By Jason D Searcy
Covid-19 and the restrictions surrounding it shut down Elko Speedway and many other Minnesota race tracks for the first half of our 2020 summer. During that time I started off with a good attitude and tried to take advantage of this opportunity to visit a few race tracks that I never seem to have time for during my normal race summer. I loved the throw-back atmosphere at Tomah-Sparta (WI) Speedway, sitting on a board nailed between two stumps and how the kids would run up and down the hill laughing and playing during the races, you can feel the history of that track and it feels good. I got to watch the Traditional Sprint cars race at Cedar Lake (WI) Speedway and go back to where I got my first full-time job announcing races at I-94 Speedway (now called I-94 Sure Step Speedway) in Fergus Falls (MN). I was very impressed with how smooth the track surface was and reminded of how incredibly powerful the WISSOTA Late Models and Modifieds are, that rumble is what hooked me on racing when I was just a kid. I also found out that it is possible to go to LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway before Oktoberfest weekend and have a really good time with good people.
The Governor relaxed some of the restrictions in August and Elko Speedway was finally allowed to reopen. The car counts have been very good and the fans are showing up to see Racing again as all six divisions are participating with double features on every race night.
The Late Model field and the way they race is beyond impressive, how about going four complete 25 lap features in a row, that's 100 laps without a caution and zero lapped cars. Newsflash* Six-time Champion Jacob Goede is still good! It’s also nice to see Chad Walen and Chris Marek run so well, nine-time Champ Donny Reuvers is back up front, Michael Haggar continuing his winning streak and great to see Andrew Schultz get his first career win all in the first few weeks.
The Modified are going through some growing pains but we all knew it wouldn't be easy to build a new division but one thing is for certain, they are a very cool looking race car and having three different winners the first three nights is great.
Bryce Blohm and Conrad Jorgenson have renewed their rivalry in the Thunder Cars, great to see Jeremy Wolff back full-time and Adam Wiebusch has already won a couple times, very impressed at how well the car count has sustained in this division.
Nick Oxborough has not missed a beat coming off his second Power Stock Championship last year and Joe Prusak has never looked stronger, he now has over 200 wins in his illustrious career. Julie Jorgenson’s car has looked like a rocket so far and it's awesome to have a couple new drivers become competitive immediately: #5 Ben Behne and #25 Michael Joines who drives all the way up from Quimby (IA).
Tim Brockhouse only raced at ELKO a few times last year but he is committed to race full-time at his hometown track this year, he won four of the first six races and now has 208 wins in his career. Veteran drivers like Baiden Heskett, Jon Lemke and Rob Thurston have been right up front but the trio of fourteen year olds are making some noise, Colin Stocker and Teddy Kottschade are leading laps and first time winner William Sawalich has really impressed. A few drivers are now part-time as they have returned to college including defending Champion Cole Klein and Matt Allen who won for the first time in over four years on opening night.
The Bando’s have been entertaining as well with Ayrton Brockhouse and Alex Hartwig battling for the win each week and averaging over a dozen cars.
The racing has been great and the crowds have been even better this shortened year at Elko Speedway, the fans have been extremely responsive and they seem to be happy to be at the track. I think most race fans feel the same way, appreciative of what we still have, Covid-19 or not.
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