5/26/2017
Rapid Speedway
Wieczorek, Lonneman, Johnson, Zevenbergen, Pospisil Win
ROCK RAPIDS, IA—Rain was victorious last week, but beautiful weather and great racing prevailed on Friday at Rapid Speedway. More than 105 race cars made their way to Rapid Speedway, which featured the Summit Racing USRA weekly racing series, along with the SLMR late models.
The Cooperative Energy Sportsmans took to the track first for their feature, with Bryant Klaassen and Roger DeBoer on the front row. Klaassen jumped to the early lead on lap one. Andy Wieczorek drove from a fifth starting position to swap the lead multiple times with Klaassen. Klaassen regained the lead, but going into turn one on lap 5, he spun out in front of the pack. Wieczorek had the lead for the next restart. Wieczorek drove away for a few laps, but Brandon Jurrens and Brian Kroon closed the gap as the laps ticked away. Wieczorek was able to hold them off as he grabbed his second victory of the season. Jurrens, Kroon, Marni DeBoer, and Klaassen rounded out the top-5.
18 Lem’s Auto Recyclers USRA Hobby Stocks qualified for the feature with Chad Lonneman and Cory Kelderman leading the pack to green. Kelderman and Lonneman battled back and forth for the top-spot for many laps, even after a couple cautions for spins. A scary moment happened when cars went 4-wide through turn-four, and contact between Nick Brady and Blake Arends sent Brady sideways in front of the field, and Jim Baartman slammed into Brady, sending Brady’s car into the air. All drivers walked away okay. Lonneman took the lead on the ensuing restart from Kelderman. Lonneman held off a charging Arends to pick up his first win of the season at Rapid Speedway. Brian Hoing came from the 17th starting position to finish third, followed by Kelderman and Dustin Gulbrandson.
The Corral Lanes USRA B-Mod feature saw a Johnson in victory lane for the second time this season. The feature started with a couple early cautions, including two cautions for previous winner Chris Huisman. Lyndon Johnson used his front-row starting position to jump to an early lead over Tyler Tesch and Colter Deutsch. Johnson continued to lead until he changed his line after a restart, letting Deutsch momentarily gain the lead, until Johnson was able to drive back around him in the next corner. Lyndon Johnson was able to gap Deutsch and drive home to his first victory of the season, matching his son Tyler, who was victorious on opening night. Tyler Tesch, Kevin Joachim, Nick Barger, and Deutsch rounded out the top-5.
20 cars took the green for the Precision Auto Body USRA Stock car feature. Rich Gregoire jumped to the early lead for the first three laps, until the undefeated Elijah Zevenbergen snuck around Gregoire for the lead. Zevenbergen was untouchable as he drove away from the field as others battled throughout the field. Zevenbergen remains undefeated this season at Rapid Speedway, picking up third win. Gregoire was able to pick-up a season best second-place finish, and Scott Overgaard was able to keep his streak of top-5s alive with a third-place finish. Randy Brands and Dustin Gulbrandson (his second fifth place of the night) rounded-out the top-5.
The Malvern Bank SLMR late models made their yearly trek to Rapid Speedway on Friday, with 30 late models checking in at the back gate. Matt Buller gained the early lead, but Kyle Berck was on a mission to grab the lead, getting around Buller on lap four. Berck pulled away, and looked to be driving away to lead the rest of the 25 lap feature. Berck’s mission was slowed when he caught up to the back of the field. Nebraska’s Tad Pospisil reeled-in Berck as Pospisil discovered the low line around the track. Pospisil got around Berck with nine laps remaining in the feature. Berck was able to hold strong behind Pospisil, but he didn’t have enough as Pospisil found victory lane in the caution-free 25 lap SLMR feature event. Jesse Sobbing, Bill Leighton, and Buller rounded-out the top-5. Local brothers, Nate and Nick Beyenhof, finished 6th and 8th, respectively.
Next Friday, the Summit Racing USRA Ironman Series Stock Cars and B-Mods invade Rapid Speedway for their annual visit. $10 at the gate with hot laps starting at 7pm! The USRA Ironman Series will also be featured at Sioux Speedway, Sioux Center, IA, on June 1, and Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN, on June 3.
Submitted By: Geoff Kruse
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