36th Annual Red Clay Classic
ABC Raceway
October 1, 2011
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Redetzke dominates in 36th Annual ‘Red Clay Classic’ victory at ABC Raceway

by Nick Gima
ASHLAND, Wisc. (October 1) -- Jake Redetzke of Eau Claire followed in his father’s celebrated footsteps Saturday night, completing the first father-son combination to win Red Clay Classic features during the 36th running of the traditional stock car racing finale at the ABC Raceway on a crisp, clear autumn evening.

Joining Redetzke as winners of the AmsOil Dirt Track Series event were Joey Jensen of Forest Lake, MN; Shane Kisling of Sarona, and George Dalbeck of Ironwood, MI; while Dave Cain of Corcoran, MN, became the fifth - and, as it turns out, the final - Como Mod Series champion in the six seasons of the popular WISSOTA modified tour.

Redetzke, whose father Jerry won the RCC late model feature in 1999, was literally uncatchable almost from the drop of the initial green of the 50-lap, $4,000-to-win WISSOTA late model main event, and subsequently after each of the five restarts. After starting inside on row 2, the younger Redetzke quickly moved into position to challenge for the early lead as he and Darin Meierotto slipped past pole starter Mike Goodremote through the first corners, with Meierotto gaining the advantage. Behind Goodremote in third and Rick Hanestad in fourth, the field ganged up four wide to battle for fifth.

Tommy Waseleski, Jr, was the first to make some noise, charging quickly from his fourth-row start to claim fifth from Darrell Nelson and then fourth from Hanestad with a pair of inside moves on lap 2.

On the next lap Redetzke fought his way past Meierotto into the lead, and from there the race was for second. By lap 6 the lead for the second-generation racer was up to 1.9 seconds, but that was eliminated by a three-car spin in turn 2.

On the restart Goodremote took a look to the inside on Meierotto and slipped by for second, while Nelson attempted an outside run on Waseleski for fourth that didn’t quite stick. Four laps later Waseleski again worked inside, this time getting Meierotto for third, while all this time Redetzke was rebuilding his lead to an even two seconds by lap 11. Nelson and eighth-starting Tim Isenberg each then displaced Meierotto over successive laps in the top five, but Isenberg’s run to the front came to a sudden end when his motor exploded on the front straightaway on lap 15.

Two laps after the restart Redetzke already held a 1.6-second lead on Goodremote, and five laps later he added another second to that advantage. At about this time 13th-starting Justin Fegers began a charge, getting past Brent Larson for sixth.

On lap 30 of 50 Redetzke had caught the backmarkers, giving Goodremote a chance to cut into the huge deficit. But instead of gaining ground, Goodremote saw Redetzke’s car only get smaller through his visor, as the leader deftly cut through slower traffic and improve his lead to over three seconds. Nelson, however, did take advantage of the traffic, slipping past Waseleski and quickly reeling in Goodremote to challenge for second, with Fegers now in close pursuit.

A spin by rookie Mark Rose slowed the torrid pace with 11 laps to go, and when Goodremote opted for the outside spot in row 2 for the “Delaware double-file” restart Nelson snookered him to steal second place before getting to turn 1. But John Henkemeyer’s loop in turn 3 negated the pass, and Goodremote took note, starting inside this time and holding the spot on the next attempt. Fegers continued his surge forward, slipping inside on Waseleski to take fourth, with 15th-starting Adam Hensel following in his tire tracks into the top five.

Nelson’s run ended in heartbreak like Isenberg’s, with a blown motor with seven laps remaining, but Nelson was able to coast off the track, keeping the race under green. Three laps later Redetzke’s lead was over three seconds again, but a three-car spin in turn 1 brought the field to his bumper for a four-lap shootout.

Fegers took one look at an outside move on Goodremote for second, but the 2001 RCC champ held the position, while Redetzke shot away again to a 2.75-second margin of victory over Goodremote, Fegers, Hensel and Waseleski. Meierotto led the second five, ahead of past race winners Steve Laursen and Kyle Peterlin, WISSOTA 100 winner Lance Matthees, and double-duty racers Jensen and Larson.

A-Main
1 27 Jake Redetzke 50
2 21 Mike Goodremote 50
3 F15 Justin Fegers 50
4 33X Adam Hensel 50
5 1W Thomas Waseleski Jr 50
6 36 Darin Meirotto 50
7 19 Steve Laursen 50
8 23 Kyle Peterlin 50
9 90 Lance Mathees 50
10 8 Joey Jensen 50
11 b1 Brent Larson 50
12 1 Joey Ogston 50
13 85 John Kaanta 49
14 28A Ryan Aho 49
15 7 Harry Hanson 49
16 21 Todd Frank 49
17 1A John Henkemeyer 46
18 44 Darrell Nelson 43
19 33 Chad Mahder 39
20 28R Mark Rose 38
21 71H Rick Hanestad 34
22 F19 Marshal Fegers 29
23 9T Tim Isenburg 15
24 22 Don Copp 14

Heat 1: Meierotto; Waseleski; Matthees; Laursen; Hansen; Ogston; Terry Lillo, Duluth, MN; Jeff Provinzino, Hibbing, MN; Kaanta.
Heat 2: Redetzke; Frank; Rose; Copp; Aho; Donnie Lofdahl, Proctor, MN; Mike Meger, Cloquet, MN.
Heat 3: Hanestad; Isenberg; Larson; Hensel; Jensen; Travis Budisalovich, Cottage Grove, MN; Tim McMann, Duluth, MN; Todd Gehl, Solon Springs.
Heat 4: Goodremote; Nelson; M Fegers; J Fegers; Peterlin; Henkemeyer; Kevin Carlson, Hermantown, MN.
Semi-Feature: Kaanta; Ogston; Henkemeyer; Mahder; Gehl; Lofdahl; Provinzino; Budisalovich; Lillo; Meger; McMann.

WISSOTA Modifieds
Feature: Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN; Kelly Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Eric Pember, Pittsville; Paul Knauf, Marshfield; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Craig Thatcher, Knapp; Dave Cain, Corcoran, MN; Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, MN; Mike Anderson, Colfax; Scott Miller, Rice Lake; Al Uotinen, Superior; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Trent Follmer, Princeton, MN; Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Ryan Aho, Chisholm, MN; David Baxter, Eau Claire; Brandon Jensen, Hammond; Duane Dale, Aurora, MN; Jayme Lautigar, Gilbert, MN; Shawn Kelley, Somerset; Kevin Eder, Ashland; Tim McMann, Duluth, MN; Skeeter Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Paul Niznik, Medford; Curt Myers, Cameron.
Heat 1: Myers; Miller; Dale; Eder; Jerry Hartman, Marenisco, MI; Pat Hoffman, Rice Lake; Kent Baxter, Elk Mound; B Jensen; Pat Cook, Washburn; Jake Hartung, Elmwood.
Heat 2: Pember; Follmer; D Baxter; Uotinen; Bellefeuille; Anderson; Aho; Steve Stuart, Ashland; Jacob Morinville, Duluth, MN.
Heat 3: Thatcher; Spacek; Niznik; S Estey; Lautigar; Bill Byholm, Glidden; Don Copp, Brule; Destin Lorimor, Superior; Rick Kobs, Deer Park.
Heat 4: Nelson; K Estey; McMann; Cain; Scott Hudack, Ashland; Rick Niemi, Eveleth, MN; Jason Swan, Chippewa Falls; Robby Bunkelman, Abbotsford; Fred Aschenbauer, Deerwood, MN.
Heat 5: J Jensen; Knauf; Larson; Kelley; Wayne Stricker, Highbridge; Rick Rivord, Superior; Jared Loos, Loyal; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls.
Semi-Feature 1: Anderson; Lautigar; Kobs; Stuart; Bunkelman; Hartman; Cook; K Baxter; Copp; Niemi; Stricker.
Semi-Feature 2: Bellefeuille; Aho; B Jensen; Rivord; Lavasseur; udack; Morinville; Swan; Hoffman; Aschenbauer; Hartung; Lorimor; Byholm.
Pole Dash: J Jensen; Pember; Miller; K Estey; Nelson; Knauf; Follmer; Spacek; Myers; Thatcher.

WISSOTA Super Stocks
Feature: Shane Kisling, Sarona; Scott Lawrence, Superior; Sam Skalsky, Kelly Lake, MN; Eric Olson, Ladysmith; Brian Mikkonen, Iron River; Mike Keller, Menomonie; Jeff Tardy, Hibbing, MN; Dave Flynn, Superior; Darin Meierotto, Superior; Andy Grymala, Superior; Nick Oreskovich, Mason; Cory Casari, Montreal; Trevor Wilson, Superior; Steve Thomas, Menomonie; Chad Johnson, Colfax; Rich Bishop, New Richmond; Tommy Richards, Mondovi; Greg Kuklinski, Ironwood, MI; Jim Campbell, Two Harbors, MN; Ken Truscott, Greenland, MI; Randy Spacek, Phillips; Tristan LaBarge, Kelly Lake, MN; Wayne Dean, Fall Creek.
Heat 1: Kuklinski; Donnie Lofdahl, Proctor, MN; R Spacek; Bishop; Olson; Todd Carlson, Coon Rapids, MN; Don Frider, Hibbing, MN; Kevin Salin, Iron, MN; Shawn Rivord, South Range.
Heat 2: Casari; Mikkonen; Flynn; Wilson; Richards; Dean; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; Trevor Arens, Hibbing, MN; Jacob Hiatt, River Falls.
Heat 3: Lawrence; Meierotto; Thomas; C Johnson; Brad Johnson, Wilson; Dave Elliott, Minocqua; Charlie Anderson, Ironwood, MI; Ron Hmielewski, Marengo; Cody Carlson, Superior.
Heat 4: Truscott; Campbell; Tardy; LaBarge; Oreskovich; Zach Wohlers, Hibbing, MN; Jeremy Fink, Hibbing, MN; Willie Johnsen, Superior; Mike Hince, Greenfield.
Heat 5: Kisling; Grymala; Skalsky; Keller; Terry Kroening, Colby; Brian Carl, Duluth, MN; Tad Schoonover, Eagle River; Joe Olson, Superior; Mark Stender, Holcombe.
Semi-Feature 1: Olson; Dean; B Johnson; Frider; Johnsen; Arens; C Carlson; Rivord; Kroening; Wohlers; Anderson; Stender.
Semi-Feature 2: Oreskovich; Richards; Olson; Hmielewski; Salin; Hince; Hiatt; Fink; J Spacek; T Carlson; Carl.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
Feature: George Dalbeck, Ironwood, MI; Grant Southworth, Bloomer; Jason Vandekamp, Forest Lake, MN; Clark Swartz, Bloomer; Ron Weber, Ashland; Cody Wolkowski, Thunder Bay, ON; Rick Przybylski, Ashland; Travis Nye, Ashland; Paul Niznik, Medford; Neil Balduc, Ironwood, MI; Travis Anderson, Colfax; Eric Klafka, Wisconsin Rapids; Don Craig, Thunder Bay, ON; Kerry Halopka, Wheeler; Ryan Adamzak, Ashland; Charlie Castle Jr, Bovey, MN; Tanner Byholm, Glidden; Dan Kingsley, Superior; Shane Halopka, Medford; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Darren LaBlonde, Baldwin; Chad Adamzak, Ashland; Mike Truscott, Chippewa Falls.
Heat 1: Weber; Niznik; C Adamzak; LaBlonde; George Truscott, Greenland, MI; M Truscott; John Feirn Chippewa Falls; Steve Anderson, Ironwood, MI; Charlie Castle III, Bovey, MN.
Heat 2: Balduc; Devin Van House, Silver Bay, MN; Craig; Castle Jr; Klafka; Kingsley; Jesse Aho, Toivola, MI; Dave Flynn, Superior; Chris Bretting, Washburn.
Heat 3: Southworth; Nye; Wolkowski; K Halopka; Dunbar; Travis Friske, Tomahawk; AJ Roschen, New Richmond; Ricky Davis, Bruno, MN; Bill Muhlig, Bessemer, MI.
Heat 4: Vandekamp; Swartz; Byholm; Przybylski; Jim Bandow, Stratford; Matt Anderson, Hibbing, MN; Dadn Sellung, Mason; Nathan Thums, Wausau..
Heat 5: S Halopka; Dalbeck; T Anderson; R Adamzak; Alex Van Natta, Minocqua; Jeff Lien Jr, Mora, MN; Joe Eckland, Springbrook; Chris Huther, Medford; Glenn Dammer, Duluth, MN.
Semi-Feature 1: Kingsley; Dunbar; Van Natta; Flynn; G Truscott; Thums; M Anderson; Muhlig; Dammer; Eckland; Roschen; Feirn.
Semi-Feature 2: M Truscott; Klafka; Aho; Lien; Bretting; Bandow; Davis; Huther; Friske; Sellung; Jerry Grasse, Phelps.