By: Tami Jo Kuehn
Princeton, MN (May 15) – The Princeton Speedway continued to Celebrate our 70th Annual Season by celebrating the 80’s on Friday night. The event featured some great WISSOTA Dirt Track Race Action, with Brennan Gave, Dylan Kromschroeder, Ryan Putnam, Tommy Pogones and Marcus Ammerman going home as winners. The UMSS Traditional Sprint Cars were also in attendance with Jack Berger topping the field of racers.
The Crystal Cabinets WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds kicked off the night’s feature events with Tate Kostreba and Ryan Putnam on row one. Putnam sped away with the immediate lead with Kostreba in second. Kris Macko, Kevin Yeager and Dustin Nelson battled three-wide for third and remained close as Jason VandeKamp moved in. Putnam and Kostreba pulled away from the field, but the battle for third was in full effect. Laps passed quickly, and at the end of the 20th circuit, Ryan Putnam took the win. Points two through five were claimed by Tate Kostreba, Jason VandeKamp, Kris Macko and Erik Gruhlke.
Layla Chaplin and Shawn Amundson led the WISSOTA Street Stocks to green, and Kyle Howland made the battle three-wide. Amundson edged out the point with Jimmy Gullikson, Chaplin and Howland nearly three-wide for second. Gullikson moved forward and raced into first as a caution was triggered. As the green reappeared, Tommy Pogones raced to Gullikson’s door and Pogones had the slight advantage as another caution was triggered. Pogones brought the drivers back to green with Howland and Gullikson on his rear. With a couple laps to go, Tommy Pogones stretched his lead and grabbed the win. Jim Gullikson, Shawn Amundson, Kyle Howland and Layla Chaplin rounded out the top five.
The UMSS Traditional Sprint Cars rolled onto the clay with Bryan Roach and Westen Johnson leading the way. Roach and Johnson battled the opening lap, until Roach secured the point. Johnson tucked in behind Roach for the lead, but the caution soon flew. Roach led the drivers back to green. but Johnson kept close and dove to Roach’s door. The top two swapped for first as Jack Berger moved in. Berger slid by Johnson and dropped to Roach’s door, but Johnson slid back, and the leaders were nearly three-wide. Lap after lap the drivers continued to battle for the lead. With the white flying, Berger raced to the high side and put his foot down. They came to the stand and fans rose to their feet as Jack Berger snagged the win. Points two through five were settled out by Bryan Roach, Westen Johnson, Scott Brandt and Zach Widdes.
The WISSOTA Super Stocks took the green, and after a quick caution, Jordan Henkemeyer claimed the lead. Chris Wark and Dustin Nelson battled for second with Dylan Kromschroeder close behind. Wark claimed second and chased after Henkemeyer while Nelson and Kromschroeder battled for third. Wark tried to make the pass for first, but Henkemeyer held the point. Kromschroeder moved into battle, and the top three drivers remained close the final laps. Dylan Kromschroeder slid ahead with two laps to go and pulled away to take the win while Jordan Henkemeyer, Chris Wark, Dusitn Nelson and Jake Luark rounded out to the top five.
Brennan Gave took the lead as the green waved for the Dirt Race Central WISSOTA Modifieds with Clayton Wagamon in second. Top drivers spaced out as laps passed quickly with Gave in command. Just as Wagamon prepped to make a move, the yellow flag dropped for a driver going over the track’s curve. The field was reset with Gave feeling the heat from Wagamon and Travis Schulte. Wagamon dropped low on the track to challenge Gave, but Gave’s line was faster as he continued to pull away on the curve’s exit. Brennan Gave led the race in it’s entirety, and took the win with Clayton Wagamon, Travis Schulte, Ryan Gierke and Zach Benson as the top finishers.
Thomas Burgard and Connor Bruss battled the opening lap of the East Central Sports WISSOTA Mod Fours feature. Burgard claimed the lead while Dustin Holtquist challenged Bruss for second. Holtquist took second and closed the gap with Burgard as the yellow flag appeared. Burgard drifted high on the restart, allowing Bruss to shoot by in the lead, but Holtquist followed. Holtquist raced to Bruss’ door and made the pass for first as drivers settled into positions. Dustin Holtquist led the remaining laps and claimed the win while Connor Bruss, Tyler Larson, Gerry Nohner and Robert Holtquist rounded out the top five.
The Crown Vics closed out the night’s race program with father-son team Jeff and Galen Hass on row one, but Marcus Ammerman wasted no time and cruised to the lead before the end of lap one. Wayne Nelson moved into second and looked ahead at Ammerman as the yellow waved. Ammerman brought the drivers back to green with Nelson, Abe Langager and Zeke Oppegaard three-wide for second. The battle for second remained active the remaining laps, and as the checkers waved, points two through five went to Zeke Oppegaard, Abe Langager, Wayne Nelson and Jeff Hass. Marcus Ammerman had the cruise set as he took his second feature win in a row at the Princeton Speedway.
Next weekend, the Princeton Speedway will take a break as the Ogilvie Raceway hosts the FYE Motorsports’ Modified Nationals. Racing will resume at 7:00pm on Friday May 29th with our Kids Night – Bike Giveaway event.