A couple years ago, Al Hejna let a win slip right through his fingers at the Casino Speedway in Watertown, South Dakota as hometown driver Jon Tesch snatched the win away on the last lap. With that in the back of his mind, Hejna would leave no doubt as to who the man to beat was on this night.
Before the USMTS feature took the green, out of car introductions were presented to the fans. At that time the president of USMTS Todd Staley allowed the rambunctious crowd to vote to see if the road warriors would run forty or fifty laps. Fans voted for fifty, thus making it the first fifty-lap feature held at the Casino Speedway.
The feature event saw three caution flags before the completion of the first lap. Kelly Shryock was involved the third as several cars were involved in a chain reaction from a car checking up in front of them. What appeared to be a simple flat tire, Shryock would not return to the track and would be seen on the back end of a tow truck at the end of the event. Not sure what the damage was, but obviously it was serious enough not to risk further damage.
Pole sitter Grant Junghans paced the field early on, but Al Hejna was right in his tire tracks and made a move to the inside coming out of turn four on the second lap for the lead. Unfortunately for him, the caution flag would negate his pass and shuffle him back to second on the restart. Hejna would use the same move on the restart to grab the lead while Dereck Ramirez pulled the same move on Mike Hansen for third. Yet another caution flag would wave to set up the restart in which Hansen got under Junghans to take over the runner up position. Fourteenth starter Corey Dripps found his machine up to the fifth spot, but his luck would not last long as a left rear tire would go flat later in the run.
Hometown driver Jon Tesch had to transfer out of a bmain, but that didn't stop him from putting on a show for the fans. Tesch found himself up to sixth before the halfway point of the race while race leader Hejna was leaving the field in his dust. Hejna caught lapped traffic and got lucky as a car in front of him spun around in turn two. Hejna was able to avoid making contact and keep the lead. Tesch soon made his way up to fourth and battle Mike Hansen and Dereck Ramirez. Hansen got by Ramirez, but Tesch used the middle groove of the track to pull even with Ramirez for third. The two swapped the position for a couple laps before Tesch drifted a bit as he tried to ride the cushion in lapped traffic. Nobody was able to keep pace with Hejna as he went on to take the easy win. Mike Hansen finished where he started as he wound up second, Dereck Ramirez was third, Jon Tesch fourth, and Mike Lineberry rounded out the top five.
Wissota street stocks were also on hand tonight as Tony Konold held the slight advantage of a three-wide battle for the lead on the first lap. Track points leader Wade Tirrel grabbed the lead away on the third circuit as Jason Marko was advancing his machine through the field to sixth. Marko started shotgun on the field (13th) after suffering problems in his heat. Marko's good run was spoiled as he got into the left rear of Trevor Anderson, sending Marko's car into a spin in turn two. Konold and Tirrel exchanged the lead for a couple laps before Konold's car slid up the track in turn two. That was all Wade Tirrel would need as he went on to take the win. Tony Konold took home second while Lance Haskell held off David Orr and Trevor Anderson for third through fifth, respectively.
Casino Speedway is truly a unique track, at least in my experience. The track sits near an airport as a FedEx plane was spotted in the distance outside turn two. This track is also the first one I've seen a pickup with a water tank in the back act as the water truck. Hey, whatever works I guess! A candy toss also took place during intermission, and when I say candy TOSS, I mean candy TOSS. A couple people literally threw candy in the air in the grass along the frontstretch to kids.
The racing surface held up pretty nicely throughout the night. The USMTS feature did get a little one-groove towards the end, but Jon Tesch and others made a second groove work the first part of the race. It was kinda different going to a track that didn't have hamburgers offered in the concession stand.
The USMTS series heads back south to Huset's Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota on Thursday night before a night off Friday. They don't get much of a rest, however, as they head east to Decorah (Iowa) Saturday to start off another five-day swing.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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