7/15/2016
And The Wins Just Keep on Coming, as Kobs Picks up Seventh At Chateau Raceway
Making their first appearance ever at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minnesota, the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series rolled into town. For the seventh time this season, Rick Kobs of Deer Park, Wisconsin rolled into Rock Auto Victory Lane at the conclusion of the 25 lap feature race. With over 30 years of racing experience in numerous types of cars, Kobs has been very tough to beat throughout the season. Friday night at Chateau was no different, as the versatile driver quickly read the track, moved from third to first on the opening lap, and drove to a convincing win on a beautiful summer evening. Kobs picked up $500 for the win plus a tremendous contingency package from The Dirt Show at KOWZ Radio valued close to $1,000.
For most Traditional sprint car teams, it was a good distance to travel to Chateau Raceway on a Friday night. Although not large in numbers (13), a talented field of Traditional sprint cars signed into the pits. All cars made it through their heat races in fine fashion. Winners of the heats included Mike Mueller and Rick Kobs. Kobs seems to draw somewhat poorly for his heat race, but he usually charges forward and finds himself in the top four in passing and finishing points. At Chateau, he once again was high point driver and redrew a three. Jimmy Kouba and rookie Ty Sampair were on the front row with Kobs and Mueller in row two for the feature. The fast way around the 1/3 mile semi-banked oval in the heats was up on the cushion. That would change for the feature.
On the opening lap of the feature, pole sitter Jimmy Kouba left the bottom lane open as he worked his way to the cushion exiting turn two. That was all Kobs needed, as he blasted past the front row cars and into the lead down the back stretch. Kobs would never be seriously challenged throughout the 25 laps to the checkers.
The feature race was slowed three times under caution. With ten laps in the books, rookie Joe Lallier brought out the first caution with a spin in turn two. Six laps later the yellow light blinked on when a valve cover gasket leak dumped oil on the headers of Neal Matuska's engine and caused a fire. The final caution flew on the restart when Jon Lewerer spun in turn one. Most of the cars had migrated to the bottom lane for the feature, as it definitely proved to be the quickest way around with plenty of grip down low. Except for Matuska, all other cars finished with nobody lapped.
Rookie Ty Sampair turned in a great run, as he snuck under Jake Kouba on the final corner of the last lap to finish second for his best finish so far. Scott Brandt was solid from ninth to fourth. Parsons did a little better though, coming from 12th to fifth at the checkers. Another rookie also turned in his best finish of the season so far, as Hunter Custer rode home in sixth. Jimmy Kouba, rookie Bryan Roach, Jon Lewerer and James Giossi completed the top ten. Mike Mueller slipped back to 11th after running in the top five for a good share of the race. Rookie Joe Lallier, in just his third Traditional sprint car race, completed the cars that finished.
In addition to the first place prize package from The Dirt Show, Mike Madsen at MATCO Tools added three $50 bonus awards. Johnny Parsons III took home the Hard Charger Award with a +7 in the feature. Neal Matuska earned the Hard Luck Award. The Longest Tow Award went to Hunter Custer. Many thanks to The Dirt Show, Mike Madsen and GRP Motorsports for adding to the purse.
The UMSS Traditional sprint cars will have a big two race weekend next Friday and Saturday. The much-anticipated challenge between the Wisconsin Wingless Sprints and the UMSS Traditional sprints will take place on Friday July 22 at the Red Cedar Speedway and Saturday July 23 at the Eagle Valley Speedway. Both features will pay $500 to win thanks to some sponsorship help from GRP Motorsports. At Red Cedar, the Traditional sprints will be racing for the second time ever. Last year Rick Kobs won their inaugural appearance at the Dunn County Fair. On Saturday at Eagle Valley, it will be the first-ever appearance for the Traditional sprints and also on the program will be the IRA 410 Outlaw sprints. The Wisconsin Wingless Sprints will run under their rules both nights while the UMSS Traditional sprints will run under our rules. Both the Red Cedar and Eagle Valley races will be full point shows for the UMSS Traditional sprints. It should be a fun two nights of competition for bragging rights between the two non-winged sprint car groups. Check out the schedule, results, points and other news for the Traditional Sprint Car Series on our website at www.umsprints.com by clicking on the blue logo or follow us on Facebook. Come on out to Red Cedar and Eagle Valley next weekend for some exciting sprint car racing action!
UMSS TSCS Race Results - Chateau Raceway July 15, 2016 (Race #14)
GRP Motorsports A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 81-Rick Kobs[3]; 2. N1-Ty Sampair[2]; 3. 6-Jake Kouba[5]; 4. 7B-Scott Brandt[9]; 5. 12-Johnny Parsons III[12]; 6. 29-Hunter Custer[7]; 7. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[1]; 8. 99-Bryan Roach[11]; 9. 69S-Jon Lewerer[8]; 10. 11-James Giossi[6]; 11. 87-Mike Mueller[4]; 12. 6L-Joe Lallier[13]; 13. (DNF) 48-Neal Matuska[10].
Lap Leader: Kobs 1-25. Cautions: (3) for 6L spin turn 2 with 10 laps in, 48 valve gasket fire with 16 laps in & 69s spin turn 1 on restart. Hard Charger Award=Parsons, Hard Luck Award=Matuska & Longest Tow Award=Custer. Thanks to Mike Madsen at MATCO Tools for the bonus awards!
Meeks Video Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 87-Mike Mueller[1]; 2. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[6]; 3. 29-Hunter Custer[2]; 4. 69S-Jon Lewerer[5]; 5. 7B-Scott Brandt[3]; 6. 99-Bryan Roach[4]; 7. 6L-Joe Lallier[7].
Lap Leader: Mueller 1-10. Cautions: (1) for 29 spin off turn 2 on opening lap after contact with 87.
Track Rat Photos Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 81-Rick Kobs[5]; 2. N1-Ty Sampair[2]; 3. 11-James Giossi[3]; 4. 6-Jake Kouba[6]; 5. 48-Neal Matuska[1]; 6. 12-Johnny Parsons III[4].
Lap Leaders: Sampair 1-5, Kobs 6-10. No cautions.
Rock Auto Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
