(RACE RECAP) September 10th, 2022 Eve Of Destruction

By Jason D Searcy

The Elko Speedway recognized Hero’s including local FireFighters, Law Enforcement and military, celebrated current racers with a Sportsmanship award and memorialized local legends with special races on Saturday night.

Two NASCAR sanctioned Late Model features were raced on Saturday night including a 40 lap event in memory of a former ELKO 2-time Champion who died in 1994, Dwain Behrens. The race was won by Jacob Goede #72 from Carver (MN), it was the seventh time he has won this prestigious race. Goede started in the fourth row outside and worked his way up through traffic, the first half of the race #10 Dusty Mann had the field covered until the yellow flag flew on lap 26. On the restart #42 Ryan Kamish and Mann raced side by side for the top spot, eventually there was contact and both cars spun with about 10 laps remaining, sending both cars to the back of the field. That put Goede and #8 Billy Mohn side by side on the front row for the restart, those two battled furiously just inches apart until the checkers. “We touched a little bit, but there was no turning each other sideways, no running the other guy into the third groove, really good hard racing, I appreciate that from Billy and it was really fun to be a part of,” said Goede. Goede won by just 0.185 seconds, it was his second win of the season at ELKO. Billy Mohn finished second, #41 Donny Reuvers third, #32 Jeremy Wolff fourth and #52 Chad Walen fifth of the 20 cars entered. Michael Ostdiek #18, nephew of Behrens, started the race but had mechanical problems. The vintage car that Dwain Behrens raced, maintained by Gary Reuvers, paced the field pre race and was driven by Jackson Reuvers. Jacob Goede was presented with the traditional Clock Trophy in victory lane.

The other 25 Lap Late Model feature had #6 Owin Giles from New Market (MN) winning, Giles took the lead on lap 10 and held on to win by 0.734 seconds at the finish line, it was his fourth win this year at Elko Speedway. Jake Ryan #19 was second, #7 Jackson Lewis third, #8 Billy Mohn fourth and point leader #72 Jacob Goede fifth of the 20 cars racing. Teddy Kottschade #7 led numerous laps early and finished 9th and fast-qualifier #10 Dusty Mann was 12th.

Jacob Goede now has a 44 point lead over Chad Walen in the race for the 2022 Late Model Championship.

The NASCAR sanctioned Thunder Cars raced two times during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. The Scott Kingery memorial 30 lap Thunder Car race was won by #3 Conrad Jorgenson from Lakeville (MN). Kingery was a Thunder car driver, car owner and builder who died 9 years ago. Jorgenson started the race in the fourth row and worked his way up to the front after leader #99 Brent Kane dropped from the race with mechanical problems. Jorgenson then set sail and won by an impressive 4.843 seconds, it was the third time that Jorgenson has won this prestigious memorial race and unique trophy, it was his 5th win of the season at ELKO. Dillon Sellner #07 crossed the finish line second but was disqualified in post-race inspection, Adam Wiebusch #9 was awarded second, #09 Matt Wiebsuch third, #8 Taylor Goldman fourth and #53 Jeff Partington, who led some laps early, fifth of the 19 cars entered.

The other Thunder Car feature event had #14 Tony Holm from Prior Lake (MN) winning for the first time this season. Holm took the lead from #53 Jeff Partington on lap two but the two veteran drivers battled nearly the entire race and swapped the top spots a few times before Partington dropped out with mechanical problems two laps from the finish. Adam Wiebusch finished in second place, 0.473 seconds behind Holm, fast-timer #3 Conrad Jorgenson was third, #07 Dillon Sellner was fourth and #8 Taylor Goldman fifth of the 19 cars racing.

Conrad Jorgenson has now taken the lead in the point standings, he now has a slim 8 point lead over Dillon Sellner in the race for the 2022 Thunder Car Championship.

The INEX sanctioned Legends cars raced two 20 lap feature events at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. The first race was won by #75 Baiden Heskett from Hastings (MN), it was his fourth win of the season. Jon Lemke #71 finished in second place, he was 0.961 seconds behind Heskett. Jackson Lewis #44 finished third, Ryan Rose #33 was fourth and point leader #8 Colin Stocker fifth. Fast-timer #64 Tyler Ledbetter finished 10th, #7 Jacob Tiegen is the INEX national point leader in the semi-pro division, he led the early portion of the race but then had contact with #8 Tristan Swanson and finished 13th of the 22 cars entered.

The second Legends car feature had #8 Tristan Swanson from Elko (MN) winning for the first time this season at ELKO, he has spent most of the year in a Super Late Model traveling. Swanson led flag to flag but had to battle through some lapped traffic to hold off a hard-charging #13 Ayrton Brockhouse to win by 0.225 seconds at the finish line. Brockhouse was second, #44 Jackson Lewis third, #75 Baiden Heskett fourth and #64 Tyler Ledbetter fifth of the 22 cars entered.

Colin Stocker now has a 17 point lead over Baiden Heskett in the race for the 2022 Legends Championship at Elko Speedway.

The NASCAR sanctioned Power Stocks raced two 20 lap feature events during Eve of Destruction at ELKO Saturday night. The first race was won by Mike Stoer #08 from Prior Lake (MN) who took the lead from #13 Matt Frye with two laps remaining in the race after a long side by side battle. Stoer held on to win by 0.269 seconds, it was the fifth win of the season for Stoer. Matt Frye finished second, fast-qualifier #83 Julie Jorgenson was third, point leader #88 Nick Oxborough was fourth and #3 Jimmie Jorgenson fifth of the 14 cars entered in the event.

The second Power Stock feature was won by #57 Jesse Fischer from Eagan (MN), Fischer took the lead from Brock Westermayer #10 and also raced side by side with #66 Joe Prusak for numerous laps before coming home with a very narrow victory. Prusak finished just a bumper behind Fischer to finish second, he was 0.036 seconds behind at the stripe. Nick Oxborough #88 was in contention but finished in third, #62 Tom Doten was fourth and #13 Matt Frye was fifth of the 14 cars racing. It was the sixth win of the season at ELKO for Fischer.

Even though he does not have a win, Nick Oxborough has 17 Top5 finishes in 19 races and now has a 39 point lead over Mike Stoer in the race for the 2022 Power Stock point title at ELKO.

The INEX sanctioned Bandoleros are for kids ages 8-15, they raced two 12 lap feature events at Elko Speedway on the flat ¼ mile infield track on Saturday evening. The first race was won by #18 Leighton Rose from Elko (MN), he took the lead from #27 Riley Goodwin on lap 3 and motored to a victory by 0.484 seconds, it was his third win of the season at ELKO. Riley Goodwin finished second, #57 Mark Anderson Jr was third, #56 Clayton Dorner fourth and #13 Ayden Brockhouse fifth. Point leader #10 Danny Mann had mechanical problems and finished 8th.

The Bando’s second feature was won by #57 Mark Anderson Jr from Arden Hills (MN), he took the lead from #13 Ayden Brockhouse with an inside pass on lap 2 and led a freight train of cars to the finish to win his 6th race at ELKO this year. Danny Mann #10 finished 0.478 seconds behind to come across the line in second, #13 Ayden Brockhouse was third, #18 Leighton Rose fourth and #64 Jaden Miller Schmitz fifth of the 8 cars entered.
Danny Mann now has a slim 6 point lead over Mark Anderson Jr in the race for the 2022 Bando points Championship at ELKO.

All results and points are unofficial at the time of this release.

The Jeremy Johnson “Tire Guy” memorial sportsmanship award was given to 7K racing; JR, Stephanie, Teddy, Josiah and Jackson Kottschade.

Hunter Howell from America’s Got Talent thrilled the crowd with his extreme monowheel and burning wall of fire stunt and his 91 year old grandmother Lillian rode in her jet powered wheel chair.

Two monster trucks, Boss Gator and Monster Patrol crushed cars and performers swung from a motorcycle swing on the back concourse for the assembled crowd. Summer Scholl from Prior Lake (MN) won the Spectator Drags in a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette and the school bus races entertained as usual.

Up next at Elko Speedway is an Eve of Destruction on Saturday September 17th with racing in all 5 divisions, two monster trucks, drifter cars, school bus races, Minnesota Professional Towing Association Spectator Drags, MAW professional wrestling, Winrich Whips, photo opportunities with your favorite animated characters, music by Hitchville and much more. Gates open at 4:30pm, action begins at 5pm.

Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned high banked asphalt 3/8th mile race track with stadium seating located 30 minutes South of the Twin Cities in Elko/New Market MN. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com