Tatnell wins 2nd annual UMSS Sprints

Published 10:35 am Tuesday, June 26, 2012

It was a picture perfect evening along the Cedar River for the second annual appearance for the UMSS Sprint Cars. Former World Of Outlaw pilot Brooke Tatnell scored his third win of the year in the sprint cars in a very entertaining race.

In other action, Bryan Hernandez returned to win the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds as did WISSOTA Street Stock national point contender Mike Blowers. There were two first time winners as Blake Cole won his first IMCA Stock Car feature and Matt Brooks topped the Pure Stocks.

The Misgen Auto Parts Pure Stocks got off to a rough start when four cars tangled in turn one and that sent Dylan Nelson to the tail. Adam Godeke led the field with Matt Brooks right on his heels. Brooks took the lead on lap three while Cole Lonergan was on the move.

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Lonergan got to fourth and then passed Stacy Krohnberg for third. He was not done yet as he bolted by Godeke for second on lap five. Brady Krohnberg tapped Tyler Peterson and sent him around to draw the yellow flag. On the restart, Nelson was flying through the pack and now was in the top five.

Brooks still led with Lonergan and Godeke close behind on lap nine. Two more yellows stalled the pace on laps 10 and 11. When racing resumed, Lonergan took a peek to the inside of Brooks and lost the handle and spun for another yellow. Then on the restart Nelson and Godeke tangled while racing for third. Nelson was sent pitside for his second caution of the race.

Brooks drove on for his first win of the year in the caution filled affair. Godeke finished in second with Peterson in third. Stacy Krohnberg finished fourth and James Weber missed all the melees and came from 14th to fifth at the checkered flag.

Six L&D Ag USRA B-Mods took the green flag for their 15-lap main event. Scott Demmer led comfortably until the late stages of the race. That was when Kylie Kath closed the gap and made a run on the final lap. Demmer would take win number three, but Kath was right up alongside at the checkered flag.

The Best Disposal WISSOTA Street Stocks went three wide on lap one when Tyler Peterson, Kevin Vogt and Jason Newkirk danced through turn two. Newkirk took the lead and Kory Adams got by Vogt for third. Mike Blowers followed along for fourth and Tony Shaner entered the top five.

The top four ran in tight formation as Blowers challenged Adams for third. Newkirk held the lead with Peterson right in his tire tracks. Adams and Blowers got even closer to the lead duo and Blowers then passed Adams for third. Blowers then got around Peterson for second and challenged Newkirk for the lead. Blowers took the low line and they were door-to-door with two laps to go.

Newkirk led lap 13 but Blowers again got alongside the leader and made the pass as the white flag waved. Blowers won his third of the season with Newkirk second. Peterson finished third with Adams and Shaner in the top five.

The start of the Farm Boy BBQ WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature was a sign of things to come. Roger Bentzin jumped from the pole to the lead, outside front row starter Tim Myhre spun in turn three and collected eight cars and that completely blocked the track. Amazingly Jason Born was the only car not able to continue after the wreck.

Anthony Condit and Bryan Hernandez put on a good show while the green flag was out. Steven Amundson got to third but his night would end on lap eight when his driveshaft left his car. The race was marred with yellow flags and kept the pace slow. Condit led but drifted high in turn four and caught a piece of the wall and that allowed Hernandez to pass. Condit got way high in turns one and two and coasted to a stop for another caution.

That was the fifth yellow flag and five laps were slashed off the race. This set up a green, white, checkered race to the finish. Hernandez drove away for his second win in his return after being gone the past couple of weeks. Cody Gardner finished second with Greg Pfeifer Jr., Bobby Sorensen and Bentzin in the top five.

The Power 96/KQAQ 970AM IMCA Stock Cars had its seventh different winner in eight nights of racing. Blake Cole a 15-year old rookie scored his first win in the division when he led all 20-laps of the feature. Again the racing was really good behind the leader as Dan Mackenthun had a late race charge to second with Jesse Anderson, Travis Shipman and Ryan Goergen in the top five.

After a botched start, Jacob Dahle led the French’s Repair & Fabrication USRA Modifieds with Josh Mattick and Todd Scharkey in tow. Two-time defending track champion Jason Cummins bolted to fourth and brought Brandon Davis to fifth. Cummins drove past Mattick for third and Davis wasted no time and took fourth.

Up front Dahle, Scharkey and Cummins were in close formation. Cummins dove low on Scharkey and was second on lap six and was right on Dahle. Cummins again used the low line and stole the lead on lap seven. Davis continued his charge when he got by Scharkey for third on lap nine and then passed Dahle for second on lap 11.

Cummins who is looking for his first win here this year was checked out and gone up front until lap 15 when something let loose and he coasted off the track. Davis took over and led the rest of the way for his fifth win of the season and second in a row. Scharkey finished second with Dahle, A.J. Wiste and Darwyn Karau third through fifth.

The final race of the night was left to the UMSS Sprint Cars and their 20-lap feature. After a three wide salute to the fans it was time to get down to business. Jerry Richert Jr. and Scott Broty led the 14-car pack to the green. Broty would snag the lead with Richert Jr. and Jason Tostenson close behind. Brooke Tatnell worked to fourth as Tostenson challenged Richert Jr. for third. Tostenson got by and then Tatnell swept past Richert Jr. for fourth. Sye Anderson spun on lap six to bring out the caution.

On the restart a tremendous battle for the lead ensued when Broty and Tostenson exchanged several slide jobs and the lead went back and forth. Tatnell was third and then in a great move picked his spot and screamed past the two leaders to take the point on lap eight.

A couple of cautions for spins kept things close, but Tatnell would not be stopped. Tatnell drove off for his third win of the year and picked up a $1000 to the win, which included a $200 bonus from GRP Motorsports. Tostenson finished second and Broty was third. Austin Johnson would finish in fourth with Richert Jr. fifth.

By Todd Narveson