Mondeik Stop Majeski’s Streak, Wins Detjens Memorial

RIB MOUNTAIN, Wis. — Justin Mondeik has already secured his name in the history book of State Park Speedway when it shutters at the end of the  season as a three-time track champion.

On Saturday night, he wrote his own chapter as the final ASA Midwest Tour winner at the historic quarter-mile oval by capturing his second Larry Detjens Memorial 125 victory in the last five years. 

The event was broadcast live by SPEED SPORT affiliate MidwestTour.tv. 

“It feels great to get it at home in front of an amazing crowd for the Wimmer family,” the Gleason, Wisconsin driver said in victory lane. “Always love running the Midwest Tour and have been good the last couple of years here at State Park Speedway. It hasn’t always come about throughout the race, but we had a good long run car and we needed that long green flag run at the end.”

Mondeik started sixth and worked his way to the front and got to second after passing Casey Johnson on lap 27. He would chase down early leader Rayce Haase until the caution flew on lap 52 when fast qualifier Levon Van Der Geest spun in turn four. 

On the restart, Mondeik would start on the outside of Haase and take over the top spot on lap 53. 

Haase would try to keep Mondeik in his sight over the final 72 laps, hoping to challenge for the lead, but it was Mondeik taking the checkered flag. 

“The outside works for me good and the car was a little to tight on the bottom, and I knew I wasn’t going to get him on the bottom,” Haase said after the race. “I slowly wore off my tires a little bit. I’m happy with second, and 44 and those guys, I am happy for them, they always race me clean here.”

After capturing the first three victories of the season in the ASA Midwest Tour, five-time champion Ty Majeski came from his 12th starting position to finish third.

“You always want to win,” Majeski said with a smile after the race. “Congrats to the 44 bunch, they work really hard and obviously a TOBYcar teammate. It’s really good to see him win at his home track. We needed a yellow with maybe 30-40 to go, but it doesn’t always go that way. All in all, it was a great Detjens event.”

Defending ASAMT champion and another former Detjens Memorial winner Gabe Sommers finished fourth and three-time tour champion Casey Johnson finished fifth. 

Van Der Geest was the fast qualifier with a time of 13.638 seconds. 

The Kulwicki Driver Development Finalist was also announced as the 2023 Larry Detjens Sportsmanship award. An honor that is voted by his fellow race car drivers. 

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