First qualifiers set for WISSOTA 100 main events

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HURON — Eight drivers in each of the five divisions locked in spots for the main events during the opening night of the 2017 Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 on Wednesday at Dakota State Fair Speedway.
Lance Matthees of Winona, Minn., inked the win in the first qualifying feature for the WISSOTA late models by holding off Scott Ward of Watertown, who is currently fourth in the national standings.
Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba was third, followed by Kent Arment of Aberdeen, who is currently fifth in the national standings, and Eric Mass of Rapid City.
Huron’s David McDonald, who is third in the national standings, locked in a spot for Saturday’s main event by finishing sixth, as did Brian Diede of Huron and Jeff Provinzino of Hibbing, Minn., who were seventh and eighth, respectively.
Winning late model heat races were Mass, Chad Becker of Aberdeen, who is currently second in the national standings, Weiss and McDonald.
Don Eischens of Richmond, Minn., wheeled his way to the top spot in the WISSOTA modified qualifying feature. He is currently 11th in the national standings.
Danny Vang of Deerwood, Minn., who is 28th in the standings, was second, followed by Matt Gilbertson of Montevideo, Minn. Rounding out the top five were Dustin Nelson of Ogilvie, Minn. And Tim Johnson of Brainerd, Minn., who is ninth in the national standings.
Johnny Broking of Grand Rapids, Minn., who is tenth in the standings, was sixth, followed by Andy Davey of Hibbing, Minn., and David Murray Jr. of Oberlin, Kan.
Nelson, Chad Olsen of Hendricks, Minn., Broking, Denis Czech of Rice, Minn., and Eischens won the modified heat races.
Shane Halopka of Greenwood, Wis., who is currently fifth in the national standings, won the  WISSOTA Midwest modified qualifying feature, with Brock Gronwold of Fergus Falls, Minn., who is 25th in the standings, finishing second.

Nick Koehler of Bloomer, Wis., who is 10th in the standings, was third, followed by Scott Hansen of Garden City, who is sixth in the standings; Lorin Johnson of Miller, who is currently second in the national standings; DJ Tesch of Brandt, who is 22nd in the standings; Kyle Knouse of Huron and Casey Skyberg of Rapid City.
Heat race winners for the Midwest modifieds were Brock Hess of Sioux Falls, Jay Will of Sheridan, Wyo., Mike Nichols of Watertown, Knouse, Scott Harrington of Waubay, Gronwold and Halopka.
Defending WISSOTA 100 winner Dave Mass of East Bethel, Minn., won the qualifying feature in the WISSOTA super stock division. He is currently third in the national standings.
Tim Johnson of Brainerd, Minn., who leads the national standings, was second, followed by Cory Tammen of Moorhead, Minn., who is 14th in the standings, and Cole Searing of Huron, who is second in the standings.
Also locking in spots for the main event were Kelly Duffy of Winner in fifth; Trevor Nelson of Warner in sixth, Jon Tollakson of Montevideo, Minn. In seeventh and Kurt Becken of Big Lake, Minn., in eighth. Nelson and Tollakson are eighth and 12th in the national standings, respectively.
Dan Nissalke of Winona, Minn., Nick Guthmiller of Aberdeen, Denis Czech of Rice, Minn., Mass and Searing won the super stock heat races.
Just one of the nine top-10 drivers in the WISSOTA street stock standings in attendance at this year’s Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100,was able to earn a spot in Saturday’s main event.
Tim Johnson, who leads the standings finished seventh in the qualifying feature.
Mike Jans of Clarkfield, Minn., won the qualifying feature by holding off a strong challenge by Broc Stout of Winner. Preston Blackwell of Miler was third, followed by James Randall of Rice Lake, Wis.
Tyler Lamb of Clark was fifth, while Derek Rieck of Ortonville, Minn., who is 22nd in the national standings was sixth. Johnson and Ryan Pommerer of Oriska, N.D., rounded out the list of qualifiers in seventh and eighth, respectively.
Qualifying drivers from Wednesday had the opportunity to take their starting spot for Saturday or decline it in hopes of improving on it or simplying running the next two nights for more national points. If a driver gave up his spot, the next highest finisher would move up to claim a qualifying spot.
Eight more drivers in each division were set to claim qualifying spots Thursday, however, results were not available at press time.
Tonight’s program, which begins at 5 p.m., will decide eight more drivers in each class to secure spots in the main event.  The mod fours will join the five other classes today, and the Race of Champions will be held for modifieds, late models and mod fours.
Those drivers who have not yet qualified,  will have one last chance to qualify on Saturday, before the main events are held. Racing will begin at 5 p.m.

Photos:

A group of WISSOTA street stock drivers, including Rodney Hunter of Deer Lodge, Mont. (69); Landan Davis of Waubay (1); Leonard Ferguson of Kyle (78); Tim Johnson of Brainerd, Minn. (1JR); and Adam Burrows of West Fargo, N.D., (18) make their way through turns one and two during a heat race on the second night of the Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 on Thursday at Dakota State Fair Speedway.

Next, Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, leads Jeff Provinzino of Hibbing, Minn., during their WISSOTA late model heat race on Wednesday during the opening night of the 2017 Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 at Dakota State Fair Speedway.

Next, Mark Rose of Dorchester, Wis., (0) and Blake Swenson of Watertown (10x) battle for position during their WISSOTA late model heat race on Wednesday.

And next, Tracy Johnson of Lake Preston runs the low groove as Mason Lesmeister of Morris, Minn., runs higher on the track during their WISSOTA Midwest modified heat race on Wednesday.