- Todd Rose
A Great Night of Racing Highlighted by B Mod Shootout at Eagle River Speedway
Fans packed the stands at Eagle River Speedway Tuesday night for another week of racing at the track, this time headlined by the “B Mod Shootout.” The Shootout would pay 1,000 dollars to whomever could win it. However, to get to the night’s main event, heat races and features for the track’s other divisions would be run first.
Junior Micro Sprints
To lead off the night’s feature racing the Junior Micro Sprint Field made their way onto the track for their feature.
From the pole position, Blake Hartman blasted into the lead with a great start. Chasing him down in second place was Josh Nevoraski with Cole Stella following in third. While Hartman extended his lead over Nevoraski and Stella, the second and third place drivers began a battle of their own.
With three laps remaining, Cole Stella spun out and quickly rejoined at the rear of the field. He would recover to finish in the third spot.
Up front, it was Blake Hartman grabbing the win, leading all of the feature’s laps. Following him in second place was Josh Nevoraski whose night drastically improved from two spins in the heat race.
600 Micro Sprints
A rematch was in store from week one in the 600 Micro Sprint Feature Race. Two weeks ago, Dylan Larsen and Tommie Jo Springer dueled it out for the feature win, that time it was Springer claiming the win.
Two weeks ago, Larsen won the heat race while Springer won the feature. This week the roles were reversed completely with Springer taking the win in the heat and Larsen winning the feature.
The 600 Micro Sprint feature ran flag to flag with no cautions, a theme that would be seen in several of the night’s features. With Dylan Larsen and Tommie Jo Springer taking the top two spots, the fight was for third place. That position would belong to Jordan Grabowski at the end of the night.
Pure Stock Division
Next, the Pure Stock field emerged from the pit area for their feature. The majority of the race would run green flag. Only two cautions flew in the feature, the second of which collected front runner Keith Troutman. Track officials deemed him not the cause of the incident and allowed him to regain his spot on track.
The subsequent restart came with three laps remaining in the race. At the end of three hard fought laps, Keith Troutman would reign victorious for the second outing in a row at Eagle River Speedway.
Behind Troutman in second was Isabella Valeria with James Melton rounding out the podium positions.
Stock Division
In the Stock Division feature, two drivers battled it out for the win throughout the race, which ran without a single caution.
Early in the feature, Rod Snellenberger and Jimmy Randall separated themselves from the field with Snellenberger leading the way. Lap in, lap out, Randall shadowed Snellenberger around the track. As time ran out in the race, so did Randall’s opportunities to get around Snellenberger.
Rod Snellenberger claimed the win when the checkered flag flew while Randall settled for second. Both drivers would take to the track one more time later in the night for the “B Mod Shootout.” Third place would belong to Kyle Gennett.
Four Bangers
Another caution free race was seen in the Four Banger feature. For the second race week in a row it was the Shoone show up front, this time it was Ashley leading the way with week one winner Mark Schoone in second.
By no means was it an easy ride to the finish for the Schoones. While the race ran green the whole way, the battle for the lead was intense. A pack of four cars led by Ashley Schoone fought its way around the Eagle River Speedway trying to take the top spot. Ashley held the bottom line, protecting any inside moves. This however left the top side open for Kasey Gross to try taking the lead. Gross came close several times but the inside lane was just too strong.
Ashley Schoone crossed the line first, leading almost all, if not all, of the laps in the feature. A photo finish for second place would fall in favor of Mark Schoone with Kasey Gross taking third.
B Modifieds
The main event of the evening, the “B Mod Shootout” would cap off the night’s racing action with a wild race.
Unlike many of the night’s features, the yellow flag was a frequent visitor in this one. A dry track meant a slick racing surface, although hard racing in general played a factor in a few of the yellows. That will happen when there is a big purse on the line.
An extended yellow flag period came at the races midway point for a grinding crash in turn four that collected several cars.
Even with several interruptions from yellow flags, the racing up front was great throughout the feature with several side by side and three wide battles for the top spot.
The front of the field seemed to change constantly with several comers and goers throughout the 25 laps. Several leaders dropped out of contention with issues as well. Early leader Michael Truscott spun from the top spot. Later, Marcus Dunbar would pull into the infield with mechanical issues after battling up front for much of the race.
In the end, it was Bruce Belland outlasting the competition to take the win and the 1,000 dollar purse that came along with it. Ty Springer followed Belland in the second position. Jimmy Randall had his second podium finish of the night in third.
Eagle River Speedway races again next Tuesday with racing starting just after 7 p.m. CST.
By Todd Rose
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