By Todd Narveson

One could not ask for better weather this week at the Chateau Raceway. It was the WISSOTA AMSOIL Dirt Track Series Race of Champions Qualifiers for the Street Stock and Midwest Modified divisions on St. Ansgar Plumbing & Heating night.

Two infrequent visitors, Danny Hanson and Tony Schill would lay claim to those feature wins. Jason Newkirk won his first Pure Stock feature, and Jerry Young broke through as well. Brandon Davis and Travis Shipman continued their domination at the speedway.

The Y-Waste Removal Hornets only had four cars this week but had some wild action. Jeremy Wenzel led and then was spun by Ralph Hanks. Hanks was put to the tail, but made his way back to battle with Wenzel. Hanks then went for a wild ride off turn two and eventually the right front wheel fell off his car. Wenzel would win his third feature of the season.

Kyle Nicoll led the Misgen Auto Parts Pure Stocks until Brady Krohnberg turned him on lap two. Nicoll retained the top spot and then after a restart, Keith Weber made contact with Nicoll and Weber looped his car for another yellow.

Nicoll had Jason Newkirk to contend with as heavy pressure was being applied. Newkirk took over on lap four and brought along Matt Brooks and Brady Krohnberg who rallied from the tail of the pack. Those three had a great race up front, and Brooks was all over Newkirk when Cole Lonergan spun to set up a two-lap dash to the finish.

Another yellow on the start reset things again. Newkirk survived for his first win since Aug. 20, 2010, while Brooks was a close second. Krohnberg finished a solid third with Weber and Jim Briggs in the top five.

The L&D Ag USRA B-Mods had a new rule put into effect this week. With all of the issues they have had the past few weeks, if you caused a yellow in the feature, you were going to the pits. There was a total of one yellow on the very first lap, after that it went the rest of the 15-laps without a caution.

Jerry Young just returned last week after a lengthy layoff from a hard crash that wrecked his car. Young started outside of row one and basically checked out up front. Cory Crapser moved to second on lap three and closed on Young in the late stages of the race, but it was not enough.

Young scored the popular win, which was the first of the season, with Crapser in second. Ryan Stebbins had a very good run in third while Josh Mattick raced from 15th to fourth and Kadden Kath was fifth.

The Albert Lea Steel WISSOTA Street Stocks were up next for their 15-lap AMSOIL Race Of Champions qualifier. Danny Hanson the 2010 national champion made his first

A visit to Chateau paid off for him. Hanson started on the outside of row one and survived a number of yellows to take the win.

Hanson drove to the win over Mike Blowers, who came from eighth to finish in second. Noah Grinstead finished third with Nathan Schumacher and Jason Barber fourth and fifth. Hanson qualified himself for the special AMSOIL Race Of Champions event to be held in Huron, SD next month.

The Farm Boy BBQ WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds had the same scenario at the Street Stocks. The winner would be qualified for the AMSOIL Race of Champions as well. Tony Schill redrew the pole and got his car cranked up on the top of the speedway. Greg Pfeifer Jr. worked past Eric Condit for second on lap three and then challenged Schill.

Pfeifer Jr. applied pressure to Schill, but could not muster up enough to get by. Schill was up to the task and continued his breakout season with another big win. Pfeifer Jr. finished second while Jason Born rallied after he did not finish his heat race. Born started 13th and charged up to third, and Robbie Franklin raced from 12th to fourth. Eric Condit rounded out the top five.

Travis Shipman has pretty much ruled the Power 96/KQAQ 970AM IMCA Stock Cars this season. It was the same story this week as Shipman drove past Chris Adams on lap two and cruised to his eighth win of the year. Adams finished second with Ryan Goergen third in the six-car field.

Neither front-row starter took the Brew Pub Pizza Front Row Challenge so it will rise to $1,700 next Friday. Joel Alberts led from the start with Jacob Dahle and Brandon Davis in tow. Alberts wiggled, and Dale shot past on lap two while Todd Scharkey bolted around to second.

Davis got by Alberts for third then overhauled Scharkey for second on lap four. A yellow for debris slowed things down. On the restart, Davis bolted to second and then zipped past Dahle on lap six for the lead. Davis checked out from there, but the race for second would really heat up.

Jason Cummins was on the move from eighth and drove past Dahle and then challenged Scharkey. That duo put on a great show for second as they exchanged the position on several occasions. A caution would set up a two-lap dash to the finish.

Davis checked out for his seventh point night win and 17th overall. Scharkey held off Cummins to finish second at the checkered flag. Alberts would take home fourth and Greg Jensen was fifth.