Auto Clearing Motor Speedway
Results for Saturday, August 9, 2014
As I sat reading the newspaper Saturday morning I got an uneasy feeling
about the racing scheduled for that evening at Auto Clearing Motor
Speedway. I knew we were in for a full moon shining over the track, but
now we also had this thing called a super moon.
A full moon usually means anything from unpredictable results to
absolute mayhem. A super moon with super late model racing sounds
downright scary.
There was open practice for the Dakota Dunes super late model cars on
Friday afternoon. Eight cars participated, but we saw nothing
spectacular on the track. In fact the best time was Nick Jewel at
14.399 seconds. Kenny Heintz, still shaking out his new car, was
slowest at 14.749.
Saturday the air was different though. Things just felt different.
Everyone had a good sleep as we were finally treated to a cool night
after several hot clammy nights. The track was feeling sticky with
rubber and you didn’t see anyone wrenching hard on their cars; just a
little tinkering here and there going one.
The jaw dropping and high-fiving started in time trials though. We were
watching car after car turn great times, some personal bests. There was
anticipation in the air as Jim Gaunt hit the track in the #55 Sky
Financial Chevrolet.
Jim’s car falls under the “Invitational super late models” for track
records as he is not running for local points. That meant to make the
record books we’d have to dial all the way back to September 8, 2008
when Brian Johnson Jr from Manchesney Park Illinois laid down a lap in
14.132 seconds.
Jim’s first lap put 14.328 seconds up on the board. You could see his
speed was there, his line was right, everything was smooth. People held
their breath as Gaunt came out of corner four and applause broke out as
14.074 appeared on the scoreboard.
We weren’t done there though. We know that Ryan Wells doesn’t pull his
Performance Plus Chevrolet all the way from Hingham Montana to just
watch the others race. He means business on the track as well in his
dialed back 600+ horsepower car.
Ryan is starting to develop a bit of a local following as well as there
was a cheer as he came out on the track. Fans are a bit torn in
situations like this. They want to stand behind the local favorites,
but they are always excited to be a part of history as well.
Wells was already running faster than Jimmy on lap one, putting up a
time of 14.183. You saw a little slip going through corner 2 and
figured it was over. Interest diminished but Ryan didn’t give up. It
took two looks at the board when the #5 came up in the first position
and the time came up 14.024. Ryan Wells was now the new track record
holder, taking 5/100ths off Jim’s already amazing time.
We weren’t done with records yet either. The Dakota Dunes series is a
mix of invitational cars, cars that run large open engines, fancy
suspension systems and transmissions, along with cars that run in the
local WSSL Super Late Model championship points. Jason Gervais and the
#88 Painters & Allied Trades Local 739 Ford Fusion are one of those cars.
Jason’s racing has been getting better and better as well. It almost
went unnoticed though when Jason put a time of 14.263 on the board,
besting the local time record set again, back in September of 2008 by
Greg Vangool.
Race fans weren’t at the track just for the Dakota Dunes series though.
We had lots of other racing action as the Brock Salvage Street Stocks
and the Midwest Combustion Western Sportsman continue their season.
Mike Rea, making the jump from the now defunct thunder stocks to the
street stocks picked up his first win of the season in his #18 Daou Auto
Monte Carlo in the street stock heat race.
Craig Katelnikoff has seen a lot of checkered flags this year and he saw
another Saturday night as he picked up the qualifier race win in the #44
Elite Roofing Monte Carlo.
We saw a different car at the front of the Brock Salvage street stock
feature as well. Alex Leschenko picked up the feature flag driving Ryan
Fredricksons #22 Globe Excavating Camaro. Guy Derdall was second in the
#14 Camaro and Darryl Potts brought the #36 Judo Saskatchewan Torino
home for third.
As a side note, this is the first Brock Salvage street stock feature not
won by Craig Katelnikoff this season.
Not a lot to report in the Midwest Combustion Western Sportsman
Division. It was Matthew Shirley, Matthew Shirley and Matthew Shirley
in the heat, qualifier and Midwest Combustion feature with the #12
Saskatoon Co-op Grand Prix. #07 Casey Randall from Melfort was second
and Dan Shirley was third in the #46 Grand Prix, also sponsored by
Saskatoon Co-op.
Back in the Dakota Dunes Western Canada Super Late Model Championship
Series action, top time setters Ryan Wells and Jim Gaunt came from the
back to win their respective heats. Nick Jewel and Jason Gervail
followed Wells over the line in the first heat, while Gaunt showed Grant
Edwards and Tony Lambert the way in the second heat.
Things are done a little differently in setting the lineup for the
Castrol 150 feature race. The finishing order of the first heat sets
the inside row and the finishing order of the second heat sets the
outside row. With their wins, Wells and Gaunt have the front row.
But, it’s never that easy. Gaunt and Wells have a decision to make.
Dakota Dunes Casino and LaRonge Family Taxi each made an extra $500
available to the two top time in cars, if they start from the back and
come through to win the race.
Both took the challenge back on July 5 and we remember Ryan Wells went
on to win and pick up the extra $500 on that day.
It’s $1000 this time. But, there was some hesitation as both drivers
knew there were some fast cars today. The crowd cheered them on as they
thought it over. Jim was first to go back, and Ryan quickly followed
for the chance at the extra cash.
The race got underway with the #99 of Dusty O’Connell on the pole and
#62 of Kenny Heintz outside. Things got ugly fast though as Heintz got
loose through corner three on only the second lap, collecting #0 Tony
Lambert and #22 Doug Bienia. Damage was heavy, bringing out the first
caution and red flag. Lambert was able to rejoin the stopped field and
Kenny drove himself into his pit, but Bienia’s car had to be dollied in
and was clearly done.
A second caution flew in lap eight as #97 Reddekopp, #17 Jensen and #2
Ryan Funk got tangled up. Yellow flew again on the restart as Trevor
Hannay got a bad start in the #44 and was spun by Ryan Wells, putting
both of them to the back.
The drivers finally settled in to a little racing. Heintz brought the
#62 back into the race in lap 13, minus all his front end body parts.
The car was off the pace, but not by much.
Meanwhile, the #38 of Dave Bone jumped out into the lead and led the
next 10 laps to the next yellow flag as Ryan Funk spun alone in the #2.
We’re not sure why, but on the reline Grant Edwards chose to stay on the
low line behind Bone. This left Jim Gaunt, who had already moved up to
third, the outside pole position for the restart. Right where Jim wants
to be as he has proven time and again he loves the outside groove.
Predictably Gaunt took over the lead coming off the green flag, a lead
he wouldn’t give up.
Caution again in lap 22 as Les Harding and Grant Edwards had a little
bumping action, causing the 10 of Edwards to spin.
Again the drivers finally seemed to settle in and we saw some great
racing action. Gaunt continued to lead but there was some terrific
battles going on behind him. It was pretty clear the 88 of Jason
Gervais, the #5 of Ryan Wells and the #25 of Mel Weeks had come out to
play and wanted to challenge Gaunt.
By the time the caution flag flew again in lap 55, because the #97 of
Jarrod Reddekopp decided to do a little loop-de-loop, the running order
was Gaunt, O’Connell, Gervais and Wells. Clearly something broke on the
Reddekopp car as he retired from the race.
Back to green for another 10 laps when a tangle between Hardy in the
#36, Ryan Funk in the #2 and Nick Jewel’s #51 slowed the field again.
By now Wells had worked the #5 up to Gaunt and had settled in the second
position.
We’re not sure what exactly happened, but after such a messy race, this
caution in lap 66 was the last time flagman Ryan Thompson had to touch
the yellow flag and the drivers decided to run clean for the last 84 laps.
By no means did that mean a boring race as there were cars fighting for
position all over the track. It only took a few laps of chasing Gaunt
and it was clear Wells had used his tires up. Wells times fell off and
he started moving backwards. O’Connell worked around him in lap 70.
Mel Weeks went around Wells in lap 77.
By lap 81 Gervais worked around Wells and was running faster than Weeks,
whose tires were also obviously fading. Gervais passed Weeks in lap 95
and was now running third.
Gaunt was obviously on a mission as by lap 111 Gaunt, O’Connell, Wells
and Gervais were the only four cars on the lead lap. By lap 115 Gaunt
lapped Wells and only three were left on the lead lap.
That is the way it would end. We saw a charge at the end, but O’Connell
didn’t have enough for Gaunt and Jim cruised to victory in the #55 Sky
Financial Impala SS, 0.638 seconds ahead of #99 Big Bore Drilling Chevy
of Dusty O’Connell. Jason Gervais was about nine seconds back in the
#88 Painters & Allied Trades Local 739 Ford Fusion.
The win puts Jim Gaunt out in front in the Dakota Dunes Western Canada
Super Late Model Championship Series by three points over Ryan Wells.
Doug Ficsher’s #99 car driven by Dusy O’Connell is 11 points back in
third at 179.
The wild race night, which saw everything from wicked crashes to Les
Hardings #36 Craig Implements Chevy go up in flames. As always, race
teams pulled together to get crashed and burned cars back onto the
racetrack. It shows the dedication and persistence of all involved in
racing at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway.
Next week the Big Bore Directions Drilling Super Trucks and the
Bandoleros are back, along with the Earthworks Equipment Sask Legends
and the Kreepy Kritterz Pest Control Mini Stocks.
Racing is Saturday, August 16th. Front gates open at 5:00pm and the
first green flag is at 6:05pm.
Complete Results
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Brock Salvage Street Stock Division
Heat Race:
1. #18 Mike Rea
2. #3 Ron Eby
3. #81 Curtis Houben
4. #36 Darryl Potts
5. #15 Todd Pluhator
6. #44 Craig Katelnikoff
7. #22 Alex Leschenko
8. #14 Guy Derdall
9. #42 Nicole Sheetka
10. #43 Eric McIntosh
Qualifier Race:
1. #44 Craig Katelnikoff
2. #22 Alex Leschenko
3. #36 Darryl Potts
4. #81 Curtis Houben
5. #3 Ron Eby (Alex Leschenko)
6. #18 Mike Rea
7. #14 Guy Derdall
8. #15 Todd Pluhator
9. #42 Nicole Sheetka
10. #43 Eric McIntosh
Brock Salvage Street Stock Feature Race:
1. #22 Alex Leschenko
2. #14 Guy Derdall
3. #36 Darryl Potts
4. #15 Todd Pluhator
5. #44 Craig Katelnikoff
6. #81 Curtis Houben
7. #42 Nicole Sheetka
8. #3 Ron Eby (Alex Leschenko)
9. #18 Mike Rea
10. #43 Eric McIntosh
Midwest Combustion Western Sportsman Division
Heat Race:
1. #12 Matthew Shirley
2. #77 Shane James
3. #94 Jason Hankewich
4. #21 Nick Allen
5. #04 Tim Kammer
6. #46 Dan Shirley
7. #07 Casey Randall
8. #27 Rick Schuurmans
9. #5 Kirk Senger
10. #41 Travis Deforest (DNS)
Qualifier Race:
1. #12 Matthew Shirley
2. #07 Casey Randall
3. #46 Dan Shirley
4. #04 Tim Kammer
5. #94 Jason Hankewich
6. #27 Rick Schuurmans
7. #5 Kirk Senger
8. #77 Shane James
9. #21 Nick Allen
10. #41 Travis Deforest (DNS)
Midwest Combustion Feature Race:
1. #12 Matthew Shirley
2. #07 Casey Randall
3. #46 Dan Shirley
4. #04 Tim Kammer
5. #94 Jason Hankewich
6. #27 Rick Schuurmans
7. #5 Kirk Senger
8. #77 Shane James
9. #21 Nick Allen
10. #41 Travis Deforest (DNS)
Dakota Dunes Casino Super Late Model Championship Series
Qualifying Time Trials (seconds):
1. #5 Ryan Wells, 14.024 (TR)
2. #55 Jim Gaunt, 14.074
3. #88 Jason Gervais, 14.263
4. #36 Les Harding, 14.328
5. #17 Rob Janzen, 14.391
6. #0 Tony Lambert, 14.403
7. #99 Dusty O'Connell, 14.427
8. #44 Trevor Hannay, 14.496
9. #22 Doug Bienia, 14.509
10. #62 Kenny Heintz, 14.524
11. #38 Dave Bone, 14.542
12. #25 Mel Weeks, 14.609
13. #97 Jared Reddekopp, 14.637
14. #10 Grant Edwards, 14.658
15. #51 Nicholas Jewel, 14.664
16. #2 Ryan Funk, 14.683
17. #24 Ryan Purdy, 14.685
18. #77 Darrell Steel, 15.766
Heat Race A (odd):
1. #5 Ryan Wells
2. #51 Nicholas Jewel
3. #88 Jason Gervais
4. #38 Dave Bone
5. #99 Dusty O'Connell
6. #17 Rob Janzen
7. #22 Doug Bienia
8. #24 Ryan Purdy
9. #97 Jared Reddekopp
Heat Race B (even):
1. #55 Jim Gaunt
2. #10 Grant Edwards
3. #0 Tony Lambert
4. #44 Trevor Hannay
5. #62 Kenny Heintz
6. #2 Ryan Funk
7. #25 Mel Weeks
8. #77 Darrell Steel
9. #36 Les Harding
DDWCSLMCS Main Feature Race, Castrol 150
1. #55 Jim Gaunt (150)
2. #99 Dusty O'Connell (150)
3. #88 Jason Gervais (150)
4. #5 Ryan Wells (149)
5. #25 Mel Weeks (149)
6. #10 Grant Edwards (149)
7. #2 Ryan Funk (149)
8. #38 Dave Bone (148)
9. #62 Kenny Heintz (133)
10. #17 Rob Janzen (125)
11. #51 Nicholas Jewel (66)
12. #36 Les Harding (63)
13. #97 Jared Reddekopp (55)
14. #44 Trevor Hannay (55)
15. #77 Darrell Steel (54)
16. #24 Ryan Purdy (28)
17. #0 Tony Lambert (26)
18. #22 Doug Bienia (1)
Race Stats:
Race time – on track: 1 hour, 24 minutes, 59+ seconds
Two Race Leaders, 38, 55
#38 led 18 laps (1-18), 55 led 132 laps (19 – 150)
Eight cautions in laps 2, 8, 8, 18, 22, 56, 56, 66
0 Caution laps counted, 55 not counted
Dakota Dunes Casino Super Late Model Championship Series
Points standing as of August 10, 2014
1. #55 Jim Gaunt, 173
2. #5 Ryan Wells, 170
3. #99 Dusty O'Connell, 159
4. #88 Jason Gervais, 128
5. #10 Grant Edwards, 122
5. #2 Greg Funk, 122
6. #62 Kenny Heintz, 114
7. #38 Dave Bone, 112
8. #51 Nicholas Jewel, 111
9. #17 Rob Janzen, 109
10. #0 Tony Lambert, 106
11. #36 Les Harding, 104
12. #22 Doug Bienia, 85
13. #97 Jared Reddekopp, 80
14. #5x Mike Czaja, 66
15. #24 Ryan Purdy, 64
16. #25 Mel Weeks, 60
17. #44 Trevor Hannay, 49
18, #77 Darrell Steel, 33
Richard