ABC Raceway
Redetzke sticks Dart victory at ABC Raceway
By Nick Gima
ABC RacewayASHLAND, Wis. (July 24) — Polesitter Jake Redetzke of Eau Claire, Wis., shadowed fellow front-row starter Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, Minn., for 31 laps at ABC Raceway, then slipped past in traffic and ran away for his his second career Dart Challenge Series victory. Redetke earned $3,000 in winning the first-ever race for the 11-year-old tour at one of the founding WISSOTA tracks.
Nelson settled for second followed by former series champ Steve Laursen of Cumberland, Wis. Series points leader Don Copp of Brule, Wis., was fourth and Joel Cryderman of Thunder Bay, Ontario, rounded out the top five in the WISSOTA-sanctioned event.
“Darrell had me covered, but I knew I had a shot in lapped traffic," said the 21-year-old Redetzke, who completed the race in just over 14 minutes. The only caution fell on the initial start for Travis Budisalovich’s spin.
Nelson won the race into turn one as he and Redetzke quickly turned the 40-lapper into a two-car race while Laursen held third most of they way from a distance. The leaders were in traffic by the 12th lap as Redetzke followed Nelson's every move, with the second-running car occasionally peaking underneath the leader.
Redetzke slipped under Nelson on the 24th lap, but Nelson stayed alongside in a side-by-side duel and used the lapped car of Darin Meierotto as a pick to go back ahead on lap 26. Redetzke pulled event again on the 29th lap and after two more door-to-door laps, took over for good.
Redetzke lapped several more cars and pulled away to win by a half-straightaway over Nelson, who was a full straightaway ahead of Laursen.
Dart Challenge @ ABC: (1) Jake Redetzke, (2) Darrell Nelson, (3) Steve Laursen, (4) Don Copp, (5) Joel Cryderman, (6) Pat Doar, (7) Kevin Carlson, (8) Rick Hanestad, (9) Terry Anvelink, (10) John Kaanta, (11) Paul Brust, (12) Lance Matthees, (13) Pete Parker, (14) Tim McMann, (15) Travis Budisalovich, (16) Darin Meierotto, (17) Cory Jorgenson, (18) Paul Parker, (19) Adam Hensel, (20) Kaene Laakson. Heat race winners (among 20 cars): Doar, Copp, Brust. Dash winner: Laursen.
