By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Princeton, MN (April 25) – The Princeton Speedway opened their 2025 season Friday night with a great field of drivers checking in. The night of WISSOTA Dirt Track Race action featured six WISSOTA sponsored classes, in addition to the Minnesota Micro Sprints. By night’s end, Tommy Pogones, Jason Hobbs, Travis Schulte, Joey Jensen, Tony Jenson, Tyler Larson and Owen Henrichs took home hardware.
The Hy-Tech Automotive WISSOTA Street Stocks kicked off the night’s feature events with Rachel Boston and Kyle Howland on row one. Howland shot into the early lead with Boston and Tommy Pogones close behind. Pogones slid into the second point and chased after Howland for the lead. The race was half over with Pogones still chasing Howland, as Pogones made his move. There was slight contact as the pass was made, and Pogones secured the lead. The streeters opened the season with a caution-free race, as Tommy Pogones took the win. Kyle Howland, Steve Eggersgluess, Charlie Shiek and Rachel Boston rounded out the field.
Dylan Kromschroeder and Jason Hobbs led the Zoomies Race Engines WISSOTA Super Stocks to the green but the yellow quickly flew before the lap was complete. Hobbs and Kromschroeder were door to door for first on the restart, and after a battle, Hobbs secured the point. Just as Hobbs began to stretch his lead, another caution was triggered and the field was reset. Hobbs led the drivers back to green, but Kromschroeder and Dexton Koch remained close. Koch took the second point after a final restart and raced to Hobbs’ door. With the final lap coming to a close, Koch gave it one final shot, but Jason Hobbs held the lead to earn his first ever feature win. Points two through five were claimed by Dexton Koch, Dylan Kromschroeder, Dustin Nelson and Max Nelson.
The WISSOTA Modifieds, sponsored by Dirt Race Central, were next on the agenda with Travis Schulte and Clayton Wagamon on row one. Schulte shot into the lead as Wagamon and JT Johnson were side by side for second. Johnson secured the position while Wagamon, Don Eischens and Brennan Gave ran three wide for third. Schulte stretched his lead as laps passed without incident. The race remained green, and Travis Schulte snagged the win followed by JT Johnson, Don Eischens, Brennan Gave, Cole Chernosky and Eric Lamm.
The Minnesota Micro Sprints were on hand for season opener and pole sitter, Paul Wrazidlo, had mechanical issues from the start and his night ended quickly. The drivers were realigned for the start with Owen Henrichs and Tyler Pelofske showing the way. Henrichs sped away as soon as the green waved as others raced nearly four wide. Henrichs continued to lead after a caution with Jacob Zimmerman and Mason Seubert in second and third. The Micro’s wrapped up their event after a couple more cautions, but Owen Henrichs won by a good margin, followed by Mason Seubert, Jacob Zimmerman, Joe Snow and Tyler Pelofske as the top finishers.
A full and packed field of Crystal Cabinets WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds filled the Princeton Speedway, and the drivers went green with Jason VandeKamp and Joey Jensen on row one. VandeKamp and Jensen remained glued to one another the opening laps until VandeKamp suffered a flat. The field of drivers was slowed and reset with Jensen in command. Blake Adams claimed second as Brady Larson snagged third, and laps passed quickly forcing the top drivers to work their way around slower drivers. Cars covered the entire race surface while Adams began to close the gap while Jensen. Jensen was in heavy lapped traffic as a was triggered and drivers were slowed. Jensen’s lead was gone as Adams and Larson were on his bumper when the green reappeared. Jensen sped away on the restart, but after a couple laps, a handful of cars were collected. A few more cautions occurred, but Joey Jensen continued to lead the drivers back to green, and took the win with top points going too, Blake Adams, Brady Larson, Dustin Nelson and Cole Boston.
Tony Jenson and Bobie Arnes led the WISSOTA Hornets to the stand, and Jenson took the immediate lead. Russell Kiker, Jr. made his way to third and kept close to Arnes as a caution occurred. Jenson brought the drivers back to green with Arnes and Kiker, Jr. on his bumper. Arnes challenged Jenson for the lead, but Jenson held the point. Kiker, Jr. made his move on Arnes and slid into second with Arnes at his door. The top three remained close until Arnes suffered a flat. Russell Kiker, Jr., Nathaniel Kinne, Kaidynce Jones and Bobie Arnes took positions two through five while Tony Jenson took the win.
The East Central Sports WISSOTA Mod Fours wrapped up the night with an exciting race lead by Jordan Fischer and Dean Larson. Dean Larson separated himself from the competition with Tyler Larson and Blake Hawker in a battle for second. Dean Larson continued to lead through a couple cautions, but Tyler Larson and Hawker kept Dean within an arm’s reach. Dean Larson had a slight bobble in his driving, which allowed Tyler Larson and Hawker to speed by. The top two kept close, swapped for the lead and were nose to nose the final laps. Tyler Larson and Hawker shot out of the turn and raced to the flag stand with a scored difference of .002 seconds between them. Tyler Larson edged out the win while Blake Hawker finished second, followed by Rowan Tramm, Dean Larson and Gerald Nohner as top finishers.
Next week, the Princeton Speedway will take Friday night off due to another event on the grounds, but we will race on Thursday! Thursday May 1st will feature all regular classes, with races beginning at 7:00pm.