This message was edited on
January 23, 2010 at
09:41:33 AM by StanM
The green flag has dropped on the annual GRP Dirt Track Racing Trivia Contest. Click here for a direct link to the contest page or visit the Minnesota Dirt Track Racing website and click on the GRP Trivia Contest banner to access the page. This year's contest includes divisions for Sprint Cars, Late Models and Modifieds with cash prizes and a triple play award for those interested in trying their hand at all three divisions. Special thanks to GRP aka Greg Parent for providing the 11th running of this popular contest and helping us to get past the midwinter blues.
This message was edited on
January 26, 2010 at
12:21:39 AM by grp
Upon returning home from the UMSS banquet/fun night at Pro Kart Indoors in Burnsville this evening, I can report that there were four entries turned in the opening day of the contest. I will check the scores and file are a report later on today (Sunday). Jeff Keeney even took the fenders off of his late model after turning several quick laps at the MDTR Tri-Oval, and ran it in the modified division. The "Evil Inside" might not have liked the modified idea, as it appeared to be a real beast to handle. We'll see how Jeff did in both divisions as well as how Jerrod Smith, our first entry in the contest this year, and John Johnson fared with their rookie attempts in the modifieds.
NOTE: I WILL USE THIS THREAD TO POST CONTEST UPDATES IN INSTEAD OF STARTING NUMEROUS OTHER THREADS.
This message was edited on
January 24, 2010 at
11:38:48 PM by grp
With Stan M waving the green flag on Saturday morning January 23, the 11th Annual GRP Racing Trivia Contest got underway at the mythical MDTR (Tri-Oval) Speedway. Upon the suggestion of a veteran bleacher creature (HoosiersUp), the track was transformed by "The Swampman" into a tri-oval for this year's version of the popular mid winter contest.
Typically quiet with respect to entries on the opening weekend, race fans saw three modified, two sprint car, and one late model effort turned in during the first two days of competition. All three entries in the modified division came from contest rookies as well as the one in the late model ranks. Two contest veterans turned in the first scores in the sprint car class.
The very first contestant to submit an entry in this year's contest hailed from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Jerrod Smith brought his Racin Rebel #1 modified through the gates for an attempt at the tricky tri-oval. Jerrod's entry had a fantastic wrap with the "General Lee" scheme. MDTR fans certainly took a close look at this one. Jerrod's first contest ended up with a 16 point score, as he took the early lead in the contest and for Rookie of the Year honors.
Just moments after Jerrod's run ended, another contest rookie in the modified division came track-side to turn his first laps at MDTR. J. T. "The Jet" Johnson from Milaca, Minnesota brought his Double J Racing modified under Stan's green flag. J. T. got off to a bit of a slow start, but he really got rolling in the latter stages of his run. J. T. crossed under Stan's checkered flag with a 14 point effort, placing him behind Jerrod Smith in the standings early on.
The final modified entry on opening day arrived during the evening hours. Fresh off a run with his late model, veteran driver Jeff Keeney from River Falls, Wisconsin peeled the fenders off the late and brought it track-side for several laps. The late model had sustained some damage after contact with the #28 super stock. This ultimately led to a driveline failure and a DNF in Jeff's first attempt in the modified division with a 4 point score.
Prior to his modified effort, Jeff Keeney brought his Voltmaster Late Model sponsored by Tairy's Juicy Sack Juice Pouches and The Whiskey Nipple Bar to the MDTR tri-oval. Putting the "Evil Inside" to the test, Jeff immediately took the lead. The Auto Physics car seemed a bit sluggish in the corners at first, but soon Jeff had it cranked up and hauling. With just a few laps to go, the #28 super (pro) stock that was on the track racing made contact with Jeff's late model. A scrape of the wall sent pieces of the black beast scattering down the backstretch. Stan M decided to throw the caution but also inadvertently waved the checkered flag, thus ending Jeff's run. As Jeff left the speedway, it was rumoured that he muttered something about going to Rice Lake. Jeff put on a show for the fans, and that is what the contest is all about! Thanks for participating Jeff.
The second day of the contest saw the first two sprint car entries arrive. The first contestant to come trackside is a veteran of five contests with his highest finish being second when he tied Todd Boots for the top score in the 9th Annual affair only to lose on the tie-breaker. He has never finished outside the top ten in his previous appearances at MDTR. Chris Timmerman from Tea, South Dakota cranked up his #83 Tea Tourism Bureau sprinter. Following a couple of close calls with the turn two wall in the early going, Chris really started to hit his stride on the new tri-oval. Another solid performance in the contest by this very competitive South Dakota challenger netted him a 33 point score and the early lead. Chris would probably like to have lap #4 back, as a slight miscue cost him some ground. Chris knows that the powerful group of contestants from the Sioux Falls area will be tough to beat.
The final entry in the sprint car ranks needs no introduction to most MDTR contest fans. His storied history at MDTR dates back to the third contest held back in 2002. He is a three time champion in the modified division and always submits entries in all of the contest division. MDTR fans welcomed the ever popular John Lackmann, known to fans everywhere as Modchaser. John hails from Long Prairie, Minnesota. In his first-ever attempt in the sprint car division, John survived a nasty crash in turn two that ripped his driver's uniform right off of him. Undaunted by his early misfortune, John continued to return to the sprint car ranks each and every year. This year John brought his #00 sprinter powered by a new turbo-charged V6 G-Nome engine to challenge the new tri-oval. As one fan said, it ain't pretty but it sure is fun to watch Modchaser chase that sprint car all over the track. Always a good sport about his sprint car adventures, John is quite popular with the fans. This year the new V6 just wasn't quite up to the task, as John slinked past the finish line with a 12 point score. John will be back in action in the late model and modified divisions.
This message was edited on
January 26, 2010 at
12:20:27 AM by grp
The third day of the 11th Annual GRP Racing Trivia Contest saw some real heavy hitters weigh in on what many are describing as a tricky tri-oval surface. With world famous water truck driver, Chuck Priefer, applying the moisture, and Ron "The Swampman" Bernhagen working the track surface, it has been a real challenge to find the perfect setup on the mythical MDTR Speedway this season. Three top runners in the sprint car division rolled through the back gate on Monday January 25, and it turned out to be a real battle for the top spot. One additional modified rookie contestant also arrived at MDTR to gain some contest experience.
The first sprint car entry today comes from last year's champion, Michael Pietrowski, from Edgerton, Wisconsin. Running his familiar "Big Jack" #98A sprinter, Michael has become a serious contender every time he pulls through the back gate at MDTR. Fans knew he would put on a show. Off to a quick start, the 98A machine glided around the three corners with ease. Just a couple of bobbles in the first half of the race, and Michael was looking at Stan's crossed flags. As he moved past Chris Timmerman's #83 sprinter, Wisconsin fans cheered him on. With the setup going away just a bit in the late stages of his run, Michael roared under the checkers with a 36 point effort. But would his score stand up? Two more top contenders were waiting to make their bid for the lead.
Always a super tough competitor, last year's runner-up (only by virtue of the tie-breaker rule), Shane Trondson of St. Paul came trackside with his Pumpkin Eater #31 Special sporting a fresh Trondson engine under the hood. Three times Shane has finished in the top five in the final rundown, but he was after his first championship. Shane navigated around the tri-oval on a very fast line during the first half of his run. Then he really put together a string of laps that had him slip past Chris Timmerman and set his sights on the leader, Michael P. With the Minnesota fans roaring, and just three laps to go, Shane drifted high in turn two and bounced off the concrete wall. With his momentum interrupted, and a bent torsion bar, Shane was able to bring the Pumpkin Eater Special to the checkers with a 34 point score. It would be Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota in the top three. But wait, there was still one more entry. A four-time champion was in the staging area!
The next contestant almost needs no introduction to MDTR fans. He holds the distinction of being the ONLY one to have entered all eleven contests! Yes fans, Todd Boots from Tea, South Dakota was once again in the house. Unloading a new sprinter out of the big stacker trailer, the R19 Citywide Insulation/Owens Corning sponsored machine featured a new XXX chassis with fresh Capetta horsepower under the hood. This baby was ready to rock-n-roll. With the new tri-oval configuration presenting some challenges, the contest veteran immediately made the right choices. Todd's XXX sped around MDTR will relative ease. At the halfway mark, he was nearly perfect. That did not change at the 3/4 mark of the race either. Todd soon disposed of fellow Tea native Chris Timmerman and ducked underneath Shane Trondson for second. With Michael P in his sights, Todd planted his right foot to the tin looking for the win. With Stan M waving the white flag, Todd moved past Michael P for the lead. The South Dakota fans were celebrating when he zoomed to the checkers with a 37 point effort. Yes, we have a new leader! One of the powerful South Dakota contingent is back on top of the standings at the end of day #3. Todd is not resting easy though, as he knows there are several other heavy hitters out there including five-time champion Ron Haugstad. Will Todd be able to hold on to the lead and claim his fifth title? Stay tuned, as the contest rolls on throughout this week.
The only other entry in the contest today came in the modified division, and it was another rookie making his debut at MDTR. Adam Jack from Webb Lake, Wisconsin brought his Error 48 Jack Link's Beef Jerky sponsored modified on to the track for his first laps. Adam was got off to a solid start, but soon found those tricky tri-oval corners were unforgiving if you don't have the proper setup in your car. Adam moved forward and began to search for a new line. As he moved past J T Johnson for second, there were only a few laps remaining. Could he catch Jerrod Smith for the lead? Coming up just one point short, Adam turned in a score of 15 points in his inaugural contest. Plenty of free snacks at the #48 mod pits drew a large crowd after the races. In the early stages, three rookies hold down the top three spots in the modified division.
There were no late model entries received today, but several contestants came trackside to test-n-tune on their machines. HoosiersUp slapped the wall with Ole Bessie, so we'll have to see if Terry can get his entry back on track for a run on the tri-oval. Keith and Sally have been serving up large quantities of nachos and green chili burritos along with many other traditional race track food items. Bubba indicated the beer was nice and cold. Vinster is going to bring his VMAX all-girl pit crew for an autograph signing session later in the week. Dr. Troy inquired about that Lucky Lenny late model and modified ride to see when he's planning on coming trackside. Not sure if Lenny is going to make a run in either division, but the Scott Brothers overhead him to say something like he should be able to beat that Keeney fella from River Falls in the modifieds. Oh the race talk and chatter that takes place at the track. I think Bloomer0 has found time to pull the camper trailer over to the camp grounds. Hopefully his son Reed is feeling well enough for a ride in the new two-seater, jet powered, modified late model sprinter. Good times abound at MDTR.
No official entries received on Tuesday January 26. One modified entry was submitted but asking for a slight clarification on a question. I will wait until Wednesday to see if the contestant wishes to answer the question or not. His score was 17 points.
This message was edited on
January 29, 2010 at
08:13:56 PM by grp
With Stan M hoisting the crossed flags at the beginning of the day to signal the halfway mark in the contest, three more entries arrived on Wednesday January 27 in the modified division. Two were from rookies. One sprint car entry pulled through the back gate as well. Let's take a look at how things played out at the MDTR Speedway today.
Actually arriving yesterday, super stock driver Shawn Kammerud from St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin prepared for his maiden voyage on the tricky MDTR tri-oval. Shawn had his Outdoor Realty/Riverview Homes #99 modified cranked up and ready to haul. With Goodyears on one side and Hoosiers on the other, Shawn thought he had things figured out. He was off to a strong start, but soon found that the stagger was off. Shawn recovered near the midway mark of his run and sped past Jerrod Smith to take the lead. Shawn zipped under Stan's checkers with a 17 point score. Following the race in the tech area, Shawn asked for a clarification on something. He later submitted an updated entry and actually filled in some answers he had left blank. His final tally will be 21 points!
Our second contestant became the first Mod 4 driver to enter the MDTR Speedway this season. Andy Deters from Waite Park, Minnesota unloaded an awesome looking "A" mod four. Some fans wondered if the four-banger would be competitive. Fresh off a 7th place finish in the WISSOTA point standings, Andy showed the MDTR faithful the Mod 4 could indeed get around the tri-oval in a hurry. In his first contest, Andy sliced and diced his way to a 15 point score, placing him in a tie with Adam Jack. Adam holds the spot by virtue of earliest entry. Many fans ventured down to Andy's pit following the races to get a good look at the first Mod 4 at MDTR this year.
The final contestant in the modified division hails from Hutchinson, Minnesota. Yes fans, Tireguy had arrived. The 2007 Rookie of the Year in the Modifieds, Mark Schreiner, brought the Towmaster Trailers Fegers #17L out for his 2010 attempt at the top spot. Three times Mark has finished second, so he was hungry for that top spot. Mark breezed through the early portions of his run, encountering a few slick spots near the midway mark. As Tireguy's setup came in, Mark was solid in the last half of the race and quickly blew by the pack to take a commanding lead. In fact, Mark lapped the field at this point of the contest. Tireguy tooled past Stan in the flagstand with a very strong effort of 36 points. This puts him out front with tie-breaker status should another contestant earn the same score later in the week. Mark did leave some room for a contender to get past though, so stay tuned as the contest rolls on. There are still some heavy hitters out there who have not weighed in yet.
Making his fourth contest appearance, the Urban Assault vehicle once again pulled on to the MDTR Speedway for another strong effort. That could only mean one thing. Tyler Urban from Lennox, South Dakota was ready to rumble. The Lennox Lightning struck quickly. Tyler appeared as though he was going to the front of the pack with a very stout first half. A few bobbles in the second half of run was his undoing though. Tyler blasted past Stan's checkered flag with his best contest effort yet, as he posted a 34 point score. This tied him with Shane Trondson, but Shane will hold on to the third place spot with tie-breaker status. As usual, it was party time in the Urban pits afterwards with the tunes cranked up in Tyler's big Urban Assault stacker trailer.
Biggest news of this year's contest so far is, Jeff Keeney continues to lead the late model feature race!!! The "Evil Inside" fans are celebrating while they can, as there are several front runners who are working diligently on getting their entries fine tuned for a title run.
Current Point Standings as of January 27, 2010
Sprint Car Division:
1. Todd Boots, Tea SD = 37
2. Michael Pietrowski, Edgerton WI = 36
3. Shane Trondson, St. Paul MN = 34
4. Tyler Urban, Lennox SD = 34
5. Chris Timmerman, Tea SD = 33
6. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 12
Late Model Division:
1. Jeff Keeney, River Falls WI = 10 ROY
Modified Division:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 36
2. Shawn Kammerud, St. Croix Falls WI = 21 ROY (UPDATED)
3. Jerrod Smith, Eau Claire WI = 16 ROY
4. Adam Jack, Webb Lake WI = 16 ROY
5. Andy Deters, Waite Park MN = 15 ROY
6. J T Johnson, Milaca MN = 14 ROY
7. Jeff Keeney, River Falls WI = 4 (DNF) ROY
*ROY denotes Rookie of the Year contestant.
Note: Modified question #20 actually has a choice of one of two correct answers. I updated Adam Jack's score to reflect that. It did not change his position in the standings.
This message was edited on
January 29, 2010 at
08:14:56 PM by grp
The sprint car division really heated up today at the mythical MDTR Speedway on the sixth day of the contest. A famous sprint car racing family visited MDTR, and a new leader emerged seemingly out of nowhere at the last minute. The late model division also saw Jeff Keeney's lead disappear with three contestants moving past him. No modified entries were received today. There is plenty to report on, so here we go.
The first entry on the track today in the sprint car ranks came from the 2007 contest Rookie of the Year and third place finisher Alex Johnson from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Alex returned to action with his BAM Racing Schnee #69x with Doug "Cool" Brees turning the wrenches. Alex was fast right from the drop of the green flag, but the new tri-oval configuration caught up to him during the latter stages of his run. Alex raced past Stan M with a 33 point score, as he put yet another South Dakotan in the lead pack.
The first rookie in the sprint car division made his way to MDTR for his first laps. Tim Andreen from Champlin, Minnesota brought the T & A sprinter through the back gate in a beautiful hauler. The entry drew many looks from the faithful MDTR fans, as they wondered who this might be. Guest announcer Todd Narveson immediately picked up on who it was, and he began filling fans in on the newcomer. It took Tim some time to find the right line on the tricky track, but once he got rolling he placed well with a 23 point effort in his first contest.
When the big yellow and black hauler with South Dakota plates rolled through the pit entrance, MDTR fans were buzzing with excitement. Making her contest debut in the Wolfweld #1AW, it was our first female competitor at MDTR in 2010. Yes fans, Allie Wolfgang had arrived with her crew chief, none other than Doug Wolfgang himself along with her brother Robby Wolfgang. This famous South Dakota racing family needs no introduction, but Todd Narveson kept the fans clued in on the action in the Wolfgang pit area. Soon it was time for the bright yellow "Lone Wolf" entry to hit the track. Allie was smooth and consistent right from the drop of the green flag. Soon she was in the lead pack and contending for a top spot. A couple of tricky corners here and there kept her just behind Todd Boots and Michael P. The lead trio brought the crowd to their feet on numerous occasions, just as the real sprint cars do on many a race night at your favorite track. In the end, Allie whistled under Stan's checkered flag with a fine 35 point tally on her first try. Needless to say, the Wolfgang pit area was crammed with fans following the races.
With the crowd still stirring, a long-time contest participant arrived from Superior Wisconsin. Kevin Mudrak, the 2007 contest late model champion, brought his Sprint Car1 "Next to Duluth We're Superior" tourism sponsored machine through the back gate. Kevin is always a top contender in the stock car divisions and typically performs well in the open wheel class too. Kevin unloaded the sprinter from his triple stacker trailer and immediately set about his task. Kevin will be contending for the Triple Play Award, so a solid effort in the sprinter is important. As always, Kevin is a fan favorite due to his low-budget operation. This year Kevin posted a fine 30 point score in the sprint car. No time to celebrate though, as the late model was unloaded and would soon be on the track.
Another Triple Play contender rolled back on the track shortly after Kevin was done with his run. Mark Schreiner returned with his late model and sprint car today. Mark had earlier competed with his late model (see below), so now it was time to turn his attention to the Tow Master Trailers Maxim with a new Lemke motor. Mark sped around the tri-oval, as he attempted to track down Kevin Mudrak. Coming up just one point short, Mark talled 29 points. A decent open wheel effort for this modified guru.
The final entrant today in the sprint car division arrived on an open trailer. Craig Johnson from Hendricks, Minnesota made the long tow east to MDTR for his first look at the contest. Craig is a long-time Minnesota sprint car fan who just recently saw the contest here on the internet. Most MDTR fans know little or nothing about him. Todd Narveson quickly made a trip to his pit area to garner some addtional information. Craig's older era sprinter was neat and clean, but some fans kind of scoffed at it. How could that be fast here at MDTR? Well, they were about to find out! Craig brought the CJ Racing #1950 on the track and took the green flag. Fast and smooth would be an understatement. This guy was incredible. He soon was in the lead pack. Craig moved past Timmerman, Urban, and Trondson. He then ducked underneath Wolfgang and pulled alongside Pietrowski. As the crowd rose to their feet with Todd Narveson calling the action, Craig Johnson moved past leader Todd Boots at the checkers! A first-time contestant had pulled off what many fans thought to be impossible. Craig cruised home with a 38 point score and became the new leader. Ron Haugstad will have to work extra hard to get by this veteran sprint car fan. The joint went wild with excitement, as this was big news on day six of the contest! A Minnesota contestant was on top of the standings in front of a very strong pack of competitors. The Gopher State fans partied til the wee hours of the morning.
Just as the lead had changed hands in the sprint car division, it would do so in the late model class as well. Jeff Keeney had managed to hold the lead for five days in contest action (only entry but we won't tell Jeff). The famous Modchaser from Long Prairie was first up in the late model divison. John Lackmann had his Hummel's Interstate Transport/Oil Dripper Enterprises Late Model 00 ready to roll. John worked high, then he worked low. For some reason he just could not find the proper lane. With his mount starting to smoke past the halfway mark, John decided to throttle down and limp home with a 17 point score. John always enters all of the divisions, so look for the three-time contest modified champion to return with a burning desire to claim title #4.
The popular Tireguy entry of Mark Schreiner was the second late model on the track today. Mark wheeled his Tow Master Trailers #17L out of the hauler. Fans quickly took notice that, what was this, a new sponsor on the back? Yes race fans, LLL (Triple L Enterprises) was listed on the back quarter panel. What does that stand for you ask? None other than Lucky Lenny Lugnuts. That darn Lenny managed to get on the track after all, even if it wasn't his entry. Well, Mark is no stranger to MDTR. Lenny made a good choice. Tireguy quickly blew past Keeney and Lackmann for the lead. Like he did in the mods, Mark lapped the early competition enroute to a strong 34 point score. Would this be enough to win? Mark didn't think so, but his first test was about to come trackside.
The famous Late Model1 of Kevin Mudrak was pulling on the track just as Tireguy was exiting. Could Kevin move past Mark and take over the top spot? Kevin started out strong and looked like he would have a Superior run. Just a couple of missed marks in the opening half of his tour had Kevin well on his way. The second half of his effort came up a bit short though. Kevin ran over a lugnut that was laying on the track (no idea where that might have come from?) and his left rear tire started going down just a bit. Kevin came up one point short with a 33 point score. After two divisions (lates and mods), Kevin and Mark were tied in their battle for the Triple Play Award. Tireguy had completed his runs in all divisions, so Kevin will really have his work cut out to top Mark's 36 point score in the modified class.
Thanks to Todd Narveson for guest announcing on Thursday at MDTR. Todd really had plenty to talk about up in the tower, as it was an entertaining and exciting day to be at the MDTR Speedway Tri-Oval. Stay tuned for the final two days of contest action to see if the lead changes in any of the divisions and who might come out on top of the Triple Play standings as well.
Current Point Standings as of January 28, 2010
Sprint Car Division:
1. Craig Johnson, Hendricks MN = 38 ROY
2. Todd Boots, Tea SD = 37
3. Michael Pietrowski, Edgerton WI = 36
4. Allie Wolfgang, Sioux Falls SD = 35 ROY
5. Shane Trondson, St. Paul MN = 34
6. Tyler Urban, Lennox SD = 34
7. Chris Timmerman, Tea SD = 33
8. Alex Johnson, Sioux Falls SD = 33
9. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 30
10. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 29
11. Tim Andreen, Champlin MN = 23 ROY
12. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 12
Late Model Division:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 34
2. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 33
3. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 17
4. Jeff Keeney, River Falls WI = 10 ROY
Modified Division:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 36
2. Shawn Kammerud, St. Croix Falls WI = 21 ROY
3. Jerrod Smith, Eau Claire WI = 16 ROY
4. Adam Jack, Webb Lake WI = 16 ROY
5. Andy Deters, Waite Park MN = 15 ROY
6. J T Johnson, Milaca MN = 14 ROY
7. Jeff Keeney, River Falls WI = 4 (DNF) ROY
*ROY denotes Rookie of the Year contestant.
Triple Play Award:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 99 (complete)
2. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 63 (mod to go)
3. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 29 (mod to go)
Note that the sprint car division has Minnesota, South Dakota (a former Minnesotan, still one at heart), and Wisconsin running in the top three spots! Contest fans truly got their money's worth at MDTR on Thursday. The Wolfgang family arrived, an unknown came to the front in the sprint car ranks, and the late model lead changed hands a couple of times. We'll see if we can top this over the course of the next two days. Maybe Stan M can post a photo or two from Thursday's action. I think he might have one of the Wolfgang car.
This message was edited on
January 30, 2010 at
01:32:00 AM by grp
Stan M waved the white flag at the conclusion of the seventh day to signal just one more day remains in the 11th Annual GRP Racing Trivia Contest. Action at the MDTR Speedway on Friday January 29 produced entries in all divisions. Two more sprint car entries arrived, three more in the late models, and three more in the modifieds. The following is a summary of activity.
After a quiet day on Thursday, the modified division had three entries on hand to test the tricky tri-oval. First to pull on the track was a rookie from Iron River, Wisconsin. Jamie Gruebele brought his Woodcraft Industries "Big G" modified to MDTR for his first contest attempt. Jamie got off to a solid start and continued to set a blistering pace. Jamie quickly blew past the group of fellow rookies and set his sights on Tireguy. Jamie was never able to get close to the famous #17L, but he flew past Stan M with an impressive 31 point performance. Jamie found himself running second and leading the Rookie of the Year candidates.
Another rookie rolled trackside for his first laps at MDTR. Erik Carlson made a short tow over from New Richmond, Wisconsin. Erik (aka Rookie) brought along three entries, so contest fans would certainly get to see plenty of the Carlson Motorsports team. Rookie sped past Stan to take the green flag and soon found the corners at MDTR to be a handful. Gathering things up, Erik raced to a 15 point score in his modified entry. Erik quickly began working on his late model, figuring he definitely learned a thing or two he could apply.
The final modified contestant of the day saw Kevin Mudrak return from Superior with his popular low-budget Mod1 unsponsored entry. With limited time to work on getting a solid handle setup in his mod, Kevin had to rely on some veteran experience and several good guesses. Kevin quickly moved forward and was soon approaching Jamie. Kevin's run ended with a 29 point effort in his mod. Kevin knew he would not be a contender for the top spot. He also realized that his attempt to knock Mark Schreiner from atop the Triple Play Award standings would not happen. Still, Kevin remarked that it was challenging and fun to attempt three divisions in one week. Contest promoter GRP agreed, but simply did not have the time to run four classes over two weeks this year.
In late model contest action today, Erik "Rookie" Carlson returned to the track after a quick trip to his shop to pick up his late model. The "Doors by Pat" sponsored machine was definitely an outstanding looking piece of work. Erik found the high side to his liking with the late model, as he improved by one point over his mod entry with a 16 point score and current rookie leader. Still no time to celebrate, as he had to get ready for his sprint car run. Erik was concerned about a possible wreck in the sprinter though.
Roger Koth has made several appearances at MDTR over the years. Roger makes the long trek in from Pierre, South Dakota to compete at MDTR. This year, Roger only brought along his late model. Roger indicated he had to sell the other two cars due to tough economic times. With his Chevy Monte Carlo #36K late model primed and ready to race, Roger got underway. The old monte soon began showing some smoke. This usually is not a good sign unless you are using one of those Modchaser Oil Dripper Enterprises devices. Roger was not. With smoke continuing to billow from his bright orange 36k, Roger slowed and crossed the finish line with a 14 point score. Roger will be back again next year, hopefully with a fresh powerplant.
With Erik Carlson the leading late model rookie, another newcomer to MDTR signed into the pits. Tim Plantikow from Austin, Minnesota brought his T1M Rayburn on the track for his first look at MDTR. Tim found the low lane to be the fast way around, as you soon was closing in on the "Rookie." Tim slipped under Erik in turn three just past the midway point on his way to a 23 point score. This moved Tim past John Lackmann and into the third place position in the standings.
After a flurry of activity on Thursday, the sprint car division was a little bit quieter on Friday. Two entries were scored, keeping this class at top so far as number of entries are concerned. Bob Torgerson from Woodbury, Minnesota had actually pulled through the gate on Thursday, but some technical difficulties in getting his entry on the track prevented him from taking the green flag. Bob commented, "See what happens when you buy new equipment and the darn thing won't fire first night out." Ah the trials and tribulations racers have to go through. Bob pulled his old sprinter out the trailer and got down to business on Friday though. In his first attempt, Bob turned in an impressive 31 point score. Bob knew it would be tough to crack the top five, but he was hoping for at least a top ten. So far, he sits in ninth place in the always competitive sprint car standings.
Making his third and final run of the day, Erik Carlson was back out with his C1 sprinter. The Rookie admitted he really knew basically nothing about sprint cars, but he wanted to compete in all three divisions and at least shoot for the Triple Play Rookie of the Year award. Erik had a devil of a time trying to gain control of the beast known as a sprint car. Several close calls brought gasps from the crowd. Suddenly, Stan M had the red flag out! The Rookie was upside down in turn two. Colin P (Fargo Flash) had a front row view of the wild gilhooly. Fortunately, Erik was okay. If you can't win, you might as well be spectacular quipped Erik. GRP thanked him for participating in all three divisions.
With just one more day to go in the 11th Annual edition of the contest, several top contenders have yet to be heard from. Will our current leaders be able to hold on to the top spots in their respective divisions, or will we see a last lap pass for the win? Stay tuned for updates on the final day of the contest beginning during the afternoon hours (GRP is going ice fishing in the morning).
Current Point Standings as of January 29, 2010
Sprint Car Division:
1. Craig Johnson, Hendricks MN = 38 ROY
2. Todd Boots, Tea SD = 37
3. Michael Pietrowski, Edgerton WI = 36
4. Allie Wolfgang, Sioux Falls SD = 35 ROY
5. Shane Trondson, St. Paul MN = 34
6. Tyler Urban, Lennox SD = 34
7. Chris Timmerman, Tea SD = 33
8. Alex Johnson, Sioux Falls SD = 33
9. Bob Torgerson, Woodbury MN = 31 ROY
10. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 30
11. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 29
12. Tim Andreen, Champlin MN = 23 ROY
13. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 12
14. Erik Carlson, New Richmond WI = 8 ROY
Late Model Division:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 34
2. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 33
3. Tim Plantikow, Austin MN = 23 ROY
4. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 17
5. Erik Carlson, New Richmond WI = 16 ROY
6. Roger Koth, Pierre SD = 14
7. Jeff Keeney, River Falls WI = 10 ROY
Modified Division:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 36
2. Jamie Gruebele, Iron River WI = 33 ROY
3. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 29
4. Shawn Kammerud, St. Croix Falls WI = 21 ROY
5. Jerrod Smith, Eau Claire WI = 16 ROY
6. Adam Jack, Webb Lake WI = 16 ROY
7. Andy Deters, Waite Park MN = 15 ROY
8. Erik Carlson, New Richmond WI = 15 ROY
9. J T Johnson, Milaca MN = 14 ROY
10. Jeff Keeney, River Falls WI = 4 (DNF) ROY
Triple Play Award:
1. Mark Schreiner, Hutchinson MN = 99 (complete)
2. Kevin Mudrak, Superior WI = 92 (complete)
3. Erik Carlson, New Richmond WI = 39 (complete) ROY
4. John Lackmann, Long Prairie MN = 29 (mod to go)
This message was edited on
January 31, 2010 at
10:29:06 AM by StanM
Reply to:
Posted By: grp on January 31 2010 at 01:54:49 AM
Recap of final day action to follow later on Sunday. Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest or followed along on 20/20 or MDTR.
GRP
Contest answers have been posted. Thank you to GRP for another fun trivia contest that has helped to break up the winter a little and steer out thoughts back towards racing.
With contest flagman Stan M stepping down to head to the beer stand one lap early, assistant flagman Les M waved the double-checkered flags over the field to conclude the running of the 11th Annual GRP Racing Trivia Contest at the mythical MDTR Speedway Tri-Oval at midnight Saturday January 30. After a flurry of activity in the early part of the day, a quiet afternoon led to an evening that saw a dramatic finish in the Sprint Car division. A pass for the lead coming off of corner three brought the crowd to their feet in frenzied excitement, as contest veteran Ron Haugstad showed why he is one fellow contestants are aiming to defeat each year. Earlier in the day, the lead changed hands in the Modified division when another contest veteran, Chris Stepan, edged by Mark Schreiner by one point. Chris held on to record yet another championship title in the contest, his eleventh over all. Mark Schreiner emerged as the big winner in the contest though, as he claimed the Late Model and Triple Play Award crowns. There were a total of fifteen entries received on the final day of the contest. Here is a recap of the action beginning with the modifieds and then followed by the late models and sprint cars.
The first entry in the modified division came from the popular Hoffman racing family of South Dakota. Their big stacker trailer arrived with three entries. The modified was their first attempt in that division, as female sensation Kayla Hoffman was once again behind the wheel with dad Todd turning the wrenches. Kayla set a quick pace early on, but the tricky tri-oval soon got the best of the modified. Kayla struggled in the middle stages of her run to gain traction, and when she brought the Hoffman Racing/USRA mod to the checkers, the motor expired just a few feet past the finish line. Kayla recorded 13 points with the mod. Now it was time to concentrate on the late model entry.
Chris Stepan needs no introduction to MDTR fans. He's typically near the front of the pack in the various stock car divisions in the contest. So when the huge FYE Motorsports hauler entered the pits, fans knew Chris would be a contender for the title. This year Chris was in Florida most of the week, so his resources were restricted a bit. It did not show in the modified division though. The FYE Motorsports/MN Mod Nationals #11 J-car was stout! Chris breezed through the first half of his run with just a couple of miscues. Then he was nearly perfect in the last half until a last lap brush with the wall coming off corner #3. CLSracer zoomed past Tireguy to take the lead with a 37 point effort. Not bad for a long distance haul from Florida. Chris' day was only 1/3 done though, as he had his late model and sprint car in the stacker trailer as well.
Later in the day, another power in the modified division was heard from. Three-time contest modified champion John Lackmann returned from his shop in Long Prairie, MN with his Big C Chassis/Kerzman Construction #00 modified entry. John was on third shift at work this past week, and it really hampered his ability to properly prepare. Nonetheless, MDTR fans figured he would be a contender. Modchaser hit the switch and fired up his mod. It was soon apparent that John was struggling to find the line and get this setup to come in. That just was not meant to be today, as the fan favorite and long-time contest participate could only muster up a 30 point score. A very good score at that, but Modchaser was hoping for a few more points. John will be back next year with a vengeance to try and wrestle his fourth title away from CLSracer, Tireguy or whomever is the front-runner.
The final modified division entry saw yet another contest veteran arrive at MDTR with three entries in his hauler. Having recently made the long move from Brandon back to Sioux Falls, this perennial kingpin in the sprint car division rolled trackside with his modified. Yes fans, it was none other than Ron Haugstad with a late arrival this year at the track. Ron brought the RHS Enterprises/Barber Race Engines #13 mod on the track to test the dirt. Ron's experience in the contest certainly allows for knowledge in all divisions, even though his expertise lies in the sprinters. Ron turned in a solid performance with a 28 point score, as he just missed a top five finish. The late model was up next for Ron, as the clocked ticked down toward the conclusion of the contest.
There was plenty of action in the late model division on the final day, and Hoffman family were first on the track. Kayla jumped out of her mod and into the Hoffman Racing/NASCAR late model for her second tour of duty for the day. Kayla once again got off to a strong start, but just like the mod, her dad's setup for the entry began to fade. She bested her mod run by one point with a 14 point performance. Upon inspection in the pit area, Todd discovered a cracked driveline was causing a severe vibration that would have ultimately led to rear end failure. Oh well, it was time to concentrate on their strong-point, that being the sprint car.
Like the Hoffman family, Chris Stepan was also moving through the divisions on the final day. The St. Cloud, Minnesota contest veteran is always strong in his late model. The FYE Motorsports/Viking Spring Classic #11Rocket was just that. Chris was nearly flawless in the first half of his run, but the CLSracer piloted machine began to experience some tire issues. Apparently a slow leak had developed in the right rear tire. This was not good news in his bid to unseat Tireguy as the leader. Chris managed to pull even with Kevin Mudrak in the standings, but he could not catch Mark Schreiner. Chris still had to hop into his sprinter and somehow pull off the impossible to overtake Mark for the Triple Play.
Another extremely popular MDTR figure made his return to contest action in the late model division. Terry Lehnertz (aka HooisersUp) brought his under funded grocery getter to the revamped MDTR Tri-Oval with one thought in mind. What was that you ask? Defeat late model driver Jeff Keeney! Terry had "Ole Bessie" fired up and ready to rumble. Bessie blasted under Stan's green flag and Terry proceeded to turn in seven perfect laps. That is when his luck ran out. Terry hit the turn two wall and knocked Colin off of his feet, but the 20/20 Racing machine was not done. Wounded and with a couple of flat tires, Terry continued to race. The crowd went wild. Could he do it? Could he finish? A flashback to his victory over Dale Gangl gave Terry the motivation to race on. "Ole Bessie" was wheezing and coughing, but the Mean Gene Acres sponsored machine would not die. HoosiersUp could see the "Evil Inside" entry just in front of him. Terry thought to himself, come on Ole Bessie, just a little bit further and we can do this. As Les M waved the white flag, Terry pulled along side of Keeney. Terry raced past and went on to accomplish his mission with a 16 point score! Success had once again visited the Lehnertz Racing Team, and it was another accomplishment to be added to his racing resume. Victories sometimes are not measured by first place finishes.
Ron Haugstad has had several strong runs with his late model over the years in contest action. Could he turn in another one of those efforts today? He would need to have a solid effort if he hoped to defeat Tireguy for the Triple Play Award. Ron is fiercely competitive regardless of the division, but he knows his strength lies in the sprint cars. The RHS Enterprises/Krueger Chassis #13 late model was good, but not good enough to earn Ron the valuable points necessary. Ron raced to a 26 point score with his late model entry, so Mark Schreiner knew he had dodged a big-time bullet for the Triple Play. Nevertheless, MDTR fans knew that Ron would be a serious threat in his upcoming attempt with the sprint car.
Making a late run with his late model, long-time and long distance contestant Terry "Mud" Slinger arrived from Missouri with his old Super Slinger Special. The "Show Me State" pilot happened by chance on the contest many years ago, and has generally participated each year knowing full well that he does not stand a chance to run in the lead pack. He just likes the contest. Terry once again struggled with most of the photos and a fair share of the questions, but just like the Terry who had raced before him, this Terry also accomplished one thing. He was not going to finish last, as The Super Slinger sped under Les M at the finish line, he posted a 13 point tally. Contest promoter GRP appreciates his support.
The final late model entry arrived shortly after midnight, but GRP decided to allow the rookie contestant a shot. Cal Davis brought his Foss Fan #95 late model north from Winona to compete on the MDTR Tri-Oval. Cal had always wanted to send in an entry, and this year he decided to join in the fun at MDTR. The 20/20 Racing #95 entry only ran the first half of the event, but he was able to post a 10 point score. Heading to the pits under yellow, GRP checked with him to see if he would be able to continue. With no further activity in his pit area, his score will stand.
The Sprint Car Division is always popular with the MDTR fans, being the longest running division in the contest. The competition is fierce and the rivalry amongst several of the top contenders is genuine. It is of course all in good fun, but sprint car fans are a tremendously loyal group. Action on the final day gave the fans their money's worth, no doubt about that!
Returning for his fifth contest, Nick Lusk from St. Louis Park, MN was looking to see if he could improve upon his career-best third place finish in the 9th annual edition a couple of years ago. Racing his sharp-looking Lusk #22 Lightning Chassis, Nick took the green from Les M. With the Lusk racing family from the Jackson area on hand to cheer on Nick, he was off to a good start. The older era questions and photos are what Nick struggles with, and this year was no different. Nick was still able to turn in a fine run with a 30 point score. Nick indicated that the contest is always a fun time. Nick had the leaders in sight, so he'll be ready next year with some more fine-tuning on the Lightning.
Making their final run of the day, and certainly in the division where they are most comfortable, the Hoffman Racing family rolled out their sprint car entry. Kayla Hoffman has finished as high as third and never lower than seventh in her sprint car contest appearances, so MDTR fans knew she would be a contender. With Todd Hoffman turning the wrenches on the Hoffman Racing/Husets Speedway sprinter, Kayla set a torrid pace. As she moved past a couple of fellow South Dakotans, she set her sights on the top five. A problem with the wing slider near the end of her run prevented that, but Kayla put up a strong 34 point effort as she tied Tyler Urban and Shane Trondson. Kayla would run seventh at the moment though due to tie-breaker status. It is always a pleasure to have the Hoffman family at MDTR for contest action.
Also completing his triple play for the day, Chris Stepan wheeled the FYE Motorsports/UMSS Fan #1 sprinter out of his stacker trailer and prepped it for competition. Out of his element a bit, Chris is never very confident about his sprint car effort. Chris prefers the stock cars, and it shows. Chris never really got his sprinter up to full speed, battling a severe push caused by reverse stagger. The RS tire belongs on the right side of the sprinter Chris for a reason! Undaunted by his "handful" on the track, Chris ventured on. In the end, he was able to pull alongside Modchaser's Hummel Interstate Transport machine with a 12 point performance. No tie-breaker for the CLSracer, so Modchaser finished ahead of him.
In the waning hours of the contest, one kind of expects an entry to arrive from Mike "Pencil" Priefer. The nephew of our famous water truck driver, Chuck Priefer, Mike is a tremendous sprint car fan. Mike's #55L sprinter was making its ninth contest appearance after having to sit out last year due to motor issues. Mike certainly knows the MDTR track very well, although the new tri-oval configuration kept him guessing. Mike raced to a solid 27 point score, but he was hoping for a higher finish. Mike will sharpen his pencil and return next year to see if he can crack the top five.
Saving what might be the best for the last, Ron Haugstad brought his always competitive RHS Enterprises/Italian Moon #13 sprinter on the track. The entire crowd and pit area were watching to see if the last sprint car entry to arrive would be the first at the pay window. Ron's knowledge of sprint car racing runs deep! He is an extremely tough competitor, and has come as close as one point shy of a perfect score. Could he reel in Craig Johnson for the lead? Ron's Absolute Perfection Racing Engines entry was setup to perfection, and Ron was as smooth as ever on the new tri-oval. Perfect at the midway mark, Ron continued to zoom past contender after contender. With just a few laps remaining, Ron moved by Todd Boots and pulled alongside Craig. The MDTR crowd, and especially the South Dakota fans, were on their feet and hollering as loud as they could. Ron hustled his sprinter off the final corner and sped under Les M in the flagstand to defeat Craig Johnson and record a first-ever perfect score in the sprint car division. After 11 contests, GRP had finally seen the first perfect score in the sprints! GRP thought for sure with that nasty photo #20 in there, nobody could possibly ace this contest. Wrong! Ron Haugstad had literally waited until the eleventh hour to do just that!
Contest promoter GRP wants to take this chance to thank all of the contestants and all of the race fans who have followed along on the messages boards. Thanks to our contest flagman Stan M and his son Les M. Thanks also to Todd Narveson for guest announcing on Thursday, to Keith & Sally in the concession stand, Ron "The Swampman" Bernhagen for track prep, world famous water truck driver and founder of the diesel sprint car series Chuck Priefer, and to contest photographer Zimmy. Without Stan's help in hosting the contest on his Minnesota Dirt Track Racing website, we would not be able to enjoy this annual midwinter event of fun and games. I will run through the standings in all divisions and contact prize money winners for their mailing addresses or verify ones I have on hand from previous years. A HUGE fireworks display wrapped up the festivities at the MDTR Speedway at midnight Saturday January 30, 2010.
