5/2/2015
Thomas Kennedy Tops UMSS Opener At CLS
Thomas (TJ) Kennedy added his name to the UMSS and Cedar Lake Speedway winner's list, as the young Winnipeg, Manitoba driver got by Wade Nygaard on lap 14 of the 25 lap feature race to win the season opening UMSS event. Kennedy earned $1,000 for his win thanks to some sponsorship help from GRP Motorsports. TJ commented afterwards that "I was waiting right there behind Wade for an opportunity to make a move either in lapped traffic or if Wade bobbled a bit." Lap 14 was his opportunity, and TJ certainly made the most of it. With a smile, Wade Nygaard simply said "I want to have that one lap back." referring to lap 14 when TJ got by him while lapping a car.
In the seven times Cedar Lake Speedway has attempted to run their Spring Sprint Special under UMSS sanctioning, this year's edition by far saw the best weather. Four of the previous six races had been rained out or cancelled due to poor weather. Back in 2009, Lou Kennedy, Jr. won this race which was also the 8th Annual Billy Anderson Memorial. Six years later, TJ joined his dad with a win apiece for the Winnipeg racing family.
Missing several regular UMSS competitors, a field of 18 winged sprints were on hand for the first race of the 2015 UMSS season. The usual UMSS racing format was in effect with three heats and two Challenge races on tap, as the drivers earned passing and finishing points in each. Following heat race wins by Wade Nygaard, Thomas Kennedy and Jared Goerges and Challenge Race victories by Rick Kobs and Ryan Bowers, the top four drivers in points redrew for the top four starting positions in the 25 lap A Feature. The first two rows saw Nygaard and TJ Kennedy up front with Lou Kennedy, Jr. and Kobs in row 2. The remainder of the field lined up straight-up according to points earned.
The feature race was only slowed once under caution with 20 laps scored when Kobs and the lapped car of Bob McVitty tangled entering turn one. Kobs had been running in third at the time. Both cars needed wrecker assistance. As described earlier, the winning pass came on lap 14 while the leaders where in lapped traffic. One lap after the restart, Ryan Bowers pulled off while running fourth with his engine overheating. A total of 10 cars finished the race. Lou Kennedy, Jr. finished third, making it a clean sweep of the top three spots by NOSA drivers. Jared Goerges and 2010 UMSS Champion Cody Hahn completed the top five. Jake Erickson from Jackson, MN finished sixth.
Mike Mueller earned a $100 GRP Motorsports Bonus for being the highest finishing Traditional sprint car in the feature. Mueller got by Neil Matuska coming off turn four on the final lap to finish 7th with Kevin Bradwell finishing behind Matuska in 9th. Reed Allex completed the top ten after breaking a rocker arm in his heat race.
Jackson, Minnesota driver Brandon Halvorson escaped injury during a spectacular crash through the turn four catch fence in the second heat race. The car never flipped over, as it remained upright during the entire incident. Two sections of catch fence and two posts were knocked down, causing a delay in the racing action. Fortunately nobody was injured in the tier parking area either, as Halvorson was remarkably able to get his then wingless car turned around and headed back down the steep embankment before getting into the actual parking ramp area. A close call for sure.
With several more drivers still working to get their cars ready, the 2015 UMSS season continues at the North Central Speedway in Brainerd on Saturday, May 16 with the feature race paying $1,000 to win thanks to some help from GRP Motorsports. Be sure and follow the UMSS on their website at www.umsprints.com or "like us" on our Facebook page.
UMSS Race Results - Cedar Lake Speedway May 2, 2015 (Race #1)
GRP Motorsports A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[2]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard[1]; 3. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[3]; 4. 9-Jared Goerges[5]; 5. 23-Cody Hahn[8]; 6. 64-Jake Erickson[11]; 7. 87-Mike Mueller[6]; 8. 48-Neal Matuska[9]; 9. 95-Kevin Bradwell[12]; 10. 91A-Reed Allex[13]; 11. (DNF) 199-Ryan Bowers[7]; 12. (DNF) 34-Rick Kobs[4]; 13. (DNF) 7M-Bob McVitty[10]; DNS 20G-Chris Graf; DNS 63-Jerry Richert Jr; DNS 32-Brandon Halverson; DNS 74-Roger McVitty; DNS 1-Jeff Pellersels.
Lap Leaders: Nygaard 1-13, TJ Kennedy 14-25. Cautions: (1) on lap 20
Hoosier Racing Tire Challenge Race 1 (8 Laps): 1. 34-Rick Kobs[2]; 2. 9N-Wade Nygaard[5]; 3. 9-Jared Goerges[4]; 4. 23-Cody Hahn[3]; 5. 95-Kevin Bradwell[6]; 6. 7M-Bob McVitty[1]; 7. (DNF) 74-Roger McVitty[7]; DNS 20G-Chris Graf; DNS 32-Brandon Halverson.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race 2 (8 Laps): 1. 199-Ryan Bowers[2]; 2. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[4]; 3. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[5]; 4. 48-Neal Matuska[1]; 5. 87-Mike Mueller[3]; 6. 64-Jake Erickson[6]; DNS 91A-Reed Allex; DNS 63-Jerry Richert Jr; DNS 1-Jeff Pellersels.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 9N-Wade Nygaard[1]; 2. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[5]; 3. 34-Rick Kobs[4]; 4. 199-Ryan Bowers[2]; 5. (DNF) 20G-Chris Graf[3]; 6. (DNF) 95-Kevin Bradwell[6].
Note: 20G Graf done for the night (engine failure).
Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[3]; 2. 23-Cody Hahn[4]; 3. 64-Jake Erickson[1]; 4. (DNF) 32-Brandon Halverson[2]; DNS 1-Jeff Pellersels; DNS 74-Roger McVitty.
Note: 32 Halvorson done for the night after wild-looking crash through the catch fence in turn 4 (no injuries). 1 Pellersels done after hot laps with a broken U-joint.
Sprintsource.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 3 (6 Laps): 1. 9-Jared Goerges[2]; 2. 87-Mike Mueller[6]; 3. 7M-Bob McVitty[4]; 4. 48-Neal Matuska[5]; 5. (DNF) 63-Jerry Richert Jr[1]; 6. (DNF) 91A-Reed Allex[3].
Note: 63 Richert done for the night (engine failure).
Rock Auto.com / CLS Victory Lane photo courtesy of Stan Meissner at Minnesota Dirt Track Racing.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
