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80 for No. 80
Kuklinski hits ABC Raceway milestone win; Checkalski gets first mod checkers
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, August 12 -- Greg Kuklinski of Ironwood, MI, the winningest
driver in ABC Raceway history, picked up his 80th career feature victory
Saturday night during the Northern State Bank-sponsored program. Exactly 100
cars were registered for action for a fast-paced program on a smooth,
lightning-quick track that saw the final checkered flag waive before 10 pm.
Kuklinski started on the pole of the WISSOTA street stock feature and led all
15 laps. The race was halted before the first lap was recorded, however, after
a frightening roll-over by Cory Casari brought out the red flag. Sixth-running
Butch Kummer’s car got loose coming out of turn 4 and cut down across the
track, tagging Casari’s car and causing it to first spin sideways, then flip
in front of most of the field. Neither Kummer nor Casari was hurt, but John
Kallas, who was caught up in the incident, was shaken up but otherwise
alright.
Kuklinski opened up a substantial lead over the field during the next six
laps, before the only other caution slowdown of the race came about for Kevin
Eder’s spin. Over the final laps Kuklinski again stretched out his
advantage, while the scramble behind him saw Roger Walker move around Kevin
Bogdanovic into second and Steve Anderson work past Mike Truscott into fourth.
With four laps remaining Bogdanovic bobbled slightly, allowing Truscott and
Lee Christjohn to move around both Bogdanovic and Anderson, but Anderson
stormed back by Christjohn during the last two laps to reclaim fourth at the
checkers behind Truscott.
The win also moved Kuklinski into a tie for track-best honors this season with
five, while the second-place run by Walker edged him four points ahead of
Anderson in the tight chase for the division’s championship.
Kelly Checkalski credited his father, veteran racer Dennis Checkalski, during
his victory speech after he won his first-ever WISSOTA modified feature here
Saturday. Checkalski, who has been in and out of racing and has tried several
different divisions over the past few seasons, swept around polesitter Mark
Baxter at the drop of the initial green flag and moved out to a commanding
lead during the first half of the 20-lap headliner. The only time the field
got close to the junior Checkalski was during the race’s lone restart, after
Rick Przybylski’s spin brought out a yellow banner on lap 11.
But on this night Checkalski had his car dialed in, and he pulled away to a
ten car-length advantage once again before Jeff Spacek snuck underneath Paul
Niznik for second and whittled that lead down by half. Bill Byholm also got
past Niznik for third in the waning laps, while Scott Hudack crossed the
finish line in fifth. Al Uotinen maintained a 15-point lead over Byholm in the
mod standings with a sixth-place run.
In victory lane Checkalski stated, “I have to thank my dad. He owns the
motor and transmission in this car, and if it weren’t for him I wouldn’t
be out here (racing).” The win was Checkalski’s first here since June 17,
2000, in a street stock, and his third overall.
Steve Christman broke through with his first career feature win, diving to
victory in the pure stock 12-lap main event. Christman overtook polesitter
Paul Milanowski three laps after a lap 1 restart for a two-car spin, and from
there he maintained the advantage through two more caution periods - on lap 6
for a stalled Bob Hagstrom, and on lap 7 when Nathan Dees stopped on the track
after puncturing a tire.
As Christman set the pace for the remaining laps, Ricky Davis annexed second
spot from George Dalbeck to strengthen his points lead. Kevin Truchon came on
strong late in the run to claim fourth at the pay window, while Milanowski
came home fifth.
Scott Lawrence continued his late-season dominance of the track’s WISSOTA
super stock division by posting his seventh straight race night with a heat
win and third straight with the feature win. In the A-main Trevor Wilson ran a
solid line to hold off challenges from Dave Elliott and Kuklinski until Bryan
Lund spun four laps in for the race’s only slowdown. Then on lap 6 Wilson
bobbled coming out of turn 2 and handed the lead to Kuklinski, who likewise
slipped up in the same corner on the next lap and gave the lead to Destin
Lorimor.
Lorimor looked strong in fending off Kuklinski, but Lawrence began his charge
to the front by using inside moves to pass Joe Oliver for third on lap 13 and
then Kuklinski on lap 15. Lawrence, who had ridden the high line to his two
most recent feature wins here, stayed downstairs and slipped by Lorimor with
three laps remaining, then continued on for his fifth feature win of the
season. Lorimor completed his impressive showing with runner-up honors ahead
of Oliver, while Brian Mikkonen and Randy Spacek charged by Kuklinski late to
claim fourth and fifth.
The win pushes Lawrence’s points lead over Mikkonen to 76 with two
points-paying shows remaining this season.
Chuck Hawkinson worked by early leader Chris Lustig on lap 4 and then fought
off a determined Steve Stuart for his third six-cylinder feature win of the
season Saturday night. Lustig led from the pole and, along with Hawkinson and
Stuart, drew away from the pack early before Hawkinson used the high side to
make his race-winning move, while Stuart slipped by on the inside to second.
From there the two leaders ran off to decide the win, with Stuart providing
serious challenges for the lead on every lap.
The pace cooled on lap 8 of 15 when Mike McKay spun, after which points leader
Scott Ovaska began to duel with Stuart for second, allowing Hawkinson to draw
away. Over the final three laps Mikkonen overtook both Ovaska and Stuart and
followed Hawkinson home at a distance in the car Warren Beede won this same
feature with last weekend. Pat Beeksma completed the top five.
Ovaska also won his heat earlier in the program, while Stuart took a fifth in
that same race. Despite Ovaska taking fourth in the feature to Stuart’s
third-place run, Ovaska extended his points lead to seven over Stuart.
Ladies’ “powder puff” races were added to the program for tonight, with
trophies presented by the Ashland Dairy Queen to each of the race winners. In
the pure stock race Shannon Huff drove Brittany Kalmon’s car to the win over
Tara Nelson and Doreen Basina, and in the streeter powder puff Kulkinski’s
car again found victory lane, with Gale Johnson behind the wheel. Nikki Pingel
and Lisa Frydrych followed to complete the top three.
In the six-cylinder powder puff Gina Broenimann spun in the final corner while
attempting to take the lead, allowing Terrie Stuart to hold on for the win in
Dale Coddington’s car. Katie Burho took second and Nikki Swanson was third.
Action at the 3/8th-mile red clay oval continues on Saturday, August 19, with
a first-ever visit by WISSOTA’s fastest-growing division, the Midwest
modifieds. The program will be presented by Heartland Communications of
Ashland and also include the track’s five regular weekly classes in action,
so fans will see six divisions of racing for the price of five, as there will
be no increase in admission prices.
Hot laps will begin at 6:15 pm and the first green flag of the season will
drop at 7. The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State
Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call
(715) 682-4990, or log on to the track’s website, .
“Racenight Live” will air Saturday on WJJH, 96.7 & 102.3 FM, from
4:30-6 pm with up-to-date track news and weather information.
Results
WISSOTA Modifieds
Heat 1: Kelly Checkalski, Duluth, MN; Paul Niznik, Medford; Bill
Byholm, Glidden.
Heat 2: Al Uotinen, Superior; Mark Baxter, Dorchester; Scott Hudack,
Ashland.
Feature: Checkalski; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Byholm; Niznik; Hudack;
Uotinen; Robby Bunkelman, Abbotsford; Ross Lightner, Washburn; Baxter; Rick
Przybylski, Ashland.
WISSOTA Super Stocks
Heat 1: Scott Lawrence, Superior; Joe Oliver, Superior; Dave Elliott,
Minocqua.
Heat 2: Larry Haderly, Marengo; Greg Kuklinski, Ironwood, MI; Bryan
Lund, Ashland.
Heat 3: Ron Hmielewski, Washburn; Destin Lorimor, Maple; Trevor Wilson,
Superior.
Feature: Lawrence; Lorimor; Oliver; Brian Mikkonen, Iron River; Randy
Spacek, Phillips; Kuklinski; Wilson; Haderly; Elliott; Hmielewski.
WISSOTA Street Stocks
Heat 1: Greg Kuklinski, Ironwood, MI; Roger Walker, Phillips; Butch
Kummer, Medford.
Heat 2: Kevin Bogdanovic, Wausau; Rob Weber, Washburn; Mike Truscott,
Greenland, MI.
Feature: Kuklinski; Walker; Truscott; Steve Anderson, Ironwood, MI; Lee
Christjohn, Antigo; George Dalbeck, Wakefield, MI; Bogdanovic; Kevin Eder,
Ashland; Justin Paulsen, Ironwood, MI; Bobby Leage, Hermantown, MN.
Six-Cylinders
Heat 1: Pat Cook, Washburn; Steve Tesch, Prentice; Dale Coddington,
Hayward.
Heat 2: Scott Ovaska, Marengo; Chuck Hawkinson, Mellen; Greg Jaeger,
Mellen.
Feature: Hawkinson; Brian Mikkonen, Iron River; Steve Stuart, Ashland;
Ovaska; Pat Beeksma, New Richmond; Chris Lustig, Ashland; Jaeger; Coddington;
Cook; Andy Grymala, Superior.
Pure Stocks
Heat 1: Tom Morinville, Duluth, MN; Steve Christman, Superior; Ricky
Davis, Bruno, MN.
Heat 2: Nathan Dees, Ironwood, MI; Tim Carbon, Highbridge; Paul
Milanowski, Ashland.
Feature: Christman; Davis; George Dalbeck, Wakefield, MI; Kevin Truchon,
Ashland; Milanowski; Carbon; Morinville; Al Rapp, Duluth, MN; Jim Laessig,
Wakefield, MI; Myron Basina, Washburn.
ABC Raceway Points thru 8/12
WISSOTA Modifieds
# - Driver Total
98 - Al Uotinen 605
4 - Bill Byholm 590
00 - Scott Hudack 567
95 - Rick Rivord 558
84 - Dean Yrjanainen 520
22 - Jeff Spacek 505
74 - Shawn Kreyer 490
P1 - Rick Przybylski 480
37jr - Ross Lightner 461
21 - Jerry Hartman 435
10 - John Frydrych 418
42 - Paul Niznik 418
95x - Kent Baxter 408
H64 - Kelly Checkalski 397
316 - Dan Sellung 346
00 - Robby Bunkelman 333
777 - Mike Sauvola 333
64h - Dennis Checkalski 327
99 - Steve Lavasseur 292
40 - Paul Knauf 212
24L - Jeff Lien 168
9 - Riley Matthews 148
37 - Bob Root 121
1/37 - Nick Nelson 115
13 - Dave Salzman Jr 110
22b - Mark Baxter 110
40 - Jad Carlson 104
3d - Kevin Monteith 90
11 - Jody Bellefeuille 80
18 - Mike Kirtland 80
34 - Mickey Nosser 66
1j - Jason Zdroik 63
40 - Shawn Lee 61
43 - Luke Schilling 61
44 - Darrell Nelson 57
91 - Craig Thatcher 56
V2 - Joey Jensen 51
411 - Pat Doar 50
22 - Don Copp 47
2r - Ricky Roche 46
69 - Justin Jones 44
30 - Brent Larson 43
57 - Mike Anderson 41
37 - Kelly Estey 36
38 - Rick Cannata 36
7x - Tyler Keyser 36
32 - George Young 35
78 - Larry Prochnow 35
12m - Jason Miller 34
45 - Bob Broking 33
101 - Paul Schultz 32
21 - Marc Johnson 32
24d - Duane Dale 31
27 - Jim Inman 29
9 - John Carpenter 17
20 - Jeff Hart 16
54L - Jayme Lautigar 16
75L - Clint Larson 16
22BB - Bruce Belland 14
7x - Chris Magistad 12
WISSOTA Super Stocks
# - Driver Total
77 - Scott Lawrence 673
11x - Brian Mikkonen 597
55 - Ron Hmielewski 594
93x - Randy Silverness Jr 572
5x - Joe Oliver 550
4e - Paul Erikson 547
3x - Larry Haderly 544
22 - Randy Spacek 540
80 - Greg Kuklinski 534
50 - Charlie Anderson 516
87 - Trevor Wilson 513
2z - Bob D'Antonio 497
22 - Ken Truscott 489
1a - Peter Jokinen 362
90 - Destin Lorimor 357
02 - Rob Erickson 355
33 - Don Koivisto 353
4x - David Elliott 351
66 - Todd Bonney 343
12s - Wayne Stricker 329
10m - Gordy Maki 328
25 - Art Hyde 328
7L - Bryan Lund 297
8m - Mike Duhr 274
29x - Joe Olson 269
18 - Roy Pumala 261
29F - Dave Flynn 205
27L - Jeff Lindsey 144
47 - John Copp 135
31e - Kevin Eder 126
70k - Rick Simpson 102
1e - Eric Olson 75
47 - Darin Meierotto 75
46 - Cy Hoaglan 71
23e - Terry Kroening 70
9k - Tom Karis 55
67 - Jeff Tardy 53
81 - Doug Woodhull Jr 49
92 - Aaron Wilson 49
10 - Rich Bishop 48
32 - Mike Hince 48
3c - Bobby Carlson 48
X - Wayne Harris Jr 44
3 - Jacob Hiatt 38
14L - Lance Leu 34
33r - Rick Randall 30
43 - Adam Long 30
9 - Ron Malecki 17
77 - Jim Willner 16
24 - Chuck Metzger 15
266 - Dean Young 15
1L - Donnie Lofdahl 14
7x - Jeremy Crabbs 14
WISSOTA Street Stocks
# - Driver Total
5 - Roger Walker 562
90 - Steve Anderson 558
24 - Butch Kummer 521
1 - Cory Casari 500
80 - Greg Kuklinski 494
05r - Rob Weber 474
22 - Kevin Eder 471
89 - Dennis Groom 453
76 - John Kallas 440
22 - Mike Truscott 433
1x - Justin Paulsen 429
01 - Bill Muhlig 414
56w - Joe Wolfe 404
7 - Tim Baum 309
5p - Pete Paulus 290
7k - Kevin Bogdanovic 207
26 - Jordan Kurtti 150
4 - Steve Kieber 131
12k - Jay Kesan 104
17 - Wayne Dean 92
06 - Tom Waara 90
93c - Lee Christjohn 90
4 - Scott Andrews 79
244 - Bobby LePage 77
5 - Martin DeHaan 73
6 - Shane Kisling 70
15 - Jim Randall 54
1z - Robby Waara 52
5 - Chanda Fjorden-Nord 52
7 - Dean Yrjanainen 51
75 - Marshall Andrews 50
23d - George Dalbeck 46
55 - Craig Tarsi 45
23n - Charlie Novak 43
27 - Rob Lowe 42
57 - Jeff Heintz 38
28x - Steve Golat 37
47 - Don Craig 37
00 - Rob Ganson 36
79 - Joe Ott 34
9 - Adam Soltis 34
8 - Tyler Viltz 18
96 - Mark Schuenemann 17
ABC Six-Cylinders
# - Driver Total
72 - Scott Ovaska 622
4x - Steve Stuart 615
66 - Greg Jaeger 595
22h - Chuck Hawkinson 593
32 - Pat Cook 581
51jr - Shawn McFadden Jr 578
18 - Steve Tesch 556
88 - Warren Beede 488
5-1 - Ken Tyykila 487
24 - Andy Grymala 474
21 - Nick Oreskovich 464
11 - Chris Lustig 450
30 - Mike McKay 450
1x - Don Muzzy 426
81 - Adam Traaholt 417
37x - Adam Jack 416
8 - Ron Swanson 397
53 - Bob Holly 376
24b - Pat Beeksma 214
25/56r - Dan Moncher 200
31 - Kevin Eder 174
97 - Ryan Adamczak 162
33 - Ken Tody Jr 130
73 - Dale Coddington 85
88 - Brian Mikkonen 47
26 - Tim Beeksma 34
70 - Josh Ludtke 32
ABC Pure Stocks
# - Driver Total
79 - Ricky Davis 559
26 - Tom Morinville 531
23d - George Dalbeck 522
17 - Nathan Dees 487
85 - Marty Passuello 456
40ish-TBretting/AErickson/PMilanowski 451
38 - Derek Milligan 442
88 - B Hagstrom/M Pelto 406
15 - Brittany Kalmon 402
21 - Chad Carlson 400
5z - Zene Anderson 358
10x - Roland Gordon 338
14 - Tim Carbon 310
35 - Don Bush 302
15c - Steve Christman 276
25 - Jim Laessig 262
106 - John Taitt 261
33r - Al Rapp 198
38d - Glenn Dammer 195
106 - Paul Milanowski 153
20 - Jim Eliason 147
23s - Ashley Smith 103
X - Kevin Truchon 93
34 - Bruce Kalmon 89
3 - Mark Carlson 78
02 - Chris Carlson 68
9 - Brett Rondeau 67
38s - Shawn Stolarzyk 53
50 - Nick Baker 51
02 - Tim Carlson 50
13k - Rick Kesty 49
3d - Dustin Follett 46
14 - Cody Kummer 45
29m - Carolyn Nosser 45
11jr - Andrew Inman 43
38 -Myron Basina 42
34 - Laura Lee Janzig 41
34k - Bridgett Koval 41
99z - Jason Ziells 37
68 - Dan Larsen 36
91m - Kelly Moen 15
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