A Cool Night in a Hot Valley
By Gene Harmelink
© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

Despite cool temperatures and a previous night of rain, Eagle Valley hosted its second night of racing for the 2008 season on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11.  The track motto “Where the Valley Heats Up” certainly held true as the fans and racers were treated to a hot night of racing on a smooth and very fast track. 

It was a tough act to follow, but the WISSOTA Street stocks, nineteen cars strong, had one heck of a race as well.  Unfortunately, this race began with a thud when pole sitter, Dave Keyeski (#17) was sent to the back prior to completion of the first lap for causing a spin out.  That put Clark Swartz (#18), who was spun, in a much better position for the restart.  On the restart, Swartz was off to a quick lead with Adam Soltis (#9) who had started fifth, heat winner Matt Wolfe (#67W) who had started second, Gary Kasperek (#2) who had started fourth and heat winner Allen Gessell, Jr (#32x) who had started sixth, in hot pursuit.  Swartz continued to lead but the field behind changed often with Kasperek taking the second spot four laps into the race and holding on to second until lap eleven when he passed for the lead.  Unfortunately, Kasperek’s lead was short-lived as Swartz once again passed Kasperek to take the lead back with three laps to go.  Kasperek then began to fade a bit and Gessell, Jr. took the second spot.  At the checkered flag it was Swartz, Gessell, Jr, Mike Conrad (#M76) who did a great job working his way up from a ninth-place starting spot, Soltis, and Ron Hanestad (#71h) who had quietly worked his way up from his eleventh-place starting spot.  In the end, though, it was Gessell, Jr. who was awarded the win as Swartz was disqualified for an illegal suspension.  The result was another clean sweep for Gessell, Jr. who is really on a role early in the 2008 racing season.

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Gessell, Jr. continues streak at Kopellah's opener

By Terry Lehnertz
© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

After an unprecedented fourth attempt, the 2008 season at Kopellah Speedway finally got underway on Friday night, May 9.  While things are first starting to heat up at the Speedway, one Allen Gessell Jr. is already smoking hot in this young WISSOTA Amsoil Dirt Track Series season.  Gessell brought his historic season opening hot streak to Kopellah, looking to write another chapter for the history books.

Looking to extend one of the most dominating streaks in recent memory, Big Lake, Minnesota's Allen Gessell Jr. brought his #32x to town looking to keep alive his perfect record.  Coming into the evening, Gessell had raced at four different WISSOTA tracks, and went home with four heat race victories, and four feature victories.  At feature time Friday, the #32x was still perfect after picking up the win in his heat race, but the likes of Jeff Heintz, Chanda Fjorden Nord, second heat race winner Clark Swartz, and Shawn Kammerud were all eagerly looking to put the first chink in Gessell's armor.  At the drop of the green, Gessell made good on his pole starting position and assumed the point.  Swartz quickly tucked in behind for second.  On the second lap, Kammerud slipped by Swartz for second with Fjorden Nord and Heintz in hot pursuit.  Swartz was back up to second by lap five, but the hardest charger in the field was eleventh starting Trisha Nyren.  Nyren cracked the top five on lap nine, and on lap eleven, she passed Fjorden Nord for fourth.  But before the next lap was scored, the left front wheel on Nyren's car broke loose and the spectacular run came to an abrupt end.  Heintz took over the runner-up spot on the restart, but no one had enough for Gessell as he pushed his 2008 sticker collection up to five.  Five tracks, five clean sweeps.  Second through fifth were Heintz, Swartz, Fjorden Nord, and Kammerud.

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Gordon & early season dominators win at KRA

By Ray Beste
© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

WILLMAR, MN (May 8) - Curt Myers and Allen Gessell, Jr. both continued their early season tears with a victory in the WISSOTA Super Stocks and WISSOTA Street Stocks, respectively, while Justin Bjorklund, Jason Hoffman and Mike Flickinger each picked up opening night victories as well. Although the temperature at feature time was quite brisk, the action on the speedway kept the fans warm all night long.

heat winners Scott Paulson and Gessell, Jr. aligned on the front row. Gessell, Jr. grabbed the early advantage and Paulson settled into second. Gessell, Jr. quickly extended his lead while sixth starter Mike Jans moved into third. Jans immediately pressured Paulson, the former national champion, who got into a rhythm by lap four and began to track down the leader. Eighth starter Devin Neske cracked the top five on lap six before the first yellow of the event halted action on lap seven.

Gessell, Jr., Paulson and Jans waged a three-car battle for the lead and Jans grabbed the advantage as they raced down the backstretch. The lead was shortlived, however, because Roger Christiansen took a scary ride over the retaining wall in turn three. Christiansen walked away from the accident that left his race car badly mangled.

After another caution on lap 10, Jans passed Paulson for second with seven laps to go. Ryan Buer and Jimmy “Nitro” Williams, meanwhile, were both surging toward the front. After Paulson regained second from Jans, Buer moved passed each competitor via the bottom groove and claimed second with four laps remaining. Twelfth starter Williams moved into third with two laps remaining while Gessell, Jr. went on to score another win. Buer finished second ahead of Williams, Jans and Paulson.

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By Ray Beste

© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

Right now the talk in WISSOTA Street Stocks begins and ends with Big Lake, MN driver Allen Gessell, Jr. He picked up the opening night sweep at Princeton two weeks ago and added another sweep Saturday night at NCS and he also scored a sweep at Eagle Valley Speedway in Jim Falls, WI on Sunday night. I haven't had the chance to chat with him at the races yet, but I will soon. I would like to ask him if we will see him at KRA on Thursday nights this season as well as if he plans to run for the national title. Right now you would have to bet that he is considering that option. Congrats to Al on a pretty dominant win.

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Eagle Valley finally gets 2008 season off the ground
By Gene Harmelink
© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

JIM FALLS, WI (May 4) - The long awaited start to the 2008 racing season finally got underway Sunday at Eagle Valley Speedway. With just a few fluffy clouds in the sky and temperatures befitting a mild spring evening, 94 race car drivers and a nice crowd of fans enjoyed a satisfying night of AMSOIL Dirt Track Series racing.

WISSOTA Street Stocks lined up with heat winners Jay Kesan and Allen Gessell, Jr. on the front row. Gessell, Jr. jumped to an early lead with Kesan in hot pursuit. The top two ran that way until with just a few laps to go, Kesan pulled into the pits with water pump problems. Tyler Viltz then pursued Gessell, Jr. for a couple of laps until Devin Neske took over the runner-up spot.

Gessell, Jr. cruised to his second sweep in as many nights and his third of the season ahead of Neske, sixth starter Ron Hanestad, Viltz and Adam Soltis.

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North Central kicks off 2008 with 126 participants
By Ray Beste
© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

BRAINERD, MN (May 4) - North Central Speedway lifted the lid on the 2008 racing season Saturday night with 126 race cars in attendance. Action was witnessed all night long in the five divisions offered at the speedway with Dale Mathison, Jay Kintner, Allen Gessell, Jr., Shane Sabraski and Mike Japp all picking up opening night victories. Fans and racers alike flocked to the moderately banked 3/8 mile oval to take in their first racing action of the season.

Gessell, Jr. blasted off from the inside of row one and grabbed the opening lap lead during the 20-lap WISSOTA Street Stock feature. Brainerd, MN driver Bobby Young immediately pressured Gessell, Jr. until the leader stretched the lead on lap four. On lap six, Young caught a rut in turn four, shot up the track and lost two positions. Jamestown, ND invader Scott Bintz took over the second spot from Young on lap seven while Gessell, Jr. cruised out front.

After going tail end for an incident earlier in the event, Brainerd driver Tim Johnson began to work his way back through the field. While most drivers used the middle of the speedway, Johnson had his Rebel Chassis machine bolted to the bottom.

With six laps remaining, Young worked his way past Bintz for the second spot while Johnson began to apply the pressure for third. With two to go, Johnson successfully worked his way into third while Gessell, Jr. collected his second feature win of the season ahead of Young, Johnson, Bintz and Jack Peterson.

Gessell, Jr. and Young were victorious in heat race action earlier in the evening.

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Racers, fans get 2008 started at Princeton Speedway
By Tami Jo Kuehn
© 2008 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

PRINCETON, MN (April 18) - With a stiff breeze and cold chill in the air, but absolutely no rain in sight, race car drivers and fans descended on Princeton Speedway Friday night for the 2008 season opener.

When all was said and done on the first WISSOTA AMSOIL Dirt Track Series event of the season - and the only one throughout the region that didn’t fall to rain - Dale Mathison, Curt Myers, Andy Jones and Allen Gessell, Jr. each had his first feature win of the 2008 campaign.

The night of features kicked off with the WISSOTA Street Stocks. With the line-up set straight up from the heat races, heat winners Gessell, Jr. and Ronald Johnson were side by side on the front row when the green flag dropped. Gessell, Jr.’s quick start was negated by a caution, but the 2007 WISSOTA 100 champion reassumed the point after the restart with Johnson and Devin Neske right behind him.

After another caution a few laps later, Johnson challenged Gessell, Jr. for the lead but Gessell, Jr. held him back. Ben Rothstein moved up on Neske for third but Neske didn’t let him by. Johnson then lost control for a moment and Neske used the opportunity to take over the runner-up spot while third heat race winner Mike Jans slid in right behind Johnson for third. Jans and Johnson were battling for third when Gessell, Jr. began lapping slower cars.

Jans and Johnson made some contact, but both recovered and kept going. Cory Rosen then kicked it into high gear and took fourth from Jans. Rosen challenged Johnson for third, took the spot and then began to hassle Neske in second. Gessell, Jr. had a comfortable lead when Rosen and Neske got together in turn three, Neske’s #67E went around and Rosen was subsequently sent to the back for the ensuing restart.

After another quick yellow for debris on the track, Gessell, Jr. held off his competitors and took the first feature win of the season at the speedway.