By Jason D Searcy
Oct 1st, 2016 – Elko, MN
The 2016 Race season ended in front of a huge crowd at Elko Speedway for the MN Lottery Eve of Destruction presented by Leo’s South on Saturday night.
The Great North Legends crowned a three time Champion, Derek Lemke #71 from Shakopee (MN) won his third consecutive title at Elko Speedway. He won the Championship by 69 points over #16 Matt Allen with #07 Jackson Lewis finishing third in points, #26 Will McCully fourth and #8 Cole Klein fifth.
Fifteen year old Jackson Lewis #7 from Lakeville (MN) scored his first career win at Elko Speedway on the final race of the year. Jake Varnum from Morris (MN) led the first few laps, then #90 Travis Warling took the top spot for a couple laps. Lewis came up from his fourth row starting position to take the lead at the half-way mark and he never gave it up. Varnum regrouped and took back the second place position by edging McCully by .044 at the finish line, Devyn Stocker #14 was fourth and #16 Matt Allen finished fifth in the 20 car field.
Alex Braseth #20 led the first few laps of the other Great North Legends feature event, the caution came out on lap seven and #13 Tim Brockhouse took over from that point. Brockhouse held back the many challenges of #4 Brady Fox-Rhode and scored his third victory at Elko Speedway in 2016. That win also clinched him the National Point Title in the INEX Legends Asphalt Masters division, two weeks previous he also won the INEX Legends Dirt Masters crown. An amazing accomplishment for this long time veteran wheelman from Webster (MN). Matt Allen #16 finished third, Hans Roeschli #21 fourth and #7 Jackson Lewis fifth.
Many of the top drivers from MN now are traveling to the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford (CT) for the INEX Legends National Championship weekend October 7th and 8th.
The Hornets Champion for the second year in a row is Justin Schelitzche #14 from Lester Prairie (MN). He had an incredible season scoring four wins and winning the title by 11 points over #36 Brandon Olson.
This final race was not an easy one for Schelitzche, he was leading the race when he got caught up in some lapped traffic and damaged his suspension, the car was not able to finish the race but due to his large point lead coming into the final night of racing, Schelitzche still won the Championship.
Brandon Plekkenpol #55 crossed the finish line first but was disqualified in post race tech inspection so #41 Ashley Bell was awarded the win, it was her second feature win of 2016. Alex Vincent #36 finished second, Brandon Olson #36 third Michael Wachs Jr #3 fourth and #7 Ridge Oien fifth.
The Bandolero’s Champion was #3 Luke Allen from Chanhassen (MN) he clean swept the two features scoring his 6th and 7th wins of the season at Elko Speedway. Lennon Watkins #48 finished second in points, Christopher Konop #88 was third, #99 Max Mabee fourth and #01 Zachary Konop was fifth in season ending points.
Eleven time National Jet Car Champion Doug Rose and his Green Mamba Jet Car thrilled the packed crowd with his car melting exhibition. The Demolition Devil performed three stunts: Jumping his car nearly 100 feet into a parked minivan, a flame suit demonstration and a steel wall crash driving a convertible. The annual Burnout contest was well received as the winner actually burned a tire off his vehicle in the process. The Spectator drags got the crowd to its feet as two drivers crashed together coming out of turn number four and both cars went up into the wall. The Drifters did an amazing show of precision driving skill and the School Bus races saw a huge rollover on the final lap. The Figure 8 trailer race was crazy as usual with drivers smashing into each other trying to knock the trailer off the other vehicle. Seth Withers was crowned the winner with Justin Schelitzche getting the prize for best appearing.
The 2016 season was ended with Rock n Roll fireworks saluting the race fans at Elko Speedway. Thank you Fans, Sponsors, Racers and their families for an incredible season.
Next up at Elko Speedway is the Champion Banquet held at Champions Event Center at Elko Speedway, it is Saturday October 22nd. Social Hour begins at 5pm and program begins at 6pm. The Johnny Holm band will entertain after the awards program. RSVP is required by October 14th. This event is open to the public after 8pm.
For more information, download the free ELKO Racing app or follow Elko Speedway on social media, the office phone number is (952) 461-7223.
Elko Speedway is a 3/8th Mile progressive banked asphalt oval race track located 30 minutes South of downtown Minneapolis just off of I-35 and County Road 2 in Elko (MN).