Norman County Raceway
Zach Johnson survives spin, gets victory at Ada
ADA, Minn. (Aug. 22) — Zach Johnson of Kensington, Minn., regained sole possession of the Blaine Brothers Challenge Series points lead Thursday with a $2,000 victory at Norman County Raceway.
Surviving a controversial spin after contact with a lapped car, the third-starting Johnson was restored to the lead with six laps remaining to complete the 40-lap victory and get a six-point edge on former series champion Jake Redetzke of Eau Claire, Wis., who finished fifth.
Fifth-starting Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., was 1.257 seconds behind in second at the checkers while Brad Seng of Grand Forks, N.D., rallied from his 11th starting spot to finish third. Outside front-row starter Lance Matthees of Winona, Minn., was fourth ahead of Redetzke while polesitter Don Shaw of Ham Lake, Minn., faded to finish 10th.
Matthees jumped into the lead from outside the front row and led the first two laps, but Johnson took over on the third circuit and was in control when the first of two cautions appeared on the sixth lap for Josh Johnson’s spin.
Zach Johnson went back to work and was working through lapped traffic in the second half of the race when he tangled with the slower car of Donny Schatz of Fargo, N.D. Johnson ended up spinning, but officials tagged Schatz with the yellow, returning Johnson to his spot out front.
He held on the final six laps for the victory in the 18-minute feature event.
Notes: Johnson’s No. 73 Pierce Race Car is sponsored by Glenwood State Bank, Midwest Grain Services and Elite Shock Services. ... Johnson has two career series victories; his first came June 11, 2011, at Southwest Speedway in Dickinson, N.D. ... Brad Seng’s 11th-to-third run gave him the Lou Fegers Racing Equipment Hard Charger honors. ... Billy Michaelsohn’s heat race victory was his first checkered flag after two seasons in a Late Model. ... Zach Johnson has 353 points to lead Jake Redetzke (247) and Lance Matthees (341) with two series races remaining. ... The tour wraps up this weekend with Friday’s event at Amsoil Speedway in Superior, Wis., and Saturday’s race at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway.
Blaine Brothers Challenge Series @ Norman County: (1) Zach Johnson, (2) Pat Doar, (3) Brad Seng, (4) Lance Matthees, (5) Jake Redetzke, (6) Dustin Strand, (7) David McDonald, (8) John Kaanta, (9) Jeff Provinzino, (10) Don Shaw, (11) Cody Skytland, (12) Jeremy Keller, (13) Billy Michaelsohn, (14) Donny Schatz, (15) Jordan Yaggy, (16) Nick Herrick, (17) Steve Anderson, (18) Brian Bernatos, (19) Josh Johnson. Heat race winners (among 19 cars): Doar, Matthees, Michaelsohn.
