August 29, 2020- Elko, MN
By Jason D Searcy
One month of racing is now complete at Elko Speedway and we are now nearly half-way through the Covid-19 shortened NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Hometrack race season.
On Saturday night a strong field of 16 Late Models took to the track, #50 Steve Anderson Jr captured the early lead until a caution on lap three reset the field. Chris Marek #3 from Lakeville (MN) grabbed the lead off the restart he was then challenged by fast qualifier #21 Adam Bendzick who passed him to the inside just as another yellow flag flew on lap 10. Bendzick and Marek then had an epic battle swapping the top spot racing clean and side by side for much of the final 15 laps of the race. As it came down to the finish Chris Marek edged Adam Bendzick by just 0.038 seconds at the line winning his first feature of 2020. Bendzick was second, point leader Chad Walen #52 was third, #29 Steve Schultz was fourth and #72 Jacob Goede who started fourteenth finished fifth.
The second 25 lap Late Model feature had #19 Michael Haggar from Hanover (MN) take the lead from the pole position, a caution occurred at the half-way mark putting the six-time defending Champion #72 Jacob Goede to the inside of Haggar on the restart. Haggar and Goede raced hard wheel to wheel for numerous laps until Haggar finally was able to pull down ahead of Goede who continued to harass Haggar all the way to the finish. Michael Haggar won a drag race to the line by just 0.175 seconds to win his third feature of 2020 at Elko Speedway. Jacob Goede was second, #52 Chad Walen scored his second third place finish of the night, #8 Billy Moen recovered from a wreck in the first feature to finish fourth in the second feature and #21 Adam Bendzick finished fifth.
Jacob Goede now has a 5 point lead over Chad Walen in the Late Model Championship standings at ELKO.
The WISSOTA sanctioned Midwest Modifieds division had #25 Eric Campbell from Lonsdale (MN) become the first two-time winner in this new Elko Speedway division. Campbell took the lead early and never gave it up winning by 1.448 seconds, #81 Bryan Syer-Keske finished second, semi-feature winner #100 Aaron Marthaler was third, #27 Curt Barfknect was fourth, #96 Keith Paulsrud fifth and #99 Scott Marschall sixth racing for the first time in his new car.
Eric Campbell now has a 9 point lead over Bryan Syer-Keske in the race for the Modified Championship at ELKO.
The first Thunder Car feature saw #75 Keith Paulsrud up front early until the defending Champion #3 Conrad Jorgenson from Lakeville (MN) passed for the top spot on lap 12 of 20. Meanwhile #37 Bryce Blohm moved up from his seventh starting spot to challenge Jorgenson for the lead, the top two ran away from the rest of the field, Jorgenson held onto his lead and won by just 0.202 seconds for his second win of 2020 at ELKO. Blohm finished second, #9 Adam Wiebusch third, Paulsrud fourth and #32 Jeremy Wolff fifth of the seven cars entered.
The second 20 lap Thunder Car feature had #92 Norm Grabinger take the early lead until fast qualifier #37 Bryce Blohm took the lead with an inside pass on lap four and never looked back, as his competitors raced hard behind him Blohm extended his lead to nealy a half-lap, winning by 6.961 seconds, it was his fourth win of the season at Elko Speedway. Conrad Jorgenson #3 finished second followed by #75 Keith Paulsrud third, #9 Adam Wiebusch fourth and #32 Jeremy Wolff fifth.
Bryce Blohm now has a 29 point lead over Conrad Jorgenson in the race for the Thunder Car Championship at ELKO.
A big 20 car field of INEX sanctioned Great North Legends cars put on an incredible show for the first 20 lap feature at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. Veteran driver Rob Thurston #2 led the first handful of laps until 16 yr old Austin Jahr took over the top spot on lap five. Tim Brockhouse from Shakopee (MN) moved up from his 8th starting spot to grab the lead with an inside pass on lap 9, Brockhouse then held back the many challenges of Jahr to win by 0.379 seconds at the finish line. Austin Jahr was second, #91 Tristan Swanson third, #71 Jon Lemke fourth and fast qualifier #75 Baiden Heskett fifth. It was the fifth win of the season at ELKO for Brockhouse and the 209th win of his career.
The second Legends feature had young gun #43 William Sawalich take the early lead, he raced side by side with #87 Robby Carter for a few laps until a caution on lap nine. On the restart Sawalich retook the lead until former Champion #75 Baiden Heskett from Hastings (MN) rushed up from his 9th starting position to pass him with a bold move on lap 13 of 20. Heskett then won by 1.614 seconds over #91 Tristan Swanson, #47 Austin Jahr was third, #13 Tim Brockhouse fourth and #71 Jon Lemke fifth. It was the first win of the season for Heskett.
Tim Brockhouse now has a 37 point lead over Baiden Heskett in the race for the 2020 ELKO Great North Legends Championship.
The first Power Stock feature had #41 Ben Gannon take the lead off the start, on lap three #55 Brandon Plekkenpol from Shakopee (MN) moved alongside of Gannon and took the lead one lap later. The 13 car field was reset with a caution on lap 8 of 20 which really bunched up the top spots. Plekkenpol recaptured the lead and held off the high-side challenges from #83 Julie Jorgenson to win by 0.498 seconds, it was his first career Power Stock win. Jorgenson finished second, fast qualifier #88 Nick Oxborough was third, #66 Joe Prusak fourth and #08 Mike Stoer fifth.
The second Power Stock feature had #13 Matt Frye lead early in the race, the #08 of Mike Stoer from Prior Lake (MN) charged up to the lead on lap 8 with defending Champion #88 Nick Oxborough on his tail. The top two then broke away from the field and enjoyed a big lead as they raced to the checkers. Mike Stoer, who recovered from a blown motor last week, held on to his advantage and won his first race of the year at ELKO. Nick Oxborough finished second, #66 Joe Prusak was third, #83 Julie Jorgenson was fourth and Matt Frye finished fifth.
Nick Oxborough now has a 48 point lead over Joe Prusak in the battle for the 2020 Power Stock Championship.
The first Bandolero feature had Justin Ziemiecki #J3 lead until a yellow flag flew on lap three, after the caution Ziemiecki and #70 Josiah Kottschade raced wheel to wheel for the top spot. Kottschade took over the top spot on lap five and increased his lead as the laps counted down, he won by 2.799 seconds at the finish line. Ayrton Brockhouse #12 finished second, Justin Ziemiecki third, #06 Adam Ratliff fourth and #56 Clayton Dorner fifth. It was the first win of the year for 11 year old Josiah Kottschade from Ramsey (MN).
The second INEX sanctioned 12 lap Bando feature event had numerous cars spin before the first lap was completed causing a full field restart. Ten year old Ayrton Brockhouse #12 from Shakopee (MN) took the lead after the restart and ran up a big lead, winning by an impressive 3.416 seconds. Justin Ziemeicki #J3 was second, #70 Josiah Kottschade third, #100 Weston Marthaler fourth and #07 Jackson Kottschade fifth.
Alex Hartwig #901 now has a 6 point lead over Ayrton Brockhouse in the race for the 2020 Bando Championship at ELKO.
All points and results are unofficial at this time, they will be posted at ElkoSpeedway.com
Up next at Elko Speedway is Racing with double features and a Drifters competition on Saturday night September 5th, gates open at 5pm and action at 6pm. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com, download the free ELKO racing app or follow Elko Speedway on social media.
Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8th mile asphalt race track with stadium seating located just 10 minutes South of Lakeville in Elko/New Market (MN).
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