Sportsman Sprint driver Andrew Karl competes in heat race action on May 24, 2025 at Escanaba Motor Speedway. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — A total of 80 cars filled the pits at Escanaba Motor Speedway as it opened its 2025 season here Saturday.

And man, the excitement never left.

Especially in the 600cc sprints where Ethan Manninen picked up the feature win after coming from seventh on the starting grid and being sent to the back of the field on a caution.

“This was incredible,” Manninen said. “I lost my power steering during the race and how we got here to victory lane is just wild.”

Along with the feature win, Manninen also picked up one of the two heat wins along with Logan Getzloff.

A pair of rookies took second and third as Griffin Iverson finished second in his first year in the 600 sprints and Jayger Quinn finished third. Brayden Lundquist and Chase Richer rounded out the top five.

The sport mod class proved there were multiple racing grooves as lots of cars had big moves up and down the starting grid. Jesse Denome picked up the feature win. Anthony Harper made a huge run finishing second after starting 15th on the grid and leaving the heat race on a wrecker.

“We came back from a tough heat race,” Harper said. “The track held together great and I just ran the bottom looking to make a move and to end up in second place, we must have done something right.”

Lonnie Dalgord finished third and Evin Gagne finished fourth after starting 10th on the grid. The Iceman Doug Belgonia Jr. rounded out the top five. Matt Valiquette and Matt Maki IV won the heat races.

Valiquette did not finish in the feature race after mechanical problems.

“We had a fast car,” Valiquette said. “Our steering column separated from the steering box, which was a tough break for us. But we will get it ready for next week and give it a go.”

In the street stocks class Cody Turner picked up the feature win. Ben Buckland finished second and Qwentin Johnsen finished third after starting in 11th on the starting grid. James Harper and Jimmy Reath rounded out the top five. James Harper and Lundquist each picked up heat wins on the night.

In the super modified class Scott Degnan picked up the feature win. Paul Hosking came in second and Rick Ness came in third and won his heat race. Drake Degnan and Jesse Denome rounded out the top five.

In the exhibition vintage class, Abi Yelle picked up the feature win. Ron Anderson finished second and won the heat race. Chris Broeders came in third and Dave Broeders and Richard Lantagne rounded out the five car field.

In the youth micro sprints, Amelia Hart picked up the feature win. Tanner Rae came in second and won the heat race. Nathan Winling Jr finished third and Wyatt Ammel and Easton Winling rounded out the top five.

In the sportsman sprint class, Braxton Lundquist picked up the heat and feature sweep.

“I was really happy with the car tonight,” Braxton Lundquist said. “I got the right setup in the car and made a great run. The track was nice and had some tackiness to it and it was a good night overall.”

Macy Degnan finished second and Ethan Juhola finished third. Chase Richer and Griffin Iverson rounded out the top five. Tanner Hansen was victorious in the other heat race.

In the sport compacts, Tombo Waselesky picked up the feature win as well as a win in heat race action. Brian VanDrese came in second and Mark Isley finished third and Andrew VanDrese and Jared Demeuse rounded out the top five.