Martin Goes Out On Top, 2013 MN Asphalt Driver of the Year

By Dean Reller


The 2013 Speed Talk on 1360 Minnesota Asphalt Driver of the Year took a new direction so to speak as Raceway Park Figure 8 driver Ricky Martin takes the honors after a remarkable year capping off the final season of racing at Raceway Park in Shakopee.

Although many drivers look at an upcoming season with Championship hopes, it wasn’t quite the case with Martin as he headed into the 2013 season.  “I wasn’t planning on racing the full year”, said Martin. “I’ve got kids in sports and I was really planning on helping coach them.  I found out it might be the last year at Raceway Park and if it was going to be the last year, I wanted to be part of it.”  Martin has a lot of experience at Raceway Park, winning multiple championships in recent years so, he has been very apt at turning left and right on the quarter mile track.  Running a Figure 8 car takes a different skill set than most drivers are accustomed to. “You start out the year hoping to just stay out of trouble, especially in the Figure 8’s.  You know, Figure 8’s, trouble is just around the corner.”  That’s something that Martin seemed to do a good job of avoiding, since in many races he was safely or at least slightly safer in the lead.

“The car was unbelievable, just jump in and drive,” said Martin.  “The crew really worked hard on it and we ended up winning 15 features on Sunday nights.  It was by far my best year in racing.”  Martin was especially thankful for his crew consisting of his dad, Rick Martin, Scott Emmes, Scott Westphal, Johnny Mosher and Mark Mosher.  Besides winning the Figure 8 Championship, Martin was also the NASCAR Home Tracks Division II National Champion.

Of course with all the feature wins and Championships over the years, the question comes up of why didn’t Martin ever move up to another class?  “A number of reasons could answer that, but I realized the last couple of years that it’s the group of guys and gals that I race with in the Figure 8’s,” said Martin.  “They are an unbelievable group, they’re family.  You race with them door to door on the track.  Sure you might have issues here and there, that’s part of racing.  Afterwards in the pits, no matter what happened on the track, we are always smiling, joking around, having a good time and that’s the reason why I’ve stuck with the Figure 8’s, the group of guys.”

Now that Raceway Park is gone, Martin doesn’t have any racing planned, at least in the near future.  The 2013 season was a memorable one and for Martin the final chapter couldn’t have been a better memory of what truly was a storybook season with a happy ending.



Previous winners of the Speed Talk on 1360 MN Asphalt Driver of the Year:

2004  Dan Fredrickson

2009  Adam Royle http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009-speedtalk-mn-driver-of-year.html

2010  Brent Kane http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2011/01/2010-mn-asphalt-driver-of-year.html

2011  Chad Walen http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2012/01/chad-walen-awarded-2011-mn-asphalt.html

2012  Jonathan Eilen http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/01/eilen-named-2012-mn-asphalt-driver-of.html

2013 Season in Review

2013 was the 5th year of Speed Talk on 1360 radio on KRWC, we interviewed 88 different drivers this year while covering a great race season in Minnesota. 

Here is a review of the Top 10 stories covered in 2013.

#1 Raceway Park closes after 57 years of racing.  Benny Van Cleve was the final race winner in the history of the track on September 1st.   http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-final-final-at-raceway-park.html

#2 Frank Kimmel wins at Elko Speedway for his 78th ARCA victory.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/06/kimmel-wins-arca-at-elko-speedway.html#more

#3 Danny Fredrickson wins his 2nd ARCA Midwest tour Championship.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/10/dan-fredrickson-2013-arca-midwest-tour.html

#4 Tim Kaeding wins $10,000 World of Outlaws race on dirt at Elko Speedway.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/05/spring-dirt-weekend-at-elko-speedway.html#more

#5 Andrew Morrissey wins Thunderstruck93 at Elko, 150 cars participate in on-track autograph session and $20,000 raised for Charity.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/09/thunderstruck-93-at-elko-speedway.html

#6 Michael Self wins second straight NASCAR K&N series race at Brainerd International Raceway.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/05/self-wins-second-straight-at-bir.html

#7 Doug Peterson wins Trans-Am race at BIR in largest field since the return of the series.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/09/peterson-wins-trans-am-at-bir_2.html

#8 James Buescher wins NASCAR Camping World truck race at Iowa Speedway in wild finish.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/09/buescher-wins-at-iowa-speedway.html

#9 Numbers prove just how fast a World of Outlaws Spring car is compared to an ARCA car at Elko Speedway.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/06/arca-vs-world-of-outlaws-at-elko.html

#10 Levi Schwanz memorial car show a big success at Hutchinson Mall.  http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/2013/03/hutchinson-race-car-show-2013.html

Jason Searcy was named announcer at Elko Speedway in 2013 and we got to hear interviews with drivers every week (Brent Kane below).

Jason had many fun video's posted on the web including the crazy story of who really is the mascot named Victor E. Lane (below).

Dean Reller spent a lot of time at Raceway Park covering their final season of racing, he also traveled to Oktoberfest, Iowa Speedway and BIR (with Michael Self below)

Dean also put together many videos of the action (below).

We really want to thank our group of very loyal sponsors that make the 5th year of this radio show possible.  Please support them: 

Performance Driving School at BIR
Moon Motorsport in Monticello
Cenex in Buffalo
Norms Wayside in Buffalo
Lou Fegers Racing Equipment in Delano
Hwy 55 Trailer Sales in Buffalo
Stockholm Motorsports Park in Cokato
Superior Masonry Products in New Prague
David Wray Automotive in Buffalo

We also want to thank Jordan Bianchi from http://www.sbnation.com/nascar
and Dan Plan from http://theracingconnection.com/


It was a great season in 2013 and we hope to do it again in 2014, keep checking back to http://racefansradio.blogspot.com/ for more details or follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/101840716792/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/speedtalkon1360 or https://twitter.com/DeanReller

Midwest Racing Expo 2013

The Midwest Racing Expo presented by WISSOTA was held at the Rivers Edge Convention Center in St Cloud (MN) November 8-9th, 2013.
 
The WISSOTA National Champion dirt cars were in attendance, many exhibitors had displays, and the annual awards banquet was held.

2013 WISSOTA Champions:
Late Models: #73 Zach Johnson
Modifieds: #24 Mike Stearns
Super Stocks: #7a Shane Sabraski
Midwest Modifieds: #21 Travis Saurer
Street Stocks: #21 Dave Reed
Mod 4's:  #00 Kyle Thell

*photos by Dean Reller

Champions crowned at Elko Speedway

The 2013 race season at Elko Speedway came to an end with the Champions banquet on Saturday night October 12th.

2013 Elko Speedway Champions were crowned:
Super Late Models - Adam Royle
BIG 8 - Chris Marek
Thunder Cars - Brent Kane
Power Stocks - John Lebens
Great North Legends - Michael Ostdiek
Mini stocks - Jack Purcell
Bandolero's - Jared Duda

Adam Royle was also named the NASCAR Whelen All American series Minnesota state Champion 

2013 Brother's Jorgenson  Rookie's of the Year were recognized:
Super Late Models - Ryan Wolke
BIG 8 - Kyle Kirberger
Thunder Cars - Matt Weibusch
Power Stocks - Norm Grabinger
Great North Legends - Brady Fox-Rhode
Mini Stocks - Ashley Bell

The drivers with the Most Feature Wins were recognized:
Super Late Models - Adam Royle 7
BIG 8 - Chris Marek 5
Thunder Cars - Brent Kane 8
Power Stocks - John Lebens 4
Great North Legends - Michael Ostdiek 9
Mini Stocks - Jack Purcell 4

Flag Pole Champions:
Power Stocks - Todd Tacheny
Mini Stocks - Justin Schelitzche

Special Awards were presented:
Young Gun - Taylor Goldman (Power Stocks)
Most Improved Driver - Devin Schmidt (Thunder Cars)
Sportsman of the year - Tom Doten (Power Stocks)
Mechanic of the year - Jarry Royle (Super Late Models)
Driver of the year - Michael Ostdiek (Great North Legends)

The preliminary 2014 Elko Speedway race schedule has been released with opening night set for May 17th, 2014.  Mini Stocks have been added to the weekly race program to join the Super Late Models, Big 8, Thunder Car, Power Stock, Great North Legends and Bandolero divisions.  Seven "Eve of Destruction" events are planned for next summer.  Get more information by calling (952) 461-7223 or go to www.elkospeedway.com

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

The Final Final at Raceway Park

Not An Ordinary Night At The Races, The Final Final At Raceway Park

By Dean Reller

When the news came out earlier in the year it was a date that many people circled on the calendar, September 1^st, the last day of racing at Raceway Park.  As the season went on, everyone talked about the end and then, suddenly the calendar turned over and it was September 1^st, the Final Final was here.

The day started with a different vibe as I Iogged onto facebook.  Nearly everyone had something to say about the race and the racetrack.  Some posts were insightful, others emotional, but all set the stage that this would be no ordinary night at the races.

As I pulled into the parking lot there were many people with the same plan as me, Get There Early!  Before I even got out of my car, a man exited the SUV parked next to me and a guy gets out dressed in white pants, a nice shirt and tie, then he grabbed a sports coat and headed for the pit gate.  Once again it was evident that this wasn’t a normal night at the races.  Since it was Championship Night, there was a bit of tension in the air, but mostly it was a bit of friendly camaraderie as everyone wanted to put on a great race, one more time.

The Driver’s Meeting was a bit different than normal.  Track owner John Hellendrung thanked everyone and explained the situation with the track.  Also present was Tom Ryan owner of Elko Speedway, who openly invited all the drivers to come try racing at Elko Speedway and to consider racing there next season.  During the next few hours, two Twin Cities television stations would report on the final night of racing.  Hence, explaining why someone was wearing white pants and a sports coat to the races.  The racing program went relatively smooth.  Dave Nogle used the last ever Figure 8 race to win his first feature of the season, making his final race at Raceway Park very memorable at a track that’s been very special for him.  “I’ve raced here since 2000 and it’s the people, it’s a whole different clan.  They’re really cool, they help each other out too,” said Nogle about the close knit group of racers in the pits.

Jeremy Wolff would add his name in the record books as he was the last driver to roll his car on the final lap of the intense Hobby Stock Feature.  Brent Kane would take the Hobby Stock Feature win, but it wasn’t enough to keep Conrad Jorgenson from winning the Championship.  “It’s pretty cool to win the last Championship ever,” said a very happy Jorgenson following the race.  “In 1996 I won my first championship here and it’s pretty cool to end it up winning one again.”  The large crowd that packed the grandstands made their presence known and drivers like Jorgenson took note.  “It’s always fun to run in front of a huge crowd, but tonight it was incredible,” Jorgenson remarked.  At 10:19 PM , the Checkered Flag waved for the final time as Benny VanCleve won the Great North Legends Feature to become the last ever winner at Raceway Park, ending 57 years of racing at the historic track.

After the race, no one was in a big hurry to leave.  Many drivers and fans alike walked around the track following the races taking pictures and reliving memories one more time.  “I’ve been here a long time as a lot of us have been and it’s a big family, so it kind of feels like we lost someone in the family,” remarked Figure 8 driver Kari Miller as she walked around the facility one more time following the races.  “I’m just trying to celebrate tonight, instead of being sad of the end of something; I’m trying to celebrate the memories that we have here.”

Many drivers, crews and fans took their time leaving as some were saying goodbye to not only the track, but to their racing career as well.  Slowly as the night and early morning progressed, the crowd finally dwindled and a new sound emerged over that tiny little quarter mile track, the sound of silence.  Something that will now be heard on Sunday nights in the summer.

Here is an audio recap of the night including interviews from:  Brent Kane, Conrad Jorgenson, Dave Nogle, Kari Miller and Benny Van Cleve as heard on KRWC radio.

https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/raceway-final-race-recap

Thunderstruck 93 at Elko Speedway

By Jason D Searcy

The ARCA Midwest tour Super Late Models capped off an incredible Thunderstruck 93 weekend of racing at Elko Speedway.  This fifth annual event is a memorial to former racer Dan Ryan and raises funds to help fight ALS.  With Kent Hrbek in attendance the 50/50 raffle raised over $800 on Friday night and over $1800 on Saturday night, they also had numerous other fundraisers and over $20,000 was raised for charity on the weekend.

Saturday night began with an on-track driver autograph session with all the racers and their cars in attendance at Elko Speedway.  It was an awesome sight with over 150 cars participating.

Andrew Morrissey (photo above) from DeForest (WI) swapped the lead with veteran NASCAR star Rich Bickle before finally taking the top spot with 27 laps to go in the 125 lap main event.  Morrissey held on for the win by .823 seconds over a hard charging Chris Wimmer who came from 8th place on lap 93 to second place at the finish line.  Bickle dropped back to third in his final Elko Speedway race before retirement.

Three Minnesota rivals finished together in the finishing order.  ARCA Midwest tour point leader #36 Dan Fredrickson from Lakeville (MN) got 6th, 2013 Elko Speedway Point Champion Adam Royle from Lonsdale (MN) 7th and Jacob Goede from Carver (MN) 8th.

Nick Murgic from Rosemount (MN) took the lead early in the race that saw 79 consecutive green flag laps to begin, Murgic then faded back to 23rd due to mechanical problems.  Defending ARCA Midwest tour champion #77 Jonathan Eilen from Hampton (MN) started 7th and raced his way into the top 3 before backing into the wall, he was forced to pit numerous times and then fought his way back to finish 12th.

Elko Speedway 2013 Thunder Car Champion #99 Brent Kane from Lonsdale (MN) won the 10th annual Thunder Car Nationals 50 lap event during Thunderstruck weekend.  Kane came from his sixth starting position in the 25 car field to win by .739 seconds over Ted Reuvers and Jacob Goede who finished third.

Chris Marek from Lakeville (MN) capped off his 2013 Championship season at Elko Speedway the right way by winning the wild 58 lap BIG 8 main event on Saturday night.  30 cars from all over the Midwest entered the race and 24 started the feature event.

Marek did Minnesota proud by leading most of the race and taking home the hardware.  # 54 Dylan Moore had the lead early but took a wild ride and rolled his car down the front stretch, he landed on his roof and ended his night early.  Jon Lemke also sustained damage in the incident, he had to pit and eventually finished 6th.  The BIG 8 touring cars finished 2nd through 5th with point leader Casey Johnson from Edgerton (WI) scoring the runner up position 1.714 seconds behind Marek at the finish line.

Ten Mid American Stock Cars raced a 30 lap feature with Dan Gilster from LaCrosse (WI) winning his first ever feature with this series.  Gilster won by an impressive 4.952 seconds but it was very close for the runner up position, point leader Brad Keith edged Kyle Nowak by a bumper to finish second Mark Pluer was in the mix for that position until last lap mechanical problems dropped him back to 7th.

Camden Murphy from Itaska (IL) won the 30 lap Midwest Super Truck main event, it was his first ever truck win.  He won by .448 seconds over Jacob Vanwazer and Natalie Decker, point leader Jerry Wood finished fourth.

The Great North Legends had two feature races over the Thunderstruck 93 weekend.  On Friday night Dirk Henry from Sauk Centre (MN) won his 4th feature of the year, he beat out Tim Brockhouse for the win.  On Saturday night 24 cars took to the track for the 20 lap feature and Michael Ostdiek from Lakeville (MN) came home with the win, the top 4 crossed the finish line just .473 seconds apart.  Derek Lemke finished second, Brockhouse third and James Wenzel fourth.  Michael Ostdiek now has a 43 point lead over Derek Lemke going into the final race night at Elko Speedway.

The Mini Stocks also ran two features over Thunderstruck 93 weekend.  Michael Wachs Jr from Shakopee (MN) started the 15 lap race seventh and won the Friday night main event, he beat Jack Purcell and Dan Knish to the finish.

On Saturday it was Brandon Plekkenpol from Shakopee (MN) winning the feature, Jack Purcell got second and Ridge Oien third.  Jack Purcell from Bloomington (MN) was the overall Thunderstruck 93 weekend top point getter and was awarded a huge trophy and free season pass into the pits for all of 2014.  Purcell now leads John Vandenheuvel by 24 points in the standings.

Dean Reller from Speed Talk on 1360 Radio interviewed the Top 3 ARCA Midwest Tour finishers and the Midwest Super Truck winner, they will be broadcast on Saturday morning 10-11am on KRWC 1360 radio and www.krwc1360.com. 

Buescher wins at Iowa Speedway

James Buescher won the Fan Appreciation 200 Camping World Truck series race at Iowa Speedway.  He had fresher tires than many of the lead lap trucks and that helped him motor past Ross Chastain and hold on during the second Green-White-Checkered attempt to finish the race.  Chastain (#19 below) lead 116 of the 212 laps and was the strongest truck most of the day but his truck was not as good on the short runs and Buescher took advantage.  

 *photo courtesy of Jennifer Stewart/NASCAR/Getty Images

Chastain's teammate Ryan Blaney also spent time up front near the end of regulation but he lost the lead during a caution "I thought we were 7-10 laps to the good on fuel," said Blaney "we just got an air bubble in the line and the truck shut off and it slowed us up just that little bit to make them (NASCAR) put us back there."  Blaney was penalized for not keeping up with the pace car, he ended up finishing 10th.

Ty Dillon (#3 above) lead 46 laps during the race, his team got off pit sequence with the leaders and went one lap down mid-race, the team replaced the battery on a pit stop and Dillon had to drive without any brake fans.  Even with all that adversity the team fought back to finish 3rd.

Brendan Gaughan had an eventful day, he had a tire going down (photo above) while in 3rd place on lap 116.  It actually blew during his pit stop, caught on video by Dean Reller (link below).  Gaughan's problems did not stop there, he pitted numerous time to fix damage and eventually crashed with Joey Coulter in turn two ending both their days a little early.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOcQYNS58Lg&feature=c4-overview&list=UU0-HpFKbreUCFudu07n6_hw

Karma from last weeks race in Canada might have caught up with Chase Elliott who dropped out of the race early due to a mechanical problem and resulting crash on lap 35, he finished 31st.

Matt Crafton finished 8th and continued his incredible streak of "top 10" finishes.  He now leads in the point standings by 37 over James Buescher and Ty Dillon is in third 58 points out of the lead.  Jeb Burton finished 8th place in the Iowa race and is fourth in points, 66 out of the top spot.

Listen for interviews with: Ty Dillon, Ross Chastain, Matt Crafton, Jeb Burton (photo above) and Jennifer Jo Cobb on Speed Talk on 1360 radio Saturday 10-11am on 1360 AM KRWC or on the "tune-in" app on your phone or live streamed on www.krwc1360.com

Peterson wins Trans Am at BIR

                                  

Doug Peterson (photo above) from Bonita Springs (FL) lead the entire 40 laps to win on the newly paved 1.5 mile road course at Brainerd International Raceway, its his fifth win of the season in the Trans Am series.

   

Peterson won qualifying and set a new track record in the process with a lap of 126.851, over 103 mph average speed.    22 cars took the green flag in the race, the largest field of cars since Trans Am returned to BIR in 2010.  Peterson held the lead in the race and never looked back.  

"We've had a spectacular weekend," said Peterson "the new track is amazing, much faster than last year."  It was not an easy run for the win, Peterson had to wait out a long 11 lap double caution period and then have an 8 lap shootout to the checkered flag.  He was pressured by four time BIR winner Tony Ave, 2012 winner Amy Ruman and defending champion Simon Gregg, the top four drivers were just 1.356 seconds apart at the finish line.

Amy Ruman (bottom photo) dropped back to 6th position on the first lap, "I spun in turn four, I got in those pebbles just a little bit," said Ruman.  She then had a furious drive through the field to catch the leaders, "we needed about three more laps," she said "I was trying to make some moves at the end but Tony (Ave) drives a really wide car."  Ruman posted the fastest lap of the race at 1:28.974 averaging 101.153 mph.   

 BIR track owner Jed Copham (on left below) raced the Derhaag Motorsports #40 car and finished 5th.  "That is a hell of a car, a wild ride," said Copham "I stayed on the lead lap and finished the race, those were my goals so I am happy."

Cameron Lawrence was the winner in the TA2 division, its his fifth win of 2013.  David Seuss was the winner in the TA3 division.  Get full results at www.gotransam.com

Trans Am Results: September 1, 2013 Brainerd International Raceway
1-Doug Peterson
2-Tony Ave
3-Amy Ruman
4-Simon Gregg
5-Jed Copham

Listen for full interviews with Doug Peterson, Amy Ruman and Jed Copham on Speed Talk on 1360 radio, Here is the audio from KRWC https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/bir-trans-am-recap-2013