8/15/2013
Tatnell Makes It Two For Two At KRA
Tatnell Makes It Two For Two In UMSS Features At KRA Speedway
Brooke Tatnell passed his brother-in-law Jerry Richert, Jr. on lap seven and went on to record his second win at the western Minnesota track in the second appearance for the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) at the KRA Speedway. Tatnell also won last year at KRA. For Tatnell, it was his 21st career UMSS feature win, as he once again earned the King of KRA title and a $1,000 pay day on a pleasant summer evening that kicked off a three race tour for the UMSS winged sprints.
A solid field of 20 UMSS sprints signed into the pits. Ultimate Sprint Heats were won by Leigh Thomas, Lee Grosz and Davey Heskin. Challenge Race victories went to Jason Tostenson and Tony Norem in an exciting charge forward. Norem was the high point driver following the double round of qualifiers and drew the #6 pill for the feature race invert. This set the stage for the 20 car starting grid in the 20 lap main event with Richert and Heskin on the front row.
The feature was under the red flag right away when Norem and Tostenson got together in turn one on the opening lap. Norem ended up flipping over while Tostenson drove away with a flat left rear tire and some other damage. Just behind this incident, Jared Goerges and Rick Kobs were involved, as each car sustained damage and rode the hook to the pits. Only Tostenson was able to refire at the tail of the field following his tire change. The race would then go 20 laps nonstop to the checkers.
Richert raced to an early lead with Tatnell quickly moving into the runner-up spot. As the leaders approached lapped traffic in turn three seven laps into the race, Tatnell jumped at the opportunity to drive by Richert. Tatnell held a comfortable lead for the remainder of the race. Current UMSS point leader Chris Graf got by Richert for second on lap eleven, but it was 13th starter Lee Grosz who was on the move. Grosz had suffered a rear end failure in his car during challenge race action. Doug Howells and crew went to work on making repairs and had the car ready for the feature. Grosz got by Graf four laps later and would finish second to Tatnell. Grosz earned a $100 Hard Charger Award from GRP Motorsports. Graf finished second ahead of Heskin. Tostenson drove from the back of the field at the red up to a fifth place finish. Seventeen of the twenty starters finished with the top ten on the lead lap.
The UMSS finally got over the hump in races run versus races cancelled due to the weather, as the KRA event was the eighth show of the season with seven lost to the weather. Drivers and fans can keep tabs on the championship point races, race results and check out the remaining race schedule on the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com or become a friend of the UMSS on their Facebook page.
UMSS Race Results - KRA Speedway August 15, 2013 (Race #8)
Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (6 laps): 29 Leigh Thomas, 25 Brooke Tatnell, 9 Jared Goerges, 48 Neal Matuska, 20 Jordan Wilmes, 31 James Broty.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (7 laps): 4J Lee Grosz, B1st Tony Norem, 34 Rick Kobs, 10x Jennifer Eriksen, 37 Sye Anderson, 5 Anna Kouba, 91A Reed Allex.
Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat #3 (7 laps): 91 Davey Heskin, 20G Chris Graf, 63 Jerry Richert Jr, 36 Jason Tostenson, 23 Cody Hahn, 11xs Donovan Peterson, 55 Joseph Kouba.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #1 (10 laps): Tostenson, Tatnell, Graf, Peterson, Matuska, Kobs, Anderson, Wilmes, Allex, Grosz DNF.
Hoosier Racing Tire Challenge Race #2 (10 laps): Norem, Hahn, Richert, Goerges, Heskin, Eriksen, Thomas, A Kouba, Broty, J Kouba.
GRP Motorsports A Main (20 laps): Tatnell, Grosz, Graf, Heskin, Tostenson, Richert, Hahn, Matuska, Thomas, Anderson, Peterson, Wilmes, Broty, A Kouba, J Kouba, Eriksen, Allex, Kobs DNF, Goerges DNF, Norem DNF.
Lap Leaders: Richert 1-6, Tatnell 7-20.
Cautions: (1) red
Victory Lane Photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
