SPRING VALLEY, Minn. -- Damp weather the past week dampened some spirits but Mother Nature pulled through at the last minute to allow the track crew at Deer Creek Speedway to be able to put on the first night of racing action in 2006.

A great practice on Wednesday night firmed up the track enough so that the rains that came through the area on Thursday night and Friday morning would be manageable.

The crews started pumping water off the edge of the track on Friday and by 3:00 were out with the equipment working things in.

By late Saturday morning the water truck was back on the track applying the correct moisture in the right spots.

A huge field of 172 cars checked into the back gate on opening night while a very nice crowd gathered in the grandstands and pits.

With temperatures hovering around 50 degrees at the start time of 5:00 and under clear and calm skies the drivers and fans were treated to a great opening night.

Drivers and fans from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Canada, North Dakota, South Dakota and even Wyoming were on hand for this festive event.

Mike Sorensen took the early lead in the USRA Modifieds with Steve Arpin and Corey Dripps locked in a great battle for second.

Defending track champion Tim Donlinger quickly moved up into fourth from his eighth starting position as he watched the Arpin and Dripps battle. Great battles were going throughout the field with cars two- and three-wide for most of the early laps.

A restart with 21 to go bunched the field back up. Dripps used the restart to his advantage and worked the high side of the track and when he got his momentum built up moved past Sorensen to take the lead.

Arpin soon caught up to Sorensen and the two of them raced for second. With 16 to go, Sorensen pushed up in two and Arpin moved past into second.

Rookie driver Terry Timmerman’s night ended with 15 to go as he slowed on the front straight.

Dripps led on the restart with Arpin and Sorensen still racing for second. Behind them Craig Shaw and Nate Wasmund were side by side for fifth and Mike Mashl sitting in sixth behind them.

Sorensen regained control of the second spot and soon he and Dripps were putting distance on the field.

The final caution flew with three to go as Arpin’s car slowed with fire and smoke pillowing from the engine compartment. Dripps was fastest on the night and led from the restart to the checkers with Sorensen and Donlinger rounding out the top 3.

Next week racing action resumes on the high banked speedway with racing action in all five classes. Racing starts at 5:00 in the month of April and May so enjoy the warm sunny afternoons and evenings at the speedway.

RESULTS

“A” Feature - Corey Dripps, Mike Sorensen, Tim Donlinger, Nate Wasmund, Brian Shaw, Mike Mashl, Steve Wetzstein, Dain Schultz, Todd Dart, Bobby Sorensen.

“B” Feature – Wetzstein, Ben Rippentrop, Ron Konkel, Kerry Ledebuhr, Jacob Dahle.

Heat 1 – Donlinger, Dripps, B. Sorensen, Brad Waits, Eddie Muenster.

Heat 2 – Wasmund, Shaw, Brian Mullen, Mashl, Terry Timmerman.

Heat 3 – M. Sorensen, Steve Arpin, Hank Rollinger, Dave Siercks, Eric Dailey.

Heat 4 – Schultz, Dart, Dave Schoenberger, Darin Walsh, Doug Hillson.