8/20/2017
Buffalo River Speedway
Michael Greseth capitalizes for modified tour win at Buffalo River, Arneson claims title
By Mike Spieker
GLYNDON, Minn. – A season high 29 IMCA modifieds were checked in to Buffalo River Race Park as they closed out the four-night Sanders Modified Challenge Tour. The tour, which travelled to area tracks, including Norman County Raceway in Ada and Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., brought in a lot of the upper Midwest’s top talent in the modified division.
However, it was local driver Michael Greseth of Harwood, N.D. that took the win.
Greseth took advantage of a restart with 13 laps to go to move by leader Dale Kraling. From there, Greseth withstood challenges from Kraling on two more restarts and claimed $1,000 victory over Fargo, North Dakota’s Austin Arneson.
With the second place finish, Arneson was crowned the 2017 Sanders Modified Tour champion.
“This is a fun tour,” said Arneson after the race. “With a tour like this, it’s nice to have all the hard work pay off. It’s even better when you can do it in front of your hometown people.”
Points were tallied all four nights of the tour, with each driver’s worst night being thrown out. By night’s end at Buffalo River, Arneson edged out Greseth by a mere one point to claim the championship and the $1,500 bonus.
Matt Talley scored a thrilling win in the IMCA sportmods. The Sabin driver took the lead from Matt Clark on lap eight of 20 as Chris VanMil followed him into second.
Talley fended off VanMil’s challenge, but he soon had his hands full with a hard-charging Jesse Skalicky. Skalicky rode on the cushion around the high side of the speedway to take the lead momentarily as the white flag flew.
Talley battled back down the back straightaway, however, and pulled even with Skalicky in the final set of corners. It came down to a drag race at the line, which Talley won by a half car length to record his first feature win of the season.
After a hard fought battle, the IMCA hobby stock win went to Brandon Schmidt of Hillsboro, N.D. Schmidt and West Fargo, N.D. driver Torey Fischer battled side by side for the lead for seven consecutive laps until the caution was displayed with six laps to go.
Schmidt was scored the leader for the ensuing restart with Fischer and Tim Church in tow. As the race resumed, Schmidt jumped out to a commanding lead as Church muscled past Fischer for the runner-up spot.
Schmidt piloted his No. 219 machine to the checkers for his 10th overall win of the 2017 season.
The INEX legends feature wasn't decided until the final stages. Saturday's winner at Red River Valley Speedway, Troy Hoff, claimed the lead on lap two of 20 and looked to have the race in hand in the early going.
However, Bismarck, North Dakota’s Steven Kuntz methodically moved his way through the field from the 13th starting position and utilized a lap 15 restart to make his move on Hoff.
Kuntz sized up Hoff while running the extreme high line and drove by the Flasher, N.D. with two laps to go. Hoff tried to battle back, but Kuntz held on to take the win.
The NLSA lightning sprints main event turned into a race of attrition for some of the front runners. Third place runner Josh Abrahamson suffered mechanical woes near the halfway point. Soon thereafter, the leader Eric Johnson also endured an equipment failure after dominating the majority of the feature.
Fourteen-year-old Brendan Mullen then inherited the lead and drove away from the field for the victory.
Cole Babcock won the sling shot feature.
Results:
IMCA Hobby Stocks - 1. Brandon Schmidt, Hillsboro, N.D.; 2. Tim Church, Dilworth, Minn.; 3. Torey Fischer, West Fargo, N.D.; 4. Nick Nelson, Georgetown, Minn.; 5. Caleb Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.
INEX Legends - 1. Steven Kuntz, Bismarck, N.D.; 2. Troy Hoff, Flasher, N.D.; 3. Dylan Johnson, Durbin, N.D.; 4. Ryan Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 5. Dean Julsrud, Barnesville, Minn.
NLSA Lightning Sprints - 1. Brandon Mullen, Grand Forks, N.D.; 2. Alan Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 3. Alex Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 4. Zachary Kwiatkoski, Grand Forks, N.D.; 5. Presley Truedson, Kennedy, Minn.
IMCA Sport Mods - 1. Matt Talley, Sabin, Minn.; 2. Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 3. Chris VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 4. Jake Hagemann, Brainerd, Minn.; 5. Kelly Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.
IMCA Sport Compacts - 1. Daniel Harstad, Fergus Falls, Minn.; 2. Austin Lammers, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; 3. Brady Moore, Ulen, Minn.; 4. Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 5. Levi Lease, Harwood, N.D.
IMCA Modifieds - 1. Michael Greseth, Harwood, N.D.; 2. Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. Dale Kraling, Mayville, N.D.; 4. Tyler Peterson, Hickson, N.D.; 5. Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.
Submitted By: Mike Spieker
