RICE LAKE, Wis. — Cody Kummer was declared the winner of the 30th annual Street Stock Little Dream Race held on Tuesday night at the Rice Lake Speedway after apparent winner Nick Traynor’s car failed post-race inspection.
A motor issue was the problem and Kummer, who had chased Traynor the last eight laps of the race in a serious attempt to make the winning pass, was elevated to the winner’s position, banking $30,000.
The event aired LIVE on SPEEDSPORT.tv.
Fans packed into the speedway on a steamy July night, along with area businesses and an increasing contribution from online viewers, once again helped to set a new record for this event. With all their generosity, the winner’s share in this event broke the record once again when Kummer took home $30,000 for his 40-lap win in his WISSOTA Street Stock.
In the 30th year of this unique and one-of-a-kind event, the goal was to reach $30,000 for the winner and that was accomplished.
Fifty nine drivers from six states and Canada braved the stormy and steamy weather to compete with double heat races plus last chance events setting the starting field of 30 drivers for the 40-lap event.
From the outside pole position, Hunter VanGilder led the opening lap of the race before Traynor would drive past him on the outside and take the lead. Two yellow flags for spins in the first four laps kept the field bunched but when racing resumed, young drivers Levi Randt and Ty Agen were both on the move as they drove up to second and third place and kept the heat on leader Traynor.
As Traynor began to pull away, the three-car battle for second was sensational as Agen, Randt and VanGilder often went three abreast around the wide racing surface as they fought to try and catch leader Traynor.
As the race reached its half way point, Traynor continued to maintain a two second lead over Randt, Agen and VanGilder as eventual winner Kummer first appeared in the top five, running just behind VanGilder. Kummer had started 12th and was gradually working his way through the field.
A long green flag period then ensued with Traynor continuing to hold his advantage as he was running a unique line that allowed him to gain great speed coming off the corners of the one-third-mile oval. Agen had taken over the second spot as Kummer continued to climb in the field, moving up to third as Randt faded back just a bit.
The great run for the 14-year-old ended on lap 32 as Randt rolled to a halt in turn two, his night complete with mechanical issues ending his run. An eight-lap sprint to the finish would decide the winner and Traynor again pulled into the lead but this time he was challenged as Kummer shot past Agen on the high side of the track, pulled into second and then began to challenge the leader. Kummer dove low in the corners, hoping to sneak up under the leader but each time Traynor would edge past him on exit.
Kummer continued to try this move, coming close on lap after lap but Traynor refused to falter.
The white flag saw Kummer take one last shot, but he came up short as Traynor continued his flawless run and he crossed under the finish line with a two car length edge over Kummer with Agen close behind.
The victory lane celebration for Traynor was wild as the win would have been his third in this event in the last four years of the race and he would have shot into the lead for overall winnings in the Little Dream with over $84,000 in those three wins. However, a post-race issue was found with a motor part in the inspection that followed, and his car was disqualified which elevated Kummer to the win, his first in the Little Dream. This is the first disqualification of a race winner in the history of this race.
Kummer has been racing this event since 2010 with second place finishes in 2011 and 2016 being his previous best finishes. Now he will be elevated to the elite status of a Little Dream winner for the first time.
Completing the top five in the adjusted order behind Kummer and Agen were Kyle Genett, Andrew Hanson and VanGilder in the top five.
Feature Finish (40 Laps)
1. 12-Cody Kummer[12]; 2. 26-Ty Agen[6]; 3. 16X-Kyle Genett[22]; 4. 20-Andrew Hanson[9]; 5. 84-Hunter VanGilder[2]; 6. 10-Justin Vogel[18]; 7. 111JR-Keith Tourville[26]; 8. 69-Tim Johnson[5]; 9. 04-Tommy Pogones[8]; 10. 79N-Jeff Nowak[23]; 11. 19H-Simon Wahlstrom[20]; 12. 127-Parker Anderson[7]; 13. 19J-Mike Schnider[10]; 14. 8-Kolby Kiehl[27]; 15. 11K-Kyle Dykhoff[3]; 16. 10B-Dylan Baskin[29]; 17. 2-Joe Martin[17]; 18. 05-Kyle Howland; 19. 17-Matt Goth[25]; 20. 10R-Rich Bishop[21]; 21. (DNF) 11X-Levi Randt[4]; 22. (DNF) 44X-Zach Manley[16]; 23. (DNF) 30-Shawn Amundson[13]; 24. (DNF) 3R-Danny Richards[28]; 25. (DNF) 40-Travis Loew[14]; 26. (DNF) 26X-Jordan Kurtti[15]; 27. (DNF) 25J-Mike Jans[11]; 28. (DNF) 12K-Jay Kesan[24]; 29. (DQ) 40T-Nick Traynor[1]; 30. (DQ) 177-Kyle Bolt[19]