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Deer Creek Honors Drivers At Banquet - Gopher 50 Announcement
by Bill Nelson
Deer Creek Speedway - 2004 WISSOTA Track of the year
November 21, 2004
Spring Valley MN
Approximately 400 drivers, fans, staff and crew members attended the annual
Deer Creek Speedway banquet on Saturday night the 20th at Grumpy’s in Grand
Meadow Minnesota. As drivers entered the banquet facility they drew
numbers for contingency awards that were given by track sponsors. With
approximately $5,000 worth of contingency awards on hand every driver who
attended the meal received an award which ranged from hats to jackets to
discount certificates at racing businesses.
After an enjoyable meal prepared by the wonderful staff at Grumpy’s, the
drivers received their hardware for their hard work over the 2004 racing
season. As the second through tenth place drivers in each class made
their way to the stage a slide show of the racing action in each class was
shown. The slide show was a huge success with many cheers and loud
ovations being rendered as each person’s favorite driver appeared on the
screen.
The Pine Cone Restaurant Classic Dwarf cars were up first. Second
place-Tate Bestor, Third place-Drew Jech, Fourth place-Jeff Jech, Fifth
place-Corey Whalen, Sixth place-Rick Utley, Seventh place-Curtis Luhmann,
Eighth place-Todd Kiehne, Ninth place-David Marso, Tenth place-Matt Aarsvold.
They were followed by the Pine Cone Restaurant WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds.
Second place-Tim Siercks, Third place-Greg Pfeifer Jr., Fourth place-Albert
Wytaske, Fifth place-Ryan Weber, Sixth place-Craig Bentzin, Seventh
place-Vince Corbin, Eighth place-Bob Bunne, Ninth place-Bryan Hernandez, Tenth
place-Nick Kramer
Next up to receive their accolades were the Culvers of Rochester WISSOTA
Street Stocks. Second place-Steve Eischens, Third place-Chuck Nerland,
Fourth place-Shaun Wehlage, Fifth place-Fred Prudoehl, Sixth place-Danny
Hanson, Seventh place-Mike Sample, Eighth place-Tom McEldowney, Ninth
place-Ron Rucker, Tenth place-Mark Hovland
The Culvers of Rochester Super Stock Drivers made their way to the stage
next. Second place-Adam Stockhausen, Third place-Dave Haberman, Fourth
place Dustin Nelson, Fifth place-Schatney Sanders, Sixth place-Kevin Hager,
Seventh place-Matt Durnen, Eighth place-Bobby Swanson, Ninth place-Mark
Oeltjenbruns, Tenth place-Cole Queensland
The Bigelow Enterprises USRA modifieds were greeted with a round of applause
as Second place-Brad Waits, Third place-Bob Timm, Fourth place-Bruce Angst,
Fifth place-Jay Ihrke, Sixth place-Bobby Sorensen, Seventh place-Nate Wasmund,
Eighth place-Dave Siercks, Ninth place-Tim Donlinger and Tenth place Karl
Fenske made their way to the stage.
The Insty Prints WISSOTA Late Models found Second place-Barry Underdahl, Third
place-Jerry Bloom, Fourth place-Brad Waits, Fifth place-Lance Matthees, Sixth
place-Paul Novotny, Seventh place-Jon Chrest, Eighth place-Ben Mattick, Ninth
place-Josh Mattick and Tenth place-Joe Ludemann all making their way to the
front.
The champions of each division were then crowned with Jeff Matjeka (WISSOTA
Late Models), Mike Sorensen (USRA Modifieds), Chris Klinger(WISSOTA Super
Stocks), Travis Krause (WISSOTA Street Stocks), Ron Houdek (WISSOTA Midwest
Modifieds) and Brian Kiehne (Classic Dwarf Cars) on stage to receive their
trophies and leather champion jackets from Deer Creek Speedway.
With and additional $5,000 from Hossier Tire each of the top ten drivers in
the Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks and Late Models received a
$100 bonus. The remaining $1000 were randomly drawn until 10 drivers
received another $100 bonus.
The major contingency prizes were then awarded. EZ-Chassis gave a new
super stock chassis to Kevin Hager who finished sixth in the final
points. The first place driver received his name in the hat ten times
and the tenth place driver once. Next the new EZ-Chassis Modified was
selected which went to third place driver Bob Timm. The final two
drawings were for the Late model division as Fegers Race Cars offered a $1,000
gift certificate and a $2000 certificate. Jeff Matejka took home the
$1000 prize with Brad Waits receiving the $2000 award.
With the completion of the awards side of the program Randy Queensland took
the stage along with the rest of the Queensland family. Randy thanked
everyone on hand for a great season and then announced for the 2004 racing
season that Deer Creek was honored by the WISSOTA Promoters Association as the
2004 WISSOTA Track of the Year. Randy then thanked all of the employees,
fans, drivers and crew members on hand because without each of them none of
this would be possible. A slide show was then presented showing
individual members of the Deer Creek Speedway staff and a plaque was presented
to the family by the staff saying thanks for everything they do. The
Queensland family then received a standing ovation from everyone on hand to
show their thanks for all of their hard work.
Randy then commented on the new construction for the 2005 race season as an
additional suite and patio structure is being built on the north end of the
front straight. This building will mirror the existing building on the
south end of the speedway. The Speedway is looking at additional
improvements that will be done as soon as possible.
The night then concluded with the announcement of the 2005 racing season
schedule. Opener for the speedway will be on April 9th with racing at
5:00 for the month of April with racing every Saturday night. In May the
start time will move back to the standard 6:00 start time. The first
special on the schedule will be the May 28th USMTS modified Southern Minnesota
Spring Challenge. Then on June 18th the WISSOTA Sprint Cars will be on
hand. The ever popular July 2nd Fire Cracker 40. Thursday July 14th will
be the Valley Transportation National Combine Demo Derby. The month of
August will again be free for all kids 12 and under with the World Dirt Racing
League returning on the 9th of August. Saturday September 3rd the USMTS will
return for their final test as they gear up for the seventh annual Featherlite/USMTS
Fall Jamboree on the 21st through the 24th of September. We will then
finish up the season with the Fall Festival on October 1st. This
schedule is tentative and is subject to change.
In the final announcement of the evening Jerry Ingvalsen joined Randy on the
stage and announced that the 2005 edition of the prestigious Gopher 50 Late
Model race will be held at the Deer Creek Speedway. Look for more
information to be announced on this exciting event. Tentatively this
event will be in mid July with a date and a sanctioning body to be announced
shortly.
Everyone at Deer Creek Thanks you for your support and hope everyone has a
safe and prosperous off-season and we hope to see everyone on April 9th for
the season opener at the Southern Minnesota Speedplant.
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