歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� It was Salute to Service Night at Bemidji Speedway on Sunday, July 6, on a picture-perfect evening for racing. A great crowd enjoyed 114 cars on track in all eight classes. All firemen, police, sheriffs, EMS, military and veterans received $5 admission to the races, honoring their service to us all.

Along with the Salute to Service, the annual Michael Fullerton 500 was held during intermission. Tears flowed freely from the track and the grandstand as Fullerton, who is who is non-verbal, entered the track, racing alongside Wissota Pure Stock driver Alex Berg. Fullerton sat in a special seat designed for him in Berg鈥檚 car.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

With many drivers from all the various classes, Fullerton began the race at the back of the pack and slowly worked his way up to the front as the crowd cheered him on. In a dramatic finish to the race, Fullerton and Berg grabbed the lead and the win to a standing and cheering crowd. Tears flowed as Fullerton exited his car with the help of his mom, dad and Josh Berg. He was handed the checkered flag and he screamed with joy and hoisted the flag high in the sky. It was one of the most powerful scenes of the summer at Bemidji Speedway, a very special moment for a very special young man.

Following the race, Fullerton went to the grandstand and continued to receive high-fives and hugs. This is what the racing family is all about.

Next week was scheduled to be Hall of Fame Night, but due to conflicts, it has been rescheduled for August 17. Next week will be Aircraft Aviation Night, with all classes running at 5 p.m. except the Hornets.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

Sixteen Wissota Midwest Modifieds roared on track for the initial feature of the evening. Brennan Schmidt, returning for the first time since opening weekend from an injury, was on the pole with Cejay LaValley to his right. The green flag of flagman Lynn Johnson waved, and Schmidt blasted to the lead, but a crash on lap one sent Landyn Randt tailback for the restart. When racing resumed, Schmidt was out front, chased by Darrin Lawler, Carter Matthews and Skyler Smith. Again, a caution flag waved, this time sending LaValley to the rear. The restart was controlled by Schmidt with Lawler, Smith, Matthews and Mikey Blevins in the top five. Another caution sent Matthews tailback. Schmidt held off challengers to pick up the win, his first following his dad Bret鈥檚 win last week. Lawler, Smith, Blevins Jr. and Landon Gross placed in the top five.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

Thirteen Bemidji Mini Stocks rolled on track next with Justin Honer and Karlie Feda in row one. Racing down the back straight, Feda took the lead in turns three and four. A three-car crash on the front straight brought out the red flag, stopping everyone on the track and bringing the Bemidji Fire Department on the scene to check on all those involved. All were OK, but out of the race. When racing resumed, it was Cody Bush out front, followed by Hayden Engen, Nick McCann, Conrad Schwinn and Ethan Hunter. McCann charged up on the outside into the lead with Schwinn chasing in second, followed by Engen. Bush regained second late, but it was McCann taking the checkered flag first. Bush, Schwinn, Malachi Albrecht and Ethan Hunter were in the top five.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

The Wissota Streets feature was up next, led by Trey Hess and Kolton Brauer in row one. The first lap was cautioned for a spin, sending the guilty party to the rear. The second try had the same result, with another driver sent to the rear. After the fourth caution and no laps counted, the flagman moved the drivers to a single-file start with Hess, Brauer, Doug VanMill, Billy Binkley and Weston Ramsrud in the top five. Once again, caution was called with two cars pitting. The race was given a green and white checkered with Hess winning the shortened race, followed by Brauer, VanMill, Levi Randt and Ramsrud.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

Jayme Gordon and Logan Delaney entered the track leading the pack of 15 Wissota Hornets to the green flag. Gordon blew into the lead, trailed by Delaney, Christian Kast, Russell Kiker Jr. and Adam Kessler. Kast moved to the outside and passed Delaney for second with Kiker following into third. Moving up fast through the field, former national champion Travis Olafson was gaining on the leaders from his fourth-row starting position. Following a caution that sent Kessler tailback, it was Gordon, Kiker, Kast, Olafson and Hunter Goulet in the top five. Goulet, charging from his eighth-row start, was looking very fast. Following another caution and restart, Kast made the pass for the lead on the back straight. Olafson raced up and challenged the leader and with an inside turn two move, took the lead and picked up the feature win. Kast, KikER, Goulet and Chad Reller were the top five.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

The 16-car field of Wissota Pure Stocks was next up, with Caylyn Binkley and Chris Dudley leading the way. Dudley took control early with Dalton Carlson, Binkley, Dustin Puffe and Kade Leeper in the top five. Puffe moved down low inside Binkley and took third from her. Leeper followed in fourth. Dudley was out in front with Puffe and Carlson dueling for the backup spot. Puffe moved to the top of the track and took over the lead from Dudley. Carlson tangled with the back straight barrier, bringing out the caution and ending his night. The white flag waved with Puffe in the lead and Leeper on his tail. Leeper raced inside down the back straight into the turns and into the lead, picking up the dramatic win. Puffe, Dudley, Binkley and Mason Smith rounded out the top five.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

Adam Johnson and Josh Beaulieu led the pack of Wissota Modifieds down the front straight to the green flag. Johnson seized the lead, followed by Beaulieu, Tanner Williamson, Tony Konold and Doyle Erickson. Konold, from Clear Lake, South Dakota, made the pass of Williamson on the back straight and caught Beaulieu to race into second. Jeff Reed was also on the move from his fifth-row starting position into the top five. Beaulieu tried the top side and dropped several positions. The red flag stopped the race for an incident down the back straight and into turn four, with Reed and Ricky Jacobson going to the pits for the night. The restart was led by Johnson, with Williamson, Konold, Alan Olafson and Erickson in the top five. A couple of more cautions slowed the action, creating restarts late in the race. Johnson held the lead throughout the race until he lost grip in turn four, spinning and ending his chance for the win. Konold took over the lead spot and the win. Doyle Erickson got by Williamson for second with Williamson, Devyn Weleski and Beaulieu in the top five.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

In a packed field of Wissota Mod Fours, Brooklyn Vernlund held the pole with Blake Erickson to her right. The start of the race was a rough one for rookie driver Lily Knute, making contact with the front wall at the green flag sent her Mod Four up and over on its top. The red flag came out, and the Bemidji Fire Department was on scene to check on the young driver. She was OK but out of the race. With no laps recorded, the race resumed with Erickson out front, followed by Conrad Schwinn, Ashton Schwinn, Vernlund and Connor Bruss. Conrad and Ashton Schwinn raced topside on the back straight into second. The two young drivers, Erickson and Ashton Schwinn, have dueled many times on this track, with the two speedy drivers flying by lapped traffic. Ashton Schwinn, looking for more national points, made the pass and picked up another feature win. Erickson, Conrad Schwinn, Bruss and Dawson Oelrich were the top five.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

The final feature of the night was the 12-car field of Wissota Super Stocks, led by Doug Koski on the pole and Dalton Carlson outside. Koski grabbed the lead with Alexa Sparby, Brandon Bahr, Matt Sparby and Carlson chasing. Carlson raced up side by side with Matt Sparby. The field quickly moved to single-file racing on the blackened track. Matt Sparby and Carlson traded positions a few times. Racing up from his fifth row start, Justin Barsness was challenging for the top five, racing with Carlson for fifth. Alexa Sparby slid in turn four, causing the caution flag to wave and sending her tailback after an excellent run. Koski held the restart line with Bahr, Matt Sparby, Carlson and Barsness trailing. Matt Sparby raced inside down the front straight into second, with Carlson taking two in one move into third. The top four cars were bumper to bumper as Koski took the checkered flag. In Victory Lane, Koski explained he has 鈥渂een racing off and on at Bemidji Speedway since the late 80s and this is the first time I鈥檝e made it to Victory Lane鈥�. Sparby, Carlson, Barsness and Bahr finished in the top five.