5/10/2025
Wissota Late Model Challenge Series
Burdick blocks final lap slider for thrilling I-94 emr Speedway victory
The first 2025 event for the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star kicked off at the I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minnesota for the opening night of a three race Minnesota swing to start the season and saw Proctor, Minnesota’s Kevin Burdick best a stout field of 37 WISSOTA Late Models to win the 40-lap feature by surviving a monster slide job in the final lap by Don Shaw to get the victory.
The night began with six time series champion Pat Doar setting fast time with a lap of 16.236 seconds around the clay oval, while Jordan Tollakson, Shane Sabraski, Kevin Burdick and Cole Schill topped the four qualifying heat races early in the night’s program. A pair of Late Model rookies, Travis Saurer and Cody Lee won the night’s b-mains to set the 25-car feature starting lineup.
Kevin Burdick and Don Shaw earned the front row for the night’s $3,000 to win, 40-lap feature event with Shaw getting the upper hand on the initial start and leading the field into turn number one and lead the opening lap.
Shaw ran out front over the first two laps with Burdick and Shane Sabraski in tow.
The first caution of the 40-lapper flew on lap 2 when Todd Frank and Cole Searing got together in turn two, while battling inside the top ten.
On the restart, Shaw again took off out front, but the run was short lived as the second caution flew one lap later, resulting in a four car crash in turns 1 and 2, showing the field one more time.
As the race kicked back into action, the race at the front of the field was incredible as Shaw was out front but under heavy pressure from Sabraski, Burdick, Cole Schill and Sam Mars. Sabraski was able to slip by Shaw into the lead at the halfway point, leading lap 20, but his lead was slim as Burdick went rocketing by into the lead two circuits later.
Laps clicked off smoothly with Burdick and Shaw stretching away from the field for several laps until Sam Mars began to roll after the leaders. Mars got to third and after several laps of wild action throughout lapped traffic, Mars made a big move to the inside of Shaw, sending Shaw’s #42s into the turn three wall. Shaw was able to continue while Mars took his #28 pit side.
The final restart of the night saw Burdick and Shaw drive off, while Provinzino, Sabraski and Searing ran inside the top five. Shaw got to the rear decklid of Burdick on the final lap, and was able to throw a monster slider as the field rumbled into turns one and two, but Burdick was able to drive back under Shaw and race to his second career Challenge Series victory for his efforts. Burdick’s win was by 0.1790 seconds.
Following Burdick and Shaw to the line were Provinzino in third, Sabraski and Searing in the top five.
Travis Saurer won the WISSOTA Modified feature, while Jeff Rohner won the WISSOTA Hornet main. Eric Riley won the WISSOTA Street Stock feature, Tyler Bitzan won the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature as well to round out the night.
Tonight’s contingency award winners included:
Collins Bros. Towing Long Tow Award – Gunner Frank (458 miles)
Hiller Auction Quick Qualifier Award – Pat Doar (16.236 seconds)
MyRacePass Pole Award – Kevin Burdick
Olsen Custom Farms Hard Luck Award – Ryan Mikkelson (flip on final lap)
Wehrs Machine Hard Charger Award – Tyler Peterson (+15)
GTX Rookie of the Race – Cory Bruggeman (15th place)
MD3 Lap Leader Award – Kevin Burdick (19 laps)
Victory Fuel Top Three Finishers – Kevin Burdick (1st), Don Shaw (2nd), Jeff Provinzino (3rd)
The random pit meeting drawing winners included:
Hoosier Racing Tire – Todd Frank
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Ryan Mikkelson
Velocita USA – Jeff Provinzino
Champ Pans – Kevin Eder
Deatherage Racing Opticians – Gunner Frank
Joe Provo Racewear – Shane Sabraski
Full results can be found on MyRacePass.com
The Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minnesota hosts the Challenge Series tonight, Saturday, May 10th with a 6pm start time scheduled.
For upcoming schedule information and tickets, visit www.WISSOTAChallengeSeries.com.
Submitted By: Jacy Norgaard
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