Nick Anvelink is king in speedway’s opener

After a tumultuous 2020, the thunder returned to the Legendary Half Mile with the Dirt Kings traveling series joining the Late Model field April 17. Another welcomed sight was a nearly packed grandstand as fans were eager to return to some normalcy. With 111 cars checking in, the night was sure to be action packed at Shawano Speedway.

Eric “Chummy” Arneson returned to racing action at the speedway in the IMCA Stock Car division and battled through caution-filled opening laps to take the lead on lap four, powering past the Chucky Forstner machine and bringing Jeremy Christians along with him. Arneson and Christians were joined by Kevin Hebbe in the top three.

Numerous cautions continued to plague the feature event, setting up a final lap shootout that found Christians jumping past Arneson to pick up another feature win in the IMCA Stock Car division.

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Not to be outdone, the IMCA Sport Mod division’s feature event also included numerous caution flags. The constant throughout the event was last year’s track champion Jayden Schmidt leading the pack. Schmidt gained the top spot from Jason Jach on lap two and survived multiple restarts to pick up the feature win.

Jeff Schmuhl powered through the field from his ninth-place starting spot to grab second while Jeffrey Teske took third. Jach hung on to finish fourth.

The Dirt Kings rolled trackside for their first event of the year, with Justin Ritchie and Nick Anvelink on the front row. The field took the green flag after an emotional tribute to longtime late model driver and sponsor “Diamond” Jim Letizia, who passed away last week.

From the drop of the green, Anvelink found familiar ground as he took the top spot. Ritchie and Troy Springborn, the 2020 track champion, gave chase.

Like so many times before, only a couple of cautions would slow Anvelink as he powered to his 15th win in the Dirt Kings series. Ritchie held the second spot ahead of Springborn and Ron Berna, who started eighth in the event.

The IMCA Modifieds rolled on the track, with Mike Mullen to the outside of Nick Holtger on the front row. Mullen would not let the great starting spot go to waste as he jumped to the lead on lap one. Marcus Yarie followed Mullen, with Lucas Lamberies taking the third spot.

Mullen dominated the event to pick up the win, with Yarie and Lamberies left to entertain the crowd. The 2020 champion Lamberies and Yarie would not disappoint, as they put on an exciting two-car battle for second. When the dust settled, it was Yarie in the runner-up spot with Lamberies in third. Wyatt Block made a strong run forward to grab the fourth spot.

The Mighty 4’s finished the night with Tanner Westphal leading the pack to the start. Westphal maintained the top spot until Brad Wedde made his move, grabbing the top spot on lap four.

Wedde powered away for the win with William Hoefs getting past Westphal for second. Jody Cornelius grabbed third with Westphal settling for fourth.