By Jason D Searcy
June 2, 2018 – Elko, MN
Rain early in the afternoon did not dampen the spirits of race fans for NASCAR racing in the Whelen All American Series during Fan Appreciation night at Elko Speedway sponsored by the Car Lot of New Prague.
Devyn Stocker #14 started on the front row and took the lead early in the first Hiway Federal Credit Union Late Model feature, Devyn raced in the Great North Legends the past few years but is now a rookie in the Premiere division at Elko Speedway. Jacob Goede #72 is the four-time defending Champion at ELKO and started the race last after posting the fastest time in qualifying earlier in the evening. Stocker got out to an early big lead as Goede worked his way through the field, after 25 laps of continuous racing Goede caught up to Stocker and followed in his tracks until the last lap, the two cars went side by side coming out of corner number four and mirrored each other crossing the line. Jacob Goede from Carver (MN) was determined the winner and transponder results confirmed the margin of victory at an incredibly close .012 seconds, it was the second win of the season for Goede. Stocker was denied his first career win by finishing second, #21 Adam Bendzick third, #5 Owin Giles fourth and #13 Bryan Wrolstad fifth.
The second Late Model feature winner was #3 Chris Marek from Lakeville (MN), Marek grabbed the lead off the start and never looked back for his second win of the 2018 season. It was exciting racing for second position as #52 Chad Walen held off #72 Jacob Goede by only .115 seconds for the runner-up position, #50 Steve Anderson finished fourth and #6 Owin Giles rounded out the Top 5. Both Late Model features had exciting racing and went cautionless for all 30 laps.
Both Genz-Ryan Thunder Car feature events had very exciting finishes at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. The first 20 lap feature had #15 Michael Gilomen lead early, then #25 Eric Campbell grabbed the top spot off a restart on lap three. Jeremy Wolff #32 was the fast qualifier and started at the back of the field, he charged his way up to challenge for the lead with six laps remaining in the race, then went side by side with Campbell the final three laps. With the crowd rising to their feet coming down the front stretch it was Wolff crossing the finish line first, the margin of victory was only .056 seconds. Campbell was second, #9 Adam Wiebusch third, #37 Bryce Blohm fourth and #07 Dillon Sellner finished fifth of the eleven cars entered.
The second Thunder Car feature again had #15 Michael Gilomen lead early, then #23 Steve Schultz led a lap before #07 Dillon Sellner from Farmington (MN) grabbed the top spot and drove to a big lead. Four-time ELKO Champion #3 Conrad Jorgenson has had nothing but bad luck this year, he did not even finish the first feature event of the night so he started at the back of the second feature. Jorgenson raced his way through the field and finally challenged Sellner for the win on the last lap, Jorgenson came up just short and finished .192 seconds behind for second. Jeremy Wolff #32 was third, #25 Eric Campbell finished fourth and #37 Bryce Blohm finished fifth. It was the second win of the season for Dillon Sellner.
The Pepsi Power Stocks first feature had #56 Paul Hamilton and newcomer #41 Ben Gannon battle for the early lead until a multi-car incident brought out the caution after lap two. On the restart #88 Nick Oxborough grabbed the top spot but he had #5 Dustin Tuma from Lonsdale (MN) right on his tail. Tuma took over the lead by passing on the high side on lap five but Oxborough fought back and the two raced side by side lap after lap. Tuma reestablished the lead with five laps to go and held on for his first win even though Oxborough was in his tracks finishing just .247 seconds behind at the finish line. Taylor Goldman #8 finished third, #08 Michael Stoer had mechanical problems during qualifying, fixed the car just in time to start the feature in last place and raced his way all the way up to finish fourth and Paul Hamilton held on for fifth.
The second Power Stock feature had #27 Darin Patnode take the early lead until fast qualifier #41 Jason Michaud from Otsego (MN) took over on lap three, Michaud then took off for a nice lead and won his second career feature event at Elko Speedway. The exciting race was for second place as #56 Paul Hamilton and #8 Taylor Goldman duked it out side by side for the runner-up position. Hamilton ended up beating Goldman by just .060 at the finish line. Dustin Tuma #5 finished fourth and Darin Patnode rounded out the Top 5 finishers. The Power Stocks division is very evenly matched, they have raced six times so far in 2018 and race fans have seen a different winner in every race.
The Eternity Homes Great North Legends sported a healthy seventeen car field on Saturday night at Elko Speedway. The first twenty lap feature was led by #47 Austin Jahr early until #13 Jon Lemke from Shakopee (MN) took over the lead on lap two in a car he had never raced before. Fast qualifier #75 Baiden Heskett moved up from his eighth starting position to challenge for the top spot on lap seven, the caution came out the next lap but the former Late Model Champion Lemke resumed the lead after the restart. Lemke had to hold back Heskett again numerous times including a furious charge on the last lap, Lemke ended up winning by just .104 seconds at the finish line. “These cars a so fun to drive, you’re low to the ground, the weight to horsepower ratio is as much as a Late Model, they are addicting, it’s fun” said Lemke “everything that Great North Legends prepares is top notch, I just get in there and drive it because I know that it will be good.” Heskett finished second, #16 Matt Allen was third, #7 Jackson Lewis finished fourth and #12 Sammy Smith from Johnston (IA), who was racing at ELKO for the first time ever, finished fifth.
Baiden Heskett #75 who is originally from Texas and now lives in Shakopee (MN) won the second 20 lap main event in the Great North Legends on Saturday night at ELKO. Travis Warling #90 led the first few laps, then #11 Jessie Mahoney took over the top spot until #03 Robbie Carter grabbed the lead on lap five. Carter battled Heskett for the lead many laps and stayed in the tracks of Heskett at the line, finishing only .280 seconds behind at the finish. Matt Allen #16 had a good night finishing third in both races, #8 Cole Klein was fourth and #12 Sammy Smith was fifth. Heskett now has won three of the four feature races so far at Elko Speedway in the Great North Legends division.
The Brock’s Flooring Bandolero feature event was again very entertaining at Elko Speedway. 2017 Champion #8 Colin Stocker and opening night winner #14 Kody King swapped the lead no less than an amazing nine times in a 15 lap race. These competitors have quickly developed a great rivalry, on the last lap these two drivers had some contact and Stocker ended up spinning out and finishing ninth of the eleven cars entered. Kody King from Forest City (IA) crossed the finish line first and won his second consecutive Bando feature at ELKO. Adam Ratliff #06 was very excited to finish second place, this is his first year in a Bando after racing a Quarter Midget car last year, another rookie #07 Teddy Kottschade was third, #99 Max Mabee fourth and still another rookie #13 Ayrton Brockhouse finished fifth.
All results are unofficial, the official results will be posted mid-week at ElkoSpeedway.com
Up next at Elko Speedway is an Eve of Destruction event on Saturday June 9th featuring NASCAR racing in the Late Models, Thunder Cars and Great North Legends also great entertainment with two Monster Trucks, a real Hollywood Stuntman, School Bus Races, Spectator Drags, Petting Zoo and much more. Music in Champions bar by Chad Johnson and the 8th Street Band. Gates open at 5pm, action begins at 6pm, get more information by going to ElkoSpeedway.com, follow Elko Speedway on social media or by downloading the free ELKO Racing app.
Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8th mile banked asphalt oval race track with stadium style seating located 30 minutes South of the Twin Cities just off of I-35 and County Road 2 in Elko-New Market (MN).