7/21/2023
Wissota Late Model Challenge Series
Redetzke Rules Red Clay for ABC Series Victory
The 2023 season for the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series made its first trip into the state of Wisconsin to the ABC Raceway in Ashland, Wisconsin for the third night of the 2023 XR Northern Storm week and badger state racer Jake Redetzke outdueled fellow Wisconsinite John Kaanta early and then held off 12th starting Pat Doar for his 17th career series victory.
Ryan Mikkelson started the night by setting fast time with a lap of 15.657 seconds around the red clay oval, while Redetzke, Kaanta, Dustin Sorensen and Jayme Lautigar topped the four qualifying heat races early in the night’s program and Sam Mars topped the night’s b-main.
Redetzke and Kaanta earned the front row for the night’s 44-lap, $4,444-to-win 444 Tribute feature event with Kaanta taking the lead on the initial start and leading the field into turn number one on the opening circuit.
Kaanta led the first fourteen laps with Redetzke in tow as the two began to pull away from the battle for third, which was raging on just behind between Mikkelson, Derek Vesel and Kyle Peterlin, who were locked in a great battle for the first dozen laps or so as Redetzke and Kaanta worked around the ABC Raceway out front.
Kaanta continued to lead until Redetzke was able to drive under him and take the lead on lap 15, only to see ‘the Sheriff’ take the lead back a lap later. Kaanta then went on to lead laps 16-18 before Redetzke wrestled the lead back away on lap 19 and held it until a lap 27 caution bunched the field back up.
On the restart, Redetzke took back off into the lead with Kaanta in tow, but Sorensen and 12th starting Doar were rolling up on Kaanta for the second spot. Doar was able to power by into 2nd on lap 32, just before a lap 33 caution flew for Wednesday night winner Peterlin.
On the ensuring restart with Redetzke out front, Doar ran second with Vesel and Sorensen looking toward the front, but the final caution of the night flew when Mike Anderson and Danny Vang got together in turn one, allowing the field one last shot at Redetzke for the top spot.
On the start, Doar rolled up along side Redetzke one final time, but Jake was up to the challenge and raced away for the win. Doar crossed the line in second with Mikkelson edging Vesel at the line for third by inches. Sorensen rounded out the top five.
Joey Jensen won the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature, while Shane Sabraski drove off with the WISSOTA Modified feature victory to cap off the night.
Full results can be found on MyRacePass.com
The next 2023 Challenge Series event is scheduled for Friday, July 21st at the Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin with a 7pm start time for the annual Twin Ports Twin 25’s.
Submitted By: Camryn Sullivan
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