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Lee Grosz Overcomes Mishap To Win UMSS Feature At North Central Speedway
Brainerd, MN
By: Greg Parent UMSS Media Director (5-17-14) with assistance from Don Randall
Lee Grosz of Harwood, ND found himself on his lid in heat race action at the North Central Speedway during the UMSS race on May 17. Grosz would later find himself standing in Victory Lane following his dominating performance in the 25 lap UMSS feature race. It was his second win of the season in two UMSS races and his fourth career victory with the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series.
Following the usual double round of qualifying races which saw two-time series champion Jerry Richert, Jr. and 2010 Rookie of the Year Jared Goerges pick up Ultimate Heat race wins while Scott Broty and Grosz topped the Challenge races, the field was set for the main event. High point driver Richert pulled the worst (for him) pill resulting in an invert of eight. This put 2012 Rookie of the Year Anna Kouba and Lee Grosz on the front row on the well-prepared, fast track. Fast and Lee Grosz up front usually means the potent Howells 4J is going to sit in Victory Lane. Such was the case on this night, as Grosz was in command throughout the race.
The red flag would fly twice in the feature for two separate accidents. The first stoppage came when Scott Broty and Jared Goerges made contact in turn four on lap 14. Broty got upside down. Tempers flared but the track was cleared and the race resumed. One lap later, the other part of Broty Racing, Scott's son James, destroyed his car in a grinding crash into the turn four concrete wall and retaining fence. With Grosz in control up front, the race then ran the final ten laps to the finish. Richert gave chase through traffic in the closing laps but never really was able to get close to the flying 4J. Jennifer Eriksen, in her 2014 season debut, finished third in her brand new car. Dave Becker overcame some earlier mechanical gremlins to ride home in fourth ahead of a pair of 2014 rookie candidates, Ryan Bowers and Jamey Ogston. 2013 Rookie of the Year Reed Allex finished seventh. The remainder of the field did not finish.
The UMSS is looking forward to a big Memorial Day Weekend with double header action at the St. Croix Valley Raceway on Friday May 23 for the 3rd Annual Davey Tabor Memorial and then on Saturday May 24 for their annual holiday weekend appearance at the Rice Lake Speedway. Both the winged and non-winged divisions will be on the program at each track. Be sure and check out the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com for all the latest news or visit the UMSS Facebook page and become a friend of this popular open wheel series.
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UMSS Race Results - North Central Speedway May 17, 2014 (Race #2):
Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Race #1 (6 laps): Jerry Richert Jr, Jennifer Eriksen, Ryan Bowers, Reed Allex, Lee Grosz DNF, Neal Matuska DNF, Dave Becker DNS.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Race #2 (6 laps): Jared Goerges, Sye Anderson, Anna Kouba, Scott Broty, James Broty, Jamey Ogston.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #1 (8 laps): Scott Broty, Richert, Anderson, Ogston, Allex, Backer DNS.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Grosz, Eriksen, Goerges, Kouba, Bowers, James Broty.
Hoosier Racing Tire A Main (25 laps): Grosz, Richert, Eriksen, Becker, Bowers, Ogston, Allex, James Broty DNF, Sye Anderson DNF, Scott Broty DNF, Goerges DNF, Kouba DNF, Matuska DNS.
Lap Leader: Grosz 1-25
Cautions: (2)
Victory Lane Photo Courtesy of Russ Cramblit at Full Tilt Racing Photography.
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