Deer Creek Speedway
Mars gets Dart victory at Deer Creek
Jimmy Mars visits victory lane at Deer Creek, where he'll try to return at July 13's Gopher 50. (jdphotosports.photoreflect.com)
SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (July 2) — Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., rallied from his 11th starting spot at Deer Creek Speedway on Saturday to grab a holiday weekend victory on WISSOTA's Dart Challenge Series.
Mars, whose second career victory on the tour comes 11 years after his first, earned $3,000 in outrunning outside front-row starter Zach Johnson of Kensington, Minn. | Slideshow
Doug Herrick of West Concord, Minn., was third followed by Kyle Peterlin of Hibbing, Minn., and polesitter John Kaanta of Elk Mound, Wis., in the 40-lap feature. Jake Redetzke of Eau Claire, Wis., the previous night's series winner at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., rallied from his 19th starting spot to finish seventh.
Johnson launched into the lead at the outset, building a straightaway advantage over Kaanta after nine laps while Herrick took the second spot a lap later. Mars broke into the top five on the 13th lap while Johnson was facing slower traffic up front.
By halfway, Mars was third just behind Herrick. He took the spot on the 24th lap but was still three-quarters of a straightaway behind the leading Johnson. Mars began reeling in Johnson, drawing to within four lengths with 10 laps remaining. Mars made his winning move on the 32nd lap, sliding under Johnson to take command. He went on to lap up to the 15th position for his first Deer Creek victory.
Notes: Mars is sponsored by Deppe Enterprises, Baileigh Industrial, T.L. Sinz Plumbing and Keyes Chevytown. ... His previous series victory came in the 2000 season at Rice Lake (Wis.) Speedway. ... Lance Matthees broke a motor in his own No. 90 in hot laps and switched to a J&J Motorsports backup No. 33. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Chad Becker, Eric Pember, Cory Mahder and Nick Herrick. ... Deer Creek hosts the World of Outlaws-sanctioned Gopher 50 on July 13. ... The series wraps up the tripleheader weekend Sunday at Eagle Valley Speedway in Jim Falls, Wis.
Dart Challenge Series @ Deer Creek: (1) Jimmy Mars, (2) Zach Johnson, (3) Doug Herrick, (4) Kyle Peterlin, (5) John Kaanta, (6) Seth Brede, (7) Jake Redetzke, (8) Joel Cryderman, (9) Adam Hensel, (10) Nick Beyenhof, (11) Eric Breeschoten, (12) Chad Mahder, (13) Brady Smith, (14) Justin Fegers, (15) Steve Laursen, (16) Mike Prochnow, (17) Jordan Yaggy, (18) Marshall Fegers, (19) Shawn Kirwin, (20) Kyle Jumbeck, (21) Brent Larson, (22) Mike Stadel, (23) Travis Budisalovich, (24) Lance Matthees, (25) Justin Sass. Heat race winners (among 43 cars): Cryderman, Peterlin, Breeschoten, Herrick. Consolation winners: Redetzke, M. Fegers. Provisional starter: Budisalovich.
