Proctor Speedway
Track champ pockets Silver 1000 at Proctor
Darrell Nelson takes command at Proctor. (chrisburback.com)
PROCTOR, Minn. (Aug. 29) — Track champion Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, Minn., overtook Brent Larson of Lake Elmo, Minn., midway through the 41st annual Black Bear Casino Silver 1000 on Thursday at Proctor Speedway en route to a $2,500 victory in WISSOTA first late-season special of the season. | Slideshow
Nelson scored his second victory in Proctor’s traditional race that he captured in 2006 when sweeping the Late Model and modified features. He just missed a sweep this time around, finishing second in the Thursday’s modified main event to Kevin Adams of Cameron, Wis.
Robby Bunkelman of Abbotsford, Wis., finished second in the 40-lap Late Model feature with former race winner Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., in third. Larson and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., winner of the previous two Silver 1000s, rounded out the top five.
Larson led the first half of the race with Smith, Doar, Nelson and Trent Follmer among drivers mixing it up in the top five. The seventh-starting Nelson took over from Larson and led the rest of the way.
Four cautions slowed the action, all for single-car incidents. Jake Redetzke and Kevin Carlson had separate first-lap spins, while Don Copp drew a yellow for a breakdown and heat winner Zach Wohlers also slowed to draw the final caution.
Notes: Nelson’s MB Customs chassis is sponsored by Amsoil, Bud Light and Tarnowski Bros. Construction. ... Nelson also won a share of $800 in lap money. ...Nelson won Proctor points titles in Late Model and modifieds. ... His 2006 Silver 1000 victory came the same date his aunt Suzy Christianson died, and he dedicated the victory in her memory. ... Todd Frank, who started 15th, had a flat tire running eighth and dropped out with a 23rd-place finish. ... Tim Lillo of Duluth, Minn., had a violent, flipping accident that left his No. 42 in a heap. He was checked out at the local hospital but was released with only pulled muscles, according to the track. ... The 30 Late Models were the fewest on hand for the event in more than 20 years. ... Afternoon rain and unsettled weather threatened the night’s racing early. ... The event's early winners were paid in $1,000 silver dollars, hence the race’s name. ... Minnesota tracks host other WISSOTA Late Model specials this weekend with Hibbing Raceway running a pair of $3,500-to-win specials on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 and Viking Speedway in Alexandria paying $4,444 to Sept. 1’s winner of the inaugural 4444.
Silver 1000: (1) Darrell Nelson, (2) Robby Bunkelman, (3) Pat Doar, (4) Brent Larson, (5) Brady Smith, (6) Trent Follmer, (7) Harry Hanson, (8) John Kaanta, (9) Steve Laursen, (10) Jeff Provinzino, (11) Tim McMann, (12) Scott Herrick, (13) Gregg Hill, (14) Dave Esse, (15) Cory Jorgenson, (16) Kevin Carlson, (17) Aaron Lillo, (18) Don Copp, (19) Zach Wohlers, (20) Jeff Massingill, (21) Travis Budisalovich, (22) Kyle Peterlin, (23) Todd Frank, (24) Robbie Cooper, (25) Jake Redetzke. Heat race winners (among 30 cars): McMann, Wohlers, Provinzino, Nelson. Consolation winner: Lillo.
