Father’s Day was special at Bemidji Speedway

It was Father’s Day on Sunday at Bemidji Speedway and for two dads in particular it couldn’t have been more special.

Bill Smith watched as two of his sons Billy and Skyler won features on Sunday night in the Mini Stock and Midwest Modified classes. And Dean Larson had a unique viewpoint to watch his son Tyler win the Mod Four feature as Dean finished second in the race.

The initial feature of the Father’s Day special was led on track by Nathan Higginbothem and Cody Fox. Tyler Larson charged up from his second row inside starting position to take the lead on lap one and held off a challenge from his dad, Dean, to win

Tyler Larson built up a good lead after dueling side by side for a lap with his dad, Dean, and cruised to his second win of the weekend. Dean Larson, Conrad Schwinn, Brandon Kellen, and Fran Hauber held the top five spots.

Bill Chaboyea was on the pole with Kevin Baumgarner outside for the start of the pure feature. Chaboyea drove to a comfortable lead early and then held off challenge after challenge. Chaboyea took the checkered flag with Bill Beaulieu, Chad Puschinsky, Cory Peterson, and Frank Chamernick trailing.

In the mini stock feature Billy Smith raced up from his second row outside position and grabbed control on the first lap leading the entire race. Andy Swartz, Rick Watson, Zach Peterson and Becky Barrett were top five finishers. Smith ran into the crowd and gave his winning trophy to his grandfather to the cheers of the Bemidji crowd.

The Super Stocks were next on track with Matt Sparby on the pole and Mike Vajdl outside. After an early caution for action in turn three it was Tristan LaBarge roaring into the first turn inside by the leaders Sparby, Tyler Kintner and Vajdl.

Following a caution and a re-start it was all Labarge who won his first feature of the season.

Kintner, Dalton Carlson, Gary Nelson Jr., and Sparby made up the top five.

The Midwest Modified class was led by pole sitter Chris Dudley but after a caution Skyler Smith made a move. Smith caught Dudley late in the race held on for the victory

Jason Bush held off Jordan Thayer to claim his first feature of the year in the Hornet class. J.R. Doti, Weston Ramsrud, and Andy Hanson made up the top five.

In a special Hornet race ending the show Doti claimed his third race by besting Thayer, Ramsrud and Bush.

Sunday’s Results

Wissota Mod Four Feature - Tyler Larson, Dean Larson, Conrad Schwinn, Brandon Kellen, Fran Hauber, Cody Fox, Nathan Higginbothem, Tom Kellen, Mike Margl, Tonja Stranger

Heat 1 - F. Hauber, B. Kellen, N. Higginbothem, C. Fox, T. Stranger

Heat 2 - C. Schwinn, D. Larson, T. Larson, M. Margl, T. Kellen

Pure Stock Feature - Bill Chaboyea, Bill Beaulieu, Chad Puschinsky, Cory Peterson, Frank Champernick, Mike Johnson, Joel Harvey, Jesse Lutgen, Troy Hemphill, Kevin Baumgarner

Heat 1 - C. Puschinsky, T. Hemphill, K. Baumgarner, B. Chaboyea, C. Peterson

Heat 2 - B. Beaulieu, W. Schmidt, J. Harvey, J. Lutgen, M. Johnson

Mini Stock Feature - Billy Smith, Andy Swartz, Rick Watson, Zach Peterson, Becky Barrett, Ev Barrett

Heat 1 - A. Swartz, B. Smith, R. Watson, E. Barrett, B. Barrett

Wissota Super Stock Feature - Tristan LaBarge, Tyler Kintner, Dalton Carlson, Gary Nelson Jr, Matt Sparby, Keith Keena, Bobby Carlson, Brett Schmidt, Mike Vajdl, Mike Procopio

Heat 1 - D. Carlson, B. Schmidt, M. Sparby, M. Procopio, K. Keena

Heat 2 - B. Carlson, T. Kintner, M. Vajdl, T. LaBarge, G. Nelson Jr

Wissota Midwest Modifieds Feature - Skyler Smith, Chris Dudley, Doyle Erickson, Matt Schow, Don Smith, John Halvorson, Darrin Lawler, Brandon Bahr, Adam Johnson, Don Mullen

Heat 1 - S. Smith, D. Erickson, J. Halvorson, D. Lawler, D. Mullen

Heat 2 - B. Bahr, M. Schow, C. Dudley, D. Smith, A. Johnson

Hornet Feature - Jason Bush, Jordan Thayer, J.R. Doti, Weston Ramsrud, Andy Hanson