5/22/2022
Ogilvie Raceway
After Weeks of Cancellations - Ogilvie Raceway Finally Kicks off the 2022 Race Season.
By: Tami Jo Kuehn
After six weeks of cancelled race nights due to lingering snow, torrential rain and cold weather, Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway was finally able to kick off the 2022 race season Saturday night. All though it was a brisk evening, 116 drivers checked in to compete with Justin Pogones, Zach Benson, Robert Holtquist, Shane Sabraski, Andy Jones and Jesse Turnvall going home victorious.
The WISSOTA Street Stocks were the first feature of the 2022 season with Justin Pogones and Austin Hamre in a battle for the lead as the green waved. At the end of lap one, Hamre nosed ahead, however Pogones and Jeff Ekdahl were close behind. Pogones slid to Hamre’s side and made the pass for first while Ekdahl put pressure on Hamre. Ekdahl drifted a bit high and rubbed the wall which allowed Hamre to pull away. As laps passed, Ekdahl made his way to Hamre’s door and grabbed the second point. With two laps to go, Ekdahl reeled in Pogones for the lead. Pogones was caught behind slower traffic, and as they came to the checkers, Ekdahl was next to Pogones. As they shot down the straight-away, Pogones crossed the line first and took the win. Jeff Ekdahl, Kyle Dykhoff, Austin Hamre and Charlie Shiek rounded out the top five.
Zach Benson claimed the early lead as the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds took the green with Travis Schulte and Dano Ostrander in a battle for second. Just as Schulte settled into the second point, contact occurred and a caution was triggered. After a few attempted restarts, Benson brought the drivers back to green. Benson established an immediate lead as Jake Smith, Dano Ostrander and David Swearingen raced three wide for second. Smith broke away from the battle and claimed second as the race winded down. Benson took the checkers and drove his #17b into victory lane. Jake Smith, Dano Ostrander, Brady Uotinen and David Swearingen grabbed the top points.
As the WISSOTA Mod Fours took the green, contact occurred in turn two, but all drivers kept moving keeping the race green. However, as they rounded turn four a yellow was triggered. Landyn Randt sped off with the lead when the race resumed. After a few laps, Robert Holtquist passed Randt and drove away in first. Holtquist led the remainder of the race and took the win with Landyn Randt, Connor Hass, Jordan Fisher, Nate Servaty and Chris McClain wrapping up the finishing points.
Andy Grymala and Ryan Kostreba brought the WISSOTA Super Stocks to the green and Kostreba snagged the lead. Grymala and Shane Sabraski kept close to Kostreba as Sabraski dove low on the track. Sabraski and Kostreba battled door to door for the lead a couple laps until Sabraski broke away. Kostreba held the second point, but Grymala chased him down. After a quick caution, Sabraski sped off and set the car on cruise control. Grymala worked the inside groove and got by Kostreba for the second point. As laps passed, Jim Gullikson slid to Kostreba’s door to battle for third. Just as Gullikson took the point, he slid high and Kostreba reclaimed the position. Gullikson returned, secured third, and chased down Grymala as Sabraski closed in on slower cars. The Iron Man, Shane Sabraski, led the remaining laps and took the win while Jim Gullikson, Andy Grymala, Ryan Kostreba and Nick Oreskovich earned top positions.
The WISSOTA Modifieds were next on the order of events with Shane Sabraski and Andy Jones on the front row. Jones took first as the green waved with Eric Lamm and Sabraski in tow. Lamm sped to Jones’ door and the top drivers were side by side for the lead. Lamm took a slight lead over Jones, but Jones was back at Lamm’s door as they came down the front chute. Jones reclaimed the lead point as Clayton Wagamon, who started 8th, chased down Lamm. Wagamon took over second and looked ahead at Jones. Jones dealt with slower traffic which allowed Wagamon to slowly close the gap. With two laps to go, Wagamon was within car lengths of Jones but ran out of laps as Andy Jones took the checkers in the #173 Modified. Clayton Wagamon settled for second with Eric Lamm, Shane Sabraski and Jody Bellefeuille rounding out the top five finishers.
A hearty field of WISSOTA Hornets rolled onto the racing surface for the final race of the night. Jesse Turnvall took the early lead with Marcus Ammerman, Paul George and Joe Martin three wide for second. Justin Schelitzche joined the battle for second which made the fight nearly four wide. George broke away with the second point while the others continued to battle for positions. Turnvall closed in on slower cars as Ammerman took third and chased after George. Ammerman moved into the second point as George dropped back in the field. Cars covered the race surface as the top drivers made their way through slower traffic. With two laps to go, Ammerman closed the gap with Turnvall but also had Schelitzche on his bumper. The Hornets ran a caution free race to end the night with Marcus Ammerman, Justin Schelitzche, Peter Martin and Joe Martin finishing second through fifth and Jesse Turnvall grabbed the win.
Next week, the Ogilvie Raceway will host the FYE Motorsports 17th Annual Wehrs Machine Minnesota Modified Nationals powered by M&B Services. The WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, Mod Fours and Hornets will all be in action both Saturday and Sunday nights at the Big O, with racing starting at 7pm. For more details check out FYE Motorsports on facebook or www.FYEmotorsports.com.
Article Credit: Photo by: Cody Papke
