This message was edited on
August 28, 2011 at
08:55:49 PM by StanM
Photo 4 wide salute to the crowd 2010 Jerry Richert Sr. Memorial - Stan Meissner photo
Year in and year out the JERRY RICHERT SR. MEMORIAL is the premier and most prestigious race on the IRA calendar. This year's event will be even bigger with an unprecedented $5,000.00 going to the winner which is sure to entice some of the best Sprint Car drivers and teams to lay it all on the line. In allure of the winner's purse comes the prestige of winning the race that honors one of the sport's true legends. The Golden Rim Rider was respected and feared by all as he accomplished winning the Knoxville Nationals in '62 and was also the '64, '65, '66 and '68 IMCA champion.
Just how good was JR? Both past and present racers still speak praise of his ability behind the wheel. The legendary Doug Wolfgang in his book "Lone Wolf" talks about how Jerry Richert Sr. was one of his heroes. Jerry "Scratch" Daniels, a legend, teammate, and friend to Jerry Richert Sr. for many years talks the talk about his old mate and is present at the race every year along with Richert's 1962 Nationals winning car owner Tedd Ready.
Current stars of the sport today including Outlaw Feature winning drivers Terry McCarl, Mark Dobmeier and Brooke Tatnell are just a few of the competitors that want to win this prestigious event. T-Mac stated in his victory lane interview after winning the 2003 Memorial that "Richert was the Steve Kinser of his day" and that "the IMCA in the 60's was the equivalent to today's World of Outlaws but far tougher".
People still frequently talk about Richert's Hall of Fame career and his ability behind the wheel of a race car. In the later stages of his career the aging Richert could still whip up on stars of the day such as Wolfgang and Kinser at places like North Starr, Superior and Husets. Richert's resume shows that he beat Indy 500 winners such as Foyt, Rutherford and Unser at the daunting and murderous County and State Fairgrounds tracks that used to dot the American landscape.
Some races pay good money, some races you want to win because of the prestige and honor but this race is unlike most in that it has both.
If you have never attended the Jerry Richert Sr. Memorial you are missing out on Sprint Car racing's true fan friendly event of the year and one of the greatest showings of Sprint Car racing anywhere in the world. Who will ever forget some of the battles over the years between McCarl, Herrera, Tatnell, Winters, Dobmeier, Reinke, Henderson and defending three time IRA champion Bill Balog for winner's honor? Who will come out on top of this year's 11th Annual Jerry Richert Sr. Memorial?
The IRA 410 sprints will be supported by the Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series winged 360's and Traditional (non-wing) Sprints making this an all Sprint Car show. The IRA and UMSS will be joined by the NVSR Vintage Cars and their exhibition races in the machines of yesteryear.
The Jerry Richert Sr. Memorial, IRA/Knoxville 410 Sprint Car Challenge is sanctioned by the Interstate Racing Association and will take place at the Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wisconsin, on Saturday September 10, 2011. The Cedar Lake Speedway grounds offer plenty of room for tailgating and camping in a beautiful wooded setting that is unique to this legendary facility. The Jerry Richert Sr. Memorial is known for it's awesome racing as well as it's post race campfires where stories are shared among fellow racing fans about days gone by.
For more information about the Cedar Lake Speedway including race time, admission, group sales, and lodging visit cedarlakespeedway.com.
To find out more about the Interstate Racing Association visit irasprints.com.
For more information about the Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series visit the UMSS website at umsprints.com
For more information about the Northern Vintage Stock Car Racers visit their website at northernvintageracers.com
Visit the Minnesota Dirt Track Racing website History section at gotomn.com to read the GRP Motorsports tribute to Jerry Richert Sr. and learn more about JR's amazing career.
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