I-94 Speedway Results 1999-07-02

Brandt Scores A Pair At I-94 By Dean Reller

(SAUK CENTRE, MN) July 2nd--Scott Brandt pulls double duty on race nights and this was one night he surely won't forget as he capped-off his night by wining the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Model Feature at the I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre. Chuck Iten started on the pole and darted into the early lead. Clay Montella held second before Les Ferris was able to get by in the first few laps. On lap six contact between Barry Tanner Jr. and Bryan Roach sent Roach for a spin in turn four. On the restart Iten held his ground as Ferris, Brandt and Rich Snyder moved up behind. Dave Schirmers got loose in turn one and he made contact with Tim Olson, resulting in Schirmers spin on lap ten. On the restart Iten held the lead, but as he went through turn three, the car got loose and he spun in front of the entire field. Roach, Pat Henry and Tony Robertson also got caught up in the mess in turn three. All drivers were able to return with mostly superficial damage. This moved Brandt into the lead on the restart. Ten laps of green flag action saw Brandt continue to hold off Ferris and Snyder, before the final caution flew on lap twenty for Chuck Iten's second spin of the race. When the green came out for the final time, it was Brandt holding his own all the way to the Checkered Flag, with Ferris and Snyder a few car lengths back.

Joe Berthiaume is becoming a frequent visitor to Victory Lane as he stamped his third trip there this season by taking the McDonald's NASCAR Winston Shortrack Series Modified Feature. Steve Johnson led the field through turn one, but by completion of the first lap, fourth starting Berthiaume was the leader. Sam Gottwald and Steve Johanneck made contact, resulting in a tire smoking spin for both cars on the front stretch on lap six. That would be the race's only caution as Berthiaume set the pace the rest of the way for the win. The last 24 laps saw Larry Rossell right on Berthiaume's tail, but Rossell couldn't put enough together to get by and settled for second-place.

Scott Brandt's momentum for the night started as he scored the win in the Great North Legends Feature. After engine problems forced him to sit out last week, Andy Nathe returned on the pole for the 25 lap race. Nathe didn't spoil the opportunity as he charged off with the lead as the field stayed bunched-up behind. Just past half- way Brandt and John Nelson began to move ahead of the pack and were able to run down Nathe. With a handful of laps remaining, Brandt made his move and took the lead on the backstretch. Nathe held second, but with just one lap to go, he spun setting up a green, white, checkered finish. In the dash, Brandt charged hard and took the win. Nelson finished a close second ahead of Tom Silver, Adam Allpress and Jon Lewerer.

Jim Dehaan came through the field to win the McDonald's NASCAR Truck Feature. Les Tschida showed the way for the first ten laps, even holding the lead while his truck got sideways in turn four. Dehaan picked his way into second and on lap eleven, he took the lead from Tschida. Dehaan put a little distance in between as he took the win ahead of Tschida and Dave Schroeder.

Normally Pat Henry has someone else drive his IROC car, but his driver was unavailable this week so, the Late Model driver drove it himself and he drove it all the way for the IROC win. Henry took the lead from the get go and held off several challenges by Dondi Wenninger to take the win. Pat Rothfork recovered from a late race spin to finish third.

Jeff Piersak is making winning a habit as he picked-up another U-CAR Feature win. Tom Gjerstad took the lead on the opening laps as the cars behind ran three-wide for position. Curt Gjerstad and Kyle Reents bumped hard on the front stretch on lap three. Reents bounced off the wall and landed on two wheels, before he slid to the infield and parked it for the night. On the restart, Tom Gjerstad let the lead get away from him as Piersak move by. Gjerstad stayed close and as the top two tapped each other a few times, Curt Gallus was able to sneak-up on both of them in third. Piersak was able to hang on for the win and Gallus was able to snatch second from Gjerstad.