by Dale Leech

Photos by Dirt Track Devils

Shianne Carter could say to her dad after the opening race of the Minneapolis Raceway Saturday night, "Happy Father's Day", albeit almost 2 months late as she beat off all challenges by Dan Flynn (her dad), to win the twice postponed Barry Brittendall Memorial Feature race for the Lott Implement IMCA Sport Compacts.

Carter started on the outside pole position, jumped to a big lead and never looked back to win the large trophy offered by Sam Brittendall to the winner.  Flynn started back four rows and gained good position to challenge Carter close to half way through the 16 lap race. But Carter never let Flynn get close enough to mount a serious threat to win by a comfortable lead, gaining her 2nd Feature win of the year.

Shianne Carter leads the field during the Barry Brittendall Memorial Feature

Shianne celebrates on the front stretch with Sam Brittendall and Co.

Once the rescheduled Brittendall Memorial feature race concluded, the regular schedule for the week got under way for 5 IMCA car classes with 14 Heats, 1 "B" Feature and 5 Feature races. Forecasted rain stayed far away and great racing on a dry slick track was enjoyed by the good sized crowd.

In the Bank of Tescott IMCA Stock Cars, Bob Arnold started on the outside pole position looked as if he was going to do exactly as Carter had done in the Brittendall Memorial Feature.  Arnold jumped to a good sized early lead in a race that had no cautions and appeared to have a win well in hand.  However, Josh Hudson who started on the back row had other ideas.  After working his way through the field to gain 2nd place, Hudson began pecking away at Arnold's lead by staying on the low inside groove.  Finally coming out of Turn 4 with 3 laps remaining, Hudson gained the lead and then expanded it by several car lengths over the last 3 laps. With the checkered flag Hudson gained his 3rd Feature win of the season.  The Heat races were won by Arnold and Tony Millholland.

Newlin and Hudson battle for the lead (and points!) in the A Feature

Hudson prevails and celebrates in O'Reilly Victory Lane!

After two early cautions in the T&R Dirt Construction IMCA Sportsman Modifieds Feature, the 2nd of which knocked out the front row starters of Eric Ingram and Brian Fink, Jason Nelssen gained an early lead. Nelssen carried the lead for 5 laps before surrendering it to Tyler Sutton.  Sutton then held the lead for the remaining 9 laps, holding off the Division points leader, Tyler Frye, for the last few laps. Sutton won by 4 car lengths to capture his 3rd Feature win of the season.  The B Feature was on by Kurt Kalivoda while the Heats were won by Sutton, Frye, and Tracy Holloway.

Tyler Sutton took and held the lead for most of the race.

Celebrating his 3rd Feature win of the year in O'Reilly Victory Lane!

Starting on the 4th row inside position of the Coors Lite IMCA Hobby Stocks, Chris Pollet picked his way to the front position after a few laps.  Pollet then held the lead until the end of lap 5, surrendering it to points leader Mike Traskowsky.  Traskowsky then fought off challenges by GW Fuller over the last few laps before taking the checkered flag, his 4th of the season.  The Heat races were won by Fuller, Mike Normandin, and Bill Rogers.

Traskowsky in the lead during the A Feature

A familiar spot for Traskowsky this year!

The Casey's General Store IMCA Modifieds were not to be outdone for providing exciting racing.  Father and son, Steve and Corey Burch fought each other for the early lead with Corey gaining the upper hand. Burch later surrendered that lead to Brad Morris who held it for several laps.  Meanwhile, Danny Morrison Jr. started mounting a challenge, closing the gap by driving the low inside groove. After a several lap challenge, Morrison Jr. passed Morris for the lead with one lap remaining.  The defending champion then held the lead to take the checkered flag for his 2nd Feature win of the season.  Corey Burch and Danny Morrison Jr. won the Heat races.

Morrison, Lagroon, and Peck during their heat race.

Morrison and Co. make the car disappear!

The final Feature of the night was the 2nd of the night for the IMCA Sport Compacts.  Phillip Brown gained a lead after a few laps after battling with Jeremy Milum and Cody Johnson.  Through several caution restarts, Andrue Halpain started picking his way through the field.  Halpain then challenged Brown for a few laps before gaining the lead at the end of lap 7.  Halpain then built a huge lead that no one else could challenge to win his 3rd Feature of the season and add to his large point lead in the division.  Alan Rice and Tracy Montague won the Heat races.

Halpain on his way to a 3rd A Feature win!

Celebrating on the front stretch!

All five IMCA car classes are scheduled to return to the track next Saturday.  The Pit gates will open at 4pm, while the Grandstands gates will open at 5pm.  Hot Laps will start at 6pm with green flag racing to begin at 7pm.