chrisburback.com

Tom Waseleski, a multitime track champion in the Northland and the 2001 winner of the Silver 1000 in Proctor, Minn., died unexpectedly at his Hibbing, Minn., home. His death at the age of 62 was reported by Hibbing Raceway.

Waseleski, who when he won the Silver 1000 among more than 50 entrants was the long-running event's first local winner in 14 years, was also a two-time winner on the AMSOIL Late Model Series in 2000 and a frequent winner at regional tracks.

The 2000 season was among the best for the driver of the red No. 1W with 13 total victories along with track championships at Proctor and Hibbing. Among other track championships was a title at the track in Superior, Wis. He's a Hall of Famer at Hibbing and Superior.

Waseleski's career began in the super stock division in 1980, but he soon graduated into WISSOTA Late Models for a career that lasted until 2013, often driving C.J. Rayburn Race Cars. He was the 1992 Northern Nationals Late Model winner in Superior and nine seasons later was the second-place finisher in 2001's Dacotah Rumble at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, S.D., earning one of his richest checks at $4,200.

Among survivors are three children including son Tommy, also a successful Late Model competitor for several seasons and the 2011 runner-up in Proctor's Silver 1000. He also had 11 grandchildren. Visitation is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at Dougherty Funeral Home in Hibbing followed by a a time of sharing and prayer. A social gathering will follow at Mr. Nick's Corner Bar. A private interment at Maple Hill Cemetery will be at a later date.

Editor's note: Updates with details and arrangements.