(RACE RECAP) July 8, 2023 Eve Of Destruction

Race Recap
July 8, 2023 – Elko, MN

By Jason D Searcy

This year with the Holiday taking place mid-week, Two Independence Day celebrations were held on Saturday nights at Elko Speedway. Both events had huge crowds for Eve of Destruction and fireworks both in the sky and on the track.

The NASCAR sanctioned Late Models raced two 25 lap features, the first one was won by #52 Chad Walen from Prior Lake (MN). Walen took the lead from the start and earned a big lead by mid-race. Jacob Goede #72 moved up from his third-row starting position to the second spot with just a few laps to go, he made up a lot of ground but this was a cautionless race and he ended up finishing 0.241 seconds behind Walen, it was the second win of the season for Walen. Goede finished second, #94 Hunter Covell-Paine was third, #31 Ryan Varner fourth and fast-qualifier #19 Jake Ryan was fifth of the 18 cars entered in the race.

The second Late Model race was won by #7 Jackson Lewis from Elko (MN), he is a former Legends car Dirt Nationals winner who is racing his first full year in a Late Model at ELKO. Lewis was second quick in qualifying and started the race alongside 14 year old Ty Fredrickson in the front row of this second feature. Lewis took the early lead and never looked back, he extended his lead as cars were racing side by side behind him and ended up winning this caution free race by an impressive margin of 2.687 seconds. It was his first ever win in a Late Model. Jake Ryan finished second, #8 Billy Mohn was third, #3 Chris Marek fourth and 3-time Rockford Speedway Champion #2 Michael Bilderback finished 5th of the 18 cars entered. Current ELKO point leader #72 Jacob Goede finished 6th.

The NASCAR sanctioned Thunder Cars raced two 20 lap features at Elko Speedway during Eve of Destruction on Saturday night.

The first feature was won by #07 Dillon Sellner from Randolph (MN). Brandon Peterson #7 had the early lead and Sellner took over the top spot half-way through the race, he then held off a hard charging #99 of Brent Kane after a caution period on lap 14 to win by 1.064 seconds. It was the second win of the season for the 2021 Elko Speedway champion Sellner. Brent Kane finished second, #14 Tony Holm third, #29 Tommy Sorem fourth and 7-time ELKO Champion #3 Conrad Jorgenson finished fifth of the 11 cars entered, it was the first race of the season for Conrad who is racing part-time this season.

The second Thunder Car feature event during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway was won by 4-time ELKO Champion #99 Brent Kane from Lonsdale (MN). Brandon Peterson led the first few laps until Conrad Jorgenson took over the top spot on lap 5 of 20. A yellow flag flew on lap 11, Brent Kane passed Jorgenson on the low side with three laps to go, he then had to hold off Dillon Sellner as they had a drag race to the finish line. Kane ended up winning by just 0.125 seconds, it was his fourth win of the season at ELKO. Sellner finished second, Tommy Sorem third, Conrad Jorgenson fourth and Tony Holm fifth of the 11 cars entered.

Brent Kane remains the current Thunder Car point leader at ELKO.