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Fredrickson Tops Elko Opener
By Jim Burns
Elko, MN
April 26, 2003--Elko's Dan Fredrickson returned to his old stomping grounds and
came out as the NASCAR Late Model driver with the biggest kick, as he held off
former champions Jeff Martin and Brian Johnson over the final 15 laps to win the
BUDWEISER 40 as Elko Speedway hosted the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented
by DODGE season opener.
Early action had seen Webster's Steve Schultz set
the WASTE MANAGEMENT Fast Time with a 14.105 second clocking, before Fredrickson
waltzed to the Fast Dash win, with Lakeville's Brian Johnson and Steve Anderson
splitting the honors in the Heat races, setting the stage for the 25 car main
event.
At the drop of the green, Johnson swept past Martin for the lead,
with the caution flying only three laps in as Scott Kingery and Chris Hawkey
locked horns entering turn two, with both drivers able to continue. On the
restart, Fredrickson jumped by Martin for second and quickly worked by Johnson
to take the point on lap five. Once in the lead, Fredrickson's Eilen and Sons
Trucking Chevy responded to the clean air as he opened up a seven car length
advantage over Martin, Johnson and fast closing Dean Cornelius of Bloomington.
Fredrickson would be caught on lap 14, but only as the result of the races
second caution as an eight car pileup in turn one slowed the action. On the
second restart, Fredrickson again pulled out to a quick advantage and despite a
third and final caution on lap 33 for a spinning Jimmy Robertson, Fredrickson
wasn't deterred as he kept Martin, Johnson and the balance of the field in his
mirror as he earned the victory in front of a raucus crowd. Afterward,
Fredrickson commented "this is so fun to be back at Elko, winning in front of so
many family members and friends is GREAT!" Following Fredrickson across the
line were Martin, Johnson, Cornelius and Joey Miller.
In the Coca-Cola
Thunder Cars, Dundas' Ted Reuvers began his quest for a Championship with a hard
fought opening night victory. Reuvers battled with Rosemount's Adam Wolfe for
the point for the first eight laps of the 25 lap main event. On this evening,
Reuvers would have to be resilient as the caution flew on lap nine as Oakdales
Jeff Choban lost a rear wheel on the back chute to tighten the field back up. On
the restart, Reuvers held off Montgomery's Dave "frantic" Franek and Wolfe for
the lead and over the final 15 laps would also keep the hard charging Lakeville
trio of Kevin Lutz, Mark Storlie and Conrad Jorgenson at bay to earn the win. On
the final lap, Storlie edged by Lutz in the battle for second and third with
Jorgenson and Franek rounding out the top five.
In the Exhaust Pro's of
Northfield Street Stocks, Webster's Clint Grandal Jr. made steady, yet patient
moves in working from his fourth row starting position to finally track down
race leader Tim Hollen of Richfield on a 18th lap restart. The pass by Grandal
was the finishing touch to a 13 lap shootout between himself and Hollen that
had the capacity crowd on the edges of their seat. Over the final two laps,
Grandal not only withstood the challenge from Hollen but also kept 2002 champion
Scott King back.
Topping off the action were the Mid-America Stock Cars
and with 26 of the Midwest's best taking the green, it was sure not to
dissapoint. After 40 grueling laps, Savage, MN's Doug Brown held off New
Prague's Mike Skaja, Lakeville's Jake Ryan, Hampton's Jonathon Eilen and
Franklin, WI's Bill Prietzel to garner the checkers.
All indications were
that the 2003 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge season at Elko
Speedway will again be filled with some of the best action anywhere. For
directions or ticket information, contact Elko Speedway at (952) 461-RACE or on
the web at www.goelkospeedway.
RESULTS FROM THE
NASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY DODGE AT ELKO SPEEDWAY SATURDAY APRIL
26, 2003
BUDWEISER LATE MODELS
Wast Management Fast
Qualifier
Steve Schultz Webster 14.105 seconds
Heat 1 1. Brian
Johnson Lakeville 2. Jason Schneider New Market 3. Gordy Swanson
Northfield 4. Mike Tuma Northfield 5. Scotty Marschall Elko
Heat 2
1. Steve Anderson Lakeville 2. Dean Cornelius Bloomington 3. Jacob Goede
New Germany 4. Darren Giles Lakeville 5. Rick Burns Veseli
Feature 1.
Dan Fredrickson Elko 2. Jeff Martin Webster 3. Brian Johnson Lakeville
4.Dean Cornelius Bloomington 5. Joey Miller Farmington 6. Jacob Goede New
Germany 7. Steve Murgic Rosemount 8. Adam Royle Farmington 9. Steve
Schultz Webster 10. Steve Anderson Lakeville
COCA-COLA Thunder
Cars
Heat 1. Adam Wolfe Rosemount 2. Roger Meyer New Prague 3. Mike
Crilly Lake City 4. Jeff Choban Oakdale 5. Jimmy Weeks St. Paul
Heat
2 1. Kevin Lutz Lakeville 2. Dave Franek Montgomery 3. Mark Storlie
Lakeville 4. Matt Carlander Faribault 5. Jerry Thomsen Cottage
Grove
Heat 3 1. Ted Reuvers Dundas 2. Conrad Jorgenson Lakeville 3.
Kris Moreland Nerstrand 4. Brent Kane Prior Lake 5. Ray Sandgren Cottage
Grove
Feature 1. Ted Reuvers Dundas 2. Mark Storlie Lakeville 3.
Kevin Lutz Lakeville 4. Conrad Jorgenson Lakeville 5. Dave Franek
Montgomery 6. Mike Crilly Lake City 7. Kris Moreland Nerstrand 8. Adam
Wolfe Rosemount 9. Matt Carlander Faribault 10. Jimmy Weeks St.
Paul
EXHAUST PROS OF NORTHFIELD Street Stocks
Heat 1 Brock Weber
Apple Valley 2. Timm Moravec New Prague 3.Kerry Estes Prior Lake 4. Dan
Johnson Rosemount 5. Terry Nordwall Faribault
Heat 2 1. Clint
Grandahl Jr. Webster 2. Matt Edwards Lakeville 3. Robert Clingingsmith
Rosemount 4. Joe Fierst Faribault 5. Bud Kane Morristown
Heat 3 Tim
Hollen Richfield 2. Josh Emerson Northfield 3. Kevin Priebe New Prague 4.
Kevin Duffy Eagan 5. Chase Weber Apple Weber
Heat 4 Dusty Parrot
Northfield 2.Daryl Blohm Elko 3. Scott King Lakeville 4.Corey Butler Jr.
Rosemount 5. Kelly Wefel Dundas
Feature 1.Clint Grandahl Jr. Webster
2. Scott King Lakeville 3. Tim Hollen Richfield 4. Kevin Priebe New Prague
5. Brock Weber Rosemounts 6. Dusty Parrott Northfield 7. Robert Cliningshith
Rosemount 8. Bud Kane Morristown 9. Johsh Emerson Northfield 10. Terry
Nordwall Lakeville
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