August 22, 2020 - Elko, MN
By Jason D Searcy
The 2020 race season is now in full swing at Elko Speedway as Minnesota drivers and fans are getting adjusted to racing in the Covid-19 era.
The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts series Late Models were out in full force this week at ELKO with one of the most impressive fields of cars in the Nation. In the first feature event Andrew Schultz #29 from Webster (MN) took the lead off the start and never looked back, Schultz beat #52 Chad Walen to the finish line by 0.775 seconds for his first career win in just his third year of Late Model racing. The winners father Steve Schultz #23 finished third, #19 Michael Haggar fourth and #21 Adam Bendzick fifth. Defending Champion #72 Jacob Goede moved up from thirteenth to sixth, #3 Chris Marek seventh and fast qualifier #8 Billy Mohn was eighth. The entire 17 car field was separated by just 7.474 seconds during this 25 lap cautionless race.
The second Late Model feature thrilled the crowd with #14 Grant Brown and #3 Chris Marek dueling side by side for 15 laps to begin the race before Marek finally pulled out in front. Jacob Goede #72 from Carver (MN) pounced on Marek to take the lead on lap 20 and held on to win by 1.036 for his third win of the season at ELKO. Marek finished second, Grant Brown was third followed by #52 Chad Walen fourth and #23 Steve Schultz fifth. The Late Models at Elko Speedway have now raced over 100 consecutive laps without a caution.
The growing WISSOTA Midwest Modified division at Elko Speedway had #25 Eric Campbell from Lonsdale (MN) make a clean sweep of the night, he won the feature event by 3.068 seconds over #100 Aaron Marthaler, #99 Brent Kane was third, #81 Bryan Syer-Keske dropped out after a first lap incident in corner #3 and #9 Eric Fredrickson made his racing debut but was disqualified in post-race inspection. There have been three different winners in the three main events so far in 2020 for the Modifieds.
In the first Thunder Car feature event #20 Dave Robinson led the first lap and #15 Michael Gilomen led the second lap, Gilomen was then challenged by #9 Matt Wiebusch from Jordan (MN) who took the lead just before the half-way mark and held on for his second win of the season at ELKO. Gilomen finished second, he was 1.883 seconds behind Wiebusch, Conrad Jorgenson #3 finished third, Robinson was fourth and #37 Bryce Blohm started eighth and finished fifth of the eleven cars entered in the race.
The second Thunder Car feature had #32 Jeremy Wolff take the lead off the start until fast qualifier #37 Bryce Blohm from Prior Lake (MN) took the top spot with a pass on the high side, Blohm then extended his lead to a large margin and the race was for the runner-up position during this cautionless race. Blohm won his third trophy of the season at ELKO, this time by 4.361 seconds over #3 Conrad Jorgenson who just edged Jeremy Wolff at the finish line. Dillon Sellner #07 finished fourth and #9 Adam Wiebusch moved up from his 9th starting position to finish fifth.
The INEX Great North Legends first 20 lap feature had #71 Jon Lemke take the early lead until #13 Tim Brockhouse from Shakopee (MN) raced up from his twelfth starting spot to snatch the top spot on lap eight with tenth starting #75 Baiden Heskett right on his heels. Brockhouse and Heskett then ran away from the field with Brockhouse beating Heskett to the finish line by 0.388 seconds. William Sawalich #43 raced up from eleventh to finish third, #3 Luke Allen was fourth and Jon Lemke hung on to finish fifth of the 13 cars entered. It was the 208th career win for Tim Brockhouse and the fourth of the year at ELKO for Brockhouse.
The second INEX Great North Legends feature had a trio of 14 yr olds dominate the top spot as #8 Colin Stocker took the lead off the green flag until lap six when #7 Teddy Kottschade slipped into the lead that he held until a caution period developed on lap nine. After the restart Kottschade developed an oil line problem and dropped out, then another 14 yr old #43 William Sawalich from Eden Prairie (MN) took over the lead and never looked back. Sawalich stuck to the low line and never gave #13 Tim Brockhouse, who is older than the previous three leaders combined, an opening. Sawalich won by 0.291 seconds for his first career win. Brockhouse was second, #75 Baiden Heskett finished third, #26 Wil McCully fourth and #3 Luke Allen fifth.
The first Power Stock 20 lap feature had #27 Darin Patnode from Lonsdale (MN) taking the lead from the outside pole, a yellow flag slowed the field on lap seven but Patnode retained the lead and won by 0.791 seconds, it was his first win of the year at ELKO. The race was for second place as #83 Julie Jorgenson fought side by side with #8 Taylor Goldman, Jorgenson beat Goldman to the line by .083 seconds. Fast qualifier #08 Mike Stoer finished fourth and #55 Brandon Plekkenpol started twelfth and moved all the way up to finish fifth of the 14 cars entered.
The second Power Stock feature saw a big wreck coming into corner #3 on the first lap, #08 Mike Stoer blew his motor and #63 Eric Prindle was also caught up in it and both cars couldn't continue. Off the restart veteran driver #66 Joe Prusak grabbed the lead, a yellow flag came out just after half-way with #8 Taylor Goldman and #55 Brandon Plekkenol involved, Plekkenpol took responsibility on his own and went to the back of the pack. After the restart #88 Nick Oxborough put the pressure on Prusak and tried the high side pass numerous times but Joe Prusak would not relent and won by 0.235 seconds at the finish line, it was the 201st victory of his career for Prusak and the third win at ELKO this year. Oxborough finished second followed by #41 Ben Gannon, #27 Darin Patnode moved up from his fourteenth starting position to finish fourth and Taylor Goldman was fifth.
The first INEX Bandolero 12 lap feature had #12 Ayrton Brockhouse with the early lead even through a lap four restart, on lap seven #901 Alex Hartwig from Portage (WI) moved up from his fifth starting position to pass Brockhouse on the inside for the top spot. Hartwig then held on and won by 0.565 seconds to win his third feature event of the year at ELKO. Ayrton Brockhouse finished second followed by #06 Adam Ratliff, #56 Clayton Dorner and #07 Jackson Kottschade.
The second Bando feature had #12 Ayrton Brockhouse again take the lead, on lap five #901 Alex Hartwig from Portage (WI) took the top spot but Brockhouse fought back and retook the lead in the next set of corners, Hartwig then regrouped and held the top spot through the finish. Ayrton Brockhouse was 0.933 second behind to finish second, #70 Josiah Kottschade was third, J3 Justin Ziemiecki fourth and #13 Ayden Brockhouse fifth as numerous cars spun out in corner four just before the finish line. It was the fourth win of the season at ELKO for defending Champion Alex Hartwig.
All results are unofficial at this time, results are posted at ElkoSpeedway.com
Up next at Elko Speedway is racing Saturday night August 29th, gates open at 5pm, action beginning at 6pm. In addition to racing in all divisions the popular Steel Wall Bus Crash event will cap off the evening. Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets online before the event on the free ELKO racing app or at ElkoSpeedway.com
Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8th mile asphalt race track with stadium seating located just 10 miles South of Lakeville in Elko/New Market (MN). Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com or follow Elko Speedway on social media.
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