Kids Soak the Flagman at Chateau Speedway Friday Night

September 1, 2023 | by Matthew Grage

With temperatures headed back to the ’90s for the Labor Day Weekend, Chateau Speedway used one more day of temperatures in the ’80s for racing action Friday night in Lansing.

One of the new traditions at the track the past few years has been a “Soak the Flagman” Night where the kids are all given water balloons and get to take their best shot at hitting the flagman.

Flagman Ross Spitzer has been a good sport and a willing participant the last few seasons as he once again stood tall in the flag stand facing the grandstand and let the kids pelt him with the water balloons at intermission.

Meanwhile, while he was facing the track during the night he and everyone else witnessed some hot racing action.

A good field of cars were on hand as the track gets in some shows after being idle much of the first half of the season. The unsanctioned action is still following normal sanctioning rules during the six or so weeks of racing that have been scheduled for this fall.

The first feature to roll off on the night was the Power 96 Hobby Stocks and Michael Wick of Faribault came off the front row and lead flag to flag for his first feature win of the year. The win also gave him a sweep on the night as he took one of the two heats. Brady Krohnberg of Walters who took the other heat win came home in second in the main event.

It was a rough feature for the Double M Transport B Mods as excessive cautions caused laps to be cut from their feature. Michael Johnson of Rose Creek worked his way out of row five at the half way mark to the lead and score his first feature win of the year. Michael Meyer of New Richland came home in second ahead of Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie. Noble had one of the three heat wins with the other two going to Matt Tighe of Austin and Lilli Repps of Utica.

Things didn’t go much better for the Hanson Tire Midwest Modified drivers as there race was shortened because of cautions. Christopher Deno of Kasson started outside from row and lead flag to flag for the win. Ryan Goergen of Stacyville, Iowa, came home second ahead of Jayme Hiller of Waseca. Hiller along with Jeremy Misgen of New Richland and Kadden Kath of Ellendale had the three heat wins.

Manke’s Outdoor Equipment Hornets had a caution-free night with Daniel Knish of Kilkenny working through the field to grab the feature win ahead of Bo Noble of Faribault and Mike Chadderdon of Faribault. Chadderdon and Maison Poston of Red Wing took the heat wins.

Blake Adams of McInitre, Iowa, looked to be on his way to his third straight Skjeveland Enterprises Stock Car win but late charging Travis Shipman of Mason City, Iowa, took it away three laps to go. Adams, who held onto second, had the lone heat win.

For the second week in a row, Steve Wetzstein of West Concord took control early and claimed the French’s Repair A Mod feature event. He also took the lone heat win, giving him a sweep for the night. Kylie Kath of Claremont chased him home in both races.

Racing action continues next Friday, Sept. 8, with the first green flag at 7:15 p.m. Regular classes will run with the exception of Hornets. who have the night off as the Outlaw Mini Mods run instead. Hornets will be back Friday, Sept. 15.

The Track will host a $1,000-to-win “Stock Car Shootout” on Friday, Sept. 22, along with support classes. An Enduro is also on the schedule for the first Saturday of October.