Chateau Raceway 9/1/17

September 1, 2017 | by Matthew Grage

The 2017 Racing Season came to an end Friday Night at Chateau Raceway in Lansing with Season Championship Night. The season actually ended up being about half the number of shows that were planned back in the spring. Friday Night was just the 11th night of racing action during this year out of a planned 21. Mother Nature took car of the other 10 giving fans and drivers about half the action they were hoping for this summer. However the drivers packed lots of action into the season in what little time they were allowed with some of the best racing around. Excellent track conditions all year allowed for lots of two and three wide action race after race and week after week with thrilling action every night.

The Track Champions in one of the classes was already decided before the night even began. The Outlaw Mini Mods, who ran an every other week schedule at the track, were not on hand for the night so when action was rained out last week Matt Narveson of Hayfield had that title wrapped up. Another Driver Jason Cummins of New Richland who has a commanding lead in the National USRA National A Mod Points Race had his second straight Track Championship in the bag as soon as he pulled on the track for his Feature with his point margin insurmountable even if he took last. Its Jason’s fourth Championship at Chateau as he also won the title in 2010 and 2011. There was still a mathematical possibility of a change at the top in a couple of the classes, but there were two classes that everyone really had there eyes on. In the WISSOTA Midwest Modified Class Garitt Wytaske of Austin entered the night with a 7 point lead over Dan Wheeler of Savage, and in the WISSOTA Street Stock Class Mike Blowers of Waseca held a slim two point margin on Kory Adams of Stacyville Iowa entering the night. The WISSOTA point system has a 2 point difference between first and second in the feature and a one point per position difference in the heats and the rest of the feature positions, so it was going to be nip and tuck all the way to the final checkers.

First of the two tight battles to be decided was the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds battle between Garitt Wytaske of Austin and Dan Wheeler of Savage. Garitt entered the night 7 points up on Wheeler, who was sitting fourth in the National Points race entering the night, and had increased it to an eight point advantage in the heats. At Feature time Wytaske had the advantage of a better starting position rolling off in row three with Dan stuck back in row five. Scott Simmons of Lakeville took the early lead off the front row while Wytaske settled into a top five spot. Dan meanwhile was stuck back mid pack. Up front the race for the lead was wild with Simmons being challenged by Josh Mattick of Rose Creek, Brayten Cisneros of Blooming Prairie and Nick Koehler of Bloomer Wisconsin. Mattick took the top spot on lap three as the cluster of cars circled the track. The other three fanned out three wide behind him with Cisneros getting a big run and rocketing into the lead with Koehler following him up to second a lap later. Lap after lap Nick kept trying to dive to the bottom of the track to wrestle the lead away and finally on lap eleven he was able to make the move to take over the lead. Meanwhile behind them in the race for the Track Championship Wheeler had worked his way up into the top five and he sat third with just a couple laps to go. However Wytaske maintained his top five position and as Koehler raced off to his first feature win of the season at Lansing Garritt took home the Track Championship finishing third behind Wheeler who made a late pass for second. It was the first Championship for Garitt at Chateau. Koehler’s feature win capped a perfect night for him as he also had a heat win earlier in the night. Mattick, along with Daryl Hainka of Wannamingo also claimed heat wins.

Ryan Goergen of Stacyville Iowa ended up third in points behind Wheeler but ahead of Jeremy Misgen of New Richland and Cisneros.

The WISSOTA Street Stock Main event rolled out next with Waseca driver Mike Blowers two point lead at the start of the night over Kory Adams of Stacyville Iowa sitting at just one point after Adams scored a win in his heat and Mike had a second place finish. The two were paired up on row four for the feature setting up an exciting dual. Noah Grinstead of Austin jumped to the front off the pole to start the race with Blake Adams of McInitre Iowa falling in line second. Zach Elward of Hayfield got a good run out of row three and jumped to third on the first lap ahead of Jason Newkirk of Austin. Mike got the better start between he and Kory as he cracked the top five on the first lap while Kory ran seventh. Up front Zach Elward moved around Blake Adams for second and went to the lead on lap four as the action became hot and heavy at the front. Lap after Lap there was two and three wide racing among the top six with positions and the points lead changing every lap. Just past halfway Newkirk took over the topo spot while Kory and Mike continued there dual for the Championship. Kory caught Blowers on lap six but Mike continue to lead the points race as he stayed just ahead of him. Kory slipped by him on lap eight and with the cars fanned out across the track rocketed up to second when Newkirk went to the point. It was anybody’s race over the last five laps as the top five ran two and three wide all the way to the finish which came about a half a lap short of the intended fifteen laps. Blake Adams took the lead front Newkirk with two laps to go and was still leading at the white flag. As the field was still running two and three wide setting up for a wild finish an incident in the back of the field brought out the caution which flew along with the checkers to end a very exciting race. Kory Adams moved around Newkirk for second and with Elward taking fourth ahead of Blowers the Track Title went to Kory for the second time in the last three years. Adams, who was Track Champion in 2015 as well ended up wining the title by three points over Blowers. Elward had the classes other heat win. Newkirk took third in the points race in his first season in the class, Grinstead was fourth in the final standings ahead of Bernie Adams of Stacyville Iowa

Jason Cummins put an exclamation point on his Championship as he took home his eighth feature win of the season at Lansing in the USRA “A” Mod class with another impressive run. Cummins started back outside row five for the season finale which saw Greg Pfeifer Junior of Austin jump from row two to the front on lap one. Greg proceeded to stretch out a lead over Darwyn Karau of Kasson while Jason tried to pick his way through the field. It took seven laps for him to make it into the top five and another eight laps before he was able to move up to fourth as Greg Jacobson of Waseca was glued to his line and gave Cummins all he could ask for. Lap after lap Jason challenged for the spot but couldn’t make the move stick until he went way to the bottom of lap fifteen and slid by for the spot in turn two. Once clear of Jacobson he took just three laps to real down the top three and take over the top spot, picking off two cars on lap seventeen and sliding past Pfeifer a lap later. Pfeifer, who had a heat win on the night, came home in second ahead of a late charging Jacob Bleess of Chatfield. Jacobson came home in fourth ahead of Joe Ludeman of Grand Meadow. Greg Jensen of Albert Lea waited until the final night of the season to pick up his first win of the year as he scored a heat win. Pfeiffer ended up second in points followed by Darwyn Karau of Kasson, Doug Hillson of Blooming Prairie and Jensen.

There was a little drama in the USRA B Mod feature with the Championship still not set in stone. Kadden Kath started in row two of the seventeen car feature needing at least a fourteenth place finish to wrap up his second title, the last one being in 2013. Seemed like a pretty sure thing for the Owatonna driver who had five feature wins under his belt this year at Chateau and top three finishes in eight of the previous ten nights coming into the evening. However mayhem happens and on lap one it let loose putting everything in doubt. Coming into complete lap one the front of the field got all twisted up and Kadden right in the middle of it took hits on both sides of the car completely tearing the right side sheet metal off the car. Looking a little worse for wear he was still able to keep it on the track. Another caution after the ensuing restart sent a few more cars to the pits leaving just 13 cars still running and thus ensuring his top 14 run was in hand and the Season Track Championship as well. There was still the matter of the race itself to decide and Andrew Bleess of Chatfield, starting outside front row grabbed the early lead over Nate Chodur of Lake Mills Iowa. Bleess survived the early cautions and continued to lead despite heavy pressure from Chodur. Nate finally got a good run on lap six and took over the top spot while behind him fans were treated to some more of the wild two and three wide action that has been the trademark of the track all season. Eventually Taylor Ausrud of Hayfield our ran Matt Brooks of Austin for the runnerup spot behind Chodur. Nate capped a perfect night with the win as he also scored one of the classes two heat wins. Bleess came home in fourth ahead of the mangled car of Kath. Brooks, who made the move up to B Mods this year from Pure Stock a year ago picked up his first win of the season in his heat earlier in the night. Jayden Larson of Mankato was second in the final point standings ahead of Brooks, Chodur and Raey Hastings of Austin.

In Chateau Pure Stock action Jesse Stahl of Austin just knew he just needed to take the green flag in the feature and make it through Tech cleanly to claim his second Track Title. Jesse who last one a Championship back in 2007 had a double celebration on the night as he scored his fifth feature win of the season to cap off his very successful season. Brady Krohnberg of Walters lead the field to the green on the pole and paced the field for the first three laps before Jesse took over the lead. Several cautions later just four of the starting twelve cars were running when the checkers flew. Krohnberg held on for second ahead of Troy Maas of Faribault and Chris Hotovec of Dodge Center. Krohnberg had one of the classes two heat wins on the night with the other going to Jack Maas of Faribault who was out for the first time this year. Hotovec end the year second in points ahead of Troy Maas, his daughter Danielle Maas of Owatonna and Dalton Ludington of Zumbrota

At the start of the night the Track Championship for the Hornets was still up in the air but after taking home a win in his heat Pat Wells of Faribault just had to take the green and make it through Tech after the feature to secure his first Track Title. Brian Adams of Shakopee came from row four to the front in just four laps as he picked up his fourth feature win of the season. Much of the front of the field featured drivers who had impressive runs up through the field. Daniel Knish of Kilkenny worked from row five up to the runnerup spot at the checkers ahead of Marissa Wolff of Janesville who started back in row four with Adams. Wells finished fourth on his Season Championship clinching night ahead of Caylie Blowers of Waseca. Blowers top five moved her up to second in the final point standings ahead of Cody Hyatt of Waseca. Adams ended up fourth in the points chase ahead of Corbin Giesler of West Concord.

The Track will announce its plans for the Awards Banquet in the coming weeks. Next seasons schedule will be out at a later date as well but fans can pretty much expect to see a Test and Tune sometime in April with more exciting racing action to follow for the 62nd Season of Action at Chateau.

USRA A Modifieds
A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 71-Jason Cummins-New Richland, [10]; 2. 73JR-Greg Pfeifer Jr-Austin, [4]; 3. 21-Jacob Bleess-Chatfield, [5]; 4. 77G-Greg Jacobson-Waseca, [2]; 5. 33-Joe Ludemann-Grand Meadow, [8]; 6. 95-Keith Foss-Winona, [16]; 7. 72-Doug Hillson-Blooming Prairie, [9]; 8. 1A-Dwaine Hanson-Lakeville, [12]; 9. 29H-Joe Horgdal-Kasson, [3]; 10. 1-Greg Jensen-Albert Lea, [7]; 11. (DNF) 77-Jacob Stark-Austin, [14]; 12. (DNF) 23-Darwin Karau-Kasson, [1]; 13. (DNF) 11V-Alex Hanson-Northwood IA, [11]; 14. (DNF) 111JR-Keith Tourville-Webster WI, [6]; 15. (DNF) 24-Charlie Steinberg-Kasson, [17]; 16. (DNF) 61T-Tammy Soma Clark-Rochester , [13]; 17. (DNF) 20JR-David Wytaske-Grand Meadow, [15]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 1-Greg Jensen, [2]; 2. 77G-Greg Jacobson, [6]; 3. 33-Joe Ludemann, [3]; 4. 21-Jacob Bleess, [7]; 5. 72-Doug Hillson, [5]; 6. 11V-Alex Hanson, [9]; 7. 61T-Tammy Soma Clark , [1]; 8. 77-Jacob Stark, [8]; 9. 20JR-David Wytaske, [4]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 73JR-Greg Pfeifer Jr, [2]; 2. 71-Jason Cummins, [5]; 3. 111JR-Keith Tourville, [1]; 4. 29H-Joe Horgdal, [6]; 5. 23-Darwin Karau, [7]; 6. 1A-Dwaine Hanson, [3]; 7. (DNF) 95-Keith Foss, [8]; 8. (DNF) 24-Charlie Steinberg, [4]

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
A Feature 1 (18 Laps): 1. 13-Nick Koehler-Bloomer WI, [8]; 2. RED1-Dan Wheeler-Savage, [9]; 3. 35JR-Garritt Wytaske-Austin, [5]; 4. 1M-Josh Mattick-Rose Creek, [4]; 5. 22J-Michael Hofer-Cochrane WI, [11]; 6. 4-Brayten Cisneros-Blooming Prairie, [3]; 7. G12-Ryan Goergen-Stacyville IA, [7]; 8. 79-Jeremy Misgen-New Richland, [6]; 9. 61-Jay Clark-Rochester, [13]; 10. 53-Tianna Mithun-New Richland, [14]; 11. 28S-Spencer Stock-Eyota, [15]; 12. 63JR-Brady Larson-Amery WI, [19]; 13. 26-Brad Minske-Northfield, [18]; 14. 79H-Luke Hainka-Wannamingo, [20]; 15. 14-Tyron Friese-Zumbrota, [17]; 16. 86-Noel Hoppe-New Richland, [21]; 17. (DNF) 33-Darryl Hainka-Wannamingo, [2]; 18. (DNF) 77T-Casey Trom-Zumbrota, [16]; 19. (DNF) 2-Ryan Wetzstein-West Concord, [12]; 20. (DNF) 36K-Jayden Larson-Mankato, [10]; 21. (DNF) 21K-Paul Kroneman-Brownsdale, [22]; 22. (DNF) 43-Scott Simmons-Lakeville, [1]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 1M-Josh Mattick, [2]; 2. 35JR-Garritt Wytaske, [4]; 3. G12-Ryan Goergen, [3]; 4. 36K-Jayden Larson, [5]; 5. 61-Jay Clark, [1]; 6. 77T-Casey Trom, [8]; 7. 63JR-Brady Larson, [6]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 13-Nick Koehler, [5]; 2. 43-Scott Simmons, [2]; 3. 79-Jeremy Misgen, [4]; 4. 22J-Michael Hofer, [6]; 5. 53-Tianna Mithun, [7]; 6. 14-Tyron Friese, [1]; 7. 79H-Luke Hainka, [8]; 8. 21K-Paul Kroneman, [3]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 33-Darryl Hainka, [2]; 2. 4-Brayten Cisneros, [4]; 3. RED1-Dan Wheeler, [3]; 4. 2-Ryan Wetzstein, [5]; 5. 28S-Spencer Stock, [7]; 6. 26-Brad Minske, [6]; 7. 86-Noel Hoppe, [1]

Hornets
A Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 0-Brian Adams-Shakopee, [7]; 2. 13K-Daniel Knish-Kilkenny, [10]; 3. 23-Marissa Wolff-Waseca, [8]; 4. 73-Pat Wells-Faribault, [5]; 5. 34CJ-Caylie Blowers-Waseca, [4]; 6. 59-Zachary Furbur-Annandale, [12]; 7. 42-Cody Hyatt-Waseca, [11]; 8. 43-Derek Groskreutz-Madison Lake, [6]; 9. 02-Bryce Lisowski-Faribault, [9]; 10. 12-Cale Giesler-West Concord, [1]; 11. 4-Tyler Wright-Grand Meadow, [13]; 12. 21-Corbin Giesler-West Conocrd, [3]; 13. (DNF) 29-Tommie Cruz-Janesville, [17]; 14. (DNF) 8-Dan Lewison-Dexter, [2]; (DNS) 77-Kaitlyn Bennett-Austin, ; (DNS) 13-Nikolas Aasen-Hayfield, ; (DNS) 5-Nick Sillman-Minnesota Lake,

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 73-Pat Wells, [2]; 2. 34CJ-Caylie Blowers, [4]; 3. 23-Marissa Wolff, [3]; 4. 43-Derek Groskreutz, [1]; 5. 21-Corbin Giesler, [7]; 6. 02-bryce lisowski, [5]; 7. 13K-Daniel Knish, [9]; 8. 42-Cody Hyatt, [8]; 9. 59-Zachary Furbur, [6]

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 0-Brian Adams, [7]; 2. 8-Dan Lewison, [3]; 3. 12-Cale Giesler, [4]; 4. (DNF) 4-Tyler Wright, [5]; 5. (DNF) 13-Nikolas Aasen, [2]; 6. (DNF) 77-Kaitlyn Bennett, [6]; 7. (DNF) 5-Nick Sillman, [8]; (DNS) 29-Tommie Cruz,

Pure Stock
A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 21-Jesse Stahl-Austin,, [3]; 2. 26-Brady Krohnberg-Walters, [1]; 3. 1-Troy Maas-Faribault, [6]; 4. 4-Chris Hotovec-Dodge Center, [5]; 5. (DNF) 00-Dalton Ludington-Zumbrota, [8]; 6. (DNF) 13-Jack Maas-Faribault, [2]; 7. (DNF) 53-Zack Ehmke-Dexter, [7]; 8. (DNF) 96-Jack Dunbar-Zumbrota, [4]; 9. (DNF) 44-Trey Hoppe-New Richland, [12]; 10. (DNF) 3-Danielle Maas-Owatonna, [10]; 11. (DNF) 70-Beau Stevens-Albert Lea, [11]; 12. (DNF) 83-Dan Guttormson-Austin, [9]

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 26-Brady Krohnberg, [6]; 2. 53-Zack Ehmke, [2]; 3. 21-Jesse Stahl, [5]; 4. 96-Jack Dunbar, [1]; 5. 83-Dan Guttormson, [4]; 6. 70-Beau Stevens, [3]

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 13-Jack Maas, [2]; 2. 4-Chris Hotovec, [1]; 3. 1-Troy Maas, [5]; 4. 3-Danielle Maas, [3]; 5. 00-Dalton Ludington, [4]; 6. 44-Trey Hoppe, [6]

WISSOTA Street Stocks
A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 14A-Blake Adams-McInitre IA, [2]; 2. 01-Kory Adams-Stacyville IA, [8]; 3. 32-Jason Newkirk-Austin, [4]; 4. 15-Zach Elward-Hayfield, [5]; 5. 34-Mike Blowers-Waseca, [7]; 6. 34JR-Braden Brauer-Rochester, [14]; 7. 57X-Kyle King-Hastings, [11]; 8. 99G-Noah Grinstead-Austin, [1]; 9. 101-Bernie (Kenneth) Adams-Stacyville IA, [3]; 10. 47-Brent Holland-GLenville, [10]; 11. 99-Greg Lammers-Owatonna, [12]; 12. 42-Cody Hyatt-Waseca, [13]; 13. 46-Stacy Krohnberg-Walters, [9]; 14. 16-Jacob Bennett-Austin, [16]; 15. (DNF) 34JRP-Bobby Blowers-Waseca, [15]; 16. (DNF) 3R-Danny Richards-Mondovi WI, [6]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 01-Kory Adams, [1]; 2. 101-Bernie (Kenneth) Adams, [2]; 3. 32-Jason Newkirk, [8]; 4. 99G-Noah Grinstead, [5]; 5. 46-Stacy Krohnberg, [6]; 6. 57X-Kyle King, [4]; 7. 42-Cody Hyatt, [3]; 8. 34JRP-Bobby Blowers, [7]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 15-Zach Elward, [3]; 2. 34-Mike Blowers, [2]; 3. 3R-Danny Richards, [7]; 4. 14A-Blake Adams, [1]; 5. 47-Brent Holland, [4]; 6. 99-Greg Lammers, [5]; 7. 34JR-Braden Brauer, [8]; 8. 16-Jacob Bennett, [6]

USRA B Modified
A Feature 1 (18 Laps): 1. 88-Nate Chodur-Lake Mills IA, [5]; 2. 3A-Taylor Ausrud-Hayfield, [11]; 3. 44-Matthew Brooks-Austin, [9]; 4. 2-Andrew Bleess-Chatfield, [2]; 5. 83X-Kadden Kath-Owatonna, [3]; 6. 4-Derek Clement-Spring Valley, [16]; 7. 54-Jett Sorensen-Rochester, [17]; 8. 21T-Taylor Ovrebo-Wells , [13]; 9. 31-Raey Hastings IV-Austin, [14]; 10. 39T-Cody Torgerson-Pemberton, [12]; 11. (DNF) 81K-Caleb Korpi-Claremont, [10]; 12. (DNF) 26G-Bryce Gerber-Austin, [15]; 13. (DNF) 5-Jesse Baer-Minnesota Lake, [4]; 14. (DNF) 36K-Jayden Larson-Mankato, [8]; 15. (DNF) 83-Billy Steinberg-Kasson, [7]; 16. (DNF) 30-Scott Demmer-Ellendale, [6]; 17. (DNF) 20J-Jackson Hale-Rochester, [1]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 44-Matthew Brooks, [4]; 2. 83-William Steinberg, [1]; 3. 2-Andrew Bleess, [6]; 4. 83X-Kadden Kath, [3]; 5. 30-Scott Demmer, [9]; 6. 3A-Taylor Ausrud, [8]; 7. 21T-Taylor Ovrebo, [7]; 8. 31-Raey Hastings IV, [5]; 9. 26G-Bryce Gerber, [2]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 88-Nate Chodur, [2]; 2. 20J-Jackson Hale, [4]; 3. 36K-Jayden Larson, [8]; 4. 81K-Caleb Korpi, [6]; 5. 5-Jesse Baer, [7]; 6. 39T-Cody Torgerson, [1]; 7. (DNF) 4-Derek Clement, [5]; 8. (DNF) 54-Jett Sorensen, [3]