Kopellah UMSS Win Streak Continues for Richert
St. Croix Falls, WI
By: Greg Parent (6-12-09)
Jerry Richert Jr continued his winning ways, as the Forest Lake driver earned his fourth straight victory in UMSS feature race action at the Kopellah Speedway on Friday evening June 12. Richert earned $1,000 for his triumph, as a last minute bonus announced at the drivers meeting by GRP Motorsports boosted the first place payout. Leigh Thomas led the first eight laps before a bobble entering turn one allowed Richert to swoop underneath him for the top spot. Richert was able to race ahead of the field during the remainder of the 20 lap feature. Richert indicated, "It's great to keep the winning streak alive. At first the race seemed to go by slowly, but once I got the lead it went by much quicker." Thomas was happy with his second place run, but he "wanted that one lap back to do over." Richert will attempt to continue his winning streak when the UMSS sprints complete their double header weekend with a $1,000 to win show at North Central Speedway near Brainerd on Saturday night June 13.
The field of 16 UMSS sprint cars saw two cars unable to start the feature race due to driver injuries. John Nelson flipped hard in the second Challenge Race and was transported to a local hospital reportedly with a back injury. Later on in the same race, Brad Barickman bounced through a rut in turn four and sustained an injury to his arm on the final lap even though he was able to finsih. Barickman was unable to start the feature race even though his car would have been ready. Nelson's car sustained significant damage and would not have been ready in time for the feature race. With recent rain, the track was much heavier and rough. Unlike many of the previous nights, no dust flew on this night at Kopellah and the track appeared to be racier than it has been.
Rookie Mike Luks and Leigh Thomas paced the field for the start of the 20 lap UMSS feature event on the 1/4 mile oval. Thomas immediately blasted into the lead at the onset while Luks made an amazing recovery after getting sideways on the backstretch on the opening lap. Eric Lutz quickly moved into second while Richert followed in third. Thomas was strong up front in the opening laps. The first caution flew with four laps in when Troy Manteufel spun the Wuiff #1 sprinter in turn 2. On the restart Lutz was able to get by Thomas in turn 4, but the yellow blinked on again when Luks spun in turn 3 and Bill Johnson glanced off him into the wall. Johnson rode the hook to the pits while Luks restarted at the tail. With Thomas back in the lead on the restart, Jason Tostenson got into turn 1 a bit hot and looped his #34TW sprinter in turn 2. Once again, Thomas brought the field around for the restart. A couple of quick laps later, rookie Cody Hahn got crossed up in turn 2 and collected Manteufel. Manteufel's car was towed to the pits while Hahn continued.
The ensuing restart saw Jack Zweber, Mike Sargent and Joseph Kouba tangle in turn four. Zweber and Sargent were out while Kouba was able to continue. After the green replaced the yellow, Richert got by Lutz for second and went to work on the leader. Thomas was running well up on the cushion, but on lap 9 he jumped the berm entering turn one and Richert dove underneath him for the lead. The race continued under green for several more laps, as Tostenson was on the move forward. With just two laps to go, Cody Hahn spun in turn 2 to bring the race under yellow. This set the stage for a two lap dash to the checkers. The two lap run would have to wait for one final try, as Mike Luks spun in turn two on the restart. Finally, the race finished out the final two laps with Richert taking his fourth straight UMSS victory at Kopellah Speedway. Thomas, Lutz, Tostenson and Sye Anderson completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten was Kouba, Greg Gunderson, Kevin Nickel, Luks and Hahn.
Ultimate Sprint Races were won by rookie driver Cody Hahn, John Nelson, and Eric Lutz. The second round of qualifying races known as the Challenge Races saw Lutz and Leigh Thomas take the wins on a lightning fast track following blading during intermission. The UMSS utilizes a double round of qualifying races to allow teams two chances to race prior to lining up for the feature. High point driver, Eric Lutz, pulled the four pill for the invert. Lutz, Johnson, Gunderson and Manteufel were making their 2009 UMSS debut while Zweber returned to action in a newly purchased car. Mike Sargent was also making his second UMSS show of the season at Kopellah.
The run of three straight $1,000 to win UMSS shows continues on Saturday night June 13 when the series invades the North Central Speedway for the first time in 2009. Thursday June 18 will see the UMSS sprints return for their second appearance of the season at the Cedar Lake Speedway with $1,000 to win thanks to some additional support from GRP Motorsports. UMSS action in the month of June rounds out with a return trip to Kopellah on Friday June 26. The 360 sprint cars of the UMSS will remain busy in the early part of July with another Kopellah and North Central double header weekend on July 3-4.
June 12, 2009 Kopellah Speedway UMSS Results:
Feature (20 laps): Jerry Richert Jr, Leigh Thomas, Eric Lutz, Jason Tostenson, Sye Anderson, Joseph Kouba, Greg Gunderson, Kevin Nickel, Mike Luks, Cody Hahn, Mike Sargent, Jack Zweber, Troy Manteufel, Bill Johnson. DNS: John Nelson, Brad Barickman
Lap Leaders: Thomas 1-8, Richert 9-20
Ultimate Sprint Race #1 (5 laps): Hahn, Richert, Sargent, Kouba, Manteufel, Johnson.
Ultimate Sprint Race #2 (5 laps): Nelson, Tostenson, Thomas, Anderson, Gunderson.
Ultimate Sprint Race #3 (5 laps): Lutz, Barickamn, Luks, Zweber, Nickel.
Challenge Race #1 (8 laps): Lutz, Luks, Tostenson, Anderson, Sargent, Johnson, Nickel, Hahn.
Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Thomas, Richert, Zweber, Barickman, Manteufel, Kouba, Gunderson, Nelson.
