Nick Anvelink is King in the 2021 Opener

4/17/2021 After a tumultuous 2020 the thunder returned to the Legendary Half
Mile with the Dirt Kings Traveling series joining the Late Model
field. 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.

Eric 'Chummy' Arneson would return to racing action at the Speedway in
the IMCA Stock car division and would battle through caution filled
opening laps to take the lead on lap 4. Powering past the Chucky
Forstner machine bringing Jeremy Christians along with him. Arneson
and Christians would be joined by Kevin Hebbe in the top three.
Numerous cautions would continue to plaque the feature event setting
up a final lap shoot out that found Christians jumping past Arneson to
pick up another feature win in the IMCA Stock car division
Not to be outdone, the IMCA Sport Mod division's feature event also
featured numerous caution flags as well. The constant throughout the
event would be last year's Track Champion, Jayden Schmidt, leading the
pack. Schmidt would gain the top spot from Jason Jach on lap two and
survive multiple restarts to pick up the feature win. Jeff Schmuhl
would power through the field from his 9th place starting spot to grab
second while Jeffrey Teske took third. Jach would hang 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 would
take the green flag after an emotional tribute to long time late model
driver and sponsor Diamond Jim Letizia who passed away last week. From
the drop of the green, Anvelink would find familiar ground as he took
the top spot. Ritchie and Troy Springborn, the 2020 Track Champion,
would give 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 would hold second ahead of Springborn and Ron Berna,
who started 8th 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 would follow Mullen with Lucas Lamberies taking the third spot.
Mullen would dominate 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 4th spot.
The Mighty 4's finished the night with Tanner Westphal and leading the
pack to the start. Westphal would maintain the top spot until Brad
Wedde made his move grabbing the top spot-on lap four. Wedde would
power away for the win with William Hoefs getting past Westphal for
second. Jody Cornelius would grab third with Westphal settling for
fourth.