NELSON DOMINATES NORTHERN NATIONALS LATE MODELS
Hermantown Driver Is 2004 AMSOIL Series Champion
By Jerry O'Brien 9-11-04 Superior Wisconsin

Entering the final event of the 2004 AMSOIL Late Model Series Darrell Nelson of Hermantown, MN held a 13 point lead over Harry Hanson of Eveleth, MN with John Kaanta of Elk Mound, WI also in the hunt 15 points out of the lead. All three qualified for the 40 lap feature with Nelson slated to start inside the second row, Kaanta in 12th and Hanson who had to qualify through a B main going from the 20th starting spot.

With the drama set the 25 car field was set to take the green flag led by Steve Vesel from the pole flanked by Justin Fegers. At the green flag Nelson and fourth starting Jeff Provinzino overwhelmed the front row starters and completed the first circuit with Nelson in the lead followed through by Provinzino, Vesel, Fegers, Ashley Anderson and Jeff Broking. With one lap complete the first and only caution flag flew due to a stalled Tom Waseleski in turn four. At the green flag Nelson showed superior acceleration and immediately surged to a six car length lead over Provinzino while Anderson had taken third. At this point Kaanta had moved into the top ten in ninth and Hanson had advanced to 15th. Nelson quickly opened up his lead to three quarters of a straightaway and Fegers had rebounded to gain third from Anderson. With ten laps in Fegers challenged Provinzino for second slipping by on the high side while ahead of him Nelson ran up on the rear of the field. As Nelson began the task of working his way through traffic, Kaanta continued his march toward the front and was in sixth place while the other championship contender Hanson was temporarily stalled in 12th with 25 laps remaining.

At the 20 lap mid point Nelson led Fegers, Anderson, Vesel, and a fading Provinzino in the top five. Kaanta, Goodremote, and Duane Mahder trailed while Hanson broke free to crack the top ten. Nelson was still dominating, maintaining his lead in traffic, passing high and low seemingly at will. With ten laps to go Anderson caught Fegers in heavy traffic and the battle for second was on while Kaanta grabbed fourth with five laps remaining and it was a battle around lapped cars for the runner up position. Nelson took the checkered flag as Kaanta got by for a second place finish on the final circuit. Fegers was initially third, Anderson fourth and Vesel fifth but after the finish Fegers drove Bob Broking into the back stretch wall and was disqualified for "unsportsmanlike conduct" moving everyone up one spot in the order.

Darrell Nelson joins three time AMSOIL Series champion Steve Laursen, Joel Cryderman and Brady Smith as the fourth series champion. John Kaanta moved into second and Hanson who made a great run from 20th to fifth finished third.

Results: AMSOIL Series 2004 race six. (51 Late Models)

Former dirt track racer Jerry O’Brien has been a motorsports journalist, columnist and track reporter since 1984. O’Brien has been a featured writer for Speedway Illustrated, Circle Track magazine and Late Model Racer magazine as well as columnist for Checkered Flag Racing News. In addition to being Racing Correspondent for the Superior Telegram he has been a regular contributor to All the Dirt Racing News, National Dirt Digest, Behind the Wheel, Hawkeye Racing News, Midstates Racing News and several web sites.