August 17, 2024 - Elko, MN
By Jason D Searcy
The 30th Dwain Behrens memorial race was held at Elko Speedway on Saturday night in the Late Model division presented by Interim HealthCare Staffing. Behrens was a 2-time ELKO Champion who passed away too soon, a race in his honor has been held yearly ever since 1994.
Owin Giles #6 from Elko (MN) won his second Behrens memorial race in a row and will take home another honorary clock trophy donated by the family. Giles started on the outside pole of this impressive 18 car field of NASCAR sanctioned Late Models, he took the lead off the start and never gave it up during this 25 lap cautionless race. It was the first win of the season for Giles. Jake Ryan #19 won this event in 2005, he started the race in 6th place and meticulously worked his way through traffic, Ryan was catching Giles by then end of the race but ran out of time and finished second by less than a car length, #10 Danny Mann was third, fast-qualifier #72 Jacob Goede fourth and #3 Chris Marek finished 5th.
Giles now adds his name to a very prestigious list of drivers who have won this race more than once, that list includes Jacob Goede (7), Jeff Martin (4), Donny Reuvers (2), Dan Fredrickson (2), Nick Murgic (2), Adam Royle (2) and now Owin Giles (2).
The second 25 lap Late Model race had 9-time ELKO Champion #41 Donny Reuvers lead the first 10 laps of the race until the nephew of Dwain Behrens #18 Michael Ostdiek raced him side by side for numerous laps before taking over the top spot. Jacob Goede #72 from Carver (MN) a 10-time Champion racing for his first time in 2024 at ELKO then made a bold move coming out of corner #2 and passed both Reuvers and Ostdiek on the low side and took the lead with 6 laps remaining. He then was able to hold on to the lead and won for the first time at Elko Speedway this year. Michael Ostdiek scored a second place finish followed by Donny Reuvers, Chris Marek was fourth and Owin Giles finished fifth. Point leader Jake Ryan was involved in a 3 car spinout mid-race and was scored with a 16th place finish, he finished second in the first race. Second place in points #52 Chad Walen finished 6th and 8th in the two feature events. That will tighten up the race for the Late Model Championship at ELKO, unofficially it is 26 points between the top two competitors with four race nights remaining on the schedule.
The NASCAR sanctioned Thunder Cars raced two 20 lap feature events during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway Saturday night. The first race had #18 Eric Montour take the lead of the green flag until #16 Jimmy OMeara from Randolph (MN) scored the lead with a high side pass on lap 6 after a restart. There was a lot of side by side racing behind him and OMeara was able to take advantage and win by 3 car lengths, it was the first career Thunder Car win for OMeara. Julie Jorgenson #83 finished second, #8 Taylor Goldman was third, #41 Ben Gannon was fourth and point leader #99 Brent Kane started 9th and finished 5th of the 11 cars competing.
The second Thunder Car main was a thriller, #29 Tommy Sorem led the opening lap until #60 Tina Lodermeier contended for the top spot, those two raced side by side for numerous laps for the lead until Lodermeier took control. Lodermeier, then known as #18 Tina Davis, raced at ELKO for many years and won numerous races, this was her first race returning to her home track since before the pandemic. Lodermeier was able to hold onto the lead through a caution period but point leader #99 Brent Kane worked his way to the point with an inside pass with only two laps remaining, he held on to win by 1 car length, it was his 8th win of the season at Elko Speedway. Lodermeier finished second, Tommy Sorem finished third, #9 Adam Wiebusch fourth and Jimmy OMeara was fifth.
Brent Kane will continue to lead the point standings in the Thunder Car division as he is looking to win his 5th Thunder Car title at ELKO in 2024.
The NASCAR sanctioned Power Stocks raced two 20 lap feature events during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway. The first race had #19 James Tich and #18 Alexis Montour racing hard side by side the first couple laps for the lead, the outcome was some bent sheet metal and a caution period. Off the restart defending Champion #83 Julie Jorgenson from Dundas (MN) took the lead and ran away from the field, she won by about a full straight away, it was her second win of the season at ELKO. Younger brother Jimmie Jorgenson #3 finished second, #57 Jesse Fischer was third, #08 Mike Stoer recovered from a spin earlier in the race to finish fourth and #41 Jason Michaud was fifth of the 12 cars competing.
The second Power Stock race was caution-free as #14 Brock Westermayer led the first portion of the race until 15 year old #14d Clayton Dorner from Hastings (MN) moved up to the high side on lap 7 and took the lead. Dorner then hit his marks and drove a perfect race winning by nearly 10 car lengths, it was his first career win at ELKO. Dorner is the grandson of legendary Power Stock driver Paul Hamilton who had raced at Elko Speedway since the mid 1980’s. Jason Michaud finished runner-up and the race behind him was intense as Jesse Fischer scored the third place finish, Jimmie Jorgenson was fourth and Julie Jorgenson fifth of the 12 cars racing.
Jesse Fischer still holds the point advantage with Jimmie Jorgenson moving into second place and Mike Stoer in third. All three competitors are within 18 points of the lead in the Power Stock division at ELKO with four race nights remaining.
The INEX sanctioned Legends division raced two 20 lap features at Elko Speedway on Saturday night. Baiden Heskett #75 from Hastings (MN) ended up going home with both trophies but it was anything but easy with an impressive field of 23 cars competing.
Heskett won the first race after capturing the lead from #13 Ayden Brockhouse on lap 3, he held the top spot through a couple cautions before participating in a furious battle with #12 Ayrton Brockhouse for the lead, both racers enjoyed being first a couple times as they swapped the lead back and forth. Ayrton Brockhouse ended up crossing the finish line first but was later disqualified in post-race technical inspection. Rob Thurston #2 finished second, #8 Mark Anderson Jr third, #13 Casey Traxler fourth and #22 Cam Panitzke started 18th and finished 5th.
The second Legends feature had Ayden Brockhouse lead the first handful of laps before dropping back, he and Rob Thurston got tangled up. Baiden Heskett took over the top spot on lap 7 and never looked back. Heskett cruised to the win, it was his second win of the year at ELKO and a clean sweep on the night of racing. Ayrton Brockhouse finished second, Casey Traxler was third, Mark Anderson Jr fourth and Cam Panitzke again finished fifth out of the 23 cars competing.
Baiden Heskett and Ayrton Brockhouse are in a close two-way battle for the 2024 points Championship at ELKO with the third place competitor nearly 150 points behind.
The INEX sanctioned Bandoleros raced two 12 lap feature events during Eve of Destruction at Elko Speedway Saturday night and an impressive showing of 18 cars racing in the event.
The first race had #59 Caleb Hawes leading the first lap and #32 Mason Westphal from Farmington (MN) grabbing the lead on the second lap. The race was slowed four different times for a yellow flag. TJ Moon #9 who is originally from Maine now living in North Carolina led a majority of the race and crossed the finish line first, he was later disqualified in post-race technical inspection. Mason Westphal was awarded his second win of the season at ELKO, #41 Mandi Lee originally from Canada now living in North Carolina finished second place, Rev Heitkamp #57 was third, #82 Frank Jirik was fourth and point leader #32 Colton Roe Pershall finished fifth. *After INEX reviewed the apparent protest that was filed with them, INEX feels that the cause for the Disqualification might not have been present during the first event. So the feature win for TJ Moon in the first feature will be reinstated per INEX.
The second Bando race had #11 Maci Ryan taking the early lead until Colton Roe Pershall who was just back from a stint playing hockey in Europe took over the lead on lap two. First feature winner Mason Westphal dropped from the race with mechanical problems and TJ Moon moved up from his 12th starting position to take the lead on lap 6, the race had six different caution periods slowing the pace. Moon crossed the line first but was later disqualified during post-race technical inspection. Christopher Flynn #5 from Farmington (MN) moved all the way up from the 15th starting position and survived all the cautions, he was awarded the win, it was his second win of the season at ELKO. Mandi Lee was second, Colton Roe Pershall third, Logen Carter #75 was fourth and #56 George Brochman fifth.
With the good finishes Colton Roe Pershall maintains his lead in the Bando division at ELKO, he now has a 16 point lead over Logen Carter in the race for the 2024 Championship.
All results and points are unofficial at this time, check ElkoSpeedway.com for updates.
The annual Jeremy Johnson “tire guy” memorial sportsmanship award was given to former ELKO Thunder Car Champion #07 Dillon Sellner who is now racing in the Late Model division.
School buses provided by Schmitty and Sons gave free rides to kids around the high banked 3/8th mile Elko Speedway. 24 buses were packed with kids before the opening ceremonies.
Summer Scholl from Prior Lake (MN) won the spectator drags in the 2000 Chevrolet Corvette.
12 of the best Drifters in the North put on a great show of skill during the tandem drifting exhibition.
Two action athletes Tanner from Utah and James from Missouri thrilled the audience on the concourse with their trampoline skills.
The night was capped with a rollover in the exciting School Bus figure 8 race.
Up Next at Elko Speedway is an Eve of Destruction on Saturday August 31st. Monster Trucks, MAW wrestling, Twin Stunts Motorcycles, Petting Zoo, Spectator Drags, School Bus Races and racing in all 5 divisions of cars. Gates open at 4:30pm and action begins at 5:15pm. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com #ElkoSpeedway
Elko Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 3/8th mile asphalt race track with stadium seating located just 30 minutes South of the Twin Cities in Elko-New Market MN. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com
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