By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Princeton, MN (May 10) – After nearly 10 years of racing under a dual-sanctioning, the Princeton Speedway is under the management of the Wagamon Family and back to full WISSOTA Sanctioning. The track kicked off their 2024 race season Friday night with the WISSOTA Modifieds, Super Stocks, Mod Fours, Midwest Modifieds as well as the Minnesota Micro Sprints. Nearly 100 drivers filled the pits, fans packed the stands, and everyone enjoyed a night of WISSOTA Dirt Track Race Action.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds were the first feature of the night with Ashton Schulte and Jason VandeKamp on row one. VandeKamp claimed the early lead as the green waved but felt the pressure of Joey Jenson at his rear and his door. Laps passed with Jenson working the high and low grooves, but VandeKamp retained the lead. The top two racers caught slower drivers as a caution waved for debris on the track. With only five laps to go, VandeKamp retook the green with Jenson and Ryan Putnam on his bumper. Putnam grabbed second on the restart, but Jensen and Zach Benson joined his side to race three-wide. Putnam grabbed second and raced to VandeKamp’s rear with just one lap to go. Putnam gave it a final shot, but Jason VandeKamp held the point and took the win. Ryan Putnam settled for second with Zach Benson, Joey Jensen and Garrett Paull as the top finishers.
The WISSOTA Mod Fours took the clay for the night’s next race, and Dustin Holtquist and Tommy Pogones led the way. The top two drivers battled for the lead, but Pogones was first at the end of lap one. A couple cautions slowed the Mod Fours, but as the race continued, Tommy Bawden raced to Pogones’ door. Pogones held the point and soon caught slower drivers as more cautions occurred. As drivers were sorted and realigned, Bawden inherited the lead with Chad Funt and Dustin Holtquist in top points. After a couple laps, Bawden caught spot a in the track, rolled in turn three and the red flag waved. Bawden was ok and climbed from his car while the track was cleaned, and drivers sorted. Holtquist was in command as the race resumed with Funt at his door. Holtquist got squirrely in the curve and Funt shot into the lead with the white high in the sky, Chad Funt led the only lap that counted and took the win with Dustin Holtquist, Josh Litzau, Tyler Larson and Rowan Tramm rounded out top points.
Zach Benson and Eric Lamm brought the WISSOTA Modifieds to the stand and class rookie Benson snagged the early lead. Lamm held second while Dave Cain and Brandon Copp fought for third. Cain moved forward, slid by Lamm for second and looked ahead at Benson. Benson was ahead by nearly a straight-away as the yellow waved and the field was reset. Cain and Lamm were on Benson’s bumper when the green reappeared. Brennan Gave joined the battle and went three-wide for second allowing Benson to stretch his lead. Drivers jockeyed for the second point, going three-wide a few times. Lamm and Cain however remained door-to-door for second with just a handful of laps left. Zach Benson led the race in its entirety and took his first ever WISSOTA Modified feature win with Dave Cain, JT Johnson, Jake Smith and Brennan Gave in top points after drivers attended post-race tech.
The Minnesota Micro Sprints rolled on the track surface for their feature event with Carson Berglund and Garrett Tatnell on row one. Tatnell, Berglund and Caleb Moen battled close for first as the yellow flew with one lap in. Tatnell brought the drivers to green, but Moen quickly made the pass on the back-chute and took the lead. Drivers began to space out as laps passed, and with just three laps to go, Moen’s lead exceeded a straight-away. Caleb Moen took the double checkers to win the feature while points two through five were claimed by Carson Berglund, Garrett Tatnell, Jacob Anderson and Tyler Pelofske.
The WISSOTA Super Stocks closed out the Princeton Speedway season opener with Jeremy Nelson and Jordan Henkemeyer on row one. As the race went green, Nelson, Henkemeyer and Rick Simpson raced three-wide for first. Henkemeyer claimed the lead and soon stretched the lead a little as others remained side-by-side for top positions. Simpson, James Trantina and Dexton Koch settled into points two through four with Denis Czech moving in to challenge the top drivers. Jordan Henkemeyer however kept his car on cruise control, led the event from flag to flag, and grabbed the win. Remaining top points went to Rick Simpson, Denis Czech, Dexton Koch and Jeremy Nelson.
Next Friday, the Princeton Speedway will be back in action with all six of our regular WISSOTA Classes on the schedule after originally being off for the night. Racing will resume at 7:00pm.