Anderson rolls, Schmitt scores 3rd straight at Elko Speedway

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Lakeville's Steve Anderson avoided an opening lap fracas enroute to the NASCAR Super Late Model win, while Shakopee's Lucas Schmitt took advantage of a 10th lap restart to roar to his 3rd straight Power Stock win highlighting a rain challenged USG night of NASCAR Whelen All American Series action at Elko Speedway.

Early evening rain showers force Elko officials to make alterations to the program and all heat races for the drivers were held before the NASCAR Super Late Models hit the track prior to intermission and point leader Adam Royle set the Yellow Tail Fast Qualifying standard with a run of 13.969 seconds (96.643 seconds) and drew a "3" for the feature inversion, putting him inside row two. At the drop of the green, the field roared through turns one and two remaining side by side, with Anderson edging by rookie challenger Ryan Johnson for the lead. As Anderson and Johnson rolled through turn three, Prior Lake's Chad Walen tagged Royle, sending him skidding wildly, with cars scrambling and when the dust settled, Farmington's Jake Ryan was on the hook as a result of the ensuing contact, while Walen was sent to the trunk for the contact.

On the ensuing restart, Anderson again rolled his EyeCare Associates/Anderson Air/Auto Max Ford to the point and set in motion a consistent if not dominant run as the action remained green throughout, with the Lakeville veteran scoring a comfortable four car length win, with Royle continuing to pile up top fives with a second place finish and in a late race highlight, Johnson reeling in Lakeville's Joey Miller exiting turn four on the 40th and final circuit to score his second consecutive top three finish.

In the Power Stocks, Shakopee's Lucas Schmitt is making believers of his fellow drivers and fans alike as he scored his 3rd straight main event win, topping the 24 starters in the 20 lapper. Schmitt, who started racing with brother Jason in the Cruiser-Car division has always had the desire, if sometimes not the patience, but the on-track maturation process is becoming more and more evident and Saturday night was just the latest example. Lonsdale's Jeremy Rypkema powered into the opening lap lead, with St. Paul's Tom Doten battling with Schmitt who had made a couple of early moves.
As Rypkema set the pace, Schmitt patiently worked by Doten on lap seven and started to close on the leader before the caution flew on lap nine as Jennifer Cichy laid down a trail of oil. On the restart, Schmitt edged by Rypkema for the lead and then never looked back in scoring the win, with Doten catching and passing Rypkema for runner-up honors, with Shakopee's Matt and Adam Wiebusch rounding out the top five.

In the NASCAR Sportsman, Eagan's Justin Neisius zipped around pole sitter Dylan Moore of Northfield for the early advantage, with Prior Lake's Robbie Hazelton passing Moore for second before the caution flew on lap seven for a spinning Adam Bendzick. On the restart, Neisius again set the tone, with defending divisional champ Doug Brown of Prior Lake pressuring Hazelton as the duo closed on the leader. As the field neared the halfway mark, Brown's Pontiac came to life, working around Hazelton and then Neisius to take the lead on his way to the win, with Hazelton second, Neisius third, Jordan's Jonny Hentges fourth and Moore scoring his first career top five.

In the Great North Legends, Lakeville's Gene Traxler paced the opening six circuits before Hector's Ryan Schleusner and Buffalo's Pat Zandstra roared by on the top side with Webster's Tim Brockhouse and Kenyon's Dustin Tuma continuing Traxlers slide before the caution flew on lap 10 as Dillon Boggess and Bryson Wright locked horns, spinning on the back chute. On the restart, Schleusner and Zandstra each took turns at the point before a 16th lap caution slowed the action as Patrick Brejcha and Jon Lemke made hard contact exiting turn four. This restart, Prior Lake's Jaycen Brockhouse outdragged Schleusner into turn on and took the lead and eventual win, with Tuma second and Zandstra third. Schleusner's strong run ended on lap 17 when he and Tuma made contact battling for position.

In the Thunder Cars, Dundas' Ted Reuvers outpaced Veseli's Adam Simon to take the early lead, with Farmington's Dan Ryan, Jr. following up his early evening heat victory by quickly moving to third. The action was fast and furious until the caution flew on lap four as Rosemount's Tina Davis and Shakopee's Dan Weber made contact exiting turn two, sending the field scrambling to avoid. On the restart, Reuvers again showed his Chevrolet's power and when combined with green flag conditions, he rolled to a "wire to wire" victory over Simon and Ryan, with Lonsdale's Brent Kane and Elko's Daryl Bloom rounding out the top five.

Topping off the action were the Super Hornets and it was Burnsville's Aaron Hopkins' night to shine as he followed up his heat win by pulling away from early race Lakeville's Matt Criego and Elko's Brenda Schnickels enroute to the "clean sweep", with Lonsdale's Jeremy Brainerd making a late charge to edge Criego for second.

The NASCAR Whelen All American Series action at Elko Speedway continues on Saturday July 26. 2008 as Lehman's Garages present the action. For directions or ticket information, contact the Racing Office at (952) 461-RACE (7223) or visit www.elkospeedway.com.