Bemidji Speedway: Racing heats up on a hot night

Bemidji is known for its annual Jaycees Water Carnival which culminates with a fireworks display over Lake Bemidji on the night of the Fourth of July. But the fireworks came early at Bemidji Speedway on Sunday night with spins, crashes and a few tempers as hot weather, hot drivers and hot cars fueled the action. The first of two complete shows was held Sunday night.

Street Stocks

Scotty Messner and Doug VanMill both challenged dast-starting Dustin Puffe at various times, racing side by side with the leader. But Puffe held his line and picked up the win. VanMill, Mark Johnson and Messner trailed the winner.

Pure Stocks

Joel Harvey worked his way throgh traffic from his third-row start and won the feature, followed by Wade Schmidt, Bill Beaulieu, Mike Johnson and Bill Chaboyea.

Mini Stocks

Tim LaVoi made his initial trip to Bemidji Speedway pay off, taking his pole position start to the front and staying there to the end. Andy Swartz, Rick Watson, Becky Barrett and Billy Smith made up the top five finishers.

Midwest Modifieds

Skyler Smih took the checkered flag after taking the lead on a restart. He was followed by Ryan Studanski, Craig Larson, Chris Dudley and Adam Johnson.

Super Stocks

In another wild, crash-filled feature, Brett Schmidt held on to win his first feature of the season. He was followed by Tyler Kintner, Dalton Carlson, Gary Nelson Jr. and Tristan LaBarge.

Mod Fours

Bransen Kellen built a huge lead and held off the field to win the feature. He was followed by Tom Sabraski, Tom Kellen, Justin Schneider and Mitchell Hriber.

Hornets

The Bemidji Hornet class had the crowd gasping as they watched the wild action on the track which resulted in the black flagged being used. Jordan Thayer outlasted Andy Hanson for the win with Weston Ramsrud and Joe Doti finishing third and fourth.

Wissota Streets

Feature - Dustin Puffe, Doug VanMill, Mark Johnson, Scotty Messner

Heat 1 - D. VanMill, M. Johnson, S. Messner, D. Puffe

Bemidji Pure Stocks

Feature - Joel Harvey, Wade Schmidt, Bill Beaulieu, Mike Johnson, Bill Chaboyea, Troy Hemphill, Chad Puschinsky, Mike Johnson, Jesse Lutgen, Cory Peterson

Heat 1 - W. Schmidt, T. Hemphill, C. Puschinsky, J. Lutgen, M.Johnson

Heat 2 - J. Harvey, B. Beaulieu, B. Chaboyea, C. Peterson, J. Bush

Bemidji Mini Stocks

Feature - Tim LaVoi, Andy Swartz, Rick Watson, Becky Barrett, Billy Smith, Ev Barrett

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

Wissota Midwest Modifieds

Feature - Skyler Smith, Ryan Studanski, Craig Larson, Chris Dudley, Adam Johnson, Matt Bartz, Jacob Wilde, Al Johnson, Dylan Miller, Matt Schow

Heat 1 - C. Larson, B. Bahr, D. Mullen, D. Platow, M. Bartz

Heat 2 - A. Johnson, C. Dudley, S. Smith, M. Schow, M. Wilson

Wissota Super Stocks

Feature - Brett Schmidt, Tyler Kintner, Dalton Carlson, Gary Nelson Jr, Tristan LaBarge, Josh Anderson, Dale Lindell, Keith Keena, Gordie Lancaster, RJ Roupke

Heat 1 - B. Schmidt, T. Kintner, D. Carlson, D. Lindell, G. Lancaster

Heat 2 - T. LaBarge, G. Nelson Jr, J. Anderson, RJ Roepke, K. Keena

Wissota Mod Fours

Feature - Branden Kellen, Tom Sabraski, Tom Kellen, Justin Schneider, Mitchell Hriber, Mike Margl, Fran Hauber, Tonja Stranger, Cody Fox, Jon Greochwill

Heat 1 - C. Schwinn, B. Kellen, M. Hriber, F. Hauber, B. Higginbotham

Heat 2 - T. Sabraski, C. Fox, J. Schneider, T. Kellen, T. Stranger

Bemidji Hornets

Feature - Jordan Thayer, Andy Hanson, Weston Ramsrud, JR Doti

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