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ABC Raceway Set to Kick Off ‘07 Season
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, May 6 -- With a schedule chock full of exciting events, the
staff of the ABC Raceway will have its hands full in the summer of 2007.
And to a person, they can’t wait.
The new stock car racing season begins on Saturday, May 12, with a full
five-division program presented by Northern State Bank. Included again on the
regular Saturday night menu is action in the WISSOTA-sanctioned modified,
super stock and street stock divisions, as well as the track’s own
six-cylinder and pure stock classes.
The agenda for ‘07 includes 18 programs to be run from this Saturday through
August 25, plus the 32nd annual Red Clay Classic on September 28-29, which
again is expected to be one of the biggest racing invitationals in the
Northland. Counting the Classic, ten dates on the docket are considered
“special” events, although there will be something special for race fans
every night of the season.
The “specials” will include the return of the AmsOil Late Model Series
after a one-year hiatus, on Friday, July 27; three separate programs that will
make up the Bad River Lodge & Casino Modified Triple Header, on June 16,
July 3 and August 4; and three visits by the WISSOTA Midwest modifieds, on
June 30, July 28 and August 11.
The second-year Como Oil Modified Series will make two stops in Ashland again
this season, on Tuesday, July 3, as part of the Triple Header series, and
during the Red Clay Classic. WISSOTA super stocks will join the mods for the
July 3 program.
The popular pure stock special makes its fourth straight appearance on the ABC
schedule, under the new guise of “Pure Excitement 25,” on July 14. And the
streeters will again have their night in the spotlight on July 21.
Fan-favorite events such as the kids’ bike races, Meet the Drivers Night and
Fan Appreciation Night are also slated.
Al Uotinen of Superior will try to extend his string of consecutive modified
points titles at Ashland to four in 2007 - no easy feat, considering only one
driver has ever won more than three straight. Don Copp carried home six of his
track-record eight championship trophies from 1987-’92, but his streak was
broken - ironically - by Uotinen in 1993.
Uotinen will have to again contend with some of the best mod drivers in the
region, including past champions Dean Yrjanainen and Jeff Spacek, and
perennial front-runners Bill Byholm, Scott Hudack, Rick Rivord and Ross
Lightner.
Scott Lawrence of Superior will also look for his fourth straight championship
- and seventh overall at Ashland - when he brings his super stock to town to
defend his crown. Lawrence, who also won three straight ABC titles in the late
1990s in a street stock, will have to fend off the likes of former ABC champs
Brian Mikkonen and Randy Spacek and 2006 runner-up Ron Hmielewski, while
fellows like Joe Oliver, Larry Haderly and Randy Silverness, Jr., proved that
they will also be heard from this summer.
The super stock ranks will grow considerably in 2007, thanks in part to
drivers such as former street stocker Kevin Eder, and Nick Oreskovich and
Chuck Hawkinson, previously of the six-cylinder wars, who have moved up to the
ultra-competitive division and have fared well in early efforts this season.
Roger Walker is expected to make the haul from Phillips to defend his street
stock title this summer, and his biggest competition may well come from the
guy he edged out for the ‘06 honors. Walker swiped the championship from
Steve Anderson on the final lap of the final street feature last summer in a
thrilling finish to the season, and Anderson will be eager to return the
favor.
Former pure stock champ Cory Casari has proven himself to be a formidable
contender in the streeter ranks, and the track’s all-time leading feature
winner, Greg Kuklinski, will aim to add to his career win total while running
in this division.
Ashland’s Steve Stuart also used late-race, late-season dramatics to capture
his first ABC six-cylinder points championship last summer, and he’ll be the
man to beat in 2007. Scott Ovaska, who led most of the way in the standings in
‘06, will be one of a host of quality drivers taking aim at Stuart’s
title, along with Greg Jaeger, Pat Cook and Steve Tesch.
Ricky Davis of Bruno, MN, who won the pure stock points chase last season
here, has moved on to run in the WISSOTA Midwest modifieds, opening the door
for a new champ in the entry-level division by summer’s end.
Top contenders expected to compete for the title this season include 2005
champ Jim Eliason, ‘06 runner-up Tom Morinville, Nathan Dees, Marty
Passuello and Brittany Kalmon.
The sixes and pure stocks will also see an solid influx of first-year drivers
in 2007.
Saturday’s program starts with hot laps at 6:15 pm, while green-flag racing
begins at 7. “Racenight Live” will air Saturday from 4:30-6 pm on WJJH,
96.7 & 102.3 FM, with up-to-date track news and weather information.
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, www.abcraceway.com.
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