2018 MN Asphalt Driver of the Year

Baiden Heskett, 27, from Farmington (MN) has been named by Speed Talk on 1360 radio the 2018 MN Asphalt Driver of the year.  The hometown for Heskett is Alvarado (TX) but has lived in Minnesota the last two years. Heskett had an incredible year of racing in the Great North Legends division at Elko Speedway.  He won his first Championship by a whopping 288 points, won 11 feature events, scored an incredible 163 passing points, (never finishing worse than his starting position) and he had a TOP 5 finish in all 24 feature events he raced in at ELKO.  “Racing in Minnesota has helped me become a better driver,” said Heskett “there is a bunch of talent up here and ELKO is the best track to race at in the nation, it’s racy and you can go side by side.”

In 2018 Heskett won a massive total of 30 feature races at an impressive list of tracks including: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (TX), Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids (IA), Jefferson Speedway in Cambridge (WI), Slinger Speedway in Slinger (WI), Elko Speedway in Elko (MN) and Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells (WI).   

Heskett also excelled at the National level, he was awarded the most prestigious title in all of Legends Car racing.  The 2018 INEX Asphalt Pro division points title becoming the first ever Minnesota based driver to do so.

In fact, racers from this area did well as a whole with Ryan Braseth from Ulen (MN) winning the Young Lions overall title on dirt and Great North Legends owner Tim Brockhouse from Shakopee (MN) winning the overall asphalt Masters title.  Brockhouse, who won the MN Asphalt Driver of the Year award in 2016, is proud of his successful protege “I taught him everything I know, almost.”

Baiden Heskett plans on staying in Minnesota for the 2019 season and is setting even higher goals, he is gunning for both the Asphalt and Dirt Pro Division INEX titles.  “Texas will always be my home, but I think I can call Minnesota my home now too.” said Heskett.

Past winners of the MN Asphalt Driver of the Year:

2017- Conrad Jorgenson

2016- Tim Brockhouse

2015- Jacob Goede

2014- Jacob Goede

2013- Ricky Martin

2012- Jonathan Eilen

2011- Chad Walen

2010- Brent Kane

2009- Adam Royle

2004- Dan Fredrickson

2018 Speed Talk Wrap up

2018 was a banner 10th year for Speed Talk on 1360 radio on KRWC

We had the honor to interview drivers from many different forms of racing including:

ARCA at ELKO! and Iowa Speedway
Gus Dean
Christian Eckes
Riley Herbst
Sheldon Creed
Natalie Decker
Chandler Smith
Zane Smith
Chase Purdy
Harrison Burton
Willie Mullins

IndyCar at Iowa Speedway
Wil Power
Zach Veach

NASCAR Xfinity and Trucks at Iowa Speedway
Ryan Truex
Jusin Haley
Austin Cindric
Kaz Grala
Ty Majeski
Brandon Jones
Riley Herbst
Jesse Little
Johnny Sauter

Elko Speedway weekly racers
Jacob Goede
Dave Reed
Robby Carter
Jeremy Wolff
Jon Lemke
Julie Jorgenson
Sammy Smith
Bryce Blohm
Brody Willett
Norm Grabinger
Taylor Goldman
Nick Oxborough
Bryan Wrolstad
Michael Stoer
Brent Kane
Baiden Heskett
Paul Hamilton
Eric Campbell
Joe Prusak

Bandit Big Rig Series
Mark Noble

Flat Track Motorcycle
Bryan Smith
Bronson Bauman

ERX
Tim Dehann

Road Racing
Matt Peterson

Local Dirt Tracks and WISSOTA 100
Jon Lewerer
Dexton Koch
Eric Martini
Jeremy Nelson
Dustin Holtquist
Dave Mass
Adam Prieve
Shane Howell

MOST LISTENED TO INTERVIEWS of 2018:
Dean's Soundcloud
1- Jon Lewerer interview Listen HERE
2- ELKO Recap 8/11 (Goede, Wrolstad, Sammy Smith) Listen HERE
3- Mark Noble interview Listen HERE

Jason's Soundcloud
1- Michael Haggar win Race Call Listen HERE
2- Julie Jorgenson win Race Call Listen HERE
3- Owin Giles win Race Call Listen HERE
4- Taylor Goldman interview Listen HERE
5- Michael Stoer interview Listen HERE

We were also honored to talk to Carson Gramm from WISSOTA and legendary dirt track announcer Ron Krog multiple times this year, plus Doug Selle, Skip Pollack and Adam Brachle too.  It was fun to see Dean Reller make his TV debut as the pit reporter on the Speed Sport coverage of the WISSOTA 100 (the Kottschade boys were excited) and Jason got his 10 seconds of fame on the MavTV coverage of the ELKO ARCA race.

You can listen to podcasts of Jason's interviews and Race calls HERE

You can listen to Deans interviews and FULL SHOW podcasts HERE

Our final wrap-up show of 2018 here available on a podcast HERE

Our full podcast listings of 2018 are HERE

We also want to thank Jordan Bianchi and Dan Plan for contributing their insights to the show weekly also Shane Carlson for helping out numerous times in 2018.

Please Support our sponsors, they make this show possible.

Performance Driving School at BIR
ELKO Speedway
Cotten's NAPA
Lou Fegers Racing Equipment Delano
Highway 55 Trailer Sales Buffalo
STB Screen Printing and Embroidery

Our MOST CLICKED stories of 2018 were:
1- Local Drivers steal the show at Monster Jam  HERE
2- Willie Mullins small team success in ARCA  HERE
3- Speed Talk returns for 10th year
4- Gus Dean wins ARCA at ELKO HERE
5- Allgaier wins Xfinity at Iowa HERE

6- Creed wins ARCA at Iowa HERE
7- Jorgenson is 2017 Driver of Year HERE
8- Hinchcliffe wins Indycar at Iowa HERE

We had 22,840 unique page views this year and went over 270,000 for the past 10 years.

Thank you for listening... hope to see you again in Spring of 2019 for our 11th year on KRWC
Jason and Dean

Photo credit: Tom Venturini (Jason and Pete)
Photo credit: 7K racing (Dean on TV)
Photo credit  Dean Reller (Becky Monster Jam and Iowa Speedway burnout)

Speed Talk on 1360 2018 Podcast Listing

Listen for Speed Talk radio every Saturday 10-11am (Central) on KRWC1360.com or search KRWC on the free Tunein app for your phone April - September.

SPECIAL Post-Season PODCAST EDITION plus a special Birthday surprise for Dean Reller.  LISTEN HERE November SPEEDTALK Podcast

2018 Listing of Podcasts from Speed Talk on 1360

9/29/28 9/29/18 FULL SHOW  Shane Carlson joins Dean and Jason on remote at Minnesota Mile Motorcycle Race interviewing Bryan Smith  9/22/2018 Full Show 9/22/18 
9/22/2018  Brody Willett interview 9/15/18 Full Show, NASCAR Talk, Dean from Wissota 100, Norm Grabinger, Dan Plan Full Show 9/15/18  9/8/18 Full Show Jordan, Dan plus Shane Howell Full Show 9/8/18 9/1/18 Full Show Jordan Bianchi, Dan Plan, Carson Gramm 9/1/18
9/1/18 Carson Gramm interview Wissota 100 Carson Gramm 8/25/18 Jordan, Dan, Jacob Goede, Brent Kane, Mark Noble Full Show 8/25/188/25/18 Mark Noble interview Bandit Big Rig Series
8/18/18 Local Segment: Jon Lemke, Mike Stoer, Dan Plan ELKO Segment
8/18/18 Skip Pollack Interview about MN racing history Skip Pollack
8/11/18 Jacob Goede, Bryan Wrolstad, Sammy Smith ELKO Recap 8/11/18
8/4/18 Bryce Blohm, Oxborough, Goldman, Full Show 8/4/18
7/28/18 Ron Krog, Jordan Bianchi, Dan Plan Full Show 7/28/18
ARCA race at Elko Speedway recap ARCA ELKO recap 2018
Iowa 250 and MMs200 Iowa Speedway Recap Iowa 250 recap and Interviews
Riley Herbst LIVE from Iowa Speedway Riley Herbst
July 28th Full Show with Ron Krog interview July 28 2018
July 14th Full Show with ARCA & Indycar Iowa Recap July 14 2018 Full Show
Jordan talks about SBNation Job and Richmond Preview Jordan Bianchi 4/21/18
Jeremy Wolff and Shane Carlson interviews Wolff 4/21/18
Doug Selle talks Kenseth and NASCAR Doug Selle
Dave Reed Thunder Car driver Dave Reed
Carson Gramm from WISSOTA Carson Gramm
Matt Peterson on Road Racing with WRL Matt Peterson 
UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Driver Jon Lewerer
Eric Martini, Dexter Koch, Joe Prusak Local Segment 5/26/18
Jon Lemke Great North Legends winner Jon Lemke 
Eric Campbell TC winner at ELKO Eric Campbell
Adam Prieve, Dave Mass, Tim Dehann, Jon Lemke Local Segment 6/9/18
Adam Brachle from Youth Impact Racing Adam Brachle 
Julie Jorgenson Local Segment 6/23/18
Interview with ARCA driver Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Interview

Previous years Podcast Listings
2017 Podcasts
Pre 2017 Podcasts

History of I-94 Speedway Podcast series I-94 Raceway History

Dean's Podcast Page
Jason's Podcast Page 

Listen for Speed Talk on 1360 Radio every Saturday 10-11am LIVE on 1360am or KRWC1360.com or search KRWC on the Free Tunein App Tunein April - September

Feature winning Race Calls by Jason Searcy at Elko Speedway
Thunderstruck93 Finish 2018
Chad Walen 5/26/18
Chris Marek 5/26/18
Roller Girl 5/19/18
Stocker VS Goede 6/2/18
Taylor Goldman 7/28
Nick Oxborough win 7/28
Joey Prusak win 7/14
Chris Marek win 7/14
Final laps of ELKO ARCA race 2018
Owin Giles win
Jacob Goede win
Julie Jorgenson 2nd win
Sammy Smith 1st win Race Call
Roller Girl vs Prusak Race Call
Mike Stoer win Race Call
Lemke vs Goede Race Call



Please Support our local Sponsors
Elko Speedway ELKO
Performance Driving School at BIR BIR Performance
Cottens NAPA Cottens NAPA
Lou Fegers Racing Equipment LFRE
Highway 55 Trailer Sales Highway 55 Trailers
STB Screen Printing and Embroidery STB 

Listen to Speed Talk on 1360 Radio Saturdays 10-11am on KRWC1360.com or search KRWC on the free Tunein app April - September

Gus Dean with emotional ARCA win at ELKO

Gus Dean #32 from Bluffton (SC) scored an emotional win for owner Kevin Cywinski and Win-Tron racing on Saturday night during the ARCA racing series presented by Menards Sioux Chief PowerPex250 presented by CW Metals and MatrixCare at Elko Speedway.

His crew chief Jamie Jones made a daring call to not pit for tires on lap 60 of the 250 lap race when almost all the other cars on the lead lap did so, the only other car not to pit was the #77 of Joe Graf Jr.

Gus Dean had the lead after that first caution period and led the race for 9 laps but then the strategy almost backfired as there was a long green flag run after that caution, Gus Dean went a lap down on older tires and then actually spun on the track on lap 160 putting him two laps down.  Dean then pitted for tires with the rest of the teams, but the difference was that his team had an extra set of tires as a result of not pitting on that first caution.  Dean did a great job of racing hard and being in position for the free pass.  Numerous cautions mid-race made it possible for him to get back on the lead lap and with those extra tires in the pits he had the advantage the last race run.

Here is the audio recap of the race with interviews included ARCA Recap

Sixteen year old Chandler Smith #20 was dominant for a large portion of the race and at one time had a half lap lead, he led 160 of the 250 laps in total.  Chase Purdy #8 and Chandler Smith  had a great battle for the lead after multiple restarts, after one of the restarts Smith spun, he went to the tail of the field and the car never seemed to be the same, he finished 6th.

Chase Purdy #8 had the lead for 31 laps and looked to be on the way to his first career win until disaster struck with less than 10 laps remaining in the race, in dramatic fashion his car erupted into flames and the race was red flagged.

Here is the Race Call of that event by Elko Speedway announcers Jason Searcy and Dean Reller.  Chase Purdy fire Race Call

After a lengthy cleanup the final few laps of the race was very exciting and the large crowd rose to it's feet in unison.  Here was the race call with Jason and Dean.  Final Laps of 2018 ARCA race at ELKO


Gus Dean #32 was the winner, the margin of victory was .857, this was his first win for Win-Tron racing.
Here is our interview with an excited Gus Dean Winner interview at ELKO

The only other car on the same tire strategy as Gus Dean was the #77 car driven by Joe Graf Jr who drove a Bando car at Elko Speedway ten years ago when lived in Medina (MN) up until the age of 11, then the family moved to New Jersey.   Graf Jr drove a great race but was disappointed to finish in 3rd place after getting moved up the track by Gus Dean on the final restart.

The second place finisher was #15 Christian Eckes from Middletown (NY), he also finished second in this race at Elko Speedway in 2017.  Earlier in the evening Eckes earned his first career General Pole fast time award.    Here is his post race interview Christian Eckes interview

Local favorite #25 Natalie Decker drove a very smart race, she stayed on the lead lap and was aggressive late and moved up to finish a tie for her career best of 5th place.  Here is our post race interview with her Natalie Decker Interview

Point leader #28 Sheldon Creed had a tough night and finished 15th, second in points #41 Zane Smith started up front but faded back quickly, he finished a disappointing 12th.  Joe Gibbs developmental driver #18 Riley Herbst was in contention all night and finished 4th after starting the race last due to a part failure in qualifying, here is our post race interview with him Riley Herbst ELKO interview

Final Results:

1- #32 Gus Dean
2- #15 Christian Eckes
3- #77 Joe Graf Jr
4- #18 Riley Herbst
5- #25 Natalie Decker
6- #20 Chandler Smith
7- #27 Travis Braden
8- #78 Blaine Perkins
9- #55 Eddie Fatscher
10- #2 Robert Bruce
11- #34 Mike Basham
12- #41 Zane Smith
13- #3 Willie Mullins
14- #8 Chase Purdy
15- #28 Sheldon Creed
16- #11 Dick Dohney
17- #48 Brad Smith
18- #10 Darrell Basham

The time of the race was 1hr 29min.

Former Viking player and current Vikings radio Color Commentator Pete Bercich is a big motorsports fan and was in attendance at the race.  MavTV broadcast the race LIVE.

Listen to Speed Talk on 1360 radio Saturday 10-11am for a full recap of this event.  Listen on the free Tunein app by searching KRWC or KRWC1360.com


*Jason Searcy and Tom Venturini photos

Local drivers steal the show at Monster Jam

By Jason D Searcy

Two drivers from the Upper Midwest stole the hardware in front of their hometown fans during Monster Jam at US Bank Stadium.

Brainerd Minnesota native Becky McDonough (above) thrilled the crowd by tearing the horns off her Monster Truck El Toro Loco while also nailing the backflip in route to achieving the top score and taking home another Monster Jam Freestyle Trophy at US Bank Stadium.

This was her second Freestyle win in Minneapolis after winning in the Sunday December 11 2016 event and winning the Two Wheel Skills competition during the Saturday Dec 10th event 2016 Monster Jam Returns to MPLS

Freestyle Results:
1- El Toro Loco - Becky McDonough 9.483
2- Hot Wheels - Scott Buetow  8.933
3- Grave Digger - Charle Pauken 8.720
4- Max D - Tom Meents 8.544
5- Black Pearl - Cole Venard 8.457

Another local driver, Cole Venard from Murdo South Dakota, was the upset winner of the Racing portion of Monster Jam at US Bank Stadium, he won all four races in this bracket style competition driving the Black Pearl.  Fourteen Monster trucks participated.

Venard beat Monster Truck royalty Ryan Anderson in Son-uva Digger in the Racing final.

The Two Wheel Skills Competition was won by Tom Meents from Paxton IL driving Max D.  His car control was nothing short of amazing by doing the reverse nose wheelie and moonwalk.

Two Wheel Skills results:
1- Tom Meents - Max D 9.638
2- Charlie Pauken- Grave Digger  8.966
3- Becky McDonough - El Toro Loco 8.504
4- Linsey Weenk - Lucas Oil Crusader 8.369
5- Ryan Anderson - Son-uva Digger 8.343

Ryan Anderson had electrical and mechanical problems all night long but there was a very nice crowd in attendance, the program started right on time at 7pm and concluded at 9:35pm.

*photos from Dean Reller and Jason Searcy

Listen for the opener of the 10th season of Speed Talk on 1360 Radio show of 2018 on April 21st 10-11am on KRWC radio 1360am or KRWC1360.com or search KRWC on the free Tunein app