April 20
Beaver Dam Raceway,
Beaver Dam, WI
Sanction: Wabam Dirt Kings Tour (Wisconsin Triple Crown) - $2,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated April 21, 4:10 pm)
Anvelink grabs Dirt Kings crown at Beaver Dam
Wisconsin Triple Crown
- Nick Anvelink
- Mitch McGrath
- Brett Swedberg
- Mike Mullen
- Jayme Zidar
- Brad Mueller
- Joel Bennett
- Paul Niznik
- Ron Berna
- Cory Crapser
- Chris Oertel
- Sawyer Specht
- Turk Letizia
- Bill Edler
- Justin Ritchie
- Joe Bongiorno
- Jared Siefert
- Randy Manos Jr.
- Lukas Postl
- Josh Breese
- Troy Springborn
- Parker Foster
Nick Anvelink is crowned after his first Dirt Kings Tour victory of the season.
What won the race: Powering around race-long leader Mitch McGrath on a lap-17 restart, second-starting Nick Anvelink of Bonduel, Wis., led the rest of the way in Saturday's 30-lap Wabam Dirt Kings Tour portion of the Wisconsin Triple Crown at Beaver Dam Raceway. Anvelink, the six-time and reigning series champion, earned $2,000 for his first Dirt Kings feature victory of the season and the 27th of his career, further extending his advantage on the tour's all-time wins list.
Quotable: “I knew that (lap-17 restart) was probably my only chance,” Anvelink said. “Those guys were killing me on the restarts. With our WISSOTA motor here, I was losing about a car length-and-a-half and I kinda just hail-mary’d that last corner and I’m like, 'This is my only chance to really makeup any time on these guys,’ so I shoved her in there.”
Key notes: McGrath, of Waukesha, Wis., led the opening 16 laps from the pole before giving way to Anvelink and finishing 1.893 seconds back in second place. ... Sixth-starting Brett Swedberg narrowly fended off a last-lap charge from Mike Mullen to finish third. .... Mullen, the winner of last weekend's $1,500 Dirt Kings season opener at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway, appeared to nip Swedberg at the checkers before being credited with fourth. ... Jayme Zidar completed the top-five finishers after taking the spot on lap 21. ... Brad Mueller ran as high as fourth before slipping to finish sixth. ... Joel Bennett overcame two mid-race spins to improve eight positions and finish seventh. ... Making a rare Late Model start, Cory Crasper rounded out the top 10. ... Justin Ritchie spun from sixth on a lap-six restart attempt, collecting Lukas Postl and ending both of their nights. ... Fourth-running Troy Springborn slowed to bring out the second stoppage on lap four after hitting an infield tractor tire with his left-front and ending his race. ... Saturday's feature was slowed by seven separate incidents and lasted 31 minutes, with 12 drivers running at the finish. ... Jayden Schmidt scratched from the main event after appearing to experience engine trouble in his heat race.
On the move: Jayme Zidar of Hales Corners, Wis., started 13th and finished fifth.
Winner's sponsors: Anvelink’s MB Customs Race Car is powered by a Competition Specialists engine and sponsored by Seubert Calf Ranches, Unique Health Care Products, Dan Nolan Livestock, DTR Concrete, Gehm’s Club 117 Bar & Grill, CureJM.org, Frank Wallace Flooring, Precision Construction Services, Peppermint Josie’s Bar, Wehrs Machine, Keyser Manufacturing, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, CMD Shocks and Sweet Manufacturing.
Points chase: After Beaver Dam: T1. Nick Anvelink (94); T1. Mike Mullen (94); 3. Brett Swedberg (82); 4. Joel Bennett (76); 5. Justin Ritchie (64).
Current weather: Overcast, 37°F
Car count: 23
Fast qualifier: Nick Anvelink
Time: 15.550 seconds
Polesitter: Mitch McGrath
Heat race winners: Mitch McGrath, Mike Mullen, Nick Anvelink
Next series race: May 24, Outagamie Speedway (Seymour, WI) $1,250
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.