert was overtaking Jesse Teunis for third.

The field spread out and ran single file for the remainder of the race, as Teunis easily picked up his ninth RRCS win of the season. Letkeman finished in second while Linert, Jesse Teunis and Steve Boone earned top 5 placings in the 7 car field.

Shawn Teunis swept the night picking up a win in the class’s sole heat.

In the Northern Super Truck series, Wayne Grosky used the pole to lead the opening 2 circuits of the race.

Jeff Rempel needed just 2 laps to climb from eighth to first after he blasted by Grosky at the flag stand.

On lap 3, Rod Fidler and Rick Lowey knocked Grosky out of the top 3 after they both got by in turn 3. Jamie Vernaus picked up 6 spots on lap 6 after getting by Lowey to move into the top 3.

The first of 2 cautions fell on lap 7 after Trevor Krause spun in turn 2. On the restart, Rempel continued to lead with Fidler moving into second just ahead of Vernaus.

On lap 12, Rene Poluyko was recovering nicely from a back pack starting spot due to mechanical issues in the heat, and got by Vernaus for third exiting turn 2.

A final caution fell with 5 laps remaining after Arnie Todosey looped his truck in turn 2 – which may have been a result of rain beginning to fall on an already dry-slick track. Todoey’s spinning truck barley collected the leader and did minor damage to his truck.

As rain light rain started to fall, officials kept the trucks on the track turning pace laps as service vehicles joined the racers in hopes they wouldn’t loose the track. Luckily, after 5 minutes the rain stopped and the field got ready to complete the last 5 laps.

On the restart, Rempel continued to lead while Poluyko was battling Fidler for second. The battle for second enabled Rempel to separate himself for the pack and pick up the feature win. Poluyko got by Fidler on the last lap to claim second position, while Fidler narrowly edged Vernaus for third just ahead of Dan Klim.

Rick Lowey and Rod Fidler each collected heat wins earlier in the night.

In Pure Stock racing, Austin Overwater got by the front row pairing on the opening lap to take the early lead.

On lap 2, Rob Reese moved up 6 positions and completed a pass on Lance Relf to move into second spot – bringing Les McRae with him for third.

On lap 4, Reese slid up turn 2, which allowed Derek Pollock to squeeze by he and Overwater and move into the runner up position. Pollock’s charge to the front continued on lap 5 when he got by McRae for the lead exiting turn 2.

The first of 3 cautions fell on lap 6 when McRae was spun in turn 3. McRae was given his spot back on the restart. Another caution took place on the restart when Riley Beamish spun in turn 2 just as McRae’s car expired high in the same corner – which ended his night.

On the restart, Pollock continued to lead while Overwater and Reese formed the top 3. A final caution reset the field on lap 10 when Micheal Wood was credited for an incident that spun both Ethan Friesen and Cole Maydanuk exiting turn 2. Wood was parked for the remainder of the race.

On the single-file restart Pollock continued to set the race pace with Reese getting by Kevin Delaine for second.

Over the final 5 laps, Reese and Pollock continued their year long battle up front as Pollock was able to lead down the straightaways and race side-by-side in the corners. In what started with a bit of rubbing, got more intense as Reese began using the chrome horn to get Pollock off his game. However, the Pure Stock veteran wasn’t easily rattled and Pollock edged Reese at the flag stand by a bumper to collect his fifth RRCS feature win of the season. Reese was scored second ahead of Delaine, Overwater and Zac Brennan who finished in the top 5 of the 18 cars that started.

Pollock swept the Pure Stock division by picking up a in in heat 2. Les McRae and Micheal Wood also earned heat wins.

The race season at Red River Co-op Speedway concludes with the 2-day annual Prairie Classic on September 30 and October 1. All 7 classes will be racing on the final day to determine championship titles. For more information on events, visit www.redrivercoopspeedway.com.

Race Summaries

WISSOTA Late Models
Feature – Dustin Strand, Ricky Weiss, Mike Martin, Bill Mooney, Kevin Sexton, Rick Fawcett, George Balcaen, Shane Holden Walt Morris, Paul Veert (DNF), Mike Balcaen (DNF), Shane Edginton (DNF).
Heat 1 – Dustin Strand, Mike Balcaen, Bill Mooney, Mike Martin, Kevin Sexton, George Balcaen.
Heat 2 – Ricky Weiss, Shane Edginton, Rick Fawcett, Paul Veert, Shane Holden, Walt Morris (DNF).

WISSOTA Modifieds
Feature – Lee McRae, Jerome Guyot, Danny Staff, Jordan Duray, Kevin Sexton, Rick Delaine, Ryan Kereluk, James Wall, Ian Rousseau, Ward Imrie (DNF).
Heat 1 – Ward Imrie, Lee McRae, Danny Staff, Jerome Guyot, Scott Greer, Rick Delaine.
Heat 2 – Kevin Sexton, Ryan Kereluk, Jordan Duray, Ian Rousseau, James Wall.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
Feature – Austin Hunter, Dustin Strand, Christopher Leek, Stoney Kruk, Grant Hall, Paul Veert, Nick Audette, David Delaine, Brandon Rehill, Dylan Sabatini, Victoria Stucsky, Brendan Luchinski, Jason Schuh, Steve Hougard, Edward Bell, Steve Redman, Jason Somack (DNF), Murray Kozie (DNF), Tony Caissie (DNF), Lance Schill (DNF), Tom Morriseau (DNF), Darren Boychuk (DNF), Rob Stutsky (DNS).
Heat 1 – Dustin Strand, Tony Caissie, Stoney Kruk, Darren Boychuk, David Delaine, Victoria Stutsky, Grant Hall, Steve Redman.
Heat 2 – Christopher Leek, Paul Veert, Murray Kozie, Dylan Sabatini, Brendan Luschinski, Brandon Rehill, Jason Schuh (DNF), Edward Bell (DNS).
Heat 3 – Lance Schill, Austin Hunter, Jason Somack, Nick Audette, Steve Hougard, Tom Morrieseau, Rob Stutsky (DNF).

WISSOTA Street Stocks
Feature – Shawn Teunis, Peter Letkeman, Art Linert, Jesse Teunis, Steve Boone, Rod Wolfe, Brad Wall.
Heat 1 – Shawn Teunis, Peter Letkeman, Jesse Teunis, Steve Boone, Brad Wall, Art Linert, Rod Wolfe (DNF).

Northern Super Trucks
Feature – Jeff Rempel, Rene Poluyko, Rod Fidler, Jamie Vernaus, Dan Klim, Rick Lowey, Wayne Grosky, Darren Lane, Marc Zondag, Trevor Krause, Arnie Todosey (DNF), Wade Barley (DBS).
Heat 1 – Rick Lowey, Wayne Grosky, Trevor Krause, Jeff Rempel, Jamie Vernaus (DNF), Rene Poluyko (DNF).
Heat 2 – Rod Fidler, Dan Klim, Marc Zondag, Darren Lane, Wade Barkley (DNF), Arnie Todosey (DNF).

Pure Stocks
Feature – Derek Pollock, Rob Reese, Kevin Delaine, Austin Overwater, Zac Brennan, Cole Maydanuk, Trevor Rambow, Andrew Thomas, Lance Relf, Crysta-Mae Thomas, Brayson Bytheway, Riley Beamsih, Ethan Friesen (DNF), Micheal Wood (DNF), Les McRae (DNF), Bill Messier (DNF), Al Unger (DNF), Evan Schroeder (DNF), Jeff Copp (DNF), Roger Boisjoli (DNS).
Heat 1 – Les McRae, Rob Reese, Austin Overwater, Andrew Thomas, Roger Bisjoli, Evan Schroeder (DNF), Crysta-Mae Thomas (DNS).
Heat 2 – Derek Pollock, Kevin Delaine, Ethan Friesen, Zac Brennan, Al Unger, Brayson Bytheway, Riley Beamish.
Heat 3 – Michael Wood, Lance Relf, Cole Maydanuk, Bill Messier, Jeff Copp (DNF), Trevor Rambow (DNF).