(RACE RECAP) September 2, 2023 Eve Of Destruction

Race Story
September 2, 2023 – Elko, MN
By Jason D Searcy

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer but it’s not the end of the race season at Elko Speedway, the stretch run to the Championship has now begun.

On Saturday night the NASCAR sanctioned Late Models raced two 25 lap feature events at ELKO. The first one had 9-time Champion #72 Jacob Goede from Carver (MN) winning in dramatic fashion with a last lap pass. Chad Walen #52 led the entire race until fast-qualifier Goede caught him coming to the white flag, Goede was able to sneak under Walen coming out of corner #2 on the last lap and then beat him back to the checkers by 0.079 seconds in this cautionless race. It was the fourth win of the season for Goede at Elko Speedway. Walen finished second, #3 Chris Marek was third, #19 Jake Ryan fourth and #31 Ryan Varner fifth of the 11 cars competing.

The second feature event was also raced 25 laps without a yellow flag it was won by #19 Jake Ryan from Elko (MN), Jeremy Wolff #32 took the lead off the start and Jake Ryan was able to take over the top spot on lap 10. Ryan drove away and won by 1.353 seconds, it was the 5th win of the season for Ryan. Chad Walen finished second in this race also, Jeremy Wolff was third, Ryan Varner fourth and Jacob Goede finished fifth.

Jacob Goede now has a 17 point lead in the race for the 2023 Late Model Championship at Elko Speedway.

The NASCAR sanctioned Thunder Cars raced two 20 lap features during Eve of Destruction at ELKO on Saturday night. The first race was won by #07 Dillon Sellner from Randolph (MN). Matt Frye #53 was the early leader until lap 3 when he and #29 Tommy Sorem were involved in an incident that resulted in a caution period, both competitors were sent to the back of the pack. Sellner took over the lead and never gave it up, he won by 1.854 seconds, it was his fourth win of the season. Taylor Goldman #8 finished second, #83 Julie Jorgenson was third, #88 Jason Novak fourth and #99 Brent Kane was fifth of the 12 cars entered.

The second Thunder Car feature was won by #29 Tommy Sorem from Northfield (MN), Brent Kane started up front and led the first half of the race until Sorem raced up from his third row starting position and grabbed the top spot on lap 11. Sorem then held off the rest of the field and won by 0.306 seconds at the finish line, it was the third win of the season for Sorem. Dillon Sellner finished second, Julie Jorgenson was third, Brent Kane ended up fourth and Taylor Goldman finished fifth during this cautionless race.

Dillon Sellner now has a 20 point lead over Brent Kane in the race for the 2023 Thunder Car Championship at Elko Speedway.

The NASCAR sanctioned Power Stocks raced two 20 lap features during the Labor Day weekend event at Elko Speedway.

The first race was caution-free #57 Jesse Fischer led every lap and crossed the finish line first by an impressive 6.321 seconds, Mike Stoer #08 crossed the line second, #3 Jimmie Jorgenson from Lakeville (MN) was third, #83 Julie Jorgenson was fourth and #10 Dusty Mann was fifth followed by #77 Payton Letcher and #45 Gary Stokvis. Jesse Fischer and Mike Stoer were later disqualified in post-race technical inspection making Jimmie Jorgenson the winner, it was his 4th win of the season.

The second race had Gary Stokvis taking the early lead Julie Jorgenson took over the top spot on lap 5 but the Jesse Fischer car was on a rail and there was no stopping him, he grabbed the top spot with a few laps remaining and crossed the finish line first by 0.738 seconds. Julie Jorgenson #83 from Lakeville (MN) crossed the line second, Mike Stoer #8 was third, #14 Brock Westermayer was fourth and #3 Jimmie Jorgenson was fifth followed by Payton Letcher and #12 Charles Verhota. Point leader Dusty Mann had a mechanical problem and did not finish the race.

During post-race technical inspection both Jesse Fischer and Mike Stoer were disqualified and that made Julie Jorgenson the winner, it was her fourth win of the season at ELKO.

Julie Jorgenson has now also taken over the point lead by 18 over Dusty Mann in the race for the 2023 Power Stock Championship at ELKO.

The INEX sanctioned Legends division raced two 20 lap feature events during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway over Labor Day weekend. Baiden Heskett #75 from Hastings (MN) won both of the races.

The first race was marred by 5 yellow flags and an oil soaked surface that slowed the pace. Mark Anderson Jr #8 led the first lap and #87 Robby Carter led the second lap, Heskett took over the top spot on lap 8 and held on to the end, Heskett won by 1.482 seconds. Fast-timer #8 Colin Stocker finished second, #158 Ryan Johnson was third, #12 Ayrton Brockhouse fourth and #3 Dirk Henry was fifth of the 20 cars competing.

The second race also had Heskett winning, it had Casey Traxler #13 leading early, Dirk Henry led on lap 3 until he was involved in an incident and had to come back from the rear of the field. Heskett and Colin Stocker fought for the lead and another caution occurred, Stocker tapped out and went to the back of the pack meanwhile Henry was making his way back to the front. Heskett ended up winning the race by 2.536 seconds, it was his sixth win of the season at ELKO, if he would not have missed two race nights due to work reasons, he would be in the hunt for the point title. Dirk Henry raced up through traffic to finish as the runner up, Ayrton Brockhouse was third, Robby Carter fourth and Ryan Johnson finished fifth.

Colin Stocker now has an 81 point lead over Ayrton Brockhouse in the race for the Legends point title at ELKO.

The INEX sanctioned Bandoleros raced two 12 lap feature events at Elko Speedway on Saturday night.

Jackson Kottschade #07 from Ramsey (MN) won both events. Both races had three yellow flags, Jaden Miller-Schmitz #64 led the first 4 laps in the first feature until getting tangled with #32 Colton Roe Pershall, both cars went to the back opening the door for Kottschade who ended up winning by 0.548 seconds. Colton Roe Pershall moved up from the back to finish second, Leighton Rose #18 was third, #89 Makaydee Konop was fourth and Jaden Miller-Schmitz finished fifth of the 12 cars entered.

Logen Carter #75 led the first lap of the second feature event, Colton Roe Pershall led the second lap until Jackson Kottschade took over on lap 5. Kottschade won by 0.717 seconds for his seventh feature win of the season at ELKO. Leighton Rose finished second, Colton Roe Pershall was third, Makaydee Konop fourth and Logen Carter finished fifth.

13 year old Jackson Kottschade now leads Leighton Rose by 44 points in the race for the 2023 Bando Championship at ELKO.

For full results, point standings and photos go to www.ElkoSpeedway.com

Summer Scholl from Prior Lake (MN) won the spectator drags in her 1999 Chevrolet Corvette.

The action athletes from ATV Big Air and Mega Jump BMX thrilled the crowd, Josh Baumgartner crushed cars with his Monster Truck named “the Boss.” Russ Lorbiecki from Sussex (WI) entertained with his Project Fireball burnout machine and Micro Cooper stunt vehicles. School Bus races ended the race night with a bang as always.

Up next at Elko Speedway is an Eve of Destruction on Saturday September 16th featuring 5 divisions of racing, two monster trucks, a special spectator drags from the MN Towing association, School Bus races, Winrich Whips and a man shot out of a cannon in front of the crowd. Gates open at 4:30pm, action begins at 5pm at Elko Speedway. Get more info at ElkoSpeedway.com