May 11
Viking Speedway,
Alexandria, MN
Sanction: Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series - $3,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated May 12, 5:58 pm)
Searing tops Viking for red-hot WCS start
- Cole Searing
- Tyler Peterson
- Sammy Mars
- Jeff Provinzino
- Kollin Hibdon
- Pat Doar
- Nick Panitzke
- Joel Bennett
- Kevin Burdick
- Kevin Eder
- Don Shaw
- Ryan Mikkelson
- Lee Grosz
- Shane Sabraski
- Jordan Tollakson
- Dustin Bluhm
- Thomas Weisgram
- Dave Flynn
- Jake Redetzke
- Pat Kelley
- Jeff Massingill
- Todd Frank
- Cory Crapser
- Dave Mass
Nick Anderson
Cole Searing atop his car in victory lane at Viking Speedway.
What won the race: Stealing the point from race-long leader Sammy Mars after a lap-25 restart, Cole Searing of Huron, S.D., made it 2-for-2 on the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series with a $3,000 victory Saturday at Viking Speedway. Searing, the previous night's series winner at I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minn., when he repelled a late-race challenge from Mars, notched his fourth career series victory in taking the checkers a half-second ahead of Tyler Peterson in the 30-lapper. Mars settled for third.
Key notes: Runner-up Tyler Peterson briefly crossed Searing over to edge out front, but Searing quickly went back ahead. ... Mars, who briefly regained the lead on a lap-28 restart before a yellow flag reset the field, was gunning for his first WISSOTA Challenge victory (his father Jimmy was a 14-time winner on the series). ... Mars said tire wear cost him late. ... Rookie Kollin Hibdon started 13th and finished fifth. ... The race was slowed by five cautions, four in the final six laps as Searing held on in late restarts. ... A lap-29 caution dropped when Shane Sabraski went over the turn-two banking, one lap after a yellow appeared for Dave Flynn's turn-one spin. ... Jake Redetzke departed on a lap-27 caution. ... A 25th-lap yellow fell for a slowing Todd Frank. ... The first caution appeared came on the second lap when Dave Mass went over the banking and retired. ... Josh Zimpel scratched from the feature lineup. ... Viking hosted the series for the first time since Don Shaw's May 27, 2018, victory. ... The series has run 318 series events. ... The tour's season-opening weekend concludes Sunday at Granite City Motor Park.
On the move: Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., started 19th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Searing’s MB Customs Race Car has a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Minnesota Truck Headquarters, Conkey Farms, Central Plains Construction, Jerry Kleinsasser Farms, Binger Cattle and Grain, Allied Climate Professionals, Farmers Union Insurance, Glade Cattle Company, Avail Wealth Management, Speedwerx Headers and Jig E Signs.
Points chase: After Viking: 1. Cole Searing (226); 2. Sammy Mars (212); 3. Jeff Provinzino (189); 4. Ryan Mikkelson (185); 5. Tyler Peterson (183).
Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 68°F
Car count: 39
Fast qualifier: Sammy Mars
Time: 19.024 seconds
Polesitter: Sammy Mars
Heat race winners: Sammy Mars, Jeff Provinzino, Jake Redetzke, Tyler Peterson
Consolation race winners: Joel Bennett, Don Shaw
Provisional starters: Thomas Weisgram, Pat Kelley, Dave Flynn
Next series race: May 12, Granite City Motor Park (Sauk Rapids, MN) $3,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.