Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Ernie Francis Jr wins at VIR



Ernie Francis Jr #198 from Southwest Ranches (FL) won the GT1 division at the 2019 SCCA runoffs at Virginia International Raceway.

Tony Ave #4 was the fast qualifier with a time of 1.43.857 edging Ernie Francis Jr who timed in with a  1.44.06, the next fastest car was three seconds slower.

The John  Baucom #86 car was smoking from the beginning of the race, he was black flagged immediately but continued to drop a large amount of fluid all around the 3.1 mile race track causing a very slippery condition for the rest of the competitors.

Ave and Francis swapped the lead back and forth the first lap and Francis officially led lap one, Ave then led on lap two and three.  The third fastest qualifier was the 114 car driven by Ron Malec, he was in a bad wreck and the full course caution was finally called on lap 3.


It was a long clean up process to get the track back in a race able condition, Tony Ave led the two caution laps after the cleanup leaving only four green flag laps to finish the race which had a time limit of 40 minutes.


Ave slipped off the course after the restart and Ernie Francis Jr bolted to the lead the final three laps of the shortened race.  It was the first SCCA Runoffs win for Francis Jr.  "This is the most pressure I have ever felt," said Francis Jr "I've always wanted to be a Runoffs Champion."

Tony Ave finished second 1.838 seconds behind Francis Jr, David Pintaric #57 from Canfield (OH) driving with a broken hand, was third, he was over 24 seconds behind the winner.  Todd Peterson #42 from Bolder (CO) was fourth and #30 J Richard Grant from Germantown (TN) was fifth of the 13 cars participating.


It was a bit disappointing that the race was so short but it was pleasure covering the Trans Am type cars at the 2019 SCCA runoffs in Virginia.

Us here in Minnesota can look forward to 2020 when the Trans Am series returns to Brainerd International Raceway July 10-12th after a two year layoff.  This event will honor the memory of the late BIR owner Jed Copham and also feature a $35,000 purse boost to ensure a great field of Trans Am series cars.

Here is a story we wrote about the modern day history of Trans Am at BIR

End of the Trans Am era at BIR?


Speed Talk on 1360 has covered every Trans Am race in the modern era at BIR and that will surely continue in 2020!

Jason D Searcy

 

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Speed Talk on 1360 Podcasts


We just wrapped up our 2019 season, our 11th on KRWC radio.  Here are the links to our Podcasts from Speed Talk on 1360 --

9/28/19 Dan Plan Segment Thunderstruck93 wrap-up

9/28/19 Book/Movie review of Rapid Response Rapid Response

9/21/19 Nick Oxborough ELKO Powerstock winner Oxborough

9/21/19 Brody Willett #Thunderstruck93 preview interview Brody Willett

9/21/19 Bryan Syer-Keske first WISSOTA Modified winner at ELKO Bryan Syer-Keski

9/14/19 Full Show- Jordan Bianchi talks INDY and Vegas, Jacob Goede interview before Championship night and Dan Plan from the Legendary at Cedar Lake 9/14/19

9/7/19 Nick Panitzke interview Panitzke

9/7/19 Jacob Goede interview Goede

9/7/19 Goede win Race Call Goede win Race Call

9/7/19 Michael Haggar interview Haggar Interview

8/31/19 Nick Pantizke win Race Call Panitzke win Race Call

8/31/19 Haggar win Race Call Haggar win Race Call

8/24/19 Jon Lewerer Interview Lightning Lewerer interview

8/17/19 Knoxville Nationals Recap  Knoxville Recap

Cole Klein vs Tristan Swanson Race Call at ELKO Klein Win Race Call

Conrad Jorgenson interview Conrad Jorgenson Interview

Paul Hamilton win Race Call Paul Hamilton Win Race Call at ELKO

Tom Quade Interview Tom Quade Interview

Robby Carter Interview Robby Carter Interview at ELKO

8-10-2019 Full Show  8/10/19 Full Show

8-3-19 7K racing interviews Kottschade Boys interview on KRWC

7-27-19 Carson Gramm WISSOTA interview Gramm on KRWC

Baiden Heskett win Race Call Heskett win at ELKO

Chad Walen win Race Call Walen win at ELKO

Michael Stoer win Race Call Stoer win at ELKO

Cole Klein win Race Call Klein win at ELKO

Dean race call of Conrad Jorgenson win Jorgenson win at ELKO

Cole Klein interview at ELKO Klein interview after win

Racin Ryan Varner interview Varner interview at ELKO

7-2-19 Full show ARCA Recap with interviews at ELKO and Kari Miller ARCA Recap

Austin Jahr interview  Austin Jahr at ELKO

Chad Walen Interview Walen win at ELKO

Race Call of Anderson win Anderson ELKO race Call

Steve Anderson interview at ELKO Anderson Interview at ELKO

Josiah Kottschade interview 6/1/19 Kottschade interview at ELKO

Paul Hamilton Interview Hamilton at ELKO

Jacob Goede win Race Call 5/25/19 Goede win at ELKO

Joe Graf Jr interview at IOWA Joe Graf Jr interview

Natalie Decker interview from Iowa Speedway Natalie Decker interview

Joe Graf Jr interview previewing ELKO ARCA race Joe Graf Jr

Tribute to Tony "the Tiger" Hallerman Tony the Tiger tribute

Craig Dollansky interview on KRWC Craig Dollansky

World of Outlaws at Granite City recap WoO recap

Dan Bailey interview Bailey interview on KRWC

Spencer Pigot INDYCAR interview Spencer Pigot

Reed Allex WoO interview Reed Allex interview on KRWC

Ron Krog 5/18/19 Ron Krog interview

Dean Cornelius Cornelius Interview on KRWC

Carson Gramm 4/27/19 Gramm interview

Ron Bernhagen 5/4/19

Brad Sweet at Granite City Speedway
David Gravel at Granite City Speedway
Jesse Little from IOWA
Chandler Smith from IOWA
Justin Algier from IOWA
Cole Custer from IOWA
Chandler Smith from ELKO
Michael Smith from ELKO
Ty Gibbs from ELKO



Jordan Bianchi from the Athletic NASCAR segments:
9/28/19
9/21/19
9/7/19
8/31/19
8/24/19
8/17/19
8/3/19
7/27/19
Summer Daytona Segment
6/29/19
6/15/19
6/8/19
6/1/19
5/29/15
5/18/19
5/11/19
5/4/19

Other misc interviews Dean Reller Soundcloud
Jason Searcy Soundcloud

Listen every Saturday morning 10-11am on KRWC1360.com 1360am or on Tunein.com Search KRWC APRIL - SEPT







Sunday, June 16, 2019

Fathers Day Double at Iowa Speedway


Due to the cancellation, because of rain, of the Gander Outdoors Truck series event on Saturday, it was instead raced on Fathers day at Iowa Speedway.  Ross Chastain #44 crossed the finish line first at the M&Ms 200 and went through all the victory lane celebration but was later Disqualified in post-race inspection for being too low in the front giving second place finisher #24 Brett Moffitt the win.  This is the first time a win has been taken away in modern NASCAR history, the winner Moffitt never led a lap in the race.






Newly declared winner, Iowa native #24 Brett Moffitt.



BOTH winners of the race signed this die-cast toy for a sponsor, Ross Chastain signed on the roof and Brett Moffitt signed it on the hood.






Iowa Speedway was part of the Triple Truck Challenge, a three race series-in-a-series.

The drivers who have elected to run for points in the series were eligible for an additional $50,000 bonus above the normal purse money.

The money was on display in the Media Room.






Local angles in the Truck series race included MN and WI Late Model racer Natalie Decker #54, she finished 17th, here is our post-race interview with her.  Natalie Decker interview



Former ELKO ARCA winners Brennan Poole finished 11th, Gus Dean 20th, ELKO pole winners Grant Enfinger was 4th and Riley Herbst 15th.  Elko Speedway Great North Legends driver Rob Thurston and his business Thurston Inc seed brokerage helped sponsor the car #97 driven by Jesse Little (below), he finished 22nd.  Here is our post-race interview with Little Jesse Little interview



Chandler Smith #51 started on the pole position, here is our post-race interview with him after a Top 10 finish.  Chandler Smith interview 

---------------------------------------------------------------------




The late afternoon race of the Fathers day double was the Circuit City 250 in the NASCAR Xfinity series.  Cole Custer started the race from the pole and finished second, Cole Custer Interview.  Christopher Bell won the race in dominating fashion (photo above).  

Justin Allgaier had a good run and finished 3rd Allgaier interview

Here is audio of the first lap at Iowa Speedway Sound at Iowa

Minnesota born driver #21 Joe Graf Jr finished in the Top 20, he also previewed the upcoming ARCA race at Elko Speedway.  Joe Graf Jr interview



We will have full coverage of the Iowa Speedway weekend on Speed Talk on 1360 radio.  Saturdays 10-11am on KRWC1360.com and check back on Speedtalkon1360.com 

Also look for us on social media for race coverage.

https://twitter.com/ElkoJason

https://twitter.com/DeanReller

https://twitter.com/Jordan_Bianchi

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

LISTEN to Speed Talk on 1360 HERE

Listen to Speed Talk on 1360 Radio Saturdays 10-11am on 1360 AM radio in Minnesota.

Listen LIVE by using the free Tunein app and searching KRWC

CLICK HERE FOR TUNEIN LINK

You can also stream the show on the KRWC1360.com website

CLICK HERE FOR KRWC Web Stream

Click on the Icon that says "Live Internet Broadcast Audio"

You can hear podcasts of previous 2018 shows 

CLICK LINK HERE

Jason's Soundcloud- CLICK HERE
Dean's Soundcloud and 2019 Show archive CLICK HERE


Thank you for Listening.
Dean, Jason and Shane

Monday, March 25, 2019

Speed Talk returns on April 20th for 11th season



Speed Talk on 1360 will return to KRWC radio for it's 11th year beginning April 20th - Sept 28th 2019.

Listen LIVE from anywhere on the free Tunein app by searching KRWC every Saturday 10-11 am (Central).  Tunein App or by going to KRWC1360.com Click Here

Long-time hosts: Motorsports writer Dean Reller and Jason Searcy announcer at Elko Speedway will be joined on a regular basis this year by writer Shane Carlson who is also working with 66 time World of Outlaws winner Craig Dollansky.  DOLLANSKY LINK

*Jason, Dean and Shane at Elko Speedway'

Minnesota NASCAR writer Jordan Bianchi will continue to join us with the most current NASCAR buzz and Dan Plan from the Midwest Racing Connection will give us the Local/Regional racing scoop.  Jordan's web site Dan's web site


Plus you can count on us to interview 50+ drivers every year from Local racing to World of Outlaws to ARCA, Trucks, IndyCar and Xfinity series races at Iowa Speedway.

Here is a list of Podcasts from previous years:

PODCAST LIST

Big THANKS to our sponsors who make this show possible:

Elko Speedway ElkoSpeedway.com
Performance Driving School at BIR BIRPerformance.com
Cottens' NAPA Cottens' NAPA
Lou Fegers Racing in Delano LouFegersRacing.com
STB Screen Printing and Embroidery STB

Thanks everyone for listening, we will see you at the Track!

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Murphy tops Monster Jam in MPLS


By Jason D Searcy

A local racer is making a name for himself in motorsports, but maybe not the way that he originally planned, he is one of the hottest names in Monster Jam and was named the 2017 Rookie of the Year.



You might remember Camden Murphy (22) from Itasca (IL), he started his career by racing locally in Karts and Legends Cars before stepping up to the UARA Late Models and the Midwest Truck series.  He won the Midwest Truck feature at the famed Thunderstruck93 event at Elko Speedway (MN) in 2013, it was his first ever Truck win. “I always loved ELKO, I remember that day being all about survival, we were having some bad luck and then everything just turned our way, it’s a day I will never forget,” said Murphy “especially being in that unique victory lane.”  He edged out Jacob Van Wazer, Natalie Decker and Jerry Wood on that day. Link to 2013 #Thunderstruck93 article CLICK HERE

Murphy had numerous wins in the Midwest Truck series and narrowly lost the title to Derek Kraus in 2015.   Since then Murphy has been searching for the right opportunity and financial support to make a living in motorsports.  Murphy has had 21 total NASCAR starts driving for small underfunded teams like: Rick Ware Racing, Copp Motorsports, JJC Racing and Beaver Motorsports in the NASCAR Truck series and 1 start in the NASCAR Xfinity series, he has never scored a Top 10 finish.

“With the struggles of finding funding I looked for as many different avenues in Motorsports that I could, knowing that driving is all I wanted to do,” said Murphy “I found myself with the opportunity to go to Monster Jam University.”  Murphy made the most of that opportunity working directly with 11-time World Finals Champion Tom Meents, he impressed the right people and got a job driving a 12,000 lb Monster Truck. Now funding is not an issue, he has equal equipment to the best drivers in Monster Jam and he has excelled.

Murphy has quickly become one of the hottest new stars on the premier Stadium Tour of Monster Jam.  After driving a new truck named Pirate’s Curse last year, he is currently behind the wheel of Bakugan Dragonoid, a wild looking truck designed from the Japanese animated cartoon and video game.

Every Monster Jam event now is divided into three competitions (Racing, Two-Wheel Skills and Freestyle) with the fourteen trucks taking part in each competition, fourteen points for first on down to 1 point for last.  The points are tallied at the end of the night to determine the Overall Champion.

US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (MN) hosted Monster Jam on Feb 16th and Cameron Murphy won the Racing competition beating John Gordon in Bad Company in the finals and earlier defeating monster truck royalty Ryan Anderson (son of pioneer Dennis Anderson) in Son-uva Digger, it was the fourth racing win for Murphy.  He then thrilled the 30,000+ in attendance with an incredible show of driving skill balancing his monster truck nose down with a stoppie on its front wheels and walking it across half the stadium, he scored a 9.4 besting rising star Morgan Kane who was driving Grave Digger, it was the second two-wheel skills win of the season for Murphy.  He then performed a backflip and finished 6th on his freestyle behind his mentor Tom Meents driving Max-D. With his two wins Murphy scored enough points to take his second overall event Championship with Ryan Anderson finishing runner up. Camden Murphy was the star of the show on this night.



Even with all of his success in Monster Jam, Murphy has not forgotten about his NASCAR dream.  “As of right now, I am fortunate enough to have many opportunities on all 3 levels (of NASCAR).  However I am limited due to lack of funding, as many drivers can relate” said Murphy. “All I can say is that you will find me in a seat almost every weekend, be it racing or start-and-parking, you’ll find me somewhere.”  Murphy hopes to make his 2019 NASCAR season debut either in California or Texas.

There is no doubt that he has now proven that in equal equipment, Camden Murphy can win behind the wheel of a Monster Truck and has become one of the best drivers in the series.  Hopefully someday that local racer will be given the very same opportunity in NASCAR. Somebody please tell that Japanese company that NASCAR fans like Dragons too.