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Thursday, August 27

Grand Rapids Speedway completed its regular season of racing on Thursday, August 27. It was billed as season championship night, which at Grand Rapids — like the other tracks in the Northland — means the drivers with the highest points total in each class are crowned track champs.

The closest point race was in the Late Model class where Johnny Broking held a 10-point lead ahead of Jeff Massingill. Given the number of entries, it was possible for Broking to lose the title if he had a short night and Massingill was perfect.

Given the number of entries in the other classes, the other five leaders were all fairly comfortable in their positions.

For one of the few times this year, all seven classes that race at Grand Rapids were on hand for the final regular season show, totaling 100 drivers signed in to race.

And, for one of the few times all year, there were enough drivers on hand to have at least two heats in all classes.

By all appearances, the track appeared to be just a bit wetter than normal on Thursday. It took just a few extra minutes for the Sprints, with their wide tires, to do some last-minute rolling of the track before racing could begin.

However, appearances are often deceiving and later, the track appeared to be the driest it has been all year. Multiple drivers searched all over the track during the mains, trying to find some extra speed as the inside line proved to be the way to go for most.

Running just a bit behind schedule, they kept the intermission very short and did little in the way of track prep. That may have had something to do with the fact the groove narrowed considerably in the later stages of the program.

The Midwest Mods, with the largest field, also produced the most problems and further put them behind schedule for the rest of the night. The yellow waved five times in the first six laps, as spins and collisions kept any real consistent racing from taking place. Michael Blevins, Sr. was the early leader with Blake Adams all over him for the top spot. In fact, Adams twice made passes for the lead, only to have the yellow negate them.

With the race time limit beyond challenged, it looked dubious the entire race could be completed. After the fourth yellow, Adams was finally able to make the pass on Blevins, and he took over the top spot.

Just past the halfway point, the yellow was suddenly and surprisingly displayed as apparently the time limit was reached. I believe about 12 laps were scored before Adams took the checkered flag for the win, cementing his point title at the track.

Josh Beaulieu showed good speed on his way to the front from the fifth row, but he couldn’t get past Blevins and had to settle for third. Remarkably, only three drivers failed to finish.

The Super Stock feature also got off to a terrible start as the green flag was waved. The leader spun and collected two other cars, and the field didn’t even make it to the starting line! Three drivers were eliminated in that mess but after that, with a diminished field, they raced all the way to the checkered flag without a single problem.

This was a two driver battle all the way and Dalton Carlson certainly earned his point title as he held off Dylan Nelson for the entire contest. Carlson was one lane off the bottom of the track, where his car apparently worked the best, but this left the inside lane open and for 15 laps Nelson tried his best to fill it. Several times he was to the inside of the leader, but Carlson held his line and inched away each time.

This continued for the whole race and even on the final lap Nelson was only a half car length behind coming to the checkers Again Carlson held him off with a fine display of driving to take the win. Nelson, meanwhile, was a more than frustrated runner-up in a race where he could have used another feature win in his national point battle.

Jeff Massingill is always good on the lower lane of the track and loves to run the hub. With him starting on the pole and the track favoring that line, it was bad news for the rest of the Late Model field, and they were left to chase him for 20 laps.

There were several who pushed the issue, including Kevin Burdick, Jeff Provinzino, Harry Hanson and Johnny Broking, all trying the outside line from time to time but none that could make it work with any consistency. Meanwhile, Massingill was hitting his marks, lap after lap.

There was only one yellow flag, but it was a very lengthy one after Billy Kendall, running in the top five, dumped liquid all the way around the track. His night was over.

Burdick probably pressured the hardest but still had to settle for second while Provo decided to just try the outside and ride it for the whole race. He made some progress for a while, but then it went away from him, and he faded back to fourth by Hanson.

It almost appeared that Broking drove a bit conservatively to just make sure he finished. He did the math well, as his fifth-place finish was good enough to ensure the track title.

By the time the Late Models were done, it appeared the track was pretty much used up. That was why it was so surprising then that the Modified feature produced a side-by-side, pleasing battle for the lead that lasted through the whole race, which went green to checkered.

It was a classic battle between veteran Bob Broking and the leader of the “new wave,” Blake Adams. They went at it running side by side for nearly the whole race. Adams had the low side while Broking was working up against the cushion where even the Late Models couldn’t make things happen. He found a way somehow and stayed right with Adams.

Adams was faster in turns three and four while Broking was pounding the high side in turns one and two to stay even. Inch by inch, Adams edged ahead of Broking, but when he finally cleared him for the lead, he must have believed that he needed to get to the cushion in one and two to slow down Broking’s advance. Unfortunately, the first time he moved up there he jumped the cushion and gave Broking back the lead, negating all the hard work he had just accomplished.

They were then back to square one. Broking adjusted his line to run more on the inside, and Adams could not get inside of Broking to get past, just as what had plagued Nelson in the Super Stock feature.

Broking never slipped up and Adams couldn’t figure out a line past the veteran. Score one for the seasoned driver in this one as Broking took the win by a car length. Adams must have shared Nelson’s feelings, as he, too, battles for a national title.

Consistent runs all year allowed Mervin Castle III to claim the track title in the Modifieds.

Brady Fosso was another driver fighting for national points that badly needed a feature win. He delivered, but only after a good battle with Ryker Larson. They traded the lead three times in the first few laps.

The class ran a nonstop main with Larson holding on for second ahead of Nick Ruzich. McKenna Folstad was the point champion based on consistent solid finishes week after week. Not being a student of Grand Rapids Speedway history, I wonder if she is the first female track champion in history of the speedway?

The Pure Stocks ended up the night with a kind of crazy race that saw the lead change hands four times in just twelve laps. The winner was the victim of two spinouts, yet he still made his way to the winner’s circle.

Jake Smith took the early lead but could only hold it for one lap before he was passed by Dylan Helget, another point chaser Thursday, still driving his borrowed ride. He led through two yellows, both for Mason Smith who was spun out once and then forced over the edge of the track. Each time he got his spot back.

With the lead pack of about a half dozen drivers running in tight formation, there was a lot of swapping of position. Jake Smith was able to repass Helget and take the lead back. However, Mason Smith, who didn’t show among the top five drivers until the halfway point, suddenly used a burst of speed to pass Alex Berg, Helget and then with another surprise burst of speed, Jake Smith to take over the lead.

He then held on over the final few laps to hold off challenges from Jake Smith and Helget to claim the win.

Austin Carlson, who had to replace a flat tire with a NASCAR quick pit stop, finished up fourth which gave him the track title.

It was a full night of racing, and a good crowd was on hand to witness the final regular season event of 2026. Next up on the Grand Rapids Speedway schedule is their finale, the Classic, which will be held next Friday night and feature the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series.

Friday, August 28

Red Cedar Speedway concluded its regular racing season on Friday, August 28. It turned into a nice night of six division racing with five WISSOTA sanctioned, plus the USRA Late Models.

Even though there were missing drivers who normally race at the track on Fridays, there was still a nice field of drivers on hand, with 78 in the five WISSOTA classes.

I had a chance to talk to Hunter Anderson on Friday. He is returning to racing after he was absent for the last three or four years. A lot has changed for him since he last raced. He is now married, has a little one on the way, and he bought a house south of Bruce, Wisconsin.

He told me he is in a better way since he last raced in so many ways; he now can return to racing and is enjoying it very much. It probably helps that his car is coming around for him nicely and he said it feels better every week. He is trying to race more to accelerate his improvement curve — along with racing at Red Cedar, he has been a regular at Rice Lake on Saturdays. He also pulled up to Proctor a couple of Sunday nights. He works four long days but has Fridays off, which makes it easier for him to get more racing in now. Last Saturday night he had his best run of the year so far. For those wondering, he is the older brother of Little Dream winner Parker Anderson. Parker was also on hand at Red Cedar Friday, making his return after an injury sidelined him just after his Little Dream win.

It was good to see Steve Thomas back in victory lane on Friday night, having won a Midwest Mod heat race. He has been out of racing for quite a few years, though he made a brief comeback in the Mid Mods a year or so ago. He is back at it again now.

Speaking of the Thomas family, “Coach” Mark Thomas had by far the biggest fan delegation on hand at Red Cedar, as a number of his U.W. Stout football players he coaches filled one whole section of the grandstand. Every time Coach went by, they cheered wildly, many with their shirts askew or missing. It was great fun for the whole crowd and an enjoyable addition to the night’s racing.

Many were also fans of Sam Mars, who attends school at U.W. Stout. After his feature win in the Late Models, many went right down to victory lane and were a part of post-race photos, continuing the celebration that may have lasted well into the night.

After a rough night of racing at the speedway several weeks ago, the track management apologized to the fans and drivers for the track conditions. Changes were also made to the track prep crew.

Kolby Kiehl from the Rice Lake Speedway was asked to help get the track shipshape again, as apparently many folks have noticed what a good job he has done getting the Rice Lake Speedway in such fine shape. It was especially recognizable after the Challenge Series race there a few weeks ago, which wowed everyone.

The difference was immediately noticed last week already, with the track drawing praise for its improvement. That continued this week as Kolby, Ryan Viltz and a few others worked the track again this week. It was much smoother, had little dust and raced well. Though Kiehl was still not totally happy with the results, the drivers praised the continued improvement. Kiehl reasoned that if he can help Red Cedar on Friday nights, then more drivers will still have their cars in running order at the end of the night and hopefully more of them will then head north on Saturday to race at Rice Lake.

Jake Redetzke sported a new look for his Late Model on this night, hopefully the first of many drivers to provide us with a new look for the specials season that begins Labor Day weekend. I’m not a huge fan of black race cars but Jake’s is a nice look and certainly different than anything he has had before.

Kaden Blaeser was again in the Jeff Helget Modified Friday, as Helget brought the car down after racing the rain date for Thunder City on Thursday night.

The heat races went smoothly, and it took only about an hour to get all qualifying completed. They didn’t take long for intermission.

There were some entertaining feature races, but the highlight was the Super Stock feature, where Noah Shackleton won his first-ever feature race and did it in fine fashion, topping the track’s most successful winner in the class this season, Jesse Redetzke, to do so.

After Leslie Leu led the first three laps, Shackleton went to the cushion in a daring, bold move and came to the front, using a breath-taking line that had him hanging his car sideways right up against the concrete. He drove around Leu for the lead.

Redetzke, who started sixth, quickly moved into second and the race was on. Lap after lap, both circled the track right up against the wall, very fast but also only one slip away from eating some concrete. Shackleton did not wilt however, and despite plenty of pressure from Redetzke, he never faltered. Redetzke tried a few different lines, but none provided him with the speed he needed to make a pass, and Shackleton drove on to victory. It was a rousing drive by him to what will always be remembered — his first win.

Another good battle highlighted the Late Model feature, where Sam Mars held off Ashley Anderson to take the feature win. After Rick Hanestad led the opening lap, Sam drove around him to take the point and after that, he had to fight off Anderson for the rest of the race.

Those two were also tiptoeing around the cushion; Ashley made several attempts to duck under Mars and to take over the lead. A few fun sliders were also a part of the action with Anderson briefly in front on lap 14, only to see Mars repay him the following lap for the lead again.

Just as Anderson was again slipping past into the lead, the yellow flew with just two laps to go. Sam probably made the decision of the night when on the green, he stayed low instead of barreling back up to the cushion. This blocked Anderson, who was quick on the inside in turn two and kind of messed him up. With just a quick race to the finish, Mars’ move built him some cushion and he took the win over Anderson and Brett Shafer, who had his own great run, fighting off Jake Redetzke for that spot.

The Modified feature had a surprising outcome, not by who won but in how things played out. After leading the opening lap, Jake Hartung was overcome by Kennedy Swan for the lead.

For several laps Swan was chased by Blake Adams, as they roared around up by the wall. A yellow just at the halfway point of the race really changed things drastically though, as Mike Anderson, scored only fifth at the halfway point of the race, got a great restart. He drove under several other drivers as he got up to second rapidly. He then worked on Kennedy, got past her on the low side and then, somewhat surprisingly, moved up to the cushion himself.

It worked though as Adams got to second, but he had no answer for Anderson, who then held him off and drove on for the win. It was another addition to the strong second half of the season he’s having. Adams, Swan, Blaeser and Dylan Goettl trailed.

Speaking of strong second halves of the season, probably no one is having a better second half than Dave Baxter, who won at the third different track for him in just the last few weeks. After nailing down recent wins at both Gondik and ABC, he added Red Cedar to his total Friday, passing Jake Stai on lap six and then holding off a late charge by second-place Adams for the win.

Stai was running the cushion, but Baxter was even faster using that same line; he made the winning pass down the back chute and then pulled away from the field. Adams worked Stai in the late going after he moved up from a ninth starting spot, with quite a large group of drivers all arguing for the same positions.

A late yellow set up a three-lap chase to the finish and Baxter pulled away. Stai seemingly slowed on the final lap, which let Adams have second. Stai’s car was seen being removed from the track behind a wrecker after the race, likely an indication that he broke right at the finish. Cody Borgeson also made a late charge up to fourth, getting past Brady Larson.

Sam Fankhauser led all the way to win the Street Stock feature. He had to be sharp on his marks though as he was chased by Parker Anderson most of the race. Anderson, not afraid to move around on the track, tried both high and low but just couldn’t quite get a big enough run to get past Fankhauser, who covered the groove smoothly and didn’t allow any challenges.

This race was stopped on lap eight when Mike Pratt dug into the track in turn three after spinning and went for a quick flip. He was OK. Hunter VanGilder, Cole Richards and Andrew Hanson completed the top five.

It was a quick show with all racing complete by 10 p.m., giving folks the chance to head to the pits to visit or those drivers that wished to head home an early start.

Red Cedar will be in action again next Friday with the Labor Day Dash. All classes except Late Models will be racing. Check their website for details.

Saturday, August 29

With most local tracks shut down on Saturday night for the first time in quite a while due to rain, it took just a bit of digging to find a track that was racing Saturday. For me, that was Hibbing Speedway on Minnesota’s Iron Range. The storm system had stayed just to the south of them and while local residents may have been disappointed that they didn’t get some rain due to the dry conditions, race fans and teams were happy as they had a place to go on Saturday. It was mostly cloudy when I arrived in Hibbing but by race time it turned into a sunny, late summer night — perfect for racing.

This was the last regular season race for Hibbing and like most of the northern tracks, the individual point totals when the night was concluded resulted in those drivers being crowned track champions.

Car counts were a bit low in some of the classes, with several weekly regulars among those missing. I’m guessing teams are saving their equipment for next week, as the Labor Day weekend grind offers most divisions multiple nights of special-event racing.

A few point chasers made the pull to the Range, including the Sabraski flotilla of cars, Adams with two cars, Kennedy Swan, the Canadian duo of Simpson and Simpson plus Jody Bellefeuille. Darrell Nelson was running the Modified he debuted about a month ago, but nothing else. Grand Rapids Speedway starter Tim Jackson was racing in the Midwest Mod class.

Five WISSOTA sanctioned classes and the Crown Vics were part of the program, with 73 drivers in the five scored classes. Far and away the largest group was in the Midwest Mods, which had a very nice field of 25.

Construction was going on and it appeared that new VIP booths are being built at the back of the enclosed grandstand on top, just to the right of the scorers and announcers.

In the heat races, which went smoothly for the most part, one of the stoppages was actually a red flag for Hornet driver Robert Morse, who went flying off turn two, dug in and began a series of wild flips, going over multiple times. Fortunately, no injuries resulted in what was a very tough flip.

The feature racing started out with the Midwest Mods up first and we went from the smoothness of the heats to the absolute opposite. The Midwest Mods had a terrible time keeping their cars pointed north and south, instead often parking them east and west — and that doesn’t work at this track.

We saw some good racing but in just spurts, as the yellow waved so often, even the most devoted of fans were starting to get frustrated. Just as a good race broke out for the lead several times, the yellow flew again with the same core group of drivers seemingly the culprits.

Up front, it was a great battle with Keith Koski fighting off Tyler Kintner and David Simpson; Blake Adams eventually got in on the action, too. But time after time, just as things started getting good, someone would spin and the yellow waved once again. In total, seven slowdowns kept the pace of the event very slow.

It must have been tough on Koski, who time after time, had to fight off the challengers on every restart. Finally, after seventh yellow, he slipped up and Simpson drove around him and took over the lead.

Simpson then held on to win his first-ever feature race in the Midwest Mods at Hibbing Speedway, with Adams doing a good job of working from ninth to edge out Koski for third.

The consolation prize for Koski was that he earned the track title.

Sabraski had his lucky horseshoe working as he drew the pole for both the Super Stock and Late Model feature.

He used the starting spot to his best advantage in the Super Stocks. He led that race from start to finish, although Dalton Carlson gave him plenty of pressure early. However, eventually Sabraski pulled away ahead of an intense fight for second between Carlson and Rick Simpson. The cousins LaBarge were also playing hard on this night, and a dust up by them slowed the race for the final time with just a few laps remaining.

What had been a rather solidified running order was shuffled a lot following that late yellow. Some drivers benefitted while others slipped back positions.

No one was bothering Sabraski, who drove on for the win. Michael Blevins, Sr. had a great late-race restart, and the 10th-starter grabbed the runner-up spot from Simpson as Carlson was shuffled back to fourth.

Again, the consolation prize for Carlson was a good one, as he won the track title in the soup, soup Super Stocks.

The key moment of the Late Model feature occurred within feet of the starting line on the opening lap of the race. Sabraski grabbed the lead immediately but before the field could get to turn one, outside polesitter Rick Niemi went for a spin across the track, stopping the action before it even began.

This moved Skeeter Estey up to the outside pole for the restart and Estey got the jump on Sabraski. He passed him and then moved to the bottom lane and led the rest of the race. For the Late Models, the bottom seemed the only way to go; everyone migrated quickly to that groove.

Estey pulled away from the field in a race that went nonstop the rest of the way, and he won easily over Sabraski and T.J. Heinle, who had a great run for third.

The Modifieds followed the Late Models and while the Lates had to hug the low groove to get anything done, the Modified feature was very different. It is interesting how the different classes can operate on the same track. The Modifieds were running two distinct grooves, with drivers getting positive results using both lines.

Chris Magistad was the early leader, but he couldn’t hold off the charging Bellefeuille, who found the outside lane worked well for him. Bellefeuille quickly moved up from the third row, blew past Magistad on the top side of the track, and then pulled away.

Adams worked into second, but no one was catching Bellefeuille, who cruised home for the win in the nonstop race. Sabraski had mechanical issues in his heat and had to start in the back of the pack but worked his way up to third at the finish.

The Hornets finished off the night and they were racing feisty, too. Fireworks both on the track and under yellow affected the outcome of the contest.

After the scheduled polesitter Brady Fosso didn’t grid for the race, the adjusted lineup put Tucker Smith on the outside pole, and he took advantage to lead the opening portion of the race. However, he couldn’t hold off Nick Ruzich, who started in the second row and by the halfway point of the race, made a pass which proved to be the winning one.

Smith tried to keep up but got tangled with a lapped car and pounded the frontstretch wall, ending his night and triggering the second yellow. As Ruzich pulled away from the field again, all eyes were focused on the very physical battle for second as Ryker Larson and Nathan Penney were really going at it for the spot. There was a lot of contact between the two and each seemed to get in some good blows.

Ultimately, it didn’t end well for either. Larson went flying off the end of the track while engaged in this battle and he ended up a DNF. Penney chose to deliver a message to Larson under the yellow and while he did cross the finish line in second, he was DQ’d for his yellow flag actions.

With the disqualification, officially only three drivers finished the race. Paige Kintner was scored second ahead of Tiffani Hauta-Sanders. Ruzich claimed the track title.

All racing was completed by 10 p.m. but it would have been much sooner with a little cooperation by the racers. Hopefully they have gotten their systems cleaned out and will be able to race hard, clean and without spins for the upcoming specials.

Thanks to everyone at the track.

Sunday, August 30

Granite City Motor Park finished off its 2026 regular season on a strong note, after a very busy Sunday night August 30. It was season championship night for all divisions, plus the Late Models were also on hand. Along with the Crown Vics, it was an eight-class program.

In total, 111 drivers signed in to race for the season finale. A combination of factors helped to produce a fine field of entries, and it was also a good night on the fan side.

The Super Stock field was especially hefty, with 24 of them in the pits.

An eight-division program of racing is just too many divisions racing on the same night, particularly on a Sunday, in my opinion. It is key to get the program done at a reasonable hour to keep the fans coming back every week. That didn’t end up being as much of a concern Sunday, as our “nice” night suddenly turned not so nice, with lightning flashing in the northern skies and a real threat of rain. This caused James Trantina and other track officials to shift into high gear, moving things along much more quickly. They proved a quick program could be done, with the final checkers waving at 10 p.m. If they choose to continue hosting that number of divisions, this should be the expectation moving forward into 2027. The large number of spectators who were still on hand to watch the last feature should be proof enough that this is important. Folks will stick around for the full show if you get them done at a reasonable hour.

As is often the case at Granite City, there was a double feature winner but it was not Shane Sabraski. Instead, Dexton Koch won both the Late Model and Super Stock feature races and did so in both in impressive style.

Koch was on point on Sunday. His win in the Late Models was the first for him at the track, though he has a couple of wins elsewhere already in his short season. He shared the front row with Aaron Johnson in the main event at GCMP; after he squeezed past Johnson off turn four on the opening lap, he led the rest of the race to get the win.

A late yellow allowed Dave Mass, a master of restarts, to get past Sabraski for second, but he had nothing for Koch. The latter spun a victory donut in front of the crowd to celebrate his win.

Perhaps just as impressive was his win in the Super Stock feature. Ryan Kostreba led the opening lap of that race but just a lap later Sabraski passed him for the top spot and then led past the halfway point.

Koch started fourth but moved past Kostreba into second by the halfway point of the race and then began to close on Sabraski at a very quick rate. It is seldom when Sabraski gets passed once he claims a lead in a feature but Koch was clearly the faster car. Once he drove past Sabraski on lap 11 to claim the lead, he pulled away at a rapid pace and he was extremely fast. It was no contest the rest of the way as Koch expanded his lead ahead of Sabraski, who settled for second ahead of Dylan Nelson. Sabraski and Koch tied for the point title with no announcement before the conclusion of the races of what and how the tiebreaker finalized the tie.

Sabraski seemed to have his best chance of winning a feature in his Modified, as he started from the pole. He did lead the opening lap but simply couldn’t hold off a charging Joe Thomas, who got past him on the next lap. After a good three car battle that included J.T. Johnson, Thomas gradually pulled away from both of them.

This race went nonstop, green to checkers, and the lapped traffic provided Sabraski an opportunity to close in, but Joe stayed his line and kept his margin, which he then maintained as he drove to victory. Johnson settled for third. Sabraski was the point champion in this class.

Blake Adams led from start to finish to win the Midwest Mod feature race. He drew the pole and after an early battle with Landyn Randt, he gradually pulled away as Randt struggled a bit and faded back.

Devin Fouquette, battling for a track title, made a strong charge to the front. He worked his way up from a seventh spot start to get past Randt and eventually claimed second with Jake Hagemann third.

For the second time, the top two drivers — this time, Adams and Fouquette — ended up tied in track points. Again, no announcement was made on the tie breaker but Fouquette later was seen online congratulating Adams. The expected tie breaker of most feature wins must have been used, which would have given the nod to Adams.

Levi Randt started on the pole for the Street Stock feature and then led from start to finish to take the win, despite four yellows that brought the field back to him. For the Streets, the fast line was right on the bottom and Randt patiently followed the groove. He gradually pulled away from the pack to take the win.

I would have expected Justin Vogel to pound the cushion and he didn’t disappoint, as he worked that line from start to finish. Jeff Ekdahl salvaged third. Vogel was the point champion for the Streets.

The Hornets went 12 laps nonstop for their main and produced the closest feature race finish of the night. Brandon Schmitz led the opening lap but two laps later Austin Jacobson took over the top spot.

Will Lange also wanted the win and then he and Jacobson locked up in a very entertaining race as they ran side by side for nearly the rest of the race. Neither driver could grab an edge ahead of the other as they continued to circle the track side by side.

There was not a lot of bumping nor banging and they raced hard but clean. At the line, Jacobson was the winner by a half car length in a very good feature. Jacobson was also the point champion for the second consecutive year, I believe. He has owned this division here for the last couple years. He also has the shortest pull to the track, living about a mile north of the speedway and probably able to just drive his car to the track if the authorities allowed.

The Mod Four feature was a wild one that should produce plenty of post-race discussion. Bob Holtquist started on the pole and led the opening two laps. He was quickly challenged by his son Dustin, however, who started in row three.

Racing into turn three, Dustin tried to nose his way under Bob for the lead but instead caught the rear of Bob’s car, sending him spinning into the infield and triggering the yellow flag. Dustin was called for the yellow and reluctantly went to the tail for the restart.

Meanwhile, Bob had his hands full with Tyler Larson, who was challenging him several times for the lead. Bob continued to fight him off as the top two drivers pulled away from the pack.

Dustin went to the back of the 15-driver field but didn’t stay there long as he came flying to the front, passing drivers like they were standing still and soon working his way back into contention. By the halfway point of the race he was back up to third.

A yellow with nine laps completed bunched the field back up and on the green, Dustin drove by both Larson and Dad like they were still in neutral. He then proceeded to drive away from the field. His margin of victory was considerable by the time the checkered flag flew. Bob started having some problems in the corners and Larson was able to sneak past him for second.

Dustin Holtquist was also crowned as the track point champion. After such a dominating display over the rest of the field, he likely raised eyebrows among his competitors. In any event, his performance on Sunday was dominating, with a capital “D.”