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With contest flagman Stan M perched high atop the stand, the double-checkered flags waved over the field to conclude the first week of action in the 9th Annual GRP Racing Trivia Contest at the mythical MDTR Speedway. The late model and sprint car divisions thrilled the fans throughout the week and provided several memorable moments. The final day usually sees a bunch of activity. Although just a little bit quieter this year, there was still plenty of action on day #7. Our first two female contestants submitted entries today, one in the late model division and one in the sprint car class. Let's see how things went on the last day of week #1.
There were four entries in the late model division. Three of them came from rookie contenders battling for the Victory Funding Connection Rookie of the Year Award. The other entry came from a very strong veteran contestant. Could Tireguy (Mark S) hold off all challengers today?
After making a rookie appearance in the super stock division last year, Shane Oberg from Starbuck, MN decided to give his Justice Brothers/Starbucks Coffee #0 late model a whirl this year. Shane was the first rookie contender to put up a score for the VFC Rookie title. Drawing from his experience at MDTR last year, Shane put a good setup in his late model entry. A consistent run throughout produced a 29 point score for the "Big 0" late model. Shane would then sit back and watch a couple other contenders vie for the crown.
Shortly after Shane had retired to the pits, a powerful entrant from South Dakota wheeled his new McLovin Motorsports Red Rocket #18 late model out on to the track. Rob "SuperBad" Fogle was in the house. A few astute observers noticed he had moved from Brookings to Sioux Falls. Oh great, another top contender from the Sioux Falls area. The Red Rocket team is always a strong runner, and Mark Schreiner was very concerned about the potential threat Rob posed. This year Rob had a new mount though, and it definitely took some getting used to. The Red Rocket was pretty consistent throughout his run, but the end result was not quite what he had hoped for. Rob will no doubt make some adjustments on the McLovin Motorsports entry before next year's contest and run right up near the front once again. Rob's final tally today was 28 points. Rob commented that some of the old questions and photos were especially challenging.
Another rookie in the late model division brought the JA Motorsports #99 late model up from Winona. Josh Angst was looking for that VFC Rookie Award. This would be Josh's first look at the MDTR track. Often times it is difficult enough for the veteran contestants, but Josh knew he was up to the challenge. Josh turned in a fine run for a 24 point score in his first attempt on the high-banks. Race fans were pleased to see a competitor from the SE Minnesota area. Contest fans miss seeing Todd Narveson at MDTR, so many of them were inquiring in Josh's pits at the conclusion of the day.
The final late model entry today came from our first female contestant to enter in the late model division since 2004. Renee Fehlen from Star Prairie was making her very first trip to the MDTR Speedway for the trivia contest. Renee indicated that she was looking for a solid effort with an under-horsepowered entry. She knew she would not be a threat for the lead, but she wanted to participate and make some laps on the high-banks at MDTR. Make laps she did. In fact, Renee turned in a very good run with a 22 point score with her Fastest Female late model entry. She was looking forward to returning next week for more contest action. A special thanks to Renee for jumping into the contest action and mixing it up with the late model guys. She became an immediate crowd favorite.
Four more sprint car entries rolled through the back gate on the final day. All four were making return appearances at the MDTR Speedway. The first one to arrive trackside was the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Jackson Speedway Limited (4-barrel) Sprint Car Track Point Champion. MDTR fans welcomed Bruce Anderson from Trimont, MN back for his third straight contest attempt. Bruce had a couple of strong runs in 2006 & 2007, so the fans knew he would be a challenger in 2008. Bruce blasted into turn 1 on the opening lap with a vengence. He had the Phat Pheasant Pub #11A Maxim planted in the corners and roaring down the straights. With a flawless first half run, he was soon in the top ten and moving forward. The second half proved to be more difficult though, as the #11A Maxim came close to the concrete wall several times. It only takes a slight bobble to lose momentum on the high-banked 3/8 miler, so Bruce had to settle for a fine 34 point effort Many sprint fans recognized a familiar face in Bruce's pits after the races. It was none other than Luke Warmwater.
Making his third sprint car contest, Randy Sahlstrom unloaded his #13 Golden Spike Special from the "R J at the Speedway" hauler. As soon as Randy pushed off, the veteran fans cold tell "King Sahl's" sprinter was only running on seven cylinders. Randy planted his foot and threw the beast sideways. He put together a thrilling first half, but his weasing machine soon faded in the second half of his run. Randy was quite pleased with his final result though, as he turned in a personal best run in the sprints with a 26 point score. Imagine if the Golden Spike Special had been thumping on all eight cylinders! Randy wasn't sure which entry he would bring down next week, but no late model attempt this year for R J.
"Nothing like waiting until the last minute" remarked our next-to-last contestant in the sprint car division this year. Stephanie Isaacson was making her sixth straight contest appearance, but she missed hot laps and the heat races this year. StephDRaceFan knew that would put her behind in prepping her Winged Women on Wheels entry, but she is the only female competitor to consistently run in the sprint class each year since she first made the scene at the MDTR track. That gives her plenty of contest experience to draw upon. Like several of her fellow contestants earlier in the day, Steph was strong during the first half of her run. True to form for the day, Steph faded during the second half though. The tricky MDTR surface seemed to catch up with the contestants during the latter stages today. Steph sped under Stan's checkers with a 26 point score. She wished she would have had more time to work on the setup for her entry this year, but Steph will return next year with a brand new chassis for the 10th Anniversary of the contest. She wants to win this thing!
Speaking of waiting until the final tick of the clock, Mike Priefer just snuck underneath Stan's final checkers to post a score in the contest. Mike is always one of the final contestants to take to the track each year. Making his seventh straight sprint car appearance in the contest, Mike earns the right to be a couple seconds late to the staging area. This year was Mike's personal best effort. Although he scored 35 points last year, there were 50 points possible. Wheeling his Pencil Motorsports #80 sprinter, Mike posted a 34 point score. Definitely his best percentage in his seven contest tries. Only if his uncle Chuck could have given him a solid tip on that old #25 nonwinged sprint photo, Mike might have moved up a few more spots in the final rundown.
As the large crowd on hand began filing out and working their way to the pits, the campground, or to their vehicles, contest promoter GRP thanked them for their participation in the 9th Annual contest. Many thanks also go out to all the contestants who submitted entries during the first week of competition and to Stan M for hosting this annual affair on his Minnesota Dirt Track Racing website. Special kudos to Dr. Troy Powers for allowing us to "play" on his 20/20 Racing Forum with the contest and for donating four awesome new 20/20 Racing t-shirts for the winners in each division. We'll coordinate those efforts at the end of the contest.
Congrats to this year's champions in the late model and sprint car division. Mark Schreiner earned his first late model title in only his third attempt in that popular division. Mark also earned the Victory Funding Connection Rookie of the Year Award in the sprint car division. By doing so, Mark became the only contestant in the history of this deal to win rookie titles in ALL four divisions. Todd Boots earned his fourth sprint car title. Three times Todd has been the outright champion while once he was co-champion with Ron Haugstad. Once again, Todd showed his sprint car knowledge runs deep. Congrats also to Shane Oberg for winning the Victory Funding Connection Rookie of the Year Award in the late model division.
It is time for the second week of the contest to begin. The Modified and the upgraded Super/Street/Stock Car division now take over at the MDTR Speedway. Stan M will have the answers posted for the sprint car and late model divisions sometime on Sunday morning January 27. Good luck to all modified and super/street/stock car contestants. It promises to be another fun week of contest action. Keep you eye open for that Zimmy character. You never know when he might snap a photo of you.
Final point standings through Jan 26 (Day 7)
Late Model Division:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 36
2. Chris Stepan, St. Cloud MN = 36
3. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 35
4. Tony Steuck, Watertown SD = 34
5. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 32
6. Brad Luepke, Bonduel WI = 30
7. Shane Oberg, Starbuck MN = 29 ROY
8. Rob Fogle, Sioux Falls SD = 28
9. Jason Richert, Cadott WI = 24
10. Ray Beste, Sauk Centre MN = 24
11. Josh Angst, Winona MN = 24 ROY
12. Renee Fehlen, Star Prairie WI = 22 ROY
13. Brent Creaser, Menomonie WI = 21
14. Roger Koth, Pierre SD = 20
Sprint Car Division:
1. Todd Boots, Tea SD = 38
2. Chris Timmerman, Tea SD = 38
3. Nick Lusk, Jackson MN = 38
4. Shane Trondson, St. Paul MN = 36
5. Ron Haugstad, Brandon SD = 36
6. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 34 ROY
7. Bruce Anderson, Trimont MN = 34
8. Mike Priefer, Inver Grove Heights MN = 34
9. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 32.5
10. Doug Scurr, Rosemount MN = 30
11. Ben Nelson, Cameron WI = 28 ROY
12. Tyler Urban, Lennox SD = 28
13. Tony Steuck, Watertown SD = 27
14. Randy Sahlstrom, Pease MN = 26
15. Stephanie Isaacson, Windom MN = 26
16. Ray Beste, Sauk Centre MN = 23
17. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 19
*ROY denotes Victory Funding Connection Rookie of the Year contender.
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