Simpson stars as Elko opens AMSOIL Dirt Nationals

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By Jim Burns

 

Elko, MN July 9 & 10, 2010--Mt. Vernon, IA's Chad Simpson has been on quite the ride in 2010 and if his performance in the opening weekend of the AMSOIL Dirt Nationals at Elko Speedway is any indication, he's not slowing down anytime soon! Simpson made a bold, final lap, final turn pass of Farley, IA's Jason Rauen to win the Friday night Corn Belt Clash headliner, then came back Saturday night to slide by Columbus Junction, IA's Jason Utter on lap 29, enroute to the victory in the "USAF 30", pocketing the $3,000 winners check for his seventh victory in eight series starts.

 

A carnival like atmosphere greeted fans both Friday and Saturday evening as the concourse featured displays from sponsors and vendors alike and with the freshly laid clay surface in place, all in attendence were anxious for the green to fly. On Friday July 9, 2010, after three action packed heat races the Corn Belt Clash Late Models took to the clay for their feature (which was shortened to 20 laps due to time constraints) and Jason Rauen powered to the early lead over Adam Hencil and Alan Mondus, with Brian Harris ducking under Mondus for third on the second circuit and series point leader Chad Simpson climbing into the top five by the fifth lap. With Rauen continuing to set the pace, the first of three cautions flew on lap 10 as Dave Eckrich slowed with a flat, with the second caution coming on the restart as Kelly Anderson stalled on the main as the green flew sending cars scattering across the track.

 

As the green flew resuming the action, only two laps would be completed before two cars tangled in front of the leaders to stall the action one final time. On the final restart, as Rauen brought the field to the green, Chad Simpson flew around the outside from fifth into a battle with Hencil for runnerup honors, while Kevin Sather and Chris Simpson joined in the hunt. Over the final three laps, the crowd roared it's approval as Chad Simpson closed feverishly and pulled alongside of Rauen as the white flag flew. As the tandem exiting turn four, with the crowd on it's feet Simpson edged Rauen at the line for the win, with Hencil third, Sather fourth and Chris Simpson fifth. 

 

For the UMSS Sprint Cars, the action was hard fought as a total of 9 cautions reigned throughout the 15 lap main including an opening lap incident between Johnny Parsons III and Jerry Richert, Jr that sent Richert, Jr to the pits as his header pipe was pinched shut in the incident. After all of the incidents that included a spectacular flip on the front straight by Tony Kaus, St. Peter's Bill Johnson brought his Mankato Harley Davidson sprinter home with the win, with Glencoe's Chris Graf second and series point leader Brad Barickman third.

Topping off the opening nights action were the AMSOIL Championship Modifieds and after four heats and a "B" feature pared the 38 entrants down to the 24 starters, the action didn't disappoint as Waseca's Gerald Boumeester led the field to the green, with Dan Wheeler, Bud Martini working around pole sitter Bob Smith to begin their chase of the leader. By lap three, Wheeler and Martini had chased down Boumeester and set sail on their own personal "one on one" battle, that culminated with Wheeler capturing the checkers, with Martini, Dustin Scott, Smith and Nate Chodur in the top five ending a wild night of action.

 

After giving competitors, officials and fans all a chance to recharge, all parties returned to Elko Speedway on Saturday July 10, 2010 for night two of the AMSOIL Dirt Nationals and after a full night of racing, the track and competitors all responded.

 

The Corn Belt Clash Late Models kicked off the action with the USAF 30 and Marshall Fegers led the field to the green, with Jason Utter, Kevin Sather, Dave Eckrich and Justin Kay in tow before an early caution flew on lap three as Eric Pember lost the handle on his ride exiting turn four. Following a quick reline, the green flew resuming the action and it was Utter getting a great run out of turn two to overtake Fegers for the point, leading the way until the second of three cautions flew on lap 12 as Justin Fegers lost power in turn three, while Kay headed to the infield with problems of his own. On the second restart, series point leader Chad Simpson made a wild slide in turn two bypassing both Eckrich and Sather to move to third, before the caution flew a final time on lap 26 as Adam Hencil stalled in turn two, setting up a four lap dash for the $3,000 top prize. On the final green, Utter took the point, with Simpson sliding around Marshall Fegers for second before tracking down Utter on lap 29, sliding around the leader in turn one enroute to the weekend sweep, with Utter second, Fegers third, Eckrich fourth and Sather fifth.

 

In the UMSS Sprint Cars, what a difference a night can make! Friday night, early contact and a pinched header pipe sidelined Forest Lake's Jerry Richert, Jr, but Saturday night he was all business as he grabbed the point on the drop of the green and held off an early challenge from Alan Gilbertson before a lap four rollover by Luke Nagel brought out the red flag. On the restart, Gilbertson was able to take the lead, but Richert wouldn't go away and Chris Graf showed that he wanted a piece of the action as he moved by Johnny Parsons III on lap seven to join in the hunt.

 

The turning point in the 20 lapper came on lap 14 as Gilbertson, feeling pressure from Richert on the inside looked to work through lapped traffic and as Richert saw an opening and went for it entering turn one, Gilbertson touched wheels with Shannon Erickson sending both cars over. On the final restart, Richert and Graf swapped the point before Richert asserted himself to earn the win, with Graf second, Parsons III third, Brandon Allen fourth and Andy Jones fifth.

 

 

Topping off the action were the AMSOIL Championship Modifieds and in similar fashion to Richert's woes in the UMSS Sprints, Hector's "Flyin Ryan" Schleusner had his problems on Friday night, but outpaced Ryan Johnson for the early lead and through 20 laps and three caution periods fought tooth and nail with Friday's winner Dan Wheeler for the lead. When the checkers rolled, it was Wheeler edging Schleusner for the victory, with Jared Boumeester third, Alan Gessell, Jr. fourth and Alan Bohlman fifth.

 

The AMSOIL Dirt Nationals continue at Elko Speedway on Friday and Saturday July 16 & 17, 2010 with the USMTS Modifieds, including a special appearance by NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader on Saturday in addition to the UMSS Sprint Cars and AMSOIL Championship Modifieds. Gates open at 5p both nights, with racing action set for 7p. For ticket information, directions or general questions, contact the Racing Office at (952) 461-7223 or visit www.elkospeedway.com.

 

Results from the AMSOIL Dirt Nationals at Elko Speedway Friday July 9, 2010

 

Corn Belt Clash Late Models

Heat 1 10 laps 1. Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 2. Jason Rauen Farley, IA 3. Adam Hensel Barron, WI

Heat 2 10 laps 1. Kevin Sather Ankeny, IA 2. Justin Fegers Mound 3. Chris Simpson Oxford, IA

Heat 3 10 laps 1. Eric Pember Pittsville, WI 2. Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA 3. Alan Mondus Lakeville

Feature 20 laps 1. Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA 2. Jason Rauen Farley, IA 3. Adam Hensel Barron, WI 4. Kevin Sather Ankeny, IA 5. Chris Simpson Oxford, IA

 

UMSS Sprint Cars

Heat 1 8 laps 1. Brad Barickman Richfield 2. Bill Johnson St. Peter 3. Luke Nagel

Heat 2 8 laps 1. Jerry Richert, Jr. Forest Lake 2. Danny Lee 3. Jennifer Erickson Burnsville

Heat 3 8 laps 1. Chris Graf Glencoe 2. Greg Gunderson 3. Jared Goerges Brainerd

Heat 4 8 laps 1. Alan Gilbertson 2. Jessie Smith Mankato 3. Dusty Ballenger

"B" Feature 12 laps 1. Cody Hahn Minneapolis 2. Johnny Parsons III Owatonna 3. Tony Kaus Bloomington

Feature 15 laps 1. Bill Johnson St. Peter 2. Chris Graf Glencoe 3. Brad Barickman Richfield 4. Dusty Ballenger 5. Danny Lee

 

AMSOIL Championship Modifieds

Heat 1 8 laps 1. Jared Boumeester Waseca 2. Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights 3. Greg Arnt

Heat 2 8 laps 1. Alan Bohlman Cambridge 2. Bud Martini Avon 3. Gerald Boumeester Waseca

Heat 3 8 laps 1. Mike Hernke Cannon Falls 2. Ryan Kriese 3. Bob Smith

Heat 4 8 laps 1. Jason Hall Princeton 2. Dustin Scott Rosemount 3. Nate Chodur

"B" Feature 10 laps 1. Daniel Menk Franklin 2. Allen Gessell, Jr. Big Lake 3. Shawn Kelley Somerset, WI

Feature 18 laps 1. Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights 2. Bud Martini Avon 3. Dustin Scott Rosemount 4. Bob Smith 5. Nate Chodur

 

Results from the AMSOIL Dirt Nationals at Elko Speedway Saturday July 10, 2010

 

Corn Belt Clash Late Models

Heat 1 10 laps 1. Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA 2. Justin Kay Wheatland, IA 3. Eric Pember Pittsville, WI

Heat 2 10 laps 1. Justin Mitchell Cedar Rapids, IA 2. Kevin Sather Ankeny, IA 3. Marshall Fegers Mound

USAF 30 1. Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA 2. Jason Utter Columbus Jct., IA 3. Marshall Fegers Mound 4. Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 5. Kevin Sather Ankeny, IA

 

UMSS Sprint Cars

Heat 1 8 laps 1. Alan Gilbertson 2. Johnny Parsons III Owatonna 3. Cody Hahn Minneapolis

Heat 2 8 laps 1. Jessie Smith Mankato 2. Jenny Erickson Burnsville 3. Leigh Thomas Duluth

Heat 3 8 laps 1. Chris Graf Glencoe 2. Jerry Richert, Jr. Forest Lake 3. Brandon Allen St. Peter

Challenge Race #1 12 laps 1. Bill Johnson St. Peter 2. Brad Barickman Richfield 3. Chris Graf Glencoe

Challenge Race #2 11 laps 1. Jerry Richert, Jr. Forest Lake 2. Andy Jones Princeton 3. Johnny Parson III Owatonna

Feature 19 laps 1. Jerry Richert, Jr. Forest Lake 2. Chris Graf Glencoe 3. Johnny Parsons III Owatonna 4. Brandon Allen St. Peter 5. Andy Jones Princeton

 

AMSOIL Championship Modifieds

Heat 1 8 laps 1. Alan Bohlman Cambridge 2. Allen Gessell, Jr. Big Lake 3. Ryan Johnson Eagan

Heat 2 8 laps 1. Jared Boumeester Waseca 2. Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights 3. Jason Hall Princeton

Heat 3 8 laps 1. Paul Neisius Hastings 2. Ryan Schleusner Hector 3. Mike Hernke Cannon Falls

Feature 20 laps 1. Ryan Schleusner Hector 2. Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights 3. Jared Boumeester Waseca 4. Allen Gessell, Jr. Big Lake 5. Alan Bohlman Cambridge

 

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