Proctor Speedway
Provinzino edges Hensel for Silver 1000 victory
By Jerry O'Brien
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Jeff Provinzino won his second Silver 1000. (chrisburback.com)
PROCTOR, Minn. (Sept. 3) — Jeff Provinzino of Hibbing, Minn., overtook polesitter Adam Hensel of Barron, Wis., with two laps remaining at Proctor Speedway to win the 37th annual Black Bear Casino Silver 1000. Provinzino earned $2,500 for his second victory in Proctor's long-running race, following his 2005 victory. | Slideshow
Hensel settled for second with Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., in third. Todd Gehl of Solon Springs, Wis., was fourth and Lance Matthees of Winona, Minn., rounded out the top five in the WISSOTA-sanctioned special.
At the race's outset, two-time race winner Steve Laursen of Cumberland, Wis., jumped into the lead from outside the front row and led by four lengths early while the eighth-starting Provinzino quickly moved into the top five.
Laursen stayed in control as he entered lapped traffic, but ran into problems when he spun in turn one, bringing out a yellow flag and handing the lead to Hensel.
Hensel led Doar, Provinzino and Gehl back to the green flag with 17 of 25 starters still on the track, and Provinzino moved into second before another caution appeared for Jeff Hinkemeyer, who slid over the fourth turn on lap 24.
Hensel fought off Provinzino on the next restart while Doar, Matthees and Gehl battled behind them. Provinzino continued working the low groove, finally slipping under Hensel with two laps remaining and racing to victory.
Notes: Provinzino's Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Dave Walters Homes and Joe Provo Race Wear. ... The race wasn't completed until the wee hours. ... Bobby Carlson's car flipped over the banking, but he wasn't injured. ... Eleven former Silver 1000 winners were on hand with eight of them making the feature lineup. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Ashley Anderson, Darrell Nelson, Darin Meierotto, Don Copp, Brent Larson and Steve Vesel. ... One more Late Model event remains at Proctor with the fourth annual Proctoberfest sponsored by Rick Gondik Law Office on Oct. 9-10.
Black Bear Casino Silver 1000: (1) Jeff Provinzino, (2) Adam Hensel, (3) Pat Doar, (4) Todd Gehl, (5) Lance Matthees, (6) Danny Young, (7) Joel Cryderman, (8) Kelly Anderson, (9) John Kaanta, (10) Kyle Peterlin, (11) Rick Egersdorf, (12) John Henkemeyer, (13) John Massingill, (14) Scott Gilberts, (15) Marshall Fegers, (16) Jeff Hinkemeyer, (17) Hank Berry, (18) Tim McMann, (19) Steve Laursen, (20) Aaron Lillo, (21) Bob Reed, (22) Matt Sorenson, (23) Jake Redetzke, (24) Harry Hanson, (25) Bobby Carlson. Heat race winners (among 45 cars): Provinzino, Gehl, Lillo, Peterlin, Hensel. Consolation winners: Hinkemeyer, Reed. Dash winner: Hensel.
