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Hansen Takes First MN Late Model Challenge Series Win
By Dean Reller
(SHAKOPEE, MN) May 18th--Todd Hansen was all smiles as he caught his breath after winning race number one of the Optimum Mortgage Services Incorporated Minnesota Late Model Challenge Series held at Raceway Park. Hansen had plenty to be happy about as he squeeked out on top in a very close race to the finish. This race was the first of a four race series being held at I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre and Raceway Park in Shakopee. The 40 lap feature had 18 of Minnesota's best drivers competing on the tight
1/4 mile track. James Edwards rocketed from the pole and moved out to a comfortable lead in the early going. The first caution flew on lap 24, when the fifth and sixth place cars of Bryan Roach and John Paul Odegaard got together in turn four. On the ensuing restart, Gordy Swanson spun his ride in turn three. When things got rolling again, Edwards continued to show the way, with Harm Alken and Dean Cornelius, who shattered the track qualifying record earlier in the night, running in second and third.
Alken pulled into the lead on lap 33 as Edwards slipped back with mechanical problems. Cornelius took over second, but he and Alken got together on the next lap, sending Alken for a spin and both drivers to the back of the field. Todd Hansen assumed the lead with Adam Royle and Tim Olson in the next two spots. With less than three laps remaining, the yellow flew for the final time as Odegaard stalled his car on the backstretch. The double file restart saw Hansen in front, with Royle taking the outside and Olson down low. Hansen took the green, but Royle had something on the outside as he pulled next to Hansen as the white flag waved. The final lap left the lead and the win up for grabs, but Hansen had just a little bit more as he crossed the line by inches over Royle.
The next race in the Optimum Mortgage Services Incorporated Minnesota Late Model Challenge Series is slated for June 14th at the I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre. Time Trials are scheduled for 6 PM, followed by Racing at 7 PM. For more information, check I-94 Raceway’s official web site
www.i94raceway.com.
Optimum Mortgage Services Incorporated Minnesota Late Model Challenge Series
Results - May 18, 2003 - Raceway Park, Shakopee, MN
First Heat
1.) Bryan Roach (Becker) 2.) Mark Anderson (Minnetrista) 3.) Harm Alken (Bloomington) 4.) James Edwards (Plymouth) 5.) John Paul Odegaard (Brooklyn Center) 6.) Gordy Swanson (Northfield) 7.) Dean Cornelius (Chaska) 8.) Jared Momeister (Waseca)-DNF
Second Heat
1.) Gary Petrash (Lakeville) 2.) Pete Ingebrigtsen (Farmington) 3.) Todd Hansen (Minneapolis) 4.) Tim Olson (Hamel) 5.) AJ Rhoads (Hastings) 6.) Scott Hansen (Minneapolis) 7.) Adam Royle (Farmington) 8.) Eugene Dick (Watkins) 9.) Lucas Grossinger (St. Louis Park) 10.) Andrew Bestler (Shakopee)
Fast Qualifiers
1.) Dean Cornelius (13.853 sec. Track Record) 2.) Adam Royle (14.199 sec.) 3.) John Paul Odegaard (14.204 sec.)
40 Lap Feature
1.) Todd Hansen 2.) Adam Royle 3.) Tim Olson 4.) AJ Rhoads 5.) Pete Ingebrigtsen 6.) Gary Petrash 7.) Mark Anderson 8.) Bryan Roach 9.) Harm Alken 10.) Scott Hansen 11.) Jared Momeister 12.) Dean Cornelius 13.) Eugene Dick 14.) Lucas Grossinger 15.) James Edwards 16.) John Paul Odegaard 17.) Gordy Swanson 18.) Andrew Bestler-DNS
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