Schow, Tourville win at I-94 as Pierce dominates WOO Late Model show

I-94 EMR Speedway hosted the World of Outlaw Late Models on Wednesday night with the Wissota Midwest Modified and Street Stocks on hand as support classes.

There were 78 total cars, highlighted by 28 WOO late models. The only local Wissota Late Models to take a shot were Shawn Meyer of Wahpeton and Cole Schill of Horace; it used to be years ago that a few more locals would take a shot at such a race, but in terms of equipment, they are at a big disadvantage. Not just the 300-400 horsepower difference, but the touring teams are ahead in their shock and spring programs their tire work – well, pretty much everything.

It looked like a third straight rainout of the event was possible, but I-94 dodged some scattered showers in the region to get the show in.  We got a couple of good downpours in Fargo that probably would have wiped the night out, or certainly delayed it substantially.

I will focus on the two local classes first since thisa blog’s focus is on local racing – and WOO has its own PR team that produces content.

A total of 30 Wissota Midwest Modifieds were on hand – and 28 started the feature which made me cringe a bit as there are a few squirrels that run their weekly.  There were several out of area cars on hand – I imagine some will be at the Bitker B Mod Brawl at Norman County Raceway on Thursday. There are also some drivers headed west for the big $10,000 to win special at Sheridan, Wyoming.

 Luke Johnson from Miller, S.D. and Canadian Bailey Cousins led the group to the green. Johnson grabbed the lead as Dylan McCaughan and Cousins fought for second.  Chance Kodet ran fourth ahead of Landyn Randt of Siren, Wis.

McCaughan put some pressure on Johnson and they raced side-by-side for the lead.  Matt Schow of McIntosh had climbed into the top five.  The first caution waved for Michelle Hutt of Boyd who got turned in turn two with 14 to go.

One driver I was watching was former I-94 champion Nate Reinke of Lisbon, who started 23rd. But his night came to an end on the next restart as it appeared something broke in his 71 and he stalled at the top of turn one and two and needed a tow. It was a tough night for Reinke who was a DNF in the heat.

Cousins surged into the lead but had company with him in Schow, who soon was challenging for the lead.   That battle heated up when there was a big pileup in turn four, which resulted in Tanner Bitzan rolling his 42 machine – not hard, but enough to end his night. He would drive off on his own. All three Bitzan brothers (Tyler and Taylor) were involved along with Canadian Austin Hunter, who got tagged in the left rear (benefits of replay) and that created the melee.   Hunter had damage and left on the hook. All three Bitzans were done. Jamie Norman of Underwood and the racing pastor, Nick Preston also were involved but were able to continue.

Schow was working on Cousins as Randt moved into third. By the halfway point Schow grabbed the lead and Randt took second. Johnson would pull off with an issue soon after that occurred.

73-year-old Ron Saurer moved into the top five with Tommy Nichols chasing him.  Cousins and McCaughan put on a heck of a show fighting for third. The caution waved for a fifth time.

Things finally settled down on the final restart, although Randt pulled a slider in turn two but Schow crossed over and regained the lead.  Cousins and McCaughan fought for third again with Saurer close behind.

Schow wasn’t threatened over the final few laps, winning by 1.25 seconds for his second straight I-94 victory.  Randt was second, Cousins third, McCaughan fourth and Saurer was fifth. Cole Neset of Fargo was the hard charger of the race, going from 23^rd to 10^th. Norman, who survived the turn four mess, went from 15th to 9th on a solid night.

A strong group of Wissota Street Stocks capped off the night. Eric Riley of Morris moved in front from the outside pole with Levi Randt of Siren in second. Keith Tourville of Janesville was challenging Dustin Schultz of Montevideo for third  Kyle Dykhoff of Starbuck was fifth.

Tourville, a likely contender for the national title, was flying. He quickly moverd to second and was applying a ton of pressure to Riley. Tourville edged ahead as Randt and Cole Greseth of Harwood – another national title contender – were closing. The caution flew on lap four as Tony Miller and Michael Brockman were involved in an incident in turns one and two.

Tourville  led on the restart as Randt took over second. Dykhoff was fighting Greseth for fourth, but soon took the spot and was battling his good friend Riley for third.

Dykhoff set his sights on Randt as  Tourville had about a half-second advantage with seven to go. Dykhoff found some speed on the lower lane and was closing on Tourville . And while he closed on him, he couldn’t get close enough to make a challenge as Tourville pulled away to a 1.3 second win. Dykhoff was second, Randt third, Riley fourth and Greseth fifth in a very stacked top five.

 Tim McCreadie and Dallon Murty led the WOO late models to the green and Murty led the first lap. It didn’t take long for Bobby Pierce, who won Monday at Ogilvie,  The first caution came out for WOO Rookie of the Year contender Eli Johnson, who cut a left rear tire.

Pierce moved into second on the restart and pulled a slider in turn two to take the lead. Nick Hoffman was running fourth ahead of Daulton Wilson.

McCreadie was challeing Murty for third. Ryan Gustin climbed into the top five as Hoffman slid back. Pierce opened a 1.6 second advantage over Murty when the caution flew with 27 to go for Laela Eisenschenk, who slowed on the backstretch with an issue. She would pull pitside.

With 22 to go Gustin was up to fourth as Pierce, McCreadie and Murty continued in the top three spots. The best battle was for fifth between Tyler Erb and Hoffman when the caution flew for Ethan Dotson who slowed down the backstretch; he would head to the pits and change a right-rear tire.

The next restart didn’t even make it turn one as a car hit a tire coming out of turn four.

It was clear Pierce was the car to beat as stormed to a big lead. The best battle was for third between Hoffman, Gustin and Erb. Murty did not have a good restart and slid out the top five. Hoffman found something on the bottom and that moved up to third. Murty and Wilson dueled for the sixth spot.

With nine to go Pierce led by 2.1 seconds while Hoffman had closed the gap substantially on McCreadie.  Hoffman would grab the spot with nine to go but the fight for the spot wasn’t over.

Another caution flew with six laps to go, erasing Pierce’s comfortable advantage, as Tyler Bruening slowed and would call it a night. McCreadie regained second on the restart as he and Hoffman raced hard for that spot, but again a caution cooled that as Logan Zarin got turned with two laps to go.

Pierce was the class of the field all night. He didn’t face much of a challenge, even through the restarts, and on the last two-lap restart, opened a .808 second advantage on Hoffman to pick up the win. Hoffman was second, McCreadie third, Gustin fourth and Erb was fifth.

I94 notes

—The Eisenschenk twins, Amelia and Laela both made the A main in the WOO show. Laela would break and be a DNF while Amelia finished 21st.

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