July 10, 2010 by Dale Leech

After a week off, the drivers and fans at Minneapolis Raceway were anxious for the remainder of the season to be kick-started and get back in action.  So 96 drivers in 5 car classes took to the track on a beautiful summer evening to do just that. A south wind dried the track out quickly allowing the track to rubber up in good shape for fast and exciting racing.

The crowd enjoyed all the action and excitement of a dry slick track!

The respective winners of each of the Feature races were Dustin Forsberg in the Terry Smith Plumbing Mod-Lite Series, Shane Meek in the T&R Dirt Construction IMCA Sportsman Modifieds, Bob Arnold in the Bank of Tescott IMCA Stock Cars, Roger Peck in the Casey's General Store IMCA Modifieds, and GW Fuller in the Coors Lite IMCA Hobby Stocks.  It was Forsberg's 3rd Feature win of the season, matching his win totals for each of the previous two seasons.  Meanwhile the other Feature winners brought home their first Feature trophys of the season from the Minneapolis Raceway.

After some early spinouts and wrecks in the Mod-Lite's Feature Race, both Bud Lee and Dustin Forsberg emerged from their 3rd row starting positions to battle for the lead.  Lee held the lead for about 5 laps before surrendering it to the hard charging Dustin Forsberg.  After taking the lead, Forsberg didn't look to surrender it, despite challenges from Lee and Brandon Gray on 2 caution restarts late in the race.  After each restart, Forsberg was able to mount a good lead and ended up winning the race by several car lengths.  Forsberg and Lee won the Heat races.

The 3G takes the high line

Forsberg and Co. in a familiar setting in O'Reilly Victory Lane!

Also early in the IMCA Sportsman Modified Feature, a wreck occurred that took Ethyn Hafner, Tyler Frye and Brian Fink out of the race.  On the restart, Josh Rice who it was thought had escaped damage in the multi-car wreck, literally flamed out after the caution restart with his car coming to a stop in front of the flagstand with a massive fire in his engine compartment.  Rice was able to get out of the car safely while the safety crew quickly arrived and put out the fire.  Meanwhile Shane Meeks who had started on the outside pole position came out of the 2nd caution restart strongly to take a good lead.  With only one additional caution restart in the Feature, Meeks maintained his lead and finished with his 2nd Feature win of his career at the MRW.  The Heat races were won by Hafner, Frye, Meeks, and Rice, while Tyler Sutton won the B Feature. Sutton also won a $100 cash prize from track sponsor Speedy Cash for finishing in the highest place of the Feature out of the 4 drivers that transfered from the earlier B Feature to the A Feature.

Shane Meeks celebrates on the front stretch

Josh Rice's car is quickly put out by the Safety Crew

In the IMCA Stock Cars, Bob Arnold started on the outside pole position and quickly established a lead on the field.  His lead was large at first but as the race wore one, his challengers closed the gap.  The last few laps the challenge was on, but Arnold survived a caution restart to finish with a several car length lead and capture his first ever Feature win at Minneapolis Raceway.  Tony Milholland and Josh Hudson won the Heat Races.

Bob Arnold leads in his heat race

Bob Arnold celebrates on the front stretch!

Twenty drivers took to the track for the IMCA Modifieds A Feature.  From his 2nd row outside starting position, Rodger Peck was able to pass Brad Morris, Delbert Smith, and Brian Knoell for an early lead after some caution restarts due to spinouts.  Peck gained the lead by diving low inside Brad Morris on turns 3 and 4, and quickly established a blocking lead in front of Morris.  From there, Peck maintained that lead despite a hearty charge and challenge from Joe Cleveland.  This was Peck's 5th Feature win of his career at the MRW.  The Heat races were won by Cleveland, Danny Morrison Jr., and Corey Lagroon.

Peck battles during his heat race

Rodger Peck si all smiles after his A Feature win!

The final race featured the IMCA Hobby Stocks with 21 drivers. Ron Rous started on the inside pole position and used that position to jump to an early lead.  However, Dennis Berry and GW Fuller who started on the 2nd row didn't let him get away.  Fuller passed Berry and then imitated Peck in the Modified Feature by passing Rous from the inside through turns 3 and 4 and then blocked Rous out for the lead.  Fuller maintained the lead and looked set to take the checkered flag on the last lap when one of the lap cars spun out and brought out a caution flag.  By rule, the caution restart left 2 laps remaining in the race.  Fuller jumped to a good lead out of the restart and didn't let any trailing drivers get close enough for a significant challenge before taking the checkered flag for his 5th career win at Minneapolis Raceway. Berry, Rous, and Chris Pollett won the Heat races.

The 1X takes the high line during his heat race.

Fuller on the front stretch with the A Feature trophy

Next Saturday, July 17th, Minneapolis Raceway will feature King of the Hill Competition for the IMCA Stock Cars.  Also racing will be the Mod-Lite series and the IMCA Modifieds.  The Pit gates will open at 4pm followed by the Grandstands opening at 5pm.  Hot Laps will begin at 6pm followed by green flag racing at 7pm.