Auto Clearing Motor Speedway
Results for Saturday, September 20, 2014
There was a number of records set Saturday at Auto Clearing Motor
Speedway in the Dakota Dunes Series final, but they were not records to
be proud of. 15 cautions, 86 caution laps, over an hour and 42 minutes
to run the race. It was treacherous and grueling to say the least.
And that was being a fan.
The lead up to the WSSL 150, the Dakota Dunes final race, was the best
anyone could hope for. Saskatoon’s Jim Gaunt and Montana’s Ryan Wells
were tied in the championship points chase.
Gaunt’s car was on and off throughout the day. The best he could muster
in the first morning practice session was a fourth place lap of 14.439
seconds, while Wells topped the board at 14.220 seconds. Gaunt was on
top in the second practice at 14.137 seconds. Wells opted to not even
hit the track.
Things started to unravel for Jim Gaunt in the time trials. Up first he
put what would normally be considered a respectable 14.378 up on the
board. Jason Gervais was up next and beat Jim, putting up 14.334
seconds. Greg Funk, Clint Habart and Ryan Wells would all show better
times, leaving Gaunt with his lowest finish of the year, in fifth,
allowing Wells to pick up four important points on him.
Gaunt and Wells would end up in the same Heat race, which had a
finishing order of Gaunt in first and Wells in second, giving a point
back to Gaunt. That’s all Jim needed as it would mean if both finished
the feature in the top five, one position over Wells would be enough to
capture the championship.
In the second Heat, Clint Habart would finish ahead of Dave Bone and
Dusty O’Connell, putting him on the front row of the feature, before the
dice roll inversion.
As the top two time trial qualifiers, Ryan Wells and Clint Habart were
faced with a decision. For every Dakota Dunes race the Saskatoon Stock
Car Club puts up an extra $500 bonus if the top qualifiers win the race,
but they have to start from the back. In the three previous Dakota
Dunes races it was always Wells and Gaunt and they always chose to move
to the back row. One of those two won the race each time and received
the bonus.
This being Habarts first run on the Saskatoon track and the championship
on the line for Wells, both were hesitant and didn’t look to be moving
back. In steps LaRonge Family Taxi and issues a challenge to the Club.
Up the anti to $750 and they would match it. Race officials pooled
together and did better, throwing in an extra $125, pushing the bonus
prize to $1625. Performance Plus then threw another $200 on the table.
A bonus $1825, putting the first place prize to $2825 for these two cars
was just a little to tempting and both cars agreed to start from the
back of the back. The dice roll came up with a four row inversion,
handing pole position for the WSSL Auto Parts 150 to Nick Jewel.
The race started out clean enough and Jewel piloted the #51 to a quick
lead for the first handful of laps. The #72 of Blair Snow brought out
the first caution in lap seven when he spun on his own accord. Back
under green Jewel continued to lead through lap 14, when his car fell
off the pace and the #2 of Greg Funk took over leading the pack around
the oval.
Funk was still in the lead when caution flew again in lap 28 as Jared
Reddekopp spun out in the #97. Clay Wagner in the #95, running his
first super late model race was awarded the Lucky Bastard, allowing him
to pull around the pace car and gain back a lap he had lost.
Funk was still in the lead when #0 of Tony Lambert fell off the pace
bringing out the third caution, and again in lap 48 when Wagner spun the
#95 around. On the ensuing green flag lap the caution was brought out
again when a front tie rod end broke on Redekopp’s car.
Funk was still in the lead when cautions six and seven flew in lap 58 as
the #5X came down on Wells, cutting a tire.
Dusty O’Connell in the #99 took over the lead a couple of laps later and
was still leading as caution flew again in lap 74 when Mike Czaja turned
it around on his own. Gaunt had been noticeably off the pace, falling
back to 11th, and took advantage of the caution to hit his pit. His
crew went under the hood for some work. They had Gaunt back on the
track before the green flag, but the news was not good. Gaunt’s engine
had apparently dropped one cylinder, possibly two.
It was caution yet again in lap 91 when the #4 of Keegan Michaud came
down on the #24 of Ryan Purdy, ending Purdy’s night. Caution again on
the green flag as it was ruled the #09 of Clint Habart jumped the start.
When the green flew again it was pretty clear the big open engine of
the #09 simply out-powered O’Connell’s crate engine and Habart took over
the lead.
It was caution again in lap 94 as Jarod Reddekopp once again spun in the
#97, ending his night under the three caution rule. Just a couple of
laps later is was game over for the #5 of Ryan Wells as he had a
trailing arm break bringing out the caution once again.
Things got really ugly as the number 5X checked up on the green flag
lap, causing a chain reaction collection of cars on the front straight
involving the #51 of Nick Jewel, the #44 of Trevor Hannay, #88 Jason
Gervais, #3 Barry Schingar, #38 Dave Bone and #55 of Jim Gaunt.
Seeing this the team of Ryan Wells jumped to work on the #5. You could
see welding sparks flying and before the mess on the front straight was
cleaned up the #5 was off the jack stands and rolling down pit lane.
The crash ended the night for #88 Jason Gervais, but the other cars
involved all showed varying degrees of damage, including Jim Gaunt’s #55.
Seeing the #5 of Ryan Wells come back out on the track probably changed
Gaunt’s strategy, as his car was hurting, but he would have to stay on
the track as long as he could in the hope #5 couldn’t finish the race.
Habart continued to lead in the #09 when caution came out once again in
lap 115. Habart’s open engine power caused him to spin his tires on
green, which took a lot of life out of them. You could see the #09
slowly fading until O’Connell once again took over the lead with the #99
in lap 138. Meanwhile Ryan Wells had worked his way up from the back
again and found himself in second place when the caution came out once
again with six laps remaining, as the #44 of Trevor Hannay looped around
by himself.
It would be a six lap shootout with Dusty O’Connell and Ryan Wells on
the front row. O’Connell got the better start and pulled away from
Wells, leading him around the final six times. In the end #99 Dusty
O’Connell would win the WSSL Auto Parts Plus 1.65 seconds ahead of #5
Ryan Wells. Greg Funk was third in the #2. Jim Gaunt had to settle
for sixth. There was no bonus payout.
Jim Gaunt did manage to hang on for second place in the Dakota Dunes
Championship, finishing 17 points behind Ryan Wells. Dusty O’Connell
finished the year in third.
In the Kreepy Kritters Pest Control Mini Stocks, #95 Robin Boomsma
picked up the championship with a feature win, getting to the line ahead
of the #41 of Jamie Tataryn and #92 Brennan Kirton. Jamie Tataryn won
the mini stock heat, with Boomsma won the qualifier.
The #36 of Darryl Potts picked up the win in the Brock Salvage Street
Stock feature, while #22 Ryan Fredrickson took the heat and #44 Craig
Katelnikoff took the qualifier. The overall season championship was
handily won by the #44 of Craig Katelnikoff.
#12 Matthew Shirley took home the Mid West Combustion Sportsman
championship trophy, taking wins in the sportsman heat and both feature
races. #41 Travis Deforest took the qualifier.
Next week wraps up the season for Auto Clearing Motor Speedway with
racing action both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will see the Earth
Works Equipment Sask Legends Series wrap up their season, along with the
Bandoleros. Saturday also sees the Always Towing Windchill 100, a race
that will see street stocks, sportsman cars, pro trucks and super trucks
pitted against each other in a 100 lap feature, with $5,000.00 on the
line for the winner.
The final event is Sunday, with the annual Ellenn Plastics Enduro and
demolition derby. Racing both days is at 2:00 p.m., with the front
gates open at 12:30 p.m.
Complete Results
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Kreepy Kritterz Pest Control Mini Stock Division
Heat Race:
1. #41 Jamie Tataryn
2. #25 Tanner Reimer
3. #92 Brennan Kirton
4. #95 Robin Boomsma
5. #1 Scott Barrand
6. #88 Tom Smith
7. #23 Cole Nixey
8. #4 Shawn Magee
Qualifier Race:
1. #95 Robin Boomsma
2. #92 Brennan Kirton
3. #41 Jamie Tataryn
4. #25 Tanner Reimer
5. #88 Tom Smith
6. #23 Cole Nixey
7. #1 Scott Barrand
8. #4 Shawn Magee
Kreepy Kritterz Pest Control Mini Stock Division Feature:
1. #95 Robin Boomsma
2. #41 Jamie Tataryn
3. #92 Brennan Kirton
4. #25 Tanner Reimer
5. #23 Cole Nixey
6. #1 Scott Barrand
7. #4 Shawn Magee
8. #88 Tom Smith
Brock Salvage Street Stock Division
Heat Race:
1. #22 Ryan Fredrickson
2. #81 Curtis Houben
3. #36 Darryl Potts
4. #44 Craig Katelnikoff
5. #42 Nicole Sheetka
6. #15 Todd Pluhator
7. #3 Kevin MacLaggin
8. #18 Mike Rea
Qualifier Race:
1. #44 Craig Katelnikoff
2. #15 Todd Pluhator
3. #3 Kevin MacLaggin
4. #36 Darryl Potts
5. #22 Ryan Fredrickson
6. #18 Mike Rea
7. #42 Nicole Sheetka
8. #81 Curtis Houben
Brock Salvage Street Stock Division Feature:
1. #36 Darryl Potts
2. #15 Todd Pluhator
3. #42 Nicole Sheetka
4. #3 Kevin MacLaggin
5. #22 Ryan Fredrickson
6. #81 Curtis Houben
7. #18 Mike Rea
8. #44 Craig Katelnikoff
Mid West Combustion Sportsman Division
Heat Race:
1. #12 Matthew Shirley
2. #46 Dan Shirley
3. #04 Tim Kammer
4. #94 Jason Hankewich
5. #07 Casey Randall
6. #21 Nick Allen
7. #41 Travis Deforest
8. #27 Rick Schuurmans
9. #15 Dave McIntosh
10. #5 Kirk Senger
11. #57 Dennis Laforce
Qualifier Race:
1. #41 Travis Deforest
2. #21 Nick Allen
3. #07 Casey Randall
4. #46 Dan Shirley
5. #12 Matthew Shirley
6. #04 Tim Kammer
7. #94 Jason Hankewich
8. #77 Shane James
9. #27 Rick Schuurmans
10. #15 Dave McIntosh
Mid West Combustion Sportsman Feature A:
1. #12 Matthew Shirley
2. #21 Nick Allen
3. #04 Tim Kammer
4. #94 Jason Hankewich
5. #77 Shane James
6. #46 Dan Shirley
7. #27 Rick Schuurmans
8. #5 Kirk Senger
9. #41 Travis Deforest
10. #15 Dave McIntosh
11. #07 Casey Randall
Mid West Combustion Sportsman Feature B:
1. #12 Matthew Shirley
2. #94 Jason Hankewich
3. #46 Dan Shirley
4. #07 Casey Randall
5. #57 Dennis Laforce
6. #77 Shane James
7. #21 Nick Allen
8. #5 Kirk Senger
9. #15 Dave McIntosh
10. #27 Rick Schuurmans
11. #41 Travis Deforest
12. #04 Tim Kammer
Dakota Dunes Casino Western Canada Super Late Model Championship Series
Time Trials (seconds):
1. #5 Ryan Wells, 14.143
2. #09 Clint Habart, 14.151
3. #2 Greg Funk, 14.330
4. #88 Jason Gervais, 14.334
5. #55 Jim Gaunt, 14.378
6. #17 Rob Janzen, 14.410
7. #51 Nicholas Jewel, 14.440
8. #99 Dusty O'Connell, 14.450
9. #5X Mike Czaja, 14.484
10. #38 Dave Bone, 14.509
11. #0 Tony Lambert, 14.529
12. #72 Blair Snow, 14.615
13. #97 Jared Reddekopp, 14.677
14. #3 Barry Schingar, 14.719
15. #44 Trevor Hannay, 14.726
16. #24 Ryan Purdy, 14.926
17. #4 Keegan Michaud, 14.989
18. #95, Clay Wagner, 15.283
19. #22 Doug Bienia, 15.537
Heat A:
1. #55 Jim Gaunt
2. #5 Ryan Wells
3. #44 Trevor Hannay
4. #2 Greg Funk
5. #5X Mike Czaja
6. #51 Nicholas Jewel
7. #0 Tony Lambert
8. #4 Keegan Michaud
9. #97 Jared Reddekopp
Heat B:
1. #09 Clint Habart
2. #38 Dave Bone
3. #99 Dusty O'Connell
4. #88 Jason Gervais
5. #72 Blair Snow
6. #22 Doug Bienia
7. #24 Ryan Purdy
8. #3 Barry Schingar
9. #95 Clay Wagner
10. #17 Rob Janzen
WSSL 150 Main Feature Race:
1. #99 Dusty O'Connell
2. #5 Ryan Wells
3. #2 Greg Funk
4. #09 Clint Habart
5. #51 Nicholas Jewel
6. #55 Jim Gaunt
7. #5X Mike Czaja
8. #3 Barry Schingar
9. #44 Trevor Hannay
10. #95 Clay Wagner
11. #38 Dave Bone
12. #0 Tony Lambert
13. #88 Jason Gervais
14. #4 Keegan Michaud
15. #24 Ryan Purdy
16. #97 Jared Reddekopp
17. #22 Doug Bienia
18. #72 Blair Snow
Race Stats:
18 cars started the race
12 cars on track at end of race
9 cars on lead lap at end of race
Race time – on track: 1 hour, 42 minutes, 01 seconds
Four Race Leaders – 51, 2, 99 and 09
Five Lead Changes – #51 led laps 1-14, #2 led laps 14-59, #99 led laps
92-137 and 138-150, #09 led laps 92-137
15 cautions in laps 7, 28, 32, 48, 48, 58, 58, 74, 91, 91, 94, 97, 97,
115 and 144
0 Caution laps counted, 86 not counted
LB Recipients: #95 Clay Wagner, #0 Tony Lambert, #38 Dave Bone
Richard
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=20295.msg112365#msg112365
