Nelson battles Braaten for Southern Oregon checkers

By Don Martin II

WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 25) – Bob Nelson won a late-race duel with Jorddon Braaten to score the victory in the 20 lap Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature Saturday at Southern Oregon Speedway.

Nelson grabbed the lead early on while Braaten battled his way from the last row to provide the pressure.

Braaten made a late pass on Nelson but the determined Nelson moved back by for the lead and victory.  Braaten settled for second as Nelson became the fourth different winner in the competitive division.

Glen Severson and Tony Bartell shared the front row with Nelson starting seventh and Braaten 10th in the main event.  Bartell led one lap before Severson used an inside pass on the front stretch to grab the lead.

Nelson made a low pass to get by Bartell and made a similar move on lap four to take the lead from Severson. Braaten followed closely into second.

The red flag flew after six laps when Jarrme Horn hit the back wall. Nelson led Braaten and Severson on the restart and David Marble took third on the following circuit.

While Nelson and Braaten pulled away just a bit, the rookie Marble, Severson and Mike Medel had a close three-car battle going for third.  A low move on the 16th lap put Braaten into the lead, but Nelson had the outside groove working and beat him back to the line for the lead a lap later.

Braaten made one last ditch effort to get by Nelson but came up short as Nelson scored the well-earned victory ahead of Braaten, Marble, Severson and Medel.