By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Princeton, MN (July 11) – Rain threatened the region Friday night, however the Princeton Speedway completed a full program of WISSOTA Dirt Track Race Action. It was Sparkle Night at the Speedway, and Royalty from Minnesota Towns were on hand along with Ambassadors from the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Robert Holtquist, Mitch Weiss, Kaitlyn Kohl and Jim Gullikson scored wins, while Shane Sabraski snagged two.
The Hy-Tech Automotive WISSOTA Street Stocks kicked off the night with Thomas Worth and Layla Chaplin on row one. Chaplin took the lead at the end of lap one with Worth and Jim Gullikson in tow. Chaplin led the opening laps but got loose in the curve, allowing Gullikson to grab the lead. Tommy Pogones and Worth battled for second until the yellow waved. Gullikson remained in command as the race resumed, while Worth and Pogones were glued together. Jim Gullikson led the remaining laps and took the win with Tommy Pogones, Thomas Worth, Rachel Boston and Kyle Howland as the top finishers.
An immediate caution reset the Dirt Race Central WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, but when the race resumed, Mitch Weiss sped into the lead. Ryan Putnam slid into second with Ashton Schulte in third. Putnam chased after Weiss, and with slower traffic in sight, Putnam was at Weiss’ rear. The top two kept close while they battled lapped drivers and laps went by. Putnam kept after the leader, but Mitch Weiss grabbed the checkers and took his #23 to victory lane. Ryan Putnam settled for second with Dustin Nelson, Jason VandeKamp and Ashton Schulte in the top five points.
Robert Holtquist and Tyler Larson remained nose to nose the opening lap of the East Central Sports WISSOTA Mod Four feature, and Larson edged out the lead. Holtquist however, sped by Larson and claimed the lead while Larson held second. The Mod Four feature passed quickly with no cautions, and Robert Holtquist grabbed the win. The remaining top points went to Tyler Larson, Dustin Holtquist, Ashton Schwinn and Chad Funt.
JT Johnson and Shane Sabraski led the small but mighty group of Dirt Race Central WISSOTA Modifieds to green, and Sabraski sped off when the green dropped. Clayton Wagamon, Kennedy Swan and JT Johnson went three-wide for second, and Johnson claimed the point. Swan grabbed third with Tyler Kaeter giving her a challenge. Shane Sabraski circled the speedway quickly and without incident, as he took the race win. JT Johnson finished in second with Kennedy Swan, Tyler Kaeter and Brennan Gave as the top finishers.
The Zoomies Race Engines WISSOTA Super Stocks with Dustin Nelson and Jeff Frey on row one. Dustin Nelson, Frey and Dylan Nelson grabbed points one through three as a caution was triggered. Dylan Kromschroeder made his move as the race resumed and took the top point, but Dustin Nelson kept close. A few other cautions occurred, including a handful of drivers getting tangled together in turn four. As the race resumed, Kromschroeder was in command with Dylan Nelson and Shane Sabraski in tow. Sabraski worked the high groove and after a couple lap battle for first, Sabraski pulled into the lead. Shane Sabraski didn’t look back as he snagged his second win of the night with Dylan Kromschroeder, Dylan Nelson, Denis Czech and Dustin Nelson rounding out the top five points.
The WISSOTA Hornets closed out the night’s program with Kaitlyn Kohl and Russell Kiker, Jr. leading the way. Kohl and Kiker, Jr. remained nose to nose the opening laps with Tony Jenson on their rears. Jenson moved to Kiker, Jr.’s door and snagged the second point. Jenson worked Kohl the final laps, however Kaitlyn Kohl held her line and took her first ever feature win. Tony Jenson, Russell Kiker, Jr., Josh Backstrom and Colton Lodermeier finished in points two through five respectively.
Next Friday at the Princeton Speedway, the USMTS Modifieds will stop by for Night 1 of the 2025 Mod Wars. WISSOTA Modifieds will race head-to-head with the USMTS Modifieds, along with WISSOTA Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Mod Fours, Street Stocks and Hornets on the agenda. Racing will resume at 7:00pm.