CASEY FASTEST , WINS HIBBING AMSOIL EVENT
By Jerry O'Brien 6-7-05 Hibbing, MN

Terry Casey of New London, WI captured his first ever AMSOIL Late Model Series victory Tuesday night at the Hibbing (MN) Raceway. Casey started the 35 lap event from the inside of the second row and tracked early leader three time Series Champion Steve Laursen of Cumberland, WI for much of the event before powering past into the lead and the win.

Pole sitter Caley Emerson and outside front row starter Laursen brought the 25 car field to the green flag with Laursen taking the edge at the line. Bob Reed and Casey trailed the leaders and those four quickly put some distance on the fifth place battle which was a stout one between Jeff Broking, 2004 feature winner Paul Brust and Jeff Provinzino. Broking was able to put a car length on the others and claimed the fifth spot. The top four runners still had nearly a straight away on Broking in fifth as Laursen was eyeing up the back of the field in preparation for some heavy traffic.

The first and only caution flag of the event occurred when Bill Byholm and Steve Vesel made contact in the fourth turn which sent Vesel spinning. Byholm was sent to the rear of the field and Vesel was restored to his place in the running order.

As per the Hibbing Raceway rule that lines up restarts double file until the half way point, the pack realigned two by two and marched toward the green flag with Laursen again getting the better start over Emerson, Reed and Casey. Broking held fifth with Provinzino and Brust ahead of Kelly Estey, 2004 Series Champion Darrell Nelson and Pat Doar.

Laursen began to stretch out his lead as Casey quickly worked his way to the runner up slot and set off in pursuit. The gap to Emerson began to widen as it appeared Casey was intent on tracking down Laursen and making it a two man shootout for the win and the early series point lead. Behind the front runners, Provinzino made his way to fourth with Broking fifth while Reed slipped out of the top five in sixth. Laursen and Casey pulled a full Straightaway lead on the Provinzino while further back Reed regained the top five in fifth and Doar was into sixth moving up from his 12th starting slot.

The battle up front turned into a war as Casey drew up on Laursen and the two went wheel to wheel for the point. Casey was able to draw alongside and power by into the lead. The laps flew by quickly as the race went without a caution flag to slow the action. Casey and Laursen closed quickly on heavy traffic at the back of the field as further back Provinzino held third while Emerson and Reed skirmished for fourth, a battle that saw Doar join in.

Casey began to work his way through traffic which was very heavy as a number of drivers were in an intense battle for position. As Casey worked his way around cars, Laursen was able to close up at times to within a car length but was not able to make a run at Casey for the lead as the laps quickly wound down to the checkered flag. Casey held on to the lead to the line for the sweep with Laursen finishing second followed by Provinzino, Emerson and Reed in the top five.

Results: AMSOIL Series 2005 Hibbing One. (40 Late Models)