5/11/2025
Wissota Late Model Challenge Series
Provinzino Prevails: Inherits Lead & Rolls on to Viking Victory
The Viking Speedway played host to the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series powered by Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner, Western Star Minnesota during the second night of a three race Minnesota swing to start the season and saw Hibbing, Minnesota’s Jeff Provinzino win the 30-lap feature after racing from third into the runner up spot and then inheriting the lead after race-long leader Lee Grosz spun in turn two with just seven laps remaining in the event.
A great field of 31 WISSOTA Late Model competitors descended on the High Flyin’ Half Mile and saw Jeff Provinzino start the night by setting fast time with a lap of 18.577 seconds around the big oval, while Lee Grosz, Zach Johnson, Coel Searing and Shane Sabraski topped the four qualifying heat races early in the night’s program. Pat Doar won the night’s B-main to set the 25-car feature starting lineup.
Lee Grosz and Shane Sabraski earned the front row for the night’s $3,000 to win, 30-lap feature event with Grosz getting the upper hand on the initial start and leading the field into turn number one and lead the opening lap.
Grosz paced the field out front for the first twenty-three laps of the event, amassing a 1.974-second advantage over several very entertaining battles behind. The tussle for the runner-up spot between Sabraski, Provinzino, Cole Searing, Sam Mars, Zach Johnson, and Amelia Eisenschenk was thrilling as the group worked through traffic.
The first and only caution of the 30-lapper flew on lap 23 when Grosz looped his #4J in front of the field, losing the lead in the process and handing the top spot to second-place running Provinzino for the upcoming restart.
On the restart, Provinzino drove away from the field for a .682 second victory over Sabraski, who held off Searing for second, just ahead of Mars and Johnson, who rounded out the top five finishers.
Provinzino steered his 28 Special Race Car to his 8th career Challenge Series victory and assumed the series point lead in the process.
Josh Thoennes won the WISSOTA Modified feature, Shane Sabraski won the WISSOTA Super Stock feature. Eric Riley won the WISSOTA Street Stock feature, and Travis Engebretson won the WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature to round out the night. The WISSOTA Hornet main event was postponed due to the track’s curfew.
Tonight’s contingency award winners included:
Collins Bros. Towing Long Tow Award – Joel Bennett (398 miles)
Hiller Auction Quick Qualifier Award – Jeff Provinzino (18.577 seconds)
MyRacePass Pole Award – Lee Grosz
Olsen Custom Farms Hard Luck Award – Lee Grosz (spun while leading)
Wehrs Machine Hard Charger Award – Kevin Eder (+8)
GTX Rookie of the Race – Cory Bruggeman (15th place)
MD3 Lap Leader Award – Lee Grosz (23 laps)
Victory Fuel Top Three Finishers – Jeff Provinzino (1st), Shane Sabraski (2nd), Cole Searing (3rd)
The random pit meeting drawing winners included:
Hoosier Racing Tire – Adam Ayotte
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Shane Sabraski
Velocita USA – Jeff Provinzino
Champ Pans – Todd Frank
Deatherage Racing Opticians – Gunner Frank
Joe Provo Racewear – Joel Bennett
Full results can be found on MyRacePass.com
The Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota hosts the Challenge Series tomorrow night, Sunday, May 11th with a 6pm start time scheduled.
For upcoming schedule information and tickets, visit www.WISSOTAChallengeSeries.com
Photos by Collin Nelson and Nick Anderson
Submitted By: Jacy Norgaard
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