By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Princeton, MN (August 9) – It was Mille Lacs County Fair Week and the Princeton Speedway was in action Friday night with a full schedule of WISSOTA Dirt Track Racing. In addition to our WISSOTA Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Mod Fours and Hornets, the MN Micro Sprints and NVSR Vintage cars were on the night’s order of events.
The WISSOTA Street Stocks took the green with Alyssa White and Steve Eggersgluess showing the way. Eggersgluess nosed out the lead as Tommy Pogones slid into second and Kyle Howland claimed third. Eggersgluess slid a bit high on the back-chute which allowed Pogones and Howland to pass the #66E. Pogones remained in command after a quick caution reset the field and then stretched his lead. Tommy Pogones continued on and took the double checkers with points two through five going to Kyle Howland, Steve Eggersgluess, Charlie Shiek and Rachel Boston.
Vintage Modifieds and Full Body cars were also on hand for fair night, with John "butch" Bethke and Karl Knopps winning their respective feature events.
The WISSOTA Super Stocks took the clay and Dylan Kromschroeder snagged the early lead. Drivers were three-wide as they battled for points in the opening lap, until a caution flew. Kromschroeder brought the drivers back to green with Dexton Koch and Max Nelson on his rear. Koch took second, moved high on the track, and cruised to Kromschroeder’s door. Multiple laps passed with Koch and Kromschroeder glued to one another and swapping for the top position. As the white flag waved, Dexton Koch pulled away from Kromschroeder, and then took the win. Dylan Kromschroeder ended in the second point with Max Nelson, Austin Niemeyer and Chris Wark rounding out the top five.
Caleb Moen and Joe Snow brought the MN Micro Sprints to the stand, and as soon as the green waved, the yellow followed. The race restarted with Moen, Snow and Ryan Frandsen separating from the field. Frandsen moved into the top point and immediately stretched his lead. Ryan Frandsen built his lead to over a straightaway as laps passed without issue and grabbed the win with Caleb Moen, Joe Snow, Noah Berglund and Marshall Willing finishing in positions two through five.
Craig Gertsema jumped to the early lead as the WISSOTA Mod Fours feature began with Dustin Holtquist and Josh Litzau to his rear. Holtquist and Litzau put pressure on Gertsema as the yellow waved. The race resumed with Holtquist racing to Gertsema’s door to battle for first. Holtquist nosed out the top point, however got loose on the track and Gertsema cruised back to his door. Holtquist held the lead and Gertsema ran second as four drivers fought for the third point. With a few laps to go, a couple of cautions occurred, and when the final green waved, Dustin Holtquist took the win. Gerald Nohner, Blake Hawker, Craig Gertsema and Josh Litzau rounded out the top points.
The WISSOTA Hornets wrapped up the night with everyone battling for positions one through five. Russell Kiker, Jr. took the lead, Jenna Hagemann claimed second with Payson Patrin and Justin Schelitzche to her rear. Patrin and Schelitzche made the battle three-wide for second with Schelitzche nosing out the point. Schelitzche then sped to Kiker Jr.’s door, and soon took the lead. The top two remained close with Hagemann and Patrin not far behind them as Patrin slowly moved his way forward along the high side. The white then waved, and Patrin and Schelitzche were door to door. The photo finish came down to the flag stand, and Payson Patrin took the win. Justin Schelitzche settled for second with Russell Kiker, Jr., Jenna Hagemann and Josh Backstrom as the top finishers.
We are just a couple of weeks away from season Championship night at the Princeton Speedway, but next Friday is a night you won't want to miss as the High Roller Winged and Non-Winged classes make a stop by the bullring. In addition to the High Roller Sprints, we will have the MN Micro Sprints, WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds and Mod Fours.