Thiesse team happy with sixth at Sauk Centre

Nate Thiesse's brother, Darren, wrote in an e-mail that the team was pleased with Nate finishing sixth in Nate's first American Stockcar League feature Sunday at I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre. Nate, racing a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, qualified fourth and because the lineup was inverted, started his first-ever ASL feature from the pole.

On Saturday, Nate finished second in the Midwest All-Star Series feature at the Raceway after starting 20th. He won his heat race earlier.

In Sunday's 150-lap race, Nate's car got tighter and tighter as the first 75 laps went on, Darren said. He led the first three laps. There was a 10-minute mandatory break after 75 laps where teams could only make chassis adjustments. Nate was in 11th place at the break.

During the first 20 laps of the second session, Darren said Nate's was the car that was making the biggest moves and quickly moved up to fifth place. "But once again the tight condition reappeared and he had to fight to maintain track position," Darren said.

Nate was passed on lap 135, Darren said. He said that Nate had the fastest recorded lap of the field in this session. Ryan Mathews of Lake Geneva, Wis., won the feature. Three-time American Stockcar Racing Association champion Kevin Cywinski finished fourth and Jarit Johnson, the brother of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series' Jimmie Johnson, finished 10th.

Nate's second-place finish in the 100-lapper Saturday was in a fast-paced race, Darren said. There were only three cautions and seven cars on the lead lap.

During qualifying, something in Nate's car broke taking down the left rear tire, Darren said.

He said the team was pleased overall with Nate's car working great, which assisted him in being able to maneuver his way through the field.

Andy Hansen, 16, Ramsey, won the feature to become the youngest driver ever to win a MARS Super Late Model event. Trent Snyder of Ironton finished ninth and D.J. Dondelinger of Brainerd finished 16th. Earlier, Snyder won the Fast Dash and qualified fifth. Dondelinger finished sixth in his heat race.

CLINT WOOD, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at clint.wood@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5869.