4-29 Page 13 | ATD Racing News

Adams scores first Modified feature win at Rice Lake and is joined by Myers, Koehler, Traynor and Crosby

By Ed Reichert

RICE LAKE, WI (April 26) - After a one week weather delay, Rice Lake Speedway held its 73rd consecutive opening night Saturday, April 26 under sunny skies and cool spring temperatures. Nearly 90 drivers from both the U.S. and Canada were on hand for the Swant Graber Auto Group opener.

The highlights of the opening night of racing action were the two first-time winners — Blake Adams and Eric Crosby won at Rice Lake for the first time in their respective divisions on Saturday . Meanwhile, two other feature races were settled by less than a half second, thrilling fans. Other winners in WISSOTA Dirt Track Series action were Curt Myers, Nick Koehler, and Nick Traynor.

In the Modified feature, Adams got the jump on defending track champion Joe Chaplin, Jr. for the early lead. While Chaplin Jr. tried to stay with him, Adams quickly opened up a several car-length advantage. As Adams started to pull away, Chaplin Jr. got involved in an excellent battle for second, challenged by Austin Ellis and Michael Truscott. The three of them diced for the runner-up slot as Adams started to stretch his advantage farther.

The first yellow waved with 13 laps completed. Adams pulled away again back under green, as the battle for second got even more heated. For the last seven laps, eighth-starter Mike Anderson kicked his car into action, quickly moving to third and then challenging and passing Chaplin, Jr. for second.

As Adams continued to build on his lead and drove on to his memorable win, Anderson completed his charge in second. Ellis drove up to third in a late push to the front, ahead of Truscott and Chaplin, Jr.

Austin Fencl took the early lead over Devin Fries in the Pure Stock feature, but it took Eric Crosby only three laps to motor up the inside line and take over the top spot. Once in front, he managed to pull away to a comfortable lead, despite two yellow flags during the second half of the race.

Fries and Fencl battled hard for second with Fries easing into that position by the halfway point of the race. Rob Grabon, who started 12th on the grid, made big strides to the front and had just moved into the top five when he got turned around in turn three, triggering the first yellow of the race.

Grabon continued his charge, moving to third by the time the second and final yellow waved for a spin with 13 laps completed.

This set up a two-lap dash to the finish. While Crosby again pulled away from the pack, the battle for second continued, as Fries nipped Grabon at the line for second. Later inspection by the track tech crew realigned the top five, with Grabon still second followed by Fencl, Steve Karshbaum and rookie driver Mark Barta completing the top five.

Simon Wahlstrom and Brady Larson shared the front row for the Midwest Mod feature, but Blake Adams — looking for a double win night — came charging up from the second row and snuck past the leaders to lead the opening lap. Larson came right back at him and grabbed the lead one lap later. These two put on a show in the first half of the race, running side by side and swapping the lead several times, although Larson continued to be scored the front runner. Nick Koehler and Cody Cimfl were also on the charge, as they moved up from the third and fourth rows, respectively.

As the two leaders remained wired to each other and charged down the back chute to come to the halfway point, Larson suddenly slowed with mechanical issues, his great run coming to an end. Adams inherited the lead for the restart, but he was having problems of his own, as a broken suspension part was causing him to struggle in the corners and emit a cloud of tire smoke down the straightways.

Adams led as the green flag waved but his prognosis was not good and three laps later, as he tried to fight off Koehler and Cimfl, he suffered a flat tire, triggering the yellow and ending his night short of that double-win goal.

Tyler Vernon had quietly moved his way to the front from seventh, and his time came following the last restart with just two laps to go. As Koehler took off the leader, Vernon closed to his low side and tried to make a late move for the lead. Ducking inside Koehler on the final corner, Vernon made a strong run for the victory but came up just .052 seconds short of his goal, settling for second.

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