Richert Captures UMSS Kouba Memorial Victory at North Central Speedway
Brainerd, MN
By: Greg Parent (7-4-09)
Jerry Richert Jr. left little doubt that he was on a mission on Saturday night July 4th at North Central Speedway during the 17th running of the Earl & Ethel Kouba Memorial race for the upstart UMSS sprint car series. Richert overcame adversity earlier in the evening when a steering problem sidelined him from his heat race, forcing him to start last in the second Challenge race. Richert finished second in that qualifier and found himself with an outside row two starting spot for the 20 lap Kouba Memorial feature race when high-point driver Brett Geldner drew a number eight for the invert. A couple laps into the feature race, Richert moved to third, then took second on lap eight before making the winning pass of race leader Lyn Franklin exiting turn two on lap nine. Richert was able to hold off a late challenge by Sye Anderson to earn his first Kouba Memorial victory and his fifth UMSS main event triumph of the season. Richert climbed atop the wing on his sprint car on the front stretch following the race and waved the checkered flag in celebration and as a salute to the crowd. Richert was very thankful in his winner's interview, as he expressed his appreciation to the Kouba family, his crew, event sponsors, and to the fans. Stated a very happy Richert, "This is one race that I really wanted to win. It means a great deal to me. It's a thrill to be able to have my name engraved on the trophy for this great event."
Under clear skies and fantastic weather, a field of 17 UMSS sprint cars signed into the pits at the North Central Speedway for the Kouba Memorial race. Following preliminary qualifying races, all 17 cars were able to start the feature race with Leigh Thomas and Lyn Franklin pacing the field. Veteran racer Franklin got the advantage heading into turn one and emerged as the leader on the dry, smooth racing surface. Franklin held the point for the first eight laps, but it was fourth starter Jerry Richert Jr. on a march to the lead. Richert got by Thomas for second on lap eight and one lap later he moved underneath Franklin for the lead. The first caution slowed the pace with eleven laps scored when Jody Rosenboom spun in turn four. Richert continued to lead on the restart, as some good racing for several positions behind him began to take place during the next several laps. Sye Anderson eventually worked his way up from his sixth starting spot to grab second from Franklin on lap 13. Seventh starter Jimmy Kouba was also steadily working his way forward, first past his teammate for the night, Johnson, then past Thomas and Franklin.
Richert had a comfortable lead of several car lengths evaporate when the second caution brought the field under yellow for a spin by Adrian Wagner in turn two with 17 laps in the books. Kevin Nickel looped his sprinter on the restart for the final caution, setting the stage for a three lap dash to the checkers. Richert kept Anderson behind him for the $1,500 win. Anderson earned $1,000 for second while Jimmy Kouba, in only his second night behind the wheel in 2009, ran third. A wild last lap saw Tim Johnson, who had slipped back to sixth, charge past Franklin and Thomas to ride home in fourth at the checkers. Johnson, who is noted for his street stock and super stock driving talent, was making just his fourth start ever in a 360 winged sprint car driving for TW Motorsports. It had been four years since his previous Mighty Axe run in a sprinter, but Johnson was impressive on his home track having earlier earned a victory in his street stock and a second place finish in the super stock just before strapping into the sprinter. Franklin wound up fifth just behind Johnson. Thomas was a close sixth at the finish. Brad Barickman, Joseph Kouba, Brett Geldner, and rookie Cody Hahn completed the top ten. Only two cars failed to finish the race.
The DMI Ultimate Heat Race winners included Jimmy Kouba, Sye Anderson and Brett Geldner. Each winner received a $50 gift certificate. The Ethel Kouba Challenge Races were sponsored by JKD Communications and the Jimmy Kouba family. The top four finishers received $100, $75, $50 and $25 in cash while the next two finishers earned a fuel card to help with travel expenses. Brett Geldner topped the first Challenge Race with Friday night Kopellah winner Brad Barickman taking the win in the second Challenge Race.
The Kouba family does an outstanding job in raising additional support for this annual event. Other awards included the JKD Communications Long Tow Award which went to Eric Schulz from Sioux Falls, SD. Eric races with the nonwinged Heartland sprint car series and was making his first-ever winged sprint car start. The Lev Wings Hard Luck Award went to Adrian Wagner, as his team received a nose wing from Lev. The Larsen Web Design Hardcharger Award was split between Sye Anderson and Jimmy Kouba, as each driver advanced four spots in the feature race from their original starting position. A huge thanks to Justice Brothers for their sponsorship of the races and the Kouba Memorial event along with help from GRP Motorsports. GRP also handed out some tow money to rookie Cody Hahn to help with his fuel expense to get up to Brainerd. The Kouba Memorial is held each year to honor the memory of Earl & Ethel Kouba, the parents of Joe and Jimmy Kouba. Joe Kouba and Jimmy Kouba made several laps during intermission in their family owned and fully restored Offenhauser powered midget cars. A popular post-race party in the Kouba pits is also an annual part of this event. A huge thanks to all the drivers, teams, sponsors, fans and North Central Speedway in helping to support the 17th Annual Kouba Memorial race.
The next race for the UMSS sprint cars will see them return to the Kopellah Speedway on Friday night July 17. It will be the series seventh appearance of the season at Kopellah and the tenth race overall. Jerry Richert Jr. leads all drivers with five UMSS victories while Tony Norem, Lou Kennedy, Jr, Scott Winters, and Brad Barickman have one each. Not surprisingly, Richert also leads the current UMSS point standings. For more information on the UMSS sprint car series, please visit our website at www.umsprints.com or pick up a copy of The UMSS Report provided free at each UMSS race event.
July 4, 2009 North Central Speedway Kouba Memorial UMSS Results:
Kouba Memorial Feature Race (20 laps): Jerry Richert Jr, Sye Anderson, Jimmy Kouba, Tim Johnson, Lyn Franklin, Leigh Thomas, Brad Barickman, Joseph Kouba, Brett Geldner, Cody Hahn, Johnny Parsons III, Jody Rosenboom, Jack Zweber, John Franzen, Kevin Nickel, DNF: Adrian Wagner, Eric Schulz.
Lap Leaders: Franklin 1-8, Richert 9-20
Larsen Web Design Hardcharger Award: Anderson, Jimmy Kouba
Lev Wing Hard Luck Award: Wagner
JKD Longest Tow Award: Schulz (Ricochet Racing)
DMI Ultimate Sprint Race #1 (6 laps): Jimmy Kouba, Rosenboom, Joseph Kouba, Barickman, Hahn, Parsons.
DMI Ultimate Sprint Race #2 (6 laps): Anderson, Johnson, Schulz, Nickel, Wagner, Richert.
DMI Ultimate Sprint Race #3 (5 laps): Geldner, Thomas, Franklin, Franzen, Zweber.
Ethel Kouba Memorial Challenge Race #1 (9 laps): Geldner, Franklin, Jimmy Kouba, Anderson, Joseph Kouba, Hahn, Schulz, Zweber, Wagner.
Ethel Kouba Memorial Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Barickman, Richert, Johnson, Thomas, Rosenboom, Parsons, Franzen, Nickel.
