Dakota State Fair Speedway
Arment grabs $6,200 Challenge Cup victory
By Jamie Dixon
Dakota State Fair SpeedwayHURON, S.D. (June 2) — Outside front-row starter Kent Arment of Aberdeen, S.D., captured the richest payday on the WISSOTA Challenge Series on Saturday by capturing the season-opening Challenge Cup XII at Dakota State Fair Speedway.
The former track champion regained the lead from pole-starting Steve Laursen of Cumberland, Wis., on the 25th lap and led the rest of the 62-lap feature for a $6,200 victory.
Hometown driver David McDonald, who started seventh, inherited the second spot when apparent runner-up Ricky Weiss of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was disqualified when he weighed in 55 pounds light at the scales. Brian Diede of Huron advanced seven spot to finish third while sixth-starting Jeff Wildung of Nassua, Minn., and Laursen rounded out the top five finishers.
Arment jumped into the lead at the outset, but Laursen shot by on the third lap while Weiss, Jake Redetzke and Jeff Wildung gave chase. The frontrunners entered lapped traffic while McDonald broke into the top five, getting by Wildung and then Redetzke.
Arment closed the gap on Laursen and regained the top spot before the halfway point, while Diede began the second half of the race by moving into the top five. Weiss took second from Laursen on lap 36, and the field slowed for a fuel stop on lap 40.
The leading Arment stayed in control with Weiss and McDonald in pursuit. Redetzke faded out of the top five and eventually retired to the infield. Arment held on the rest of the way to wrap up South Dakota’s richest Dirt Late Model purse of the season.
Notes: Arment’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Ken’s Alignment and Harms Heating & Cooling. ... Arment has eight career series victories, including his last three coming at Casino. ... His previous victory came July 9, 2009. ... The race paid $6,200 and ran 62 laps because it was the second day of the sixth month — and because track promoter Orville Chenoweth turns 62 this year. ... The race had a lap-40 fuel stop. ... Lance Matthees earned the Lou Fegers Racing Equipment Hard Charger award. ... Eric Mass got the Chubeck Racing Products Hard Luck award after he was spun out and wrecked in his heat race. ... Huron hosts the series again on July 28 and wraps up its season Sept. 12-15 with the WISSOTA 100, which includes a $6,000-to-win race for the Late Models.
Challenge Cup XII: (1) Kent Arment, (2) David McDonald, (3) Brian Diede, (4) Jeff Wildung, (5) Steve Laursen, (6) Adam Hensel, (7) Chad Becker, (8) John Kaanta, (9) Lance Matthees, (10) Justin Fegers, (11) Marshall Fegers, (12) Jeff Provinzino, (13) Brad Seng, (14) Chad Chenoweth, (15) Curt Gelling, (16) Mike Stadel, (17) Jason Fritzsche, (18) Todd Gehl, (19) Kelly Duffy, (20) Shane Edginton, (21) Jake Redetzke, (22) Rick Goth, (23) Shawn Kirwin, (24) Josh Skorczewski. Disqualified: Ricky Weiss. Heat race winners (among 39 cars): Wildung, J. Fegers, Laursen, McDonald. Dash winner: Laursen. Consolation winners: Fritzsche, Seng.
