7/2/2025
Escanaba Motor Speedway
Manninen victorious using late racer’s car
Drivers from the 500 and 600 sprint classes take a lap to honor Christian Groleau on June 28, 2005 at Escanaba Motor Speedway. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)
ESCANABA — For whatever reason, Escanaba Speedway’s Christian Groleau Memorial race has been tricky for Ethan Manninen.
This particular event has plagued him for years. For whatever reason car issues have been a determining factor in this event on the speedway’s schedule.
In 2025 though, that luck turned around. Manninen was not only racing his car, but the car once driven by Groleau, who committed suicide in 2020.
Manninen started the 20 lap feature on the pole and stayed there the entirety of the race picking up his third win of the season. Manninen came into the night five points ahead of Logan Getzloff, who finished second for the points lead in the 600 sprints. Brayden Lundquist had a nice run coming in third moving up two spots from his starting position. Jayger Quinn and Bentley Richer closed out the top five. Manninen was also victorious in heat race action.
Saturday started off with all sprint drivers from the 500 and 600 sprint classes joining together for a four-wide salute not to the fans. but to Groleau with the pole position empty as the sign of respect.
In the youth micro sprints, Tanner Rae found victory lane for the third week in a row. Rae came from fifth on the grid to capture the win. Wyatt Ammel had a strong run finishing second and Amelia Hart came in third. Lilah Wagner and Carson Wagner rounded out the top five. Rae also won the heat race.
In the sportsman sprints, Chase Richer took the heat and feature sweep. Richer raced his way from eighth on the starting grid to pick up the win. Braxton Lundquist went from seventh on the grid to finish in second. Gage Heim finished third and Kristy Karl and Tanner Handon rounded out the top five. Dalton Gustavson won the other heat race but had a rough go in the feature as he dropped to eighth place after starting on the poll.
In the super modified class, Scott Degnan found his way back into the winner’s circle. Gunnar Hansen finished second and Paul Hosking came in third. Jesse Denome and Drake Degnan rounded out the top five. Rick Ness picked up the win in heat race action but dropped all the way to sixth in the feature.
In the sport modified class, Lonnie Dalgord picked up the feature win as well as a win in heat race action. Anthony Harper had a strong run from seventh on the starting grid to come in second. Rick Gustavson finished third and won his heat race. Jesse Denome finished fourth and won his heat race and Matt Valiquette rounded out the top five.
Eric Mathieson came through with a nice run picking up the feature win in the street stocks. Qwentin Johnsen finished second and Carter Gustavson finished third. James Harper and Bob Lewis rounded out the top five. Ben Buckland and Drake Degnan won the heat races.
In the sport compacts, Mark Isley picked up the heat and feature sweep. Brian VanDresse finished second and Jared Demeuse came in third. Andrew VanDresse and Brandon VanDresse rounded out the top five.
Results from the exhibition vintage were not available at the time of publication. Abi Yelle and Gerry Olson won the heat races.
Article Credit: Adam Hinch, Daily Press
Submitted By: Escanaba Motor Speedway