Rice Lake Speedway
Jesse Redetzke grabs first victory at Rice Lake
By Ed Reichert
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Jesse Redetzke celebrates his win. (chrisburback.com)
RICE LAKE, Wis. (June 28) — When Jake Redetzke opted to take the night off, brother Jesse got to use the big hauler Jake normally uses and headed to Rice Lake Speedway. The Altoona, Wis., driver took off without his race pictures, checkbook or even a coat. What he did have was a heavy right foot and a great handling car as the rookie went to the front early and races to his first WISSOTA Late Model feature victory.
Jesse Redetzke, the son of former WISSOTA standout driver Jerry Redetzke, took the checkered flag ahead of John Kaanta of Elk Mound, Wis., and Chad Mahder of Eau Claire, Wis., who recovered from an early spin.
Redetzke started third and quickly moved into a challenging position as he worked on T.J. Adams and John Meeds for the lead. The yellow flew only once during in the 25-lapper on the third lap for a Mahder spin and on the green, Redetzke ducked under Adams to take command. Redetzke then moved to the cushion and began to pull away from the pack.
Behind him, Scott Gilberts and John Kaanta were battling toward the front with Davin Larson and Steve Isenberg as Redetzke continued to pull away. Kaanta picked up the pace as he moved into third and then had a good battle with Gilberts for second before finally driving past on the high side. Further back, Mahder was working his way back up through the field.
Kaanta made a late-race charge for the front, but Jesse maintained a strong lead and, despite jumping the cushion in the final corner, won the race to the finish line.
Rice Lake Speedway (June 28): (1) Jesse Redetzke, (2) John Kaanta, (3) Chad Mahder, (4) Scott Gilberts, (5) Steve Isenberg, (6) Davin Larson, (7) Shawn Mahder, (8) T.J. Adams, (9) Pat Hoffman, (10) Cory Jergensen, (11) John Meeds, (12) Scott Meeds.
