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Night 2 of the 5th Annual Mod Wars Featured Great Race Action with 119 Drivers Checking In To Battle at the Big O

By: Tami Jo Kuehn

Ogilvie, MN (July 19) – After a fantastic opening night of Mod Wars Friday at the Princeton Speedway, the USMTS Modifieds made their way to Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway for another night of WISSOTA Dirt Track Race Action. The Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series was also on hand along with WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds and Mod Fours. In total, 119 drivers signed in to battle on Night 2 of the 5th Annual Mod Wars, and Josh Zimpel, Joe Chisholm, Joey Jensen and Keith Thell went home victorious.

The Dirt Race Central WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds brought over 40 racers to the Big O, and only 24 made the cut for the feature event. William Moelter and David Swearingen brought the drivers to green and Moelter claimed the lead with Joey Jensen sliding into second. Ashton Schulte challenged Swearingen for third as Jensen worked Moelter. Moelter held the top point as laps passed with the #30 at his side. Jensen slid low on the track surface and snuck by Moelter for the lead. A couple cautions slowed the racers, but Jensen remained in command as the race resumed. Swearingen took over second and the top two separated from the field as the race came to a close. Joey Jensen won the opening feature of the night with David Swearingen, Paul Ripley, Parker Anderson and Jason VandeKamp in points two through five.

The USMTS and WISSOTA Modifieds roared onto the track for their 40 Lap main event with Clayton Wagamon and Joe Chisholm on row one. Chisholm claimed the immediate lead with Wagamon and Landon Atkinson in a battle for second. Atkinson moved forward and dove low to challenge Chisholm. Wagamon joined the top two racers as a caution was triggered. When the green reappeared, Chisholm, Atkinson and Tyler Peterson were three-wide for first, and swapped for the point. Chisholm continued to hold the lead as a couple more cautions kept the racers at a stop and go pace. Peterson kept pressure on Chisholm each time the green flew as Tanner Mullens and Rodney Sanders moved into top positions.

Sanders and Mullens went three-wide with Peterson for the runner-up point until Peterson suffered a mechanical problem and turned towards the wall. The yellow waved and drivers were reset with Chisholm, Sanders and Mullens as the top three racers. They were nearly three-wide in the turns as Jody Bellefeuille, who started 22nd, sat comfortably in the fourth point and watched. With few laps to go, a final caution occurred putting Sanders and Mullens on Chisholm’s heels. The leaders were three-wide again as they fought for the lead, and with two to go, Sanders was at Chisholm’s side. They raced the final lap nose to nose, and the margin of difference was only 0.126 seconds as Joe Chisholm claimed the win. Rodney Sanders settled for second with Tanner Mullens, Jody Bellefeuille and Landon Atkinson as the top five finishers.

From one thrilling 40 Lap feature to another, the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series made their way on the track surface for another exciting feature race. Josh Zimpel and Shane Sabraski brought the field to green, and Zimpel sped off in the lead. A handful of laps were completed before the first caution was triggered, but Zimpel remained in command as the race resumed. Cole Searing moved into second while Jeff Massingill snagged third. Massingill chased after the #10 of Searing as Zimpel found himself with slower traffic. The Late Models covered the entire race surface as the yellow reappeared.

A couple of cautions kept the racers slow, but Zimpel remained in charge with Searing and Massingill in tow. The top three drivers remained the same until Searing caught the #5 of Zimpel. With 33 of 40 laps complete, Searing dove low and made the pass for first. Zimpel and Massingill kept close to Searing while slower drivers were mixed in. With just three laps to go, a final caution was triggered, putting Massingill and Zimpel on Searing’s rear. The green dropped and Zimpel raced to Searing’s side. They were door to door the final laps, but Josh Zimpel ran the faster line and grabbed his first Ogilvie Raceway Late Model feature win. Points two through five were claimed by Cole Searing, Jeff Massingill, Dave Mass and Joel Bennett.

The East Central Sports WISSOTA Mod Fours closed out the night’s program with Keith Thell and Maeghan Milz on row one. Thell, who recently made his return to Mod Four racing, grabbed the lead and Rowan Tramm moved into second. Milz held the third point as the top two racers pulled away from the field. A few cautions kept the Mod Fours at a stop and go pace, as they chipped away a few laps at a time, but Thell remained in the lead through each slowing. There wasn’t much change in the top drivers and as the checkers waved Keith Thell took the win. After the drivers went through post-race tech, Rowan Tramm, Blake Hawker, Tyler Larson and Robert Holtquist were awarded points two through five.

Next week the XR BIG DEAL will take place at Wagamon’s Ogilvie Raceway over the course of three days. Thursday evening will be practice only, Qualifying and heats on Friday with the alphabet Mains on Saturday along with Feature events. Modifieds from around the country will flock to the Big O to race for $125,000 and B Modifieds will also be on hand for a chance to win $25,000. 200 of the best and most talented racers will fill the pits and put on fantastic races, you won’t want to miss this event. Check out all the details at www.xrevents.com.

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