New Richmond, WI (5-2-15)

By: Greg Parent

The 7th annual Spring Sprint Special featuring the UMSS 360 winged sprint cars took place at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday, May 2.  Fantastic weather brought out a good-sized crowd for the fourth racing event of the season at the historic 3/8ths mile high-banked western Wisconsin dirt oval.  In addition to the sprints, four weekly racing divisions were on the program including the late models, modifieds, pro stocks and hornets.  The midwest mods had the night off.  The late models and modifieds had their season-high car counts.  Feature races were won by Thomas Kennedy in the UMSS sprints, Darrell Nelson in the late models, Jesse Glenz in the modifieds, Mike Weber in the pro stocks and Jess Seim in the hornets.

The 20 lap Pro Stock main event saw Mike Weber and Ryan Wiome bring the 15 car field to the green to kick off feature race action.  The race was under caution three times in the first 4 laps, but then ran the final 16 laps nonstop to the checkers.  Mike Weber, the 2003 & 2005 track champion, led all the way for his 20th career CLS pro (super) stock feature victory and his first since May of 2009.  Collecting his third runner-up finish of the season was 2013-2014 track champion Mike Loomis.  Ryan Wiome, Ben Hanke and Chris Wark completed the top five.  Heat races were won by Wark and Adam Ayotte.

For the second week in a row, Jess Seim picked up his second career CLS hornet feature win.  Although he led the entire 12 lap distance from his front row outside starting spot, by no means was it an easy victory.  Jerry Hanson stayed close the entire race and actually got past Seim exiting turn two on the final lap.  Seim regained the lead coming off turn four to the checkers.  Mark Busson, Steve Johnson and Bob Carver, Jr. rounded out the top five in the caution-free race.  In fact, all four hornet features run in 2015 have been nonstop to the finish.   Hanson won the hornet heat race.

A strong field of 23 modifieds were on hand.  After heat race wins by Darrell Nelson, Jason Miller and Joey Jensen, the redraw saw Scott Duvall and Jordan Hessler on the front row for their 20 lap main event.  Hessler grabbed a quick lead but it was short-lived, as he spun in front of the field in turn 4 on the opening lap.  Duvall survived three more yellows in the first five laps before a 15 lap run to the checkers made for some very good racing.  Duval held the top spot for the first 17 laps before Jesse Glenz made the winning pass on lap 18.  Glenz went on to record his first-ever CLS modified feature win!  Darrell Nelson came from 9th to finish second.  Duvall held on to third.  The move of the night came from 20th starter Jason Gross.  Gross advanced 16 positions for fourth at the finish.  Joey Jensen completed the top five.

The thunder of the late models for 30 laps nonstop around the CLS track is a sight to see and hear.  21 of the 22 cars on hand started their feature race.  With Darrell Nelson and Jake Redetzke on the front row, the field roared to life!  After 30 laps of caution-free racing, Darrell Nelson absolutely dominated this race.  Nelson lapped all the way up through the seventh place car, and that race fans, was four-time track champion Pat Doar.  Redetzke finsihed a distant second.  Steve Laursen made a very nice charge forward from his 10th starting spot for third.  Adam Hensel and Brent Larson completed the top five with Brandon Jensen the only other car on the lead lap at the finish.  Redetzke, last week's winner Eric Breechoten and AJ Diemel won the heats.  Diemel dropped out of the feature near the midway point while running third.

The final event of the evening saw a field of 18 UMSS winged sprints pared down to 13 for their 25 lap feature.  It must have been a full moon with some of the strange happenings in the sprints, as two former champions Chris Graf and Jerry Richert, Jr. lost engines in their heat races.  Brandon Halvorson had a spectacular crash through the turn 4 catch fence in the second heat, but never flipped and just managed to get his car turned around before the turn 4 spectator ramp parking area.  Nobody was injured.  Jeff Pellesels broke a U-joint in hot laps while Roger McVitty grenaded a motor in his Challenge Race.  The top four drivers in passing and finishing points drew for the first four starting spots in the feature which put Wade Nygaard and Thomas Kennedy on the front row.

Nygaard led the first 13 laps before Thomas Kennedy made the winning pass in lapped traffic on lap 14.  The race ran 20 laps until the lone caution waved for a turn one tangle involving Rick Kobs and the lapped car of Bob McVitty.  Kobs had been running in third at the time.  Both cars were towed to the pits and the final five circuits clicked off caution-free.  One lap after the restart, 2014 UMSS Rookie of the Year and runner-up in the points, Ryan Bowers, pulled his car to the infield with his engine overheating.  Bowers was fourth at the time.  The final top five saw Thomas Kennedy pick up his first-ever CLS and UMSS victory over Wade Nygaard, Lou Kennedy Jr, Jared Goerges and 2010 champion Cody Hahn.  Heat race wins went to Nygaard, Thomas Kennedy and Goerges.  Kobs and Bowers topped the Challenge races.

Next Saturday, the 11th Annual and hugely popular School Bus Night takes place at the Cedar Lake Speedway.  Racing action is scheduled to get underway at 6:00 PM on May 2 with spectator gates opening at 5:00.  The midwest modifieds, hornets and vintage cars are also on the program, as the late models, mods and pro stocks have the night off.

UMSS Sprints | Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series

GRP Motorsports A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[2]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard[1]; 3. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[3]; 4. 9-Jared Goerges[5]; 5. 23-Cody Hahn[8]; 6. 64-Jake Erickson[11]; 7. 87-Mike Mueller[6]; 8. 48-Neal Matuska[9]; 9. 95-Kevin Bradwell[12]; 10. 91A-Reed Allex[13]; 11. (DNF) 199-Ryan Bowers[7]; 12. (DNF) 34-Rick Kobs[4]; 13. (DNF) 7M-Bob McVitty[10]; DNS 20G-Chris Graf; DNS 63-Jerry Richert Jr; DNS 32-Brandon Halverson; DNS 74-Roger McVitty; DNS 1-Jeff Pellersels

Lap Leaders: Nygaard 1-13, T. Kennedy 14-25. Cautions: (1) on lap 20

Hoosier Racing Tire Challenge Race 1 (8 Laps): 1. 34-Rick Kobs[2]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard[5]; 3. 9-Jared Goerges[4]; 4. 23-Cody Hahn[3]; 5. 95-Kevin Bradwell[6]; 6. 7M-Bob McVitty[1]; 7. (DNF) 74-Roger McVitty[7]; DNS 20G-Chris Graf; DNS 32-Brandon Halverson

Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race 2 (8 Laps): 1. 199-Ryan Bowers[2]; 2. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[4]; 3. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[5]; 4. 48-Neal Matuska[1]; 5. 87-Mike Mueller[3]; 6. 64-Jake Erickson[6]; DNS 91A-Reed Allex; DNS 63-Jerry Richert Jr; DNS 1-Jeff Pellersels

Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 9N-Wade Nygaard[1]; 2. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[5]; 3. 34-Rick Kobs[4]; 4. 199-Ryan Bowers[2]; 5. (DNF) 20G-Chris Graf[3]; 6. (DNF) 95-Kevin Bradwell[6]

20G Graf done for the night (engine failure).

Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[3]; 2. 23-Cody Hahn[4]; 3. 64-Jake Erickson[1]; 4. (DNF) 32-Brandon Halverson[2]; DNS 1-Jeff Pellersels; DNS 74-Roger McVitty

32 Halvorson done for the night after wild-looking crash through the catch fence in turn 4 (no injuries). 1 Pellersels done after hot laps with a broken U-joint.

Sprintsource.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 3 (6 Laps): 1. 9-Jared Goerges[2]; 2. 87-Mike Mueller[6]; 3. 7M-Bob McVitty[4]; 4. 48-Neal Matuska[5]; 5. (DNF) 63-Jerry Richert Jr[1]; 6. (DNF) 91A-Reed Allex[3]

63 Richert done for the night (engine failure).

Late Models 5/2/2015

A Mains:1. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 2. Jake Redetzke (Eau Claire, WI), 3. Steve Laursen (Cumberland, WI), 4. Adam Hensel (, WI), 5. Brent Larson (Lake Elmo, MN), 6. Brandon Jensen (Star Prairie, WI), 7. Pat Doar (New Richmond, WI), 8. Chad Mahder (Eau Claire, WI), 9. Eric Breeschoten (Buffalo, MN), 10. Ben Hanke (Hudson, WI), 11. Rick Hanestad (Boyceville, wi), 12. Greg Nippoldt (Roberts, WI), 13. T J Adams (Hayward, WI), 14. Jim Carlson (St. Paul, mn), 15. John Toppozinni (Thunder Bay, ON), 16. John Meeds (Spooner, WI), 17. Cale Berry (Carver, MN), 18. Randy Gullixson (Baldwin, WI), 19. AJ Diemel (Elk Mound, WI), 20. Jim Raboin (Somerset, WI), 21. Lyle Archambeau (Lake Elmo, Mn), 22. Jeff Keeney (River Falls, WI),

Heat 1:1. Jake Redetzke (Eau Claire, WI), 2. Brandon Jensen (Star Prairie, WI), 3. Brent Larson (Lake Elmo, MN), 4. Steve Laursen (Cumberland, WI), 5. Jim Carlson (St. Paul, mn), 6. T J Adams (Hayward, WI), 7. Lyle Archambeau (Lake Elmo, Mn), 8. Jim Raboin (Somerset, WI),

Heat 2:1. Eric Breeschoten (Buffalo, MN), 2. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 3. Pat Doar (New Richmond, WI), 4. Adam Hensel (, WI), 5. Chad Mahder (Eau Claire, WI), 6. Randy Gullixson (Baldwin, WI), 7. Rick Hanestad (Boyceville, wi),

Heat 3:1. AJ Diemel (Elk Mound, WI), 2. Greg Nippoldt (Roberts, WI), 3. Cale Berry (Carver, MN), 4. Ben Hanke (Hudson, WI), 5. John Meeds (Spooner, WI), 6. John Toppozinni (Thunder Bay, ON), 7. Jeff Keeney (River Falls, WI),

Modifieds 5/2/2015

A Mains:1. Jesse Glenz (Cadott, WI), 2. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 3. Scott Duvall (Bloomer, wi), 4. Jason Gross (Cushing, wi), 5. Joey Jensen (Forest Lake, MN), 6. Brandon Jensen (Star Prairie, WI), 7. Shaun Peterson (Alexandria, MN), 8. Jake Miller (New Richmond, WI), 9. Cory Williams (Spring Valley, WI), 10. Cody Cimfl (Barron, WI), 11. Jordan Hessler (Beldenville, WI), 12. Bryan Hessler (Chetek, WI), 13. Paul Niznik (Medford, WI), 14. Owen Grube (Cambridge, MN), 15. Ted Marrs (East Bethel, MN), 16. Bobby Houston (Frederick, WI), 17. Jon Harer (Glenwood City, WI), 18. Jason Miller (Osceola, wi), 19. Kyle Steffen (Cottage Grove, MN), 20. Jim Weeks (St Paul, MN), 21. Josh Flury (Cochran, WI), 22. Robbie Johnson (Wilson, WI), 23. Troy Girolamo (Strum, WI),

Heat 1:1. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 2. Jordan Hessler (Beldenville, WI), 3. Brandon Jensen (Star Prairie, WI), 4. Ted Marrs (East Bethel, MN), 5. Josh Flury (Cochran, WI), 6. Jon Harer (Glenwood City, WI), 7. Robbie Johnson (Wilson, WI), 8. Jason Gross (Cushing, wi),

Heat 2:1. Jason Miller (Osceola, wi), 2. Shaun Peterson (Alexandria, MN), 3. Paul Niznik (Medford, WI), 4. Cory Williams (Spring Valley, WI), 5. Kyle Steffen (Cottage Grove, MN), 6. Cody Cimfl (Barron, WI), 7. Jim Weeks (St Paul, MN), 8. Bobby Houston (Frederick, WI),

Heat 3:1. Joey Jensen (Forest Lake, MN), 2. Scott Duvall (Bloomer, wi), 3. Jesse Glenz (Cadott, WI), 4. Jake Miller (New Richmond, WI), 5. Bryan Hessler (Chetek, WI), 6. Owen Grube (Cambridge, MN), 7. Troy Girolamo (Strum, WI),

Super Stocks 5/2/2015

A Mains:1. Mike Weber (Osceola, wi), 2. Mike Loomis (Forest Lake, mn), 3. Ryan Wiome (Center City, MN), 4. Ben Hanke (Hudson, WI), 5. Chris Wark (Princeton, mn), 6. Cody Campeau (Somerset, WI), 7. Marcus Simonson (Milltown, Wi), 8. Adam Ayotte (St Paul, MN), 9. Mike Hesselink (Deer Park, WI), 10. Dustin Sanders (New Richmond, WI), 11. Denny Schouveller (Hugo, MN), 12. Brian Lick (Afton, MN), 13. Mike Raboin (Somerset, wi), 14. Rich Bishop (New Richmond, wi), 15. Ryan Bebeau (New Richmond, WI),

Heat 1:1. Chris Wark (Princeton, mn), 2. Mike Weber (Osceola, wi), 3. Mike Loomis (Forest Lake, mn), 4. Brian Lick (Afton, MN), 5. Mike Hesselink (Deer Park, WI), 6. Marcus Simonson (Milltown, Wi), 7. Denny Schouveller (Hugo, MN), 8. Ryan Bebeau (New Richmond, WI),

Heat 2:1. Adam Ayotte (St Paul, MN), 2. Ryan Wiome (Center City, MN), 3. Ben Hanke (Hudson, WI), 4. Cody Campeau (Somerset, WI), 5. Rich Bishop (New Richmond, wi), 6. Mike Raboin (Somerset, wi), 7. Dustin Sanders (New Richmond, WI),

Hornets 5/2/2015

A Mains:1. Jess Seim (Glenwood City, WI), 2. Jerry Hanson (St Paul, MN), 3. Matt Busson (Hugo, MN), 4. Steven Johnson (Columbus, MN), 5. Bob Carver Jr (Maplewood, MN), 6. Darrell Johnson, 7. Adam Nelson (Forest Lake, MN), 8. Brett Busson (Hudson, WI),

Heat:1. Jerry Hanson (St Paul, MN), 2. Jess Seim (Glenwood City, WI), 3. Bob Carver Jr (Maplewood, MN), 4. Steven Johnson (Columbus, MN), 5. Adam Nelson (Forest Lake, MN), 6. Darrell Johnson, 7. Brett Busson (Hudson, WI), 8. Matt Busson (Hugo, MN),