July 26
Gondik Law Speedway,
Superior, WI
Sanction: WISSOTA Late Models (Meet the Drivers Night) - $5,000
Information provided by: Track reports (last updated July 30, 9:26 am)
Mars slides by Kendall for $5,000 at Gondik Law
Meet the Drivers Night
- Sammy Mars
- Jeff Provinzino
- Billy Kendall III
- Travis Budisalovich
- Johnny Broking
- Dave Flynn
- Shane Sabraski
- Skeeter Estey
- Kevin Burdick
- Darrell Nelson
- Pat Doar
- Jeff Massingill
- Kyle Peterlin
- Dan Bargender
- Ben Heinle
- Josh Zimpel
- Danny Vang
- James Giossi
- Jayme Lautigar
- Todd Gehl
- Derek Vesel
- Mike Bellefeuille
- Ronnie Malecki
- Mike Klippenstein
Sammy Mars takes the checkers for his $5,000 victory.
What won the race: Third-starting Sammy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., stuck to the low line and slipped by race-long leader Billy Kendall III to pace the remainder of Friday's 30-lap Meet the Drivers Night at Gondik Law Speedway. Mars notched his first carer WISSOTA Late Model victory at Gondik Law and his second straight $5,000 payday after grabbing his first touring series triumph last Saturday at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis.
Quotable: "I tried to stay patient and run my own race there, we were a little on the tight side at the beginning," Mars said. "I had a really good race with Billy (Kendall) .. I feel terrible, I didn't mean to get into him on the frontstretch here, I didn't see him anymore and there was a lapped car right in front of me, so I had to move up. Hate that we made contact, but it was a good race with him; hopefully there's no hard feelings there."
Key notes: Mars banged doors by Kendall en route to his sixth overall victory of the season, all of them after April 6 and four coming at Cedar Lake — he also won April 12's season opener at his home track of Red Cedar Speedway. ... Sixth-starting Jeff Provinzino mirrored Mars's line on the bottom, taking second from Kendall for good on lap 27 and trailing Mars the final four laps, finishing 1.309 seconds back. ... Kendall, of Walker, Minn., settled for third after leading the opening 20 laps from the pole. ... Johnny Broking grabbed fifth from Dave Flynn as they came to take the white flag. Flynn pressured Kendall for the opening 14 circuits before slipping to sixth. ... Shane Sabraski, winner of last Friday's opening Twin Ports Twin 25 feature, ran as high as third in the early going before fading to seventh. ... Darrell Nelson trailed heavy smoke after finishing 10th. ... The 30-lapper was completed without incident and lasted just nine minutes, with all 24 starters running at the finish. ... Jake Redetzke was slated to start 14th but scratched after engine issues in his heat race. ... James Giossi and Jayme Lautigar collected $2,500 in a random draw provided by KME.
On the move: Kevin Burdick of Proctor, Minn., started 15th and finished ninth.
Winner's sponsors: Mars drives the MB Customs house car powered by a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsored by Deppe Enterprises, Veit, Keyes Chevrolet, ARMI Contractors, T.L. Sinz Plumbing, Structural Buildings, Accurate Construction, MikeSell Insurance Agency, Integra Racing Shocks, Swift Springs, FK Rod Ends, Speedwerx Custom Exhaust and Joe Signs.
Points chase: Track points after Friday: 1. Travis Budisalovich (271); 2. Jeff Massingill (267); 3. Billy Kendall III (258); 4. Skeeter Estey (254); 5. Pat Doar (251).
Current weather: Overcast, 77°F
Car count: 32
Polesitter: Billy Kendall III
Heat race winners: Sammy Mars, Shane Sabraski, Billy Kendall III, Jeff Provinzino
Consolation race winners: Kyle Peterlin, Derek Vesel
Provisional starters: Mike Klippenstein
Editor's note: Corrects 7th- to 24th-place finishers