Tasseldega Nights Race Recap

By Jason D Searcy

June 6, 2015 – Elko, MN

The rain held off just long enough for the packed house to enjoy the entire NASCAR Whelen All American series race program on MN Corn Growers Tasseldega nights at Elko Speedway.

Nine time Champion Donny Reuvers from Dundas (MN) won the 40 lap MN Corn Growers Super Late Model feature event. He fought off challenges from defending Champion Jacob Goede who was pressuring him from below “the bottom is so tough to get by, you can only run about 4 or 5 laps down there before you have to cool your tires down,” said Reuvers. Goede eventually slipped back to fourth and Nick Murgic charged to the front and had a great battle with Reuvers, “Nick is a good driver” said Reuvers “you never have to worry about him sliding up and hitting you, it’s fun to race hard like that.”

Reuvers did win by the slightest of margains, only .143 seconds at the finish line, Murgic finished second with Matt Goede finishing just ahead of his brother Jacob Goede in this 20 car field of Super Late Models in the NASCAR Whelen All American series.

This was the first win at Elko Speedway in two years for Reuvers who has spent some time racing regional touring series recently “it’s nice to travel just twenty minutes and be at the race track, especially tonight with how many fans were here,” said Reuvers.

Two time defending Champion Chris Marek from Lakeville (MN) won the Hiway Federal Credit Union BIG 8 feature event. It took a last lap pass for Marek to edge Michael Ostdiek by only .030 seconds at the finish line. Ostdiek, the 2013 Elko Speedway Driver of the Year, was the fastest in qualifying and lead most of the 25 lap feature event, but he dropped to second by only a couple feet on the last lap. Ryan Kamish lead early in the race and finished third with Joe Neisus coming across fourth in the sixteen car field.

Its the fourth win in five events for Chris Marek in the BIG 8 division so far in 2015.

Jeremy Wolff from Chaska (MN) won his first Genz-Ryan Thunder Car main event of 2015. Wolff and Tina Davis thrilled the crowd by racing wheel to wheel for half of the 20 lap feature before he finally pulled away and won by 1.759 seconds at the finish line.

Davis finished second in the 19 car field with Michael Gilomen a very close third and three time Champion Brent Kane in fourth.

Sixteen year old Matt Allen from Chanhassen (MN) won his first ever Great North Legends feature event on Saturday night, “It felt amazing” said Allen “I’ve thought about this feeling for quite a while, it’s hard work but awesome.” Allen beat out Derek Lemke by 2.4 seconds with Will McCully finishing third and Shon Jacobsen fourth.

Allen has type 1 diabetes but he has not let it slow his racing career, after some advice from his NASCAR idol Ryan Reed, whom he met at Iowa Speedway last year, he now wears a continuous Glucose monitor to make sure his blood sugar level is OK and in range at all times, he also has a sugar drink in his race car just in case his blood sugar gets low.

Matt Allen races against his father Bruce who finished the race 10th out of the 23 cars in the Legends race. His younger brother Luke also races at Elko Speedway and is a winner in the Bandolero divison.

Fourteen year old Grant Brown won his second Pepsi Power Stock main event. Brandon Peterson and Cole Neisius got together while battling for the lead and that opened up the door for Brown who started seventh in the twenty car field.

Once Brown got the lead he had to fight back the many challenges of Dustin Mann to win by .311 seconds at the finish line. Defending Champion Nick Oxborough finished third and last weeks’ winner Tom Doten got fourth.

Justin Schelitzche from Lester Prairie won the Hornets feature. Schelitzche is a many time winner at Elko Speedway and a former Flag Pole race Champion. Alex Vincent finished second 3.405 seconds behind at the finish line and two time winner Ridge Oien finished third in the 16 car field.

Twelve year old Owin Giles from New Market (MN) won the Bandoleros main event passing his main rival Luke Allen on the bottom side of the track, its the second win of the season for Giles.

For full results go to www.ElkoSpeedway.com/results

Up next at Elko Speedway is an Eve of Destruction event on Saturday June 13th. In addition to the racing fans can see a woman being shot out of a cannon and a man being blown up by a stick of dynamite, also School Bus races, spectator drags and Doug Rose will drive his 12 time National Champion Jet drag racer the Green Mamba and melt a car down to the ground. An Elko Drive-in Movie will begin 15 minutes after the races are over. Gates open at 5pm and action begins at 6pm.

Get more information by calling (952) 461-7223 or go to ElkoSpeedway.com and follow Elko Speedway on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.