Wilke Records First Career Win at Buffalo River Race Park

GLYNDON, Minn. – Buffalo River Race Park opened its 64th season of weekly racing Sunday evening. A packed grandstand and strong car counts were on hand to witness a pair of first time winners visit victory lane.

Maranda Borg was the first of the night to grab her first career win. The young lady from Harwood started on the outside of the front row of the IMCA hobby stock feature and took the early lead. Borg dominated the 15-lap race, leading every lap.

Tye Wilke followed suit not long after. The third year Detroit Lakes driver started all the way back in the 11th starting position in the INEX legends lineup, but methodically moved his way forward throughout the 20-lap main event.

Sean Johnson led the majority of the race after starting on the pole position, but he had his hands full with Tim Brockhouse and Brian Hanson. By lap seven, Wilke had cracked the top five. The following lap, third and fourth place contenders, Tim Estenson and Brockhouse made contact, which sent Estenson spinning to a stop. Brockhouse was called for the caution as Estenson reclaimed his position.

Following the restart, Wilke continued his charge forward. Wilke drove from third to pass Johnson for the lead on lap 12. From there, Wilke looked to check out from the field, but he had his hands full with a hard charging Estenson.

Estenson threw everything he had at Wilke in the closing laps, but Wilke held on to take the win.

Michael Greseth picked up where he left off last year as he cruised to the IMCA modified feature win. Greseth, who claimed six wins at Buffalo River Race Park in 2017, started on the pole of the 25 lap feature after starting the night with a heat race win.

As the green flag dropped, Greseth took the lead heading into turn one over fellow front row starter, Jamie Schulz. Greseth quickly pulled away from the field as Mike Hansen moved into second. Hansen, who made the haul from Dickinson, showed some speed in his No. 12H machine, but it was no match for Greseth.

Greseth easied to the feature win by over a straightaway as Hansen and IMCA modified rookie, Jesse Skalicky, capped off the podium. Bryce Borgen and Tyler Hall rounded out the top five.

Kelsi Pederson cruised to the NLSA Lightning Sprint win. The East Grand Forks, Minn. driver started on the pole and led every lap as she collected her second career win at Buffalo River Race Park.

Pederson was followed to the line by Alex Truscinski, Zac Kwiatkoski, Alan Truscinski and Josh Abrahamson.

The IMCA sportmod feature went to Brainerd’s Jake Hagemann. Hagemann followed front row starter, Scott Jacobson, as the race went green. Around the midway point of the event, both Hagemann and Jacobson were overtaken by Chris VanMil. VanMil was the only driver in the top five running the highside of the speedway and made it work until he looped his No. 40 machine to bring out a caution.

Jacobson inherited the lead for the restart, but Hagemann found a way around the veteran driver with eight to go. From there, Hagemann held on to take the win as Jacobson was challenged by his son, Kelly, for second. Kelly slipped by to claim second as Scott Jacobson, Doug Gardner and Brennan Urbach rounded out the top five.

Matt Pederson took the IMCA sport compact feature win, while Joseph Lewis won in the slingshots.

RESULTS:

IMCA Hobby Stocks:

Feature – 1. 73-Maranda Borg, Harwood, N.D.; 2. 60-Kyle Hallgren, Hankinson, N.D.; 3. 39-Caleb Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 4. 66-Matt Milbeck, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; 5. 11S-William Smith, Glyndon, Minn.

INEX Legends:

Feature – 1. 79-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. 14-Tim Estenson, Fargo N.D.; 3. 58-Sean Johnson, Kindred, N.D.; 4. 1-Steven Kuntz, Bismarck, N.D.; 5. 69-Brian Hanson Jr, Jamestown, N.D.

NLSA Lightning Sprints:

Feature – 1. 93-Kelsi Pederson, East Grand Forks, Minn.; 2. 10-Alex Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 3. 17-Zak Kwiatkoski, Grand Forks, N.D.; 4. 13-Alan Truscinski, Greenbush, Minn.; 5. 16-Josh Abrahamson, Moorhead, Minn.

IMCA SportMods:

Feature – 1. 33-Jake Hagemann, Brainerd, Minn.; 2. 51-Kelly Jacabson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 41-Doug Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 5. 33-Brennan Urbach, Englevale, N.D.

IMCA Sport Compacts:

Feature – 1. 4-Matt Pederson, Fargo, N.D, 2. 6-Randy Thompson, Lake Park, Minn.; 3. 5-Daniel Harstad, Fergus Falls, Minn.; 4. 7-Jason Reinke, Moorhead, Minn.; 5. 1-Tanner Engen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

IMCA Modifieds:

Feature – 1 17-Mike Greseth, Harwood, N.D.; 2. Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.; 3. 3-Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 99-Bryce Borgen, Perley, Minn.; 5. 60-Tyler Hall, Fertile, Minn.