Clark collects first career Buffalo River Race Park win

By Mike Spieker

GLYNDON, Minn. – Racing resumed at Buffalo River Race Park on Saturday night with the running of its annual Corn Cob Nationals, presented by Country Cat and Keith Berger Realtor - Century 21 FM Realty

The IMCA sportmods took the green flag with Chris VanMil of Barnesville, Minn. showing the way. Matt Clark of West Fargo quickly moved up from the third spot to challenge VanMil for the lead, but VanMil was able to fend off the charge. Clark came back at VanMil on lap six on the low side of the speedway and took the lead exiting turn two. 

A series of cautions slowed the race, one of which included VanMil and Kelly Jacobson of Fargo. VanMil and Jacobson were racing for the second spot when they made contact as Jacobson took the position entering turn three. The duo made heavy contact again at the opposite end of the speedway which sent both drivers spinning. VanMil took his No. 40 machine back to the pit area as Jacobson had to be towed off the track. 

As the race resumed, Clark picked up where he left off and took the checkers unchallenged. 

“It feels amazing,” said Clark of getting his first-ever win at Buffalo River Race Park and second career win overall. “We’ve been trying [to win] here since we started three years ago. This one feels really good. 

“I was getting nervous with all those restarts, especially seeing who was behind me,” said Clark, referencing veteran driver Scott Jacobson of Fargo who went on to finish second. 

Fargo driver Jesse Skalicky scored his first Corn Cob Nationals title in the IMCA modified division. Skalicky led all 20 trips around the semi-banked quarter-mile to score his third victory fo the season at the speedway. 

The lightning sprint feature went to Jason Berg of Fargo. Berg dominated the 15-lap feature en route to his second Buffalo River Race Park win and third overall win of the season. 

Tye Wilke of Detroit Lakes, Minn. raced to his sixth consecutive INEX legend feature win. Starting in the eighth spot, Wilke charged through the field and used a midrace restart to take the lead from Andrew Jochim of Glyndon. Jochim stayed hot on the heels of Wilke, but Wilke held on for the win. 

Brad Orvedal of Fargo claimed his first IMCA hobby stock win of the season at Buffalo River Race Park. Orvedal started sixth and quickly worked his way up into contention. Orvedal made a bold three-wide pass for the lead on lap three and never looked back. 
The sport compacts raced for the largest-purse of the night with $2,500 up for grabs for the feature winner. Grady Shearer of St. Cloud, Minn. led all 60 laps to claim the big payday. 

Noah Lewis bested his brother, Joe, to win the slingshot feature. 

RESULTS:
IMCA Modifieds: 
Feature – 1. 3S-Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 15T-Myles Tomlinson, Turtle Lake, N.D.; 3. 33-Allen Kent, West Fargo, N.D.; 4. 52-Brennan Borg, Harwood, N.D.; 5. 99-Bryce Borgen, Perley, Minn.

IMCA SportMods:
Feature – 1. 15-Matthew Clark, West Fargo, N.D.; 2. 5-Scott Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.; 3. 5T-Matt Talley, Sabin, Minn.; 4. 09-Torey Fischer, West Fargo, N.D.; 5. 24V-Deryk Voller, Dickinson, N.D.

Lightning Sprints:
Feature – 1. 100-Jason Berg, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 21-Dev Malmlov, Moorhead, Minn.; 3. 19S-Travis Surerus, Fargo, N.D.; 4. 22-Bryce Haugeberg, West Fargo, N.D.; 5. 10-Danny Hazemann, Moorhead, Minn.

INEX Legends:
Feature – 1. 72-Tye Wilke, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 2. 21-Andrew Jochim, Glyndon, Minn.; 3. 20-Alex Braseth, Ulen, Minn.; 4. 1-Steven Kuntz, Bismarck, N.D.; 5. B1-Brody Carlsrud, [9] Moorhead, Minn.

IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Feature – 1. 3XL-Brad Orvedal, Fargo, N.D.; 2. 73G-Todd Gettel, Mahnomen, Minn.; 3. 73-Maranda Borg, Harwood, N.D.; 4. 39-Caleb Gardner, Glyndon, Minn.; 5. 15-Andrea Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.