Fredrickson wins his fifth Thunderstruck93 event

By Jason D Searcy

September 24, 2016 - Elko, MN

Danny Fredrickson from Lakeville (MN) was presented with his fifth guitar trophy as winner of the Thunderstruck93 memorial race at Elko Speedway in honor of Dan Ryan and benefiting the "a race worth winning" organization that supports families in their fight with A.L.S.

 

 

Under cloudy skies and rain looking imminent the ARCA Midwest Tour race was shortened to 93 laps before it began.  Midwest tour point leader and two time defending Champion Ty Majeski #91 broke a rear end in his primary car during practice and had to switch to a back up car, he still was the fast qualifier with a time of 13.736, and started the race 13th.  Rookie Super Late Model driver Chris Marek #3 started from the pole position, fought back former Midwest tour Champion #77 Jonathan Eilen and then led the first twenty laps. 

Danny Fredrickson #36 is a three time Midwest tour Champion himself and also an Elko Speedway Champion in 2003.  Fredrickson started the race 7th and quickly moved to the front of the field, he grabbed the lead at lap twenty and took off as Majeski and three time Elko Speedway Champ #72 Jacob Goede were making their way through this star studded field of Super Late Models.

On lap sixty Fredrickson had a big lead and Majeski had made his way up to second place.  Then with twenty to go Fredrickson caught some faster cars at the tail end of the lead lap and Majeski was right on his back bumper.  These two titans fought it out until the end with Fredrickson finishing just ahead of Majeski, the margin of victory was only .182 seconds with Goede finishing third.  The TOP 3 Podium was the same three drivers as last year, only this year Fredrickson came out on top.

It was the fifth win of the eight Thunderstruck93 events for Fredrickson who celebrated with the Ryan Family in Elko victory lane.  Fourteen of the 27 cars finished on the lead lap.  Only three drivers have competed in all 8 Thunderstruck events, they are Fredrickson, Nick Murgic and Joel Theisen.

TOP 10 Finishers:

1- Dan Fredrickson

2- Ty Majeski

3- Jacob Goede

4- Nick Barstad

5- Chris Weinkauf

6- Casey Johnson

7- Billy Mohn

8- Nick Panitzke

9- Travis Dassow

10- Nick Murgic

The Big 8 Late Model Series ran a 58 lap race during Thunderstruck93 and it was an epic battle between #2 Michael Bilderback from South Beloit (IL) and Michael Ostdiek from Lakeville (MN).

J Herbst #82 a former La Crosse Speedway Champion from West Salem (WI) actually had the field covered the first half of the race before mechanical problems dropped him from the top spot on lap 34.  That's when former Big 8 series Champion and Rockford (IL) Speedway Champion #2 Bilderback took the lead, he was closely followed by #18 Michael Ostdiek who has had an incredible season at Elko, winning four features and finishing third in the National NASCAR Whelen All American Series point standings for Division II.

These two raced hard and had some contact, more than once, on the final lap.  It was an incredible run to the checkers with Bilderback crossing the finish line just .018 seconds ahead of Ostdiek for the win.

TOP 10 Finishers

1- Michael Bilderback #2

2- Michael Ostdiek #18

3- Joe Neisius #75 -Fast Qualifier

4- Dillon Hammond #75

5- Michael Beamish #40

6- Ryan Kamish #42

7- L.B. Berthiaume #99

8- Jon Lemke #17

9- Jeremy Miller #5

10- Bryan Wrolstad #13

Brent Kane #99 from Lonsdale (MN) won his second feature of 2016 on the final night of racing in the Genz-Ryan Thunder Car division.  Kane jumped out front right away and never looked back.  Jeremy Wolff #32 from Chaska (MN) finished second in the feature and secured his first ever Elko Speedway Championship.  Conrad Jorgenson #3 was third, Eric Campbell #25 was fourth and #15 Cole Neisius finished fifth in this 18 car field.

Jeremy Wolff won a Hobby Stock Championship at Raceway Park in Shakopee (MN) in 2008, this is just his third full season racing at Elko, he had finished second in points the previous two years before scoring five wins and winning the Championship this year.  Wolff finished 31 points ahead of Kane in the race for the title, Eric Campbell was third in points followed by #07 Dillon Sellner in fourth and #3 Conrad Jorgenson fifth.

Joey Prusak #6 from Minnetonka (MN) won the final Pepsi Power Stock main event of 2016, it was his third win of the season.  Former Champion #88 Nick Oxborough finished second .457 behind Prusak, #54 Tim Hollen was a strong third with #8 Taylor Goldman finishing fourth and #62 Tom Doten from St Paul (MN) rounding out the TOP 5.

It is very appropriate that Tom Doten would score another TOP 5 finish in the last race, it is his specialty, he scored 17 TOP 5 finishes in 24 races this season, the most of any driver in the division and that helped him secure his first career Elko Speedway Championship.

Rookie driver Bryce Blohm #37 from Lakeville (MN) had a great season, he scored five wins and was in the hunt for the title right up until the very end.  Blohm was only eight points behind Doten coming into the final feature but had some bad luck with a flat tire during the race, he finished 17th.

Doten wins the Power Stock Championship by 25 points over Blohm with #7 Brandon Petersen finishing third, Taylor Goldman #8 fourth and #6 Joey Prusak fifth in points.

Double features were raced at Elko Speedway during Thunderstruck93.  The first 20 lap race was as close as it gets, #4 Brady Fox-Rhode from Loretto (MN) won his third feature of the year just edging #13 Tim Brockhouse by a bumper at the line with #71 Derek Lemke just a whisker behind.  Cole Klein #8 finished fourth in the first feature with #16 Matt Allen wrapping up the TOP 5.

In the second nineteen car feature Derek Lemke from Shakopee (MN) was the winner, it was his seventh win this year at Elko Speedway.  Matt Berlin #16 from Mequon (WI) finished second with #4 Brady Fox-Rhode third, #13 Tim Brockhouse fourth and #26 Will McCully in fifth.

The Great North Legends are one of the most exciting divisions at Elko Speedway with intense side by side action every race.  The Great North Legends are the premier division on the last night of racing at Elko Speedway next Saturday night October 1st as they will crown a Champion.  Derek Lemke has an impressive 90 point lead going into that final night, as long as he starts he will win his third consecutive Championship at Elko Speedway.

Justin Schelitzche #14 from Lester Prairie (MN) won the Hornets main event.  Schelitzche outran #36 Brandon Olson for his fourth win of the season at Elko.  Olson finished second followed by #7 Ridge Oien who was in a close battle with #55 Brandon Plekkenpol in fourth and #36 Alex Vincent in fifth.

Schelitzche now has a 27 point lead over Olson going into the final night of racing at Elko Speedway.

As always, these results and points are unofficial, the official results will be posted later in the week at ElkoSpeedway.com

Coming up next is the final night of racing at ELKO.  Its a MN Lottery Eve of Destruction presented by Leo's South.  In addition to racing in the Bando's, Hornets and Great North Legends fans will see the much anticipated Trailer Race, School Bus Figure 8 races, Burnout Contest, Justin Sayne stuntman, The Green Mamba Jet Car, Rock-n-Roll Fireworks, Spectator Drags and LIVE music from Lost Highway.  Gates open at 5pm with action at 6pm.

Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com, follow Elko Speedway on social media or download the free ELKO Racing app.  Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8th mile progressive banked asphalt oval race track located in Elko (MN), 30 minutes South of Downtown Minneapolis (MN) just off of I-35 and County Road 2.

#Thunderstruck 93 Incredible entry list

By Jason D Searcy

September 23, 2015 - Elko, MN

The seventh annual #Thunderstruck93 presented by NAPA event is bringing out an incredible list of short track racing stars to compete for the coveted guitar trophy in the 125 lap ARCA Midwest Tour race at Elko Speedway (MN) on Saturday September 26th.

Topping the 31 car entry list is Four time winner of this event Danny Fredrickson from Lakeville (MN), he won a track Championship at Elko Speedway in 2003 and has been a Midwest tour Champion twice, in 2008 and 2013.  Fredrickson has more wins than anyone in the history of the Midwest tour (14). 

Keep your eye on two time defending Elko Speedway Champion Jacob Goede from Caver (MN).  He won the inaugural #Thunderstruck93 event in 2009, the same year he was the Midwest tour Rookie of the Year.  This year he dominated the MN Corn Growers Super Late Model racing at Elko Speedway with 10 wins and he set fast time in qualifying every race night the entire year.  Matt Goede also had a great year, finishing second in points behind his brother Jacob, scoring 3 feature wins.

Ty Majeski from Seymore (WI) is one of the most talked about young drivers in the nation.  He is the the defending ARCA Midwest tour Champion and he leads in points again heading into this race, last year he almost won #Thunderstruck93, he finished runner up to Fredrickson by only .326 seconds after a furious battle for the top spot.

Skyler Holzhausen from Bangor (WI) has won at Elko Speedway before, on July 9th 2011 he won a 250 lap Midwest tour race edging Chris Wimmer, he then went on to win the Midwest tour Rookie of the year.  He is currently second in ARCA Midwest tour points.

Andrew Morrissey from Deforest (WI) is entered in this event, he won the Midwest tour Championship in 2011 and he won #Thunderstruck93 in 2013.  He won the Chicagoland Showdown earlier this year.

Three time Slinger (WI) Super Late Model Champion Steve Apel from West Bend (WI) will also be racing at #Thunderstruck93, he is a Kulwicki Driver Development racer and the Red White and Blue series Champion at WIR.  This is his first trip to the Twin Cities to race.

Another hometown hero is former Elko Speedway Thunder Car champion Jonathan Eilen from Hampton (MN) he won the first ever Midwest tour race, it took place at Elko Speedway on April 28th 2007, over 50 cars tried to qualify for the event and Eilen was the unlikely winner.  He has been a regular on the tour ever since, even winning the Championship in 2012.

Nick Murgic from Rosemount (MN) won the biggest race of his career just last month, he took home a $10,000 check by winning the Dixieland 250 at WIR, unfortunately he lost brakes and nearly totaled his car after taking the checkered flag.  The 2008 Midwest tour Rookie of the year now has the car back in shape and looking to contend for the win, he finished third last year.

2013 TUNDRA Super Late Model Champion Nick Panitzke from Sauk Centre (MN) has rebounded from a health scare earlier this year, he scored a feature win at Elko Speedway on May 23rd. 

Natalie Decker from Eagle River (WI) is a member of the NASCAR Dive for Diversity program, she won a track championship in the Limited Late Model division at State Park Speedway in 2013, and she won a TUNDRA Super Late Model race at Golden Sands last year.

#Thunderstruck93 is very pleased to see that a couple veteran super stars are entered in this race including driver Jamie Iverson from Escanaba (MI) he is a many time track champion at Norway (MI) Speedway and has 4 career wins in Midwest tour competition. Also Tim Sauter from Necedah (WI) who is a member of Wisconsin Racing Royalty, he is the brother of Johnny, son of Jim and father to Travis Sauter.  He was the 1999 ASA National Champion and he made over 100 starts in what is now called the NASCAR Xfinity series.

Other drivers who have won at Elko Speedway this year that are entered into this race include:  Billy Mohn from Lakeville (MN), Nick Barstad from Prior Lake (MN) and  Paul Paine from Mound (MN).

A full list of entrys can be found at www.arcamidwesttour.com and you never know what other stars will show up on race day, the weather forcast is perfect!

#Thunderstruck93 will take at Elko Speedway on Saturday September 26th beginning with an on-track driver autograph session at 3pm.  Qualifying and heat races will begin at 4pm.  The ARCA Midwest tour 125 lap finale will take place after a full day of racing including a 68 lap BIG 8 late model feature, also Champions will be crowned in the Genz-Ryan Thunder Car and Pepsi Power Stock divisions, plus racing in the Great North Legends and Hornets as well.  The Pink Flamingo party will take place in Champions event center following the races, no camping is permitted.

#Thunderstruck93 presented by NAPA auto parts is a race day designed to benefit the fight agains A.L.S. better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, it is in memory of long time racer and Elko Speedway Hall of Fame member Dan Ryan who passed away in 2009.  Go to www.araceworthwinning.org

Elko Speedway is located 20 minutes South of the Twin Cities, just off of I-35 and County road 2.  For more information follow Elko Speedway on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, go to www.ElkoSpeedway.com or call (952) 461-7223.

Fredrickson wins Thunderstruck93

Dan Fredrickson from Lakeville (MN) was the class of the field on a stormy night in the ARCA Midwest tour Thunderstruck93 event presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Elko Speedway. 

The 6th annual Thunderstruck event is in memory of Elko Speedway Hall of Fame member Dan Ryan who died of ALS.  To Dan Fredrickson this race has special meaning "my buddy Dan died of Lou Gehrig's disease, its really a tough deal to experience and I think about him a lot," said Fredrickson who has now won 4 of the 6 Thunderstruck93 races and its trademark guitar trophy.

Here is an emotional interview with Dean Reller and Danny right after the race 

Fredrickson is both a former Elko Speedway track Champion in 2003 and two time ARCA Midwest tour champion in 2008 and 2013.  Dan took most of this year off from racing but came back to racing at Elko Speedway a few weeks ago to get his car ready for Thunderstruck93.  "It payed off," said Fredrickson "the car was pretty good, much better than last year."

Fredrickson was fastest of the 32 cars in Time Trials with a time of 13.700 but the 12 car inversion for the 125 lap feature after a short rain delay put him back in the 6th row to begin the race.  Brad Keith from West Bend (WI) lead the race early but fell back after Hampton (MN) driver Jonathan Eilen shot to the lead on lap 6.  Fredrickson passed Eilen on lap 24 and never gave up the lead even though he got loads of pressure late in the race from Ty Majeski from Seymore (WI).  "We thought it might rain, so I worked my tires a bit too hard early in the race" said Fredrickson.  Majeski who was 2nd in ARCA Midwest tour points moved to second on the track by lap 100 and raced side by side with Fredrickson for the lead the rest of the race "I gave him the bottom a couple times, I was nervous that I might miss a corner here or there, but it was a really good race," said Fredrickson.

19 year old Majeski (photo above) finished second by only .326 seconds and moved into the Midwest tour point lead.  Here is an interview with Dean Reller and Ty after the race

Rosemount (MN) driver Nick Murgic (above) finished 3rd.  Here is Dean Reller an interview with Nick immediately after the race



ARCA Midwest tour point leader Nathan Haseleu from Marshall (WI) finished 4th and Elko Speedway MN Corn Growers Super Late Model Champion Jacob Goede from Carver (MN) rounded out the top 5.  Veteran racer Tim Sauter 6th, TUNDRA Champion Nick Panitzke 7th, Jason Weinkauf 8th, Chris Weinkauf 9th and MN Driver Joel Theisen got his first ever Midwest Tour Top 10 finish.

The Big 8 Late Model series appeared in Minnesota for only the second time ever at Thunderstruck93 and it was 18 year old Austin Nason from Roscoe (IL) who won.  Nason started the 58 lap race 10th but worked his was to the lead by lap 18, he passed Joe Neisius from Rosemount (MN) on the high side for the top spot.  Nason then had to hold off Elko Speedway Big 8 Champion Chris Marek and then Big 8 point leader Casey Johnson from Edgerton (WI) for the win.  Nason won by only .203 seconds at the finish line with Johnson 2nd, Marek 3rd another Minnesota driver Jon Lemke in fourth and Neisus dropped to 5th in the 24 car field.

The 11th annual Genz-Ryan Thunder Car Nationals race also took place at Elko Speedway during Thunderstruck93.  It was Dillion Sellner from Farmington (MN) leading the 25 car field the entire 50 lap race.  Sellner was challenged numerous times during the race by Ted Reuvers from Dundas (MN) and then it was Tina Davis from Rosemount (MN) putting on the pressure late, Sellner won by .240 seconds.  Scott King finished 13th, he and his bride Tracy (Photo below) were married at the track just before opening ceremonies.

The Mid American Stock car series raced a 50 lap feature at Thunderstruck93.  Lyle Nowak from Wausau (WI) started on the front row, took the lead and then fought back a hard charging Scott Dunning from Bolingbrook (IL) for the win.  Dunning started fourth row outside, made some bold moves diving down low early in the race and ran his way up to second place by the half-way mark, he closed the gap but could get no closer, he finished second by .267 seconds behind Nowak.  Jeremy Spoonmore finished third and picked up a few points on Championship leader Jeff Holtz who finished 5th.

Tim Brockhouse from Prior Lake (MN) won the 20 lap Great North Legends main event, he had a furious battle with Dirk Henry from Sauk Centre (MN) as the two went side by side for much of the race, swapping the top spot.  "It was really cool, Dirk and I must have rubbed 7 or 8 times, he raced me clean though and we didn't crash and he was the first one to shake my hand in victory lane," said Brockhouse.  Point leader Derek Lemke from Shakopee (MN) broke a gear mid-race and finished 15th in the 19 car field, Brady Fox-Rhode finished 8th and closed the gap in the point standings.  Lemke has only an 8 point lead over Fox-Rhode going into the final race night.

Ridge Oien from Bloomington (MN) won the 20 lap Mini Stock race, Oien lead the entire way for his first win of the year.  Brandon Olson who won last week finished second, Ashley Bell third and point leader Brian Adams coming in 4th.  Adams increased his point lead over Michael Wachs Jr to 57 points going into the final race night at Elko Speedway.


Listen for full coverage of the Thunderstruck93 event on Speed Talk on 1360 radio Saturday morning 10-11am on www.krwc1360.com

Big names kick off 2014 season

April has been full of heavy hitter guests to kick off our 6th season of Speed Talk on 1360 radio.

ARCA Midwest Tour president Tim Olson (above) joined us LIVE at the KRWC Home/Garden show.   Tim told us that he will be returning to the track as a driver this season on a limited basis, so look for the #79 Nuclear Banana Super Late Model at Elko Speedway.  He also anticipates some big names to attend the big Milwaukee Mile event June 8th including: Rusty and Steven Wallace, Bill and Chase Elliott and Jeb Burton, son of Ward Burton.

Joey Prusak (above) who was recently appeared on the Queen Latifa TV show was in studio with us on April 12th.  He recounted the humanitarian events that lead him to being recognized by NASCAR, then traveling to the Daytona 500 and getting to meet his idol Joey Logano.  He also detailed his racing plans for this summer at Elko Speedway.

Here is the audio recording of his interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2IVZdtiaSE

Then we interviewed Nate Thiesse (above), a former racer and the only Minnesota owner in the ARCA and NASCAR Truck series.  We talked about his current drivers including Frank Kimmel and Mason Mingus, also how he finds his "over the wall" crew members and even the cost of wind tunnel time.  He also recanted some old racing memories from I-94 Raceway.  Here is the link to the podcast of that interview http://deanreller.podomatic.com/entry/2014-04-26T11_28_16-07_00

We wraped up April with the new president of Iowa Speedway, Jimmy Small.  He talked about the 2014 Iowa Speedway schedule including their "Wide Opening weekend" May 17th and 18th with the NASCAR K&N series on Saturday night and the NASCAR Nationwide series on Sunday afternoon.  Speed Talk will be reporting there and interviewing as many drivers as possible. Here is the pod-cast episode of that segment





http://deanreller.podomatic.com/entry/2014-04-26T14_13_20-07_00

 The local racing season is now set to begin, we will have interviews with winners from Elko Speedway and other various tracks every week on Speed Talk on 1360.  Dan Plan from the Midwest racing connection also joins us weekly in the last segment of the show.

Thank you fans for listening, please support our sponsors of the show, without them the show would not be possible.

Dan Fredrickson 2013 ARCA Midwest tour Champion

Dan Fredrickson from Lakeville (MN) won his second ARCA Midwest tour Championship with a runner up finish in La Crosse (WI) Sunday afternoon.  Fredrickson won two races in 2013 at Wisconsin Dells and State Park Speedway.  He only finished out of the "top 10" once during the entire 12 race schedule.  Fredrickson won the title by 50 points over Chris Wimmer, Nathan Haseleu finished 3d and Carver (MN) native Jacob Goede got 4th.  The 2012 Champion Jonathan Eilen from Hampton (MN) won one race and finished 6th in the standings.

The 44th annual Oktoberfest race weekend was highlighted by a wild finish in the ARCA Midwest tour finale.  Travis Sauter was spun by his uncle Johnny Sauter during caution just after a white flag on-track incident between the two that sent Johnny spinning into the infield.  Both racers were credited with a DNF in the race.  Here is video ABOVE .. Johnny Sauter is in the white and blue #5.

Nathan Haseleu won the race and putting his name in the record books.  Fredrickson finished 2nd and Wimmer third.   Here is an audio recap of the race with Speed Talk on 1360 co-host Dean Reller interviewing the top 3 finishers, Click on this LINK BELOW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQWOA_5MibE

Minnesota racers were also well represented in the other divisions of racing at the famed La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem WI.  Chris Marek from Lakeville (MN) won both the BIG 8 main event and was the overall winner in the the JMcK race as well named after famed promoter John McKarns.

Devin Schmidt from Belle Plaine (MN) won the Great Northern Sportsmen race at Oktoberfest and Dave Auringer from Prior Lake (MN) won the Midwestern Dash.

Chad Walen from Prior Lake (MN) went home with a trophy as well winning the Super Late Model futures race on Thursday night.

*Photos by Dean Reller

A Season of change for Midwest Tour

By Jason D Searcy

The ASA Midwest Tour will now be sanctioned by ARCA.

It appears that ARCA will take the Midwest tour under its umbrella in much the same way they did the CRA Super series.  These touring series are made up of similar asphalt Super Late Model cars and will even race some joint events on the 2013 schedule.