This message was edited on
January 19, 2009 at
11:58:37 PM by grp
The first scores of the 10th Annual GRP Racing Trivia Contest were turned in on Monday. There was plenty of action on the high-banked MDTR Speedway on Day #3 of the contest, as two entries were received in each division. The Stock Car Division saw a return of the 2008 Modified and Super/Street Rookie of the Year with the first contest entry for 2009 while our first female and current rookie contestant submitted the second entry. The Open Wheel Division saw a return of the 2007 runnerup in with the first entry this year while our 2008 Rookie of the Year in the sprints made his 2009 contest appearance. The MDTR Speedway was fast today, as evidenced by some very solid performances. Let's take a look at how those contestants fared on Day #3 action.
The very first entry to be received in the 10th Annual GRP Racing Trivia Contest came from our 2008 Modified and Super/Street/Stock Car Rookie of the Year Scott Paulson from Kimball, MN. Scott also earned a podium third place finish in each of those divisions last year, so MDTR fans knew Scott would put his potent #33 entry up front early. Working several different lines on the track to find the fast groove, Scott turned in a very strong run with a 42 point effort in only his second appearance at the mythical MDTR Speedway. Conditions were good today, and Scott found good traction off turn 4 in the early going. Only lap 17 proved to be particularily troublesome with a couple of bobbles, but Scott recovered well to bring the Mad Frog entry home to Stan M's checkers with what should be a solid score. In the pits after the races, many young fans gathered around the familiar #33 car for photo hand-outs and driver pictures.
Our first female contestant signed into the pits at the MDTR Speedway today. Nikki Ellis from Fargo, ND is also our first 2009 Rookie of the Year contender. Nikki unloaded an immaculate #33E car from her trailer with NDSU backing. Fans immediately flocked to her pits to get the first photo ops of the contest. As Nikki came trackside, fans could tell that she had received some excellent coaching. Nikki was turning some very fast laps in her first-ever trip to MDTR. The cushion was heavy up top, so she steered clear and kept her entry in the middle to lower lanes. Blasting past Stan M, Nikki posted an incredible 39 point rookie effort. Pitted next to Scott Paulson, fans also streamed to her car after the races to get photo cards and pictures. Will she be the Fastest Female and/or Rookie of the Year in the contest? Stay tuned as the week unfolds.
The Open Wheel Division saw the return of Michael Pietrowski from Edgerton, WI. Michael earned runnerup honors in the 2007 contest and was actually at MDTR last year. When several top scores were posted early on in the sprint car ranks, Michael decided to pull his potent #98A entry into the pits with a trail of light smoke lingering behind. This year his determination was doubled and the results would bear that out. Michael quickly went to work on the heavy cushion and planted his foot to the floor. The "Big Jack" #98A machine looked like a rocket, as fans immediately knew he would be a top contender for sure. The first half of his run was nearly flawless, but the cushion got the better of him a few times. The second half of his run was perfect, and Michael flew to the checkers with an outstanding 47 point effort. The Wisconsin fans hooted and hollared in hopes of dethroning those incredibly strong South Dakota runners from the top spot. Not since the early years of the contest has someone outside of South Dakota been the champion in the Sprint Car (now Open Wheel) Division. Doug Scurr from Rosemount, MN was the last to accomplish that feat back in the 3rd Annual affair.
Making his second Open Wheel contest appearance, our final contestant of the day was the 2008 Rookie of the Year and sixth place finisher in the sprints. Mark Schreiner from Hutchinson, MN had a new Fegers sprint car for the 2009 contest and was anxious to try it out with only limited practice time. With a big Ford powerplant under the hood of the Tireguy sponsored rig, Mark got down to business. With just a bit of a conservative line, Mark knew he needed to survive the wild open wheel portion of the contest with his sights set on that Grand Champion prize. Mark wheeled past Stan's double-checkers with a very solid 43 point score in only his second contest attempt in the open wheelers. Mark indicated he was just a little bit disappointed with his score, but he knew with limited practice time and a new ride it would not be an easy task going up against the strong contingent of perennial front-runners in that division. Mark will now concentrate on his stock car efforts.
We're glad to report that Brad Luepke survived a horrible crash when his Bloomer #0 late model was involved in a terrible accident 11 laps into practice earlier in the day. It took MDTR staff quite some time to cut him out of the car, but Brad was able to walk away from the scene of the accident. He muttered something about those darn Superior drivers, but the rest did not make much sense. Brad's effort for the 2009 contest appears to be over. He'll spend the rest of the time in the campgrounds as a spectator. Brad put a link to the crash in a contest thread on the 20/20 Racing Forum.
Keith Mix reports from the concession stand that sales were brisk today. Keith's wife Sally is providing excellent assitance this year. We anticipate a run on nachos when HoosiersUp makes his annual contest appearance at MDTR. GRP is hoping that Zimmy will catch a few shots of some unusual activity at MDTR, as his contest photos generally bring smiles to many fan's faces. After losing our friend Navy Davy, we need to remind ourselves to smile a little more often...a trademark that was most befitting to Navy Davy. 
Current Standings January 19 (Day #3):
Stock Car Division:
1. Scott Paulson, Kimball MN = 42
2. Nikki Ellis, Fargo ND = 39 ROY
Open Wheel Division:
1. Michael Pietrowski, Edgerton WI = 47
2. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 43
Note: ROY denotes Rookie of the Year contender.
The Grand Champion Standings will be posted when we have our first contestants who submit entries in both divisions likely a bit later on in the week. Take care and enjoy the contest!
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