Yarie dominates the Modifieds, Hacker continues winning ways

With Mother Nature finally agreeing that it was time to race again at the Shawano Speedway on Aug. 14, the difference between jubilation and heartbreak was just a matter of inches.

One driver stated if you can’t win the show, be the show. Another driver said when you have a driver like Nick Anvelink that you’re battling, your margin for error is very slim.

The IMCA Modifieds took to the track to lead off feature action. Marcus Yarie jumped to the top spot early in the event and looked to cruise to yet another feature win. Yarie built up a commanding lead of nearly half the track as Jerry Wilinski moved into the second spot and began to give chase. Lucas Lamberies joined the battle moving into the third spot.

A caution flew with eight laps to go, setting up a three-car battle for the win. Yarie executed the restart perfectly and again drove to a dominating lead en route to another feature win. Wilinski was second, Lamberies finished third, with Kevin Feck rounding out the top four.

The IMCA Stock Cars saw Kyle Frederick on the pole to start their feature event. Frederick, a consistent front-runner in the division, starting out front looked like a daunting task for the rest of the field. Frederick took the top spot with Chucky Forstner and Dan Michonski battling for that lead.

Trent Nolan grabbed the fourth spot and began to work on the Forstner and Michonski cars for position. Nolan saw his motor expire, bringing out the caution flag and ending his night.

When the race resumed, Travis Van Straten was the car to watch as he made his way forward and slid to the inside of Frederick for the lead. Once out front, Van Straten went on to grab the checkered flag.

Frederick was second with Forstner third and Michonski fourth. Sean Wagner finished fifth after starting 13th and Darren Otto grabbed sixth after starting 19th.

The father-son duo of Todd and Gunner Frank provided the early excitement in the Late Model feature as the two battled it out for the top spot. Todd Frank eventually outdueled his son and began to build an advantage over the rest of the field.

Ron Berna got by the younger Frank and assumed the second position a few laps later. Meanwhile, Anvelink made his way into the battle, moving into the third spot. Berna and Anvelink began to cut into Frank’s advantage. It soon became a three-way battle for the top spot.

Frank held the top spot while Berna and Anvelink put on an exciting fight for the runner-up spot. Berna jumped the berm and opened the door just enough for Anvelink to grab the second spot and go after Frank.

Frank maintained his top spot as Anvelink looked for an opportunity to get by. Just a slight bobble in corner four by Frank was all Anvelink needed to grab the top spot and go on to pick up the win. Todd Frank held off Berna for second, with Tom Naeyaert fourth.

The Sport Mods took the track and saw Hollie Welch and Bryce Clements jumping to the early lead from their front row starting spots.

Welch paced the field with Clements working the very high side of the track trying to track her down. Jayden Schmidt began to move through the field as he moved from his fourth-row starting spot to third in a matter of two laps.

With Schmidt giving chase, Welch continued to hold off Clements. Five laps in, Clements got too close to the outside wall and brought out the caution flag. Clements’ night ended on the hook of the tow truck.

When racing resumed, Schmidt made his way past Welch and grabbed the lead. Jeffery Teske got to the second spot and began to challenge Schmidt for the lead, but Schmidt was too strong and picked up the feature win. Teske was second with Tyler Sobiesczyk third, Max Oreskovich fourth and Welch rounded out the top five.

The Mighty 4s rounded out action with Lucas Hacker grabbing feature win No. 5 on the season. A lap two caution took out pole sitter Jody Cornelius and perennial front-runner William Hoefs as the Cornelius machine suffered a mechanical issue.

Allison VanOudenhoven grabbed the top spot on the restart but Hacker was quick to grab that spot. Tanner Westphal worked to second with Brad Wedde third, Carl King fourth and VanOudenhoven fifth.