Sport modified driver Matt Valiquette takes a victory lap after winning the Yooper Fall Classic’s sports modified class race on Sept. 14, 2024 at Esacanaba Speedway. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — A huge weekend of racing took place at the Escanaba Speedway this past weekend with the 4th Annual Yooper Fall Classic. The $2,400 to win sport mod feature headlined the weekend on Saturday night. Matt Maki IV came into the night looking to repeat as champion but tonight it was another Matt crowned as Matt Valiquette picked up his first Yooper Fall Classic feature win. “This was the most emotional I have felt after a win,” Valiquette said. “This one was that elusive race we’ve been working for and it means the world to me and to have it come tonight with our Salute to Veterans Night is truly amazing.”

Jesse Denome picked up the $100 hard charger as he went from ninth on the grid to come home with the second place finish. Robby Iverson returned to Escanaba Speedway for the Yooper Fall Classic and finished third. While Matt Maki Iv and Joey Pontbriand rounded out the top five.

In Vintage Modified action, Ron Anderson took home the feature win with Derek LeBresh coming in second and Terry Royer taking third after starting ninth. Dave Broeders and Abi Yelle rounded out your top five.

The 600 sprints competed in the third non-wing race of the triple crown series Saturday night with Logan Getzloff picking up the win and the three race championship. Caden Tolliver came up from Watertown, Wis. to finish second and Kevin Warm finished in third. Ethan Manninen finished fourth and second in the three race series. Paul Hosking closed out the top five.

The sport compacts class saw Calvin Stueck from Clintonville, Wis. pick up the feature win with Reggie Lantagne coming in second and Trevor Cronick finishing third. Colin Immel took fourth place in the feature and Fran Berube rounded out the top five.

The street stocks feature had Garrett Geyer from Brussels, Wis. pick up his second consecutive Yooper Fall Classic feature win. Brayden Lundquist came home with the second place finish and Paul Wagner came in third. Cody Turner and Qwentin Johnson rounded out the top five.

In Friday’s racing action. The super modifieds had Scott Degnan pick up the feature win. Drake Degnan came away with a second place finish and Paul Hosking came in third. Rick Ness and Jesse Denome rounded out the top five.

In the youth micro sprints, Tanner Rae defended his 2023 Yopper Fall Classic win with his second straight win. Finn Bower finished second after a good season of racing. Julia Maki came in third and Wyatt Ammel and Lilah Wagner rounded out the top five.

In the sportsman sprints, Chase Richer picked up the feature win. Macy Degnan closed out the 2024 season with a second place finish in the Yooper Fall Classic. Last year’s Champion Griffin Iverson finished third and Braxton Lundquist and Tannar Hansen rounded out the top five.

In the 600 winged sprints race, Logan Getzloff picked up the feature win with his new car. Kevin Warm made a huge run but came up a little short as he settled for a second place finish. Chase Richer came in third and Caden Tolliver and Robert Buttry rounded out the top five.

The sport mod ran double heats with the top ten in passing points advancing to the redraw for the $500 dash for cash race and Valiquette came away with the win. Jesse Denome came in second while Matt Maki IV finished third. Evin Gagne and Joey Pontbraind rounded out the top five.