(RACE RECAP) September 17th, 2022 Eve Of Destruction

By Jason D Searcy

The 2022 race season is ramping down but the action on the track is only increasing during the penultimate Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway.

The NASCAR sanctioned Late Models raced two 25 lap features on Saturday night. The first race was won by former ELKO two-time Thunder Car Champion #37 Bryce Blohm from Prior Lake (MN), Blohm took the lead on the opening lap and jumped out to a substantial advantage. Chad Walen #52 worked his way through traffic and challenged Blohm for the lead side by side on lap 13 of 25. “I saw Chad coming and I felt like the outside was going to work a little bit better, I was just trying to be smooth and run it to the finish line and that worked in our favor,” said Blohm. Blohm reestablished the lead and won by 0.61 seconds at the finish line, it was the first career Late Model win for Blohm. Walen finished second, Adam Bendzick #21 finished third, fast-qualifier #19 Jake Ryan was fourth and #3 Chris Marek was fifth. Point leader #72 Jacob Goede started 14th and finished 8th.

The second Late Model feature was won by 8-time ELKO Champion #72 Jacob Goede from Carver (MN). Goede led every lap of this cautionless race but felt heavy pressure from #19 Jake Ryan for numerous laps mid-race. Goede won by 0.237 seconds, it was his third win of the season at Elko Speedway. Jake Ryan finished second, Dusty Mann #10 was third, #6 Owin Giles fourth and #21 Adam Bendzick fifth of the 20 cars entered.

Going into the final race night of the season Jacob Goede leads Chad Walen by 51 points and Jake Ryan by 77 points. When you add up Qualifying and the two feature events a maximum of 133 points can be earned in a race night.

Two 20 lap NASCAR sanctioned Thunder Car races were run on Saturday night at Elko Speedway, the first race was won by #99 Brent Kane from Lonsdale (MN). Jeff Partington #53 led the first couple laps before Kane took over the top spot and never relinquished the lead, Kane won by an impressive 1.373 seconds. It was the sixth win of the season for Kane at ELKO. Defending Champion #07 Dillon Sellner finished second, #3 Conrad Jorgenson started 8th and finished third, Partington was fourth and #9 Adam Wiebusch fifth of the 10 cars entered.

The second Thunder Car feature was won by #3 Conrad Jorgenson from Lakeville (MN), it was his 6th win of the season at ELKO. Taylor Goldman #8 led the first half of the event, she then ran side by side with Jorgenson until he took over the lead for good on lap 13 of 20, Jorgenson then won by 1.722 seconds. Taylor Goldman finished second, Brent Kane #99 was third, #07 Dillon Sellner was fourth and #9 Adam Wiebusch fifth.

Going into the final night of racing Conrad Jorgenson will have a 16 point advantage over Dillon Sellner and 63 point lead over Brent Kane in the race for the 2022 Thunder Car Championship. Jorgenson has 5 previous Thunder Car Championships at ELKO dating all the way back to 1995.

The INEX sanctioned Legends cars raced two 20 lap feature events at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. The first race had lots of action, it was won by fast-timer #8 Colin Stocker from Northfield (MN), it was his 6th win of the season at ELKO. Ryan Rose #33 led the early part of the race, #71 Jon Lemke took the lead on lap 7, Baiden Heskett #75 grabbed the lead at the half-way mark and then Stocker established himself as the leader on lap 14. Stocker was just seconds away from the checkers when a caution occurred setting up a green-white-checkers finish, Stocker was able to hold on by 0.283 seconds at the line for the win. Baiden Heskett finished second, Jon Lemke third, Ryan Rose fourth and #03 Ryan Johnson fifth of the 18 cars entered.

The second Legends feature event was won by 12 year old Ayrton Brockhouse from Shakopee (MN) driving the #13 car, Brockhouse took the lead on lap 3 from #32 Rob Hazelton and drove to a big lead and then a win during the cautionless race by 2.679 seconds. It was the third win of the season for the youngest Brockhouse at ELKO. Colin Stocker #8 was second, #75 Baiden Heskett third, #33 Ryan Rose fourth and defending Champion #87 Robby Carter fifth.

Going into the final night of racing Colin Stocker has a 27 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 at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. The first race was won by #08 Mike Stoer from Prior Lake (MN). Cody Detlie #146 led the early portions of the race until #3 Jimmie Jorgenson took the lead on lap six, Julie Jorgenson was challenging her brother for the lead when mechanical problems dropped her from the race at just past the half-way mark. With 5 laps remaining a caution occurred because of fluid on the track resetting the field. Mike Stoer started the race in 6th but moved up on the high side to make some passes and challenge for the top spot on the last lap, he snuck past Jorgenson in the last set of turns to win by just 0.099 seconds at the line and deny Jorgenson his first career win. Stoer won for the 6th time of 2022 at ELKO. Jorgenson finished second, fast-timer #88 Nick Oxborough was third, #13 Matt Frye fourth and Cody Detlie was fifth of the 15 cars entered.

The second Power Stock event was also won by Mike Stoer #08, it was the first time that a driver has swept both features on the same night in the Power Stock division this year. Dave Montour #18 led the first few laps until the yellow flag slowed the field on lap 3, on the restart point leader #88 Nick Oxborough took the lead and held on through another restart on lap 7. The last-lap heroics continued for Mike Stoer as he moved up from his 14th starting spot to challenge for the lead with a high-side run during the white flag lap. There was some contact down the front stretch just before the finish line, #88 Nick Oxborough crossed the line first but was penalized two positions for rough driving. Mike Stoer was declared the winner, it was his 7th feature win of the season at ELKO. Joe Prusak #66 was awarded second, Oxborough third, #3 Jimmie Jorgenson fourth and #13 Matt Frye fifth of the 14 cars who started.

Nick Oxborough now has a 34 point lead over Mike Stoer going into the final night of racing in the 2022 season at Elko Speedway, Joe Prusak is 96 points back, Oxborough is a four-time Power Stock Champion at ELKO.

The INEX sanctioned Bandoleros raced two 12 lap feature events at Elko Speedway, the first race was won by #901 Alex Hartwig from Portage (WI). Hartwig is the 2019 Elko Speedway Champion who has already won point titles at State Park Speedway and Dells Raceway Park this year. Clayton Dorner #56 led the first lap and #18 Leighton Rose held the top spot on lap two. Eleventh starting Hartwig took the lead on lap six and held on to win by 1.325 seconds, it was his second win of the season in limited starts at ELKO. The race for the overall point title in the Bando’s is a tight one, coming into the night the top two competitors (Danny Mann and Mark Anderson Jr) were tied for the lead. Mark Anderson Jr #57 finished second in this race and #10 Danny Mann was third, giving Mark Anderson Jr a 2 point lead in the race for the title. Ayden Brockhouse #13 was fourth and Leighton Rose was fifth of the 11 cars entered.

The second Bando race was also won by #901 Alex Hartwig, it was his third win of the season at ELKO. Riley Goodwin #27 led the first couple laps, Hartwig took the lead on lap three. Point leader Mark Anderson Jr #57 then had mechanical problems and dropped out of the race on lap 6. Hartwig won the race by 1.525 seconds, Leighton Rose #18 finished second, #10 Danny Mann was third and took back the point lead, Goodwin finished fourth and #56 Clayton Dorner was fifth of the 11 cars racing.

Going into the final night of racing at ELKO in 2022, Danny Mann has a 13 point advantage over Mark Anderson Jr in the Race for the Bando point title, Leighton Rose is 59 points back. A maximum of 102 points can be earned in the Bando division in one race night.

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

MAW wrestling thrilled the assembled crowd with four exciting matches on the West Concourse while Crack Winrich displayed his incredible talent on the East Concourse during intermission.

The Minnesota Professional Towing Association held exciting special Spectator Drags, the School bus races pleased the crowd and Drifters displayed their sliding and burnout talents for the Eve of Destruction fans in the stands.

Up next at Elko Speedway is the final Eve of Destruction of the year on Saturday September 24th. All five divisions will race double features plus, two monster trucks, the famous figure 8 trailer race, a jet truck will melt a vehicle to the ground and fireworks will cap the season at ELKO. Gates open at 4:30pm, action begins at 5pm. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com

Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8th mile asphalt oval race track with stadium seating located 30 minutes South of the Twin Cities in Elko/New Market MN.