Skeeter Estey 2011

Skeeter Estey 2011 weekly racing recap and race highlights

HIBBING, MN (August 31) - ‘Checkers or Wreckers’ described August perfectly for Skeeter Estey. Plagued with transmission troubles, suspension issues and wrecks on track, the month was full of ups and downs. Regardless of the DNF’s, Estey managed to win 4 more features (and 6 heat races) to bring his 2011 total to 23. In addition to that, Skeeter solidified his season by winning the Proctor Speedway Track Championship by 42 points. He followed it up by winning the AMSOIL Speedway track championship by a sizeable lead of 53 points. Estey swept Hibbing Raceway(with the exception of a runner-up finish in a heat race) in August, and went into the last points night 3 points behind #2 Matzdorf. He won his heat, decreasing Matdorfs’ lead to 1 point. Winning the feature sealed the deal on his 3rd track championship of the year – the Triple Crown!

Don’t forget – Skeeter Estey t-shirts are still available for purchase for $15! Visit the Estey hauler after the races or contact skeeter@teamestey37.com to have a t-shirt shipped for an additional $5.

HIBBING, MN (August 5) - The past few weeks have been filled with ups and downs, high points and low points for Skeeter. After taking home a large Northland bonus, Skeeter went into the next weekend confident in both his car and his driving. He picked up a clean sweep on July 12, but had troubles at the Hibbing Raceway on Saturday, July 16. After clearing a lap car which had been racing him for a handful of laps, he came out of the corner a little too hard and spun out. The lap car ran right into his door, cracking and bending the frame. After a late night in the shop trying to restore the car to its previous state, Skeeter went on to sweep yet again on Sunday at the Proctor Speedway.

The following weekend started out just as the first did, sweeping Thursday night at AMSOIL Speedway. The following night was the first of two nights for the Governor’s Cup at Hibbing Raceway. Skeeter started deep in the field in his heat race and came out with the win, to place him on the pole for the feature. Walking away with the feature marked win #18 of the season. Skeeter also brought the A-Mod out for the evening, in which he proved he’s a strong contender for a win. He won his heat race, finished 8th in the pole dash, and went on to capture a solid 6th place finish for the night. The following night at the Proctor Speedway, Skeeter won his heat and finished 2nd in the feature.

More recently, Estey captured yet another sweep on Friday night in Superior(his 17th sweep of the year). Saturday night was another run in with bad luck, getting a flat tire on the opening lap of the feature after winning his heat race. After a quick tire change, Estey started his charge to the front but was halted by a car involved in an altercation with another car. Skeeter was blamed for the caution and send to the pits. The following night at Proctor Speedway, Skeeter left with another heat win and a 4th place finish to his name.

HIBBING, MN (July 12) - Skeeter's dominance in the Northland was as strong as ever this past weekend. Starting the week in the A Mod, Skeeter competed against NASCAR great Ken Schrader on Wednesday July 6th. He started 6th and finished 3rd in the heat. Starting 6th in the feature as well looked like it was going to be a tough race but he took to the A Mod (on his second night in it) like a natural. Sailing around the high side, Skeeter finished 2nd behind Schrader.

Team Estey took a break in the action on Thursday night and prepared for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday stint ahead. The decision paid off for Skeeter, in a very large way. Not only did he capture a heat and feature win on Friday at Amsoil Speedway, and on Saturday at Hibbing Raceway, he kept the ball rolling to complete an entire weekend sweep with a heat and feature win on Sunday at Proctor Speedway! This netted Skeeter the cumulative Northland Bonus for winning 3/4 nights from Thursday through Sunday. The bonus had been building for the past 7 weeks to sit at a hefty $1400. Not only was he awarded the Northland Bonus, but an additional $200 for winning features at both AMSOIL Speedway and Proctor Speedway.

Watch for Skeeter racing the MWM Tuesday at AMSOIL Speedway(Como Mod Series), Saturday at the Hibbing Raceway and Sunday at Proctor Speedway. He will also be competing in the A Mod on Wednesday night for the Como Mod series at the Hibbing Raceway.

HIBBING, MN (July 6) - Last week proved to be a busy one for Skeeter. Between getting the repaired TRC ready for midweek shows, preparing for the Mod Nationals as well as getting Mark Roines 1* ride ready to be returned to him, there was little time for much else. He kicked off his week at Proctor Speedway Como Mod Series race on June 29th, the first race back in the repaired #37 TRC, proving that even a bad wreck can’t stop him. Skeeter started 4th in the heat race and won which lined him up in the 8th starting spot for the feature. He wasted no time making his way to the front and staying there for the remainder of the race, capturing his 11th win of the season.
The next night at the Grand Rapids Speedway wasn’t quite as good to Skeeter. He started 6th and advanced to finish 4th in the heat, but did not finish the feature race due to a caution.

Shifting south, things turned around eventually for Skeeter but not before he lost his fuel cap in an early wreck in the heat race at Viking Speedway on July 3rd. This forced him to the pits after only 1 lap was completed, which meant starting at the back of a B-Main the following night. 45 MWM’s showed up for the big race, so Skeeter had to race from his 13th place starting spot into at least 4th place – which he did. Finishing 3rd in B-Main #1 placed him 23rd on the starting grid for the 30 lap, $2,000 to win feature race. He patiently made his way through the field, picking cars off one by one. 12 laps in Skeeter was running around 11th, but he wasn't through with passing yet. Making his way into the top 10, then the top 5, he passed for 3rd when the caution came out with 4 laps to go. Going back to the last completed lap, Skeeter was bumped to 4th where he would finish the race. Passing 19 cars to finish 4th earned Skeeter the $100 Hard Charger award, courtesy of Angelina's Restaurant in Alexandria, MN.

HIBBING, MN (June 27) - Skeeter's weekend would start on a very rough note at AMSOIL Speedway. After winning the heat race, he was battling for the lead in the feature on the high side when he got caught on another cars right rear and was sent into the wall in turn one. Skeeter was ok, but left with a destroyed racecar that had to be hauled home on a flat deck. After discussing plans for the remainder of the weekend with Mark Roine of TRC Racecars(Skeeters chassis builder), it was decided he would take over Marks 1* ride until the Skeeters #37 was repaired.
Without missing a beat, Skeeter won his heat at Hibbing Raceway. Starting 7th in the feature, he raced towards the front but was sent to the back part way through for bringing out a caution. He managed to make it back towards the front to finish in 3rd. Sunday in Proctor Speedway, he rounded out the weekend with a 4th place finish in the heat race and 2nd in the feature.

Watch for Team Estey at some big events this coming week - the Como Mod Series makes its' 2nd and 3rd appearances at ABC Raceway and Proctor Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, with the 7th Annual $7,000 to win MN Mod Nationals rounding out the week at Viking Speedway!

HIBBING, MN (June 22) - Hopes for another shot at capturing some Northland Bonus Money were extinguished once again by Mother Nature. Skeeter started 2nd in the heat and wound up finishing 3rd, which would start him 4th in the feature. A struggle with a poor-handling car and a few cautions later, Skeeter finished 4th in the feature.

HIBBING, MN (June 13) - Starting the usual 4-night stint in Grand Rapids, Skeeter captured a heat win from the pole and finished 3rd in the feature. The next night at Amsoil Speedway would prove to be a busy night, with 3 makeup features(from 5/27) prior to the regular Friday night show. Skeeter started 5th in the makeup feature and nabbed the lead from the #17 of Deven Vanhouse in an exciting fashion, coming out of turn #4 for the checkers! Later in the night he finished 2nd in the heat race and 3rd in the feature.

Saturday night marked the 2nd race at Hibbing Raceway, with hopes of improved track conditions. Winning his heat race, he started 7th on the grid for the feature. After grabbing the lead, he started to struggle more and more with visibility as the dust severely increased. Holding on for the win, this would mark Skeeters 10th win of the season. Later that night, the races were called halfway through the Super Stock feature due to zero visibility. The final race of the weekend was at Proctor Speedway, where Skeeter has been dominant. Winning the heat race from 5th would place him in the 8th starting position, once again. He was able to race his way up to 3rd where he would finish for the night.

Have you purchased your Skeeter Estey t-shirt yet? If you haven’t, make sure you stop by the #37 Como Oil & Propane trailer after the races and pick up one for yourself before they’re all gone!

HIBBING, MN (June 7) - Top three – the two words can be used to sum up Skeeters’ entire weekend, as he never finished lower than 3rd. Starting the 4-day racing weekend at the Tom Closiau Grand Rapids Speedway on a good note, Skeeter won both his heat and feature. Heading over to Amsoil Speedway on Friday night, he won his heat from the 4th starting spot and raced to 2nd from 6th in the feature. Following the completion of the race, the lights in turns one and two went out forcing the rest of the night to be postponed. (Makeup feature dates TBA)

Saturday night was the third (and finally successful) attempt at the Hibbing Raceway season opener. Rough track conditions and computer problems delayed the start of the night, however Skeeter was able to finish 2nd in the heat and 3rd in the feature with minimal damage to the car. Sunday was a different story as Skeeter was able to add another win to his resume. Although he won the heat from 4th, his car suffered severe damage following a hard hit while trying to avoid a wreck. After fixing the damage Skeeter lined up 8th, took over the lead on lap 7 and held on to win his 8th feature in 2011!

HIBBING, MN (June 1) - To say that Skeeter Estey has begun his 2011 season on a hot streak with his new TRC Chassis Midwest Mod would be a gross understatement. In 8 starts he has recorded 6 wins (5 of which were clean sweeps) and 2 DNF’s. Skeeter has claimed two wins at Ogilvie Raceway (4/23/11 and 5/25/11); two at Proctor Speedway (5/16/11 and 5/29/11); one at Grand Rapids Speedway (5/19/11) and finally a win at Amsoil Speedway (formerly Superior Speedway) 5/27/11. He will make another attempt at claiming the Northland bonuses this weekend at Grand Rapids Speedway, Amsoil Speedway, Hibbing Raceway and Proctor Speedway.

Skeeter was able to try his hand at racing his Killer Chassis A-Mod for the first time during the opener of the Como Mod Series at Ogilvie Raceway. Drawing 94/100 lined him up in the 7th starting spot in heat 7. He would advance one position to finish 6th, which placed him in Consi #2 in the 8th starting position. Skeeter finished 6th in the stacked B main, which wasn’t quite enough to advance to the $2,000 to win A main. The next Como Mod Series event is slated for June 15th at the Hibbing Raceway.