Henkemeyer runs away with Wissota Super Stock special win at Viking

On a chilly, brisk June evening Viking Speedway in Alexandria hosted a Wissota Super Stock special to highlight Saturday’s program.

The Wissota Super Stocks were racing for $800 to win and had a solid 14 cars on hand. Considering Viking was running ag

Jordan Henkemeyer was a rocket from the get-go as he opened a 3-car length lead after one lap and honestly was untouchable in the caution-free race.

Carson Miller of Carlos was second as Ryan Satter of Dent and Jeff Crouse of Alexandria fought for third. Karter Reents of Glenwood was running fifth but was chased by Travis Scott of Glenwood.

Satter and Crouse dueled for third while fifth was a battle between William Lund of Brandon, Scott and Reents.

Henkemeyer’s lead stood at 1.2 seconds over Miller as Crouse and Satter remained close for third for several laps.

Miller’s 77 broke with about four laps to go, ending a great run. Henkemeyer was out for a Sunday drive with a 4.4 second lead over Crouse, who had moved past Satter for second when Miller’s night ended Lund moved into fourth and Scott was running fifth.

Henkemeyer ran away with a 4.5 second win over Crouse, who looked strong all night in the 29 car. Satter was a solid third, with Lund going from ninth to fourth and Scott surviving the battle for fifth.

The Wissota Midwest Modifieds kicked off the evening with Buzz Muzik of Brandon jumping out to the lead with Taylor Bitzan of Brandon in second. It looked like a Bitzan family reunion in the top five for a while as all three Bitzan brothers – Taylor, Tyler and Tanner – were running in the top five.

Taylor Bitzan was pressuring Muzik up front with Tyler Bitzan in third and Noah McFarlane in fourth as Dylan McCaughan and Shawn Olson of Alexandria were among the cars on his heels.

Muzik had about a car length on Taylor Bitzan when the caution flew for Kasey Knabbe’s broke 81K machine.   On the restart Tyler Bitzan took a shot on the low line but Muzik weathered the storm as the three Bitzan brothers ran second through fourth. Olson was pressuring Tanner Bitzan for fourth with defending Viking champion Travis Engebretson of Cyrus close behind. Behind that group was a three-car fight between McCaughan, McFarlane and Michelle Hutt of Boyd.

Taylor Bitzan was pressuring Muzik up front as Olson and Tanner Bitzan raced hard for fourth.  Muzik opened a little breathing room but some debris from Tanner Bitzan’s flat tire would bring out the caution with two to go – the last thing he wanted to see. After a restart was nullified for a two-car incident in turn two, the final restart was crazy. Taylor Bitzan took a shot low while Tyler Bitzan put his 10B on the high side, and that put Muzik square in the middle.

Olson and Engebretson were right there as well, but Tylre Bitzan would take the lead with Taylor Bitzan now in second, and it would stay that way on the final lap. Engebretson grabbed third on the final restart with Olson in fourth. Muzik, who got a little crossed up coming out of turn four as the white flag waved, settled for fifth. Honestly, the late cautions just killed Muzik’s chances; had the race stayed green I don’t think he would have lost the lead. But that’s part of what makes racing great – unpredictability.

I spoke with the Wolverine, Justin Vogel of Brooten, in the pits after the Wissota Street Stock heat races, and he was hungry for his first Viking win of the year. Well, he wasn’t going to be denied, even though he faced a late challenge from Joe Martin of Willmar.

Craig Gardner of Alexandria was the initial leader as Eric Riley of Morris, the winner of the last two street stock features, moved into second ahead of Vogel as Peter Martin slid back to fourth.

Gardner had a lot of heat from Vogel, who pulled off a slider in turns three and four to grab the lead. Gardner would slide too high in turn two and go off to bring out the caution.

It was apparent Riley’s 51 was not 100 percent, especially on the starts, as he would slide bac as Vogel pulled away on the restart. J.J. Nieuwbeerta of Alexandria had charged into fourth with Nitro Jimmy Williams of De Graff moving into fifth.

Joe Martin and Riley were running side-by-side for second as Williams and Nieuwbeerta tangled for fourth. Vogel meanwhile had almost a half-straightaway on second as Martin and Riley were competing for second.

On a caution with nine to go, Riley would pull pitside. He broke four rockers – yes, four – early in the race, which explained why his 51 machine was not up to speed. I was fully expecting a Riley-Vogel duel at the front.

Vogel had 4-5 car lengths on Joe Martin as Nieuwbeerta and Williams continued what seemed to be a race-long battle for third. Martin 7 was in fifth, not far behind the battle for third.

There was a restart for debris with three to go and Gardner, who had gone to the tail on a caution early, had climbed back into the top five. Vogel had about two car lengths on Martin for the lead on the white flag left. Martin had one last charge and went into turn three hard on the bottom but couldn’t make a pass stick as Vogel got his first win at Viking of the year, and his third feature win overall. I will say this after watching Vogel for several years – when the 10 machine gets hot, watch out.

Joe Martin had a great run from eighth to second while Williams outlasted Nieuwbeerta in a great fight for fourth. Gardner made a great comeback to finish fifth.

There was a competitive bunch of Wissota Hornets on hand with William Lange assuming the lead over Chase Golliet of Fargo and Chase Pourrier of Fergus Falls. Matthew Dittman of Lake Lillian was making some early moves into the third spot with Jeff Rohner of Willmar in fifth.

Lange had a good lead as Dittman and Rohner fought for second. Pourrier settled into fourth.  Dittman, had quickly moved through the field after starting in 10^th. Lange’s lead started to shrink as Rohner, who had moved into second, was tracking him down with ix to go. Pourrier was running alone in fourth ahead of Golliet.

It would turn into a great three-car fight at the front between Lange, Dittman and Rohner. Things got a little physical with some paint exchanged. Dittman briefly moved ahead but a caution nullified that. Lange would lead on the final restart with three to go. Dittman made his move on the bottom of the restart and things went three-wide for the lead as the 22 car took the lead with two to go. Rohner then would like to make a move but he would slow for a moment and fall back to fourth.

Dittman had three car lengths on Lange by the checkered to pick up the victory. Lange settled for second with Rohner edging Pourrier for third. Golliet finished fifth.

Multiple time track champion Brady Gerdes of Villard moved ahead of Justin Froemming of Garfield in the Wissota Modified main event as those two fought for the lead.

Soon Dusty Bitzan of Evansville was into third, and he would pass Froemming for the second spot as Gerdes opened about a .500 second lead.

Talan Thoennes of Nelson was running fourth ahead of his father, Josh with mod rookie Taylor Bitzan running in sixth. Josh Thoennes would pass his son for fourth.

Gerdes and Bitzan were fighting up front – Gerdes up high and Bitzan running low, when it’s usually the opposite.  Froemming was a solid third and had a four-second advantage on fourth-place Josh Thoennes.

Gerdes assumed control over the final five laps, away to a 1.8 second lead on his way to the win. Bitzan settled for second; he won the Northern Lights special at Viking two weeks ago. Froemming looked good all night and took third with Josh Thoennes fourth and Taylor Bitzan running fifth.

Viking Notes

--Bailey Rosch of Alexandria was back in his own #28 car after borrowing a car a few weeks ago. Rosch’s main got repaired after rolling during the Memorial Day weekend. Rosch had a pretty good run in the feature, going from 11^th to sixth.

--It was good to see Ward Imrie of Headingley, Manitoba, Canada, a two-time Wissota Mod national champion, bring his #10W Wissota Modified to town.  Imrie won the Gierke Memorial Race at Viking several years ago, and finished second on Friday at River Cities Speedway. I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to Imrie as much in recent years but he’s always a formidable foe wherever he unloads.

--Dominic Baker of Osakis made his season debut in the Wissota Super Stocks.  He would finish 11^th.

Jamestown results

Jaren Wibstad of Jamestown won the Wissota Midwest Modified feature Saturday night at Jamestown Speedway. Arin Beyer of Jamestown was second, Jarod Klein of Jamestown third, Aaron Michel of Jamestown fourth and Jason Grimes of Jamestown fifth.

The ageless John Corell of Jamestown started ninth in the IMCA Modified feature but worked through the field to get the win. Jacoby Traut of Jamestown was second, John Nord of Enderlin third, Scott Gartner of Jamestown fourth and Lindsey Hansen of Jamestown was fifth.

Preston Martin of Lincoln won the INEX Legend feature with Austin Wiest of Bismarck in second. Casey Martin of Bismarck was third, Ryan Erdahl of Jamestown fourth and Donavin Wiest of Wishek fifth.

Cole Greseth of Harwood won the Wissota Street Stock feature with Greg Jose of Grand Forks taking second. Dustin Erickson of Jamestown was third, Bob Banish Jr. of Milnor fourth and Kasey Ussatis of Nome fifth.

Brody Michaelsohn of Wishek won the Bomber feature over Joe Jacobson of Jamestown. Barrett Herr of Wishek was third, Travis Edinger of Jamestown fourth and Kelly Hoerner of Bismarck fifth.

Saturday notes

--Maria Broksieck of Goodwin won the Wissota Street Stock feature Saturday night at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron.

--Kyle Dykhoff of Starbuck won the Wissota Street Stock feature Saturday night at Madison Speedway in Madison. Zach Flickinger of Madison was third. Superman Mike Stearns of Aberdeen captured the Wissota Mod win while Ryan Flaten of Madison won another Wissota Midwest Modified feature.

--Devils Lake Speedway’s $5,000 to win Golden Hammer Challenge was postponed because of cold weather and will be held as part of the track’s Labor Day Doubleheader in September.