Babcock victorious in Florian Sprinzel Memorial

• Babcock

File photo by Shawn Swanstrom/fullthrottlephotots.net Jason Babcock (76) was the winner in the annual Florial Sprinzel Memorial for WISSOTA Street Stocks. James Wall (24W) and Scott Horn (24) finished fourth and second respectively in the feature event.

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With the WISSOTA Late Models taking a week off at Viking Speedway, that gave the WISSOTA Mod Fours their chance to showcase their skills at the high banked half mile.

At the conclusion of the division’s 15-lap A-main, Hawley driver Rob VanMil reigned victorious over a strong field of competitors.

Saturday night also marked the annual “Florian Sprinzel Memorial” for WISSOTA Street Stocks. Horace, ND driver Jason Babcock picked up his second win in as many weeks, collecting the memorial trophy and cash in the process.

Dale Mathison became the first three-time winner by scoring the victory in the WISSOTA Modified division while defending track champion Larry Lund reigned victorious in the WISSOTA Super Stock division. Third year WISSOTA Midwest Modified veteran Brett Hoium scored the win in that division’s A-main as well during Amsoil Dirt Track Series action Saturday night at Viking Speedway.

After a couple of early attempts failed, Steve Johnson took the early lead in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified A-main. Through some attrition as well as a fast car, Hoium snuck into third on lap three behind Johnson and second place running Shayne Laske. Hoium then moved by Laske for the second spot in turn four and quickly reeled in Johnson for the lead.

Hoium overtook Johnson exiting turn four on lap five, taking the lead. Back in traffic, defending WISSOTA Midwest Modified track champion Josh Thoennes began to work his way to the front.

Thoennes cracked the top five seven laps in and looked to be the fastest car on the speedway in the process. Hoium began to stretch his advantage out front near the midway point of the race while the action was hot and heavy behind.

Thoennes dueled door to door with Josh Muzik before taking the third spot with five laps remaining. Thoennes climbed the ladder and moved by Laske for the second spot on lap 14 while Hoium was checked out, out front.

On the final trip around, Hoium made no mistakes and went on to score the win. Thoennes ended a great run in the second spot ahead of Laske, Muzik and 18th starter William Lund.

Heat race wins were collected by Shawn Olson, Dusty Bitzan, Jason Hoffman and Hoium.

Babcock and Henry Peters shared the front row starting duties for the Florian Sprinzel Memorial Street Stock Special. When head flagman Mike Commerford dropped the green, Babcock stormed off to an early advantage. Peters quickly received pressure from first time traveler Gary “The Mailman” Pischke.

Pischke moved by for the second spot on lap five and looked very impressive doing so. Pischke closed up on the backside of Babcock before the yellow flag waved on lap six. On the restart, Pischke pulled up lame with a flat tire, ending his night in the process.

That moved Peters and Scott Horn into the second row for the “Delaware” double file start behind Babcock. The green dropped once again, this time with Horn taking over the second spot.

Babcock once again cruised out to a comfortable advantage while the field raced in tow. Fourteenth starter Travis Berends steadily moved his way forward, grabbing the sixth spot on the final trip around the speedway.

Babcock was flawless leading the A-main from flag to flag, picking up his second win in as many weeks.

Horn moved up six spots from his eighth starting position to finish second ahead of Peters, James Wall and Justin Vogel.

Horn and Vogel each tallied a heat race win for the WISSOTA Streets.

Current WISSOTA Mod Four national point leader Justin Bjorklund took the lead on lap one of the WISSOTA Mod Four finale. Bjorklund pedaled his Ripka powered Eagle Chassis around the topside of the speedway while Tyler Larson worked the bottom. Third starter Rob VanMil quickly moved up to do battle with Bjorklund and Larson taking over the second spot on lap six. Back in traffic, defending WISSOTA Mod Four national champion Shayne Laske began to work his way through the field.

After starting 20th, Laske ended a very nice run in the eighth position. VanMil stole the lead from Bjorklund on lap eight, while Bjorklund regrouped in second. The only yellow of the event waved with five laps remaining, which bunched up the field behind VanMil.

Bjorklund once again settled into second behind VanMil while Paul Hartman moved up to do battle with Larson. On the final trip around Larson was able to fend off Hartman’s challenges holding onto third in the process.

In the end it was VanMil picking up the feature win. Bjorklund settled for a hard fought second ahead of Larson, Hartman and Corry VanMil.

Jim Kanten, Rob VanMil and Dean Larson were the victors in heat race action for the WISSOTA Mod Fours who boasted 21 competitors.

Larry Lund led wire to wire to pick up his first feature win of the season in the WISSOTA Super Stock division. The red-hot Jon Stepan, fresh off a win Thursday night at KRA Speedway, had a very impressive run, starting ninth and finishing second. Todd Carter, who like Stepan was fresh off a win Friday night at the Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, SD, moved up to third from his tenth starting position.

In the end, however, it was Lund riding the extreme high side of the speedway to victory. Stepan, Carter, Dave Shipley and second year WISSOTA Super Stock driver Jeremy Jerve rounded out the top five running order.

Shipley, Jerve and Lund all garnered heat race wins in the WISSOTA Super Stock division as well earlier in the evening.

Terry Engebretson beat Matt Smith to turn one and grabbed the lead on lap one of the 20-lap WISSOTA Modified main event.

Engebretson brought the 25-car field around and was scored the leader at the conclusion of the first lap. Sixth starter Dale Mathison was on an absolute terror early on as he quickly moved into third place behind Jamie Lemke.

Mathison quickly disposed of Lemke for the second spot and immediately cruised by Engebretson for the lead. The first caution of the event waved on lap six when Mitch Johnson and Curt Lund got together in turn one.

Johnson retired pitside with damage while Lund received his position back in sixth. When the green flag dropped again, it was more than apparent that 14th starter Danny Bayer was on the move. Bayer disposed of the Storck brothers with eight laps remaining before moving Travis Saurer via the low groove on the next on the next circuit.

Bayer continued his onslaught toward the front on 16 as he moved by Smith for the third spot exiting turn two. Back in traffic, Jay McDonald pedaled his #96 machine a little closer toward the front with each lap. After starting 23rd, McDonald ended a great run in the ninth position. In the end it was all Mathison as he dominated picking up his third Viking Speedway victory of the season. Lemke collected another stellar run coming home second followed by Bayer, Smith and Travis Saurer.

The 25 cars were divided into three heat races, which were won by Engebretson, Mathison and Curt Lund.

Races start each and every Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. For more information regarding Viking Speedway, log onto the track’s website at vikingspeedway.net.

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