By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Princeton, MN (May 8) – After a month of cancellations due to unfavorable weather, the Princeton Speedway kicked off the 70th Annual Season Opener Friday night. 77 drivers signed in to battle, and Curtis Stieh, Dylan Kromschroeder, Justin Jones, Jim Gullikson, Dustin Holtquist, Marcus Ammerman and Owen Henrichs went home as season opener champions.
Jordan Henkemeyer and Dylan Kromschroeder brought the WISSOTA Super Stocks to green for the first feature of 2026. Kromschroeder claimed the immediate lead with Henkemeyer in second and Dylan Nelson in third. The race passed quickly without an issue as Dylan Kromschroeder grabbed the first feature win of the season for not only the Super Stocks, but also the Princeton Speedway. Jordan Henkemeyer finished second with Dylan Nelson, Dustin Nelson and Max Nelson in the top five.
Three WISSOTA Street Stocks signed in for the night and took the track for the next feature event. The Hy-Tech Automotive sponsored class began the race with Jim Gullikson, Tommy Pogones and Kyle Howland in points one through three, and they remained in that order from flag to flag.
Curtis Stieh and JT Johnson led the Dirt Race Central WISSOTA Modifieds to the stand, and as the green waved, JT Johnson grabbed the lead with Stieh in second. After a caution reset the field, Johnson sped away as others were three and almost four-wide for positions. Stieh moved forward and was at Johnson’s door for the lead when Johnson suffered a mechanical problem and exited the track. Stieh assumed the lead with a handful of laps to go when Clayton Wagamon and Cole Boston slid low to Stieh’s door, and after a short three-wide fight, Stieh pulled ahead with the lead. Curtis Stieh led the final laps and snagged the win with Clayton Wagamon, Cole Boston, Brennan Gave and Tim Patchen wrapping up the top five.
The Micro Sprints were next on the agenda with Owen Henrichs and Tyler Pelofske on row one. Henrichs grabbed the immediate lead and sped away from the field while others battled. Racers in points two through four remained close as laps passed, and they swapped for positions. With four laps to go, a caution was triggered eliminating Henrichs’ dominating lead. Marshall Willing worked the grooves and put pressure on Henrichs, however Owen Henrichs kept his foot down and took the checkers. Marshall Willing, Leighton Rose, Brandon Friederick and Tyler Pelofske claimed points two through five.
The East Central Sports WISSOTA Mod Fours sped off when the green dropped with Josh Madson and Andrew Funt on row one. Madson claimed the lead with Funt in second followed by Andrew Christensen, Jack Post and Dustin Holtquist three-wide for third. Madson suddenly took his car to the infield and Funt assumed the lead. Holtquist, who started last, worked the high groove and grabbed the top point before the first yellow flew. Holtquist sped away on the restart while Post, Funt and Dean Larson swapped for top points. A final caution slowed the drivers, but Dustin Holtquist was unphased as he snagged the checkers. Dean Larson finished second with Gerrald Nohner, Jack post and Doug Frederick as the top drivers.
The Crown Vics made their first appearance of the season as a weekly class with Marcus Ammerman and Galen Hass leading the way. Ammerman stretched the early lead while Wayne Nelson moved to the second point. Mike Layne put pressure on Nelson for the point, however the yellow waved and drivers were slowed. A couple cautions kept the feature at a stop and go pace, however when the checkers waved, Marcus Ammerman took the win. Points two through five went to Wayne Nelson, Jeff Hass, Jen Machula and Galen Hass.
Erik Gruhlke and Justin Jones brought the Crystal Cabinets WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds to the green for the final race of the night, and Jones claimed the early lead. Jason VandeKamp moved into second with Gruhlke in third. A quick caution reset the field and as the race restarted, the top three drivers remained glued to one another. The race had a few cautions scattered throughout, but the top three drivers kept close lap after lap. Joey Jensen moved to fourth and went three wide with VandeKamp and Gruhlke. VandeKamp slid ahead and challenged Jones, but Jones held a slight advantage. With top drivers still in a battle, the checkers waved with Justin Jones as the winner. Jason VandeKamp settled for second with Joey Jensen, Erik Gruhlke and Dustin Nelson in points three through five.
The final flags flew closing out the 2026 70th Annual Season Opener at the Princeton Speedway. Next Friday, we will be Celebrating the 80’s and the UMSS Traditional Sprint cars will make a stop at speedway along with our regular weekly classes. The green flag drops at 7:00pm.