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Murgic Magic Returns At Elko
By Jim Burns
Elko, MN August 9, 2003--Rosemount's Steve Murgic has been in and around the
top five on most evenings throughout the 2003 NASCAR DODGE Weekly Series at
Elko Speedway. One thing missing that has been troubling Murgic though, was
the number of wins he had secured and that all changed Saturday August 9th
when he charged under Bloomington's Dean Cornelius with 11 laps remaining in
the LUBE TECH/MOBIL 1 40 for the BUDWEISER Late Models and cruised to his
second win of 2003.
Murgic began his nightly activites by setting the WASTE MANAGEMENT Fast Time
with a 14.090 second clocking during the time trial session and through the
inversion, began the 40 lap headliner on the outside of the fifth row. As the
green flew to send the field into action, former Quarter-Midget competitors
Jacob Goede and Dean Cornelius battled side by side for the lead, with Goede
gaining the upper hand as Donny Reuvers and Mike Tuma followed closely. Tuma
lost out to the fast closing duo of Brian Johnson and Steve Murgic only three
laps in as the pair joined the top five as Cornelius tracked down Goede for
the lead on lap six. Once in the lead, Cornelius put the hammer down and
quickly pulled out to a seven car length advantage over Johnson who had
marched by Reuvers and then Goede, with Murgic able to follow suit.
As the field closed in on the halfway mark, the caution flew as Dick
Partington lost control entering turn three with Murgic and others narrowly
missing. On the restart, Cornelius again set the pace with Murgic able to work
free of Johnson for second and last week's winner Jason Schneider moving
around Reuvers into the top four. Once Murgic found his mark, it only took
three short laps to track down Cornelius and the two-time NASCAR Regional
Champion then pulled away for his second BUDWEISER NASCAR Late Model win of
2003, with Cornelius second, Johnson third, Schneider fourth and NASCAR ITEMS
touring driver Jon Lemke holding off Elko point leader Dan Fredrickson in an
dazzling battle for fifth.
In the MILLER LITE Sportsman division, point leader Mike Skaja of New Prague
only had one thing missing from his successful 2003 stat sheet....A FEATURE
WIN and Skaja made sure that wasn't going to continue to be the case as he
reeled in Mason City, IA rookie Amy Woodward for the lead on lap three of 30
and quickly put five car lengths between himself and Paul Neisius, Dan
Whitehead, Lynn Peterson and Duane Halvorson who all worked around Woodward.
As Skaja kept a cool head and a close eye on Neisius, Peterson and Halvorson
bypassed the slowing ride of Whitehead who then lost the motor in his
Chevrolet. As Whitehead tried to limp off the track, Hampton's Jonathan Eilen
(who had started last in pursuit of the Tom Eilen and Sons Trucking/Twin
Cities Featherlite Ultimate Challenge and had worked up to eighth in the
running order) came charging along and Whitehead moved low in an attempt to
let Eilen by. The only trouble was that Eilen had already ducked low and the
two cars hit on the main straight sending Eilen hard into the wall bringing
out the caution for the only time. On the restart, Skaja again powered away
from the field on his way to his first victory of the 2003 season, with
Neisius second, Halvorson third, Josh Larson fourth and Doug Brown fifth as
Peterson's Chevrolet faltered in the late stages of the 30 lap feature.
In the COCA-COLA Thunder Cars, three separate cautions slowed the field, but
nothing or no one would have an answer for Nerstrand's Kris Morelan. Morelan,
who had earlier in the evening captured his qualifying heat overcame
challenges from Ray Sandgren, Kevin Lutz and finally point leader Conrad
Jorgenson to win his first Thunder Car feature of 2003, with Jorgenson, Lutz,
Matt Carlander and Brent Kane rounding out the top five. For Morelan, the
feature wins brought out the broom as he compteted a Thunder Car "Clean
Sweep".
Topping off the action were the EXHAUST PROS OF NORTHFIELD Street Stocks who
despite the largest starting field (31 drivers) and the least experienced
field, featured the cleanest action as all 20 laps were run under the green
with nary a caution to be seen which lead to some great "wheel to
wheel" action. Welch's Dusty Mann showed early power in holding the lead
for the first six laps, before Prior Lake's Kerry Estes made a bold move
around Clint Grandal Jr. and then Mann for the lead. Over the final 13 laps,
Estes made all the right moves as she earned her first feature win of 2003,
with Mann second, Kelly Wefel third, Brock Weber fourth and Grandal fifth.
The NASCAR DODGE Weekly Series action continues on Saturday July 16, 2003 as
WASTE MANAGEMENT and ARCTIC CAT present the Budweiser Late Models, Miller Lite
Sportsman, Coca- Cola Thunder Cars, Exhaust Pros of Northfield Street Stocks
PLUS the Great North Legends and Spectator Drags. For directions or ticket
information contact the Racing Office at (612) 461-7223.
Elko Speedway - 8/9/2003
NASCAR Bombers
A-Main 01 -- 1. Kerry Estes, Prior Lake; 2.
Dustin Mann, Welch; 3. Kelly Wefel, Dundas; 4. Brock Weber, Apple Valley; 5.
Clinton Grandahl JR, Webster; 6. Chase Weber, Apple Valley; 7. Jason Novak,
Lakeville; 8. Josh Emerson, Northfield; 9. Robert Clingingsmith, Lakeville;
10. Timm Moravec, New Prague; 11. Joe Fierst, Farbault; 12. Tim Graff,
Roseville; 13. Dusty Parrott, Northfield; 14. Daryl Blohm, Elko; 15. Bud Kane,
Morristown; 16. Michael Meszaros, Rosemount; 17. Corey Butler Jr, Rosemount;
18. Jeff Bratland, Richfield; 19. Daniel Meszaros, Oakdale; 20. Matt Edwards,
Lakeville; 21. Jeff Cook, Eagan; 22. Terry Nordwall, Faribault; 23. Paul Roby,
Elko; 24. Kevin Novotny, Mongomery; 25. Dustin Tuma, Lonsdale; 26. Josh
Gernentz, Red Wing; 27. Scott King, Lakeville; 28. Paul Bryce Lally,
Savage; 29. Josh Rauch, Lakeville; 30. Jeremy Morse, Rochester; 31. Tim Hollen,
Richfield.
Heat 01 -- 1. Brock Weber, Apple Valley; 2. Joe
Fierst, Farbault; 3. Scott King, Lakeville; 4. Josh Emerson, Northfield; 5.
Jeremy Morse, Rochester; 6. Josh Gernentz, Red Wing; 7. Josh Rauch, Lakeville;
8. Matt Edwards, Lakeville.
Heat 02 -- 1. Kelly Wefel, Dundas; 2. Daryl
Blohm, Elko; 3. Timm Moravec, New Prague; 4. Dusty Parrott, Northfield; 5.
Michael Meszaros, Rosemount; 6. Daniel Meszaros, Oakdale; 7. Paul Roby, Elko;
8. Kevin Novotny, Mongomery.
Heat 03 -- 1. Clinton Grandahl JR, Webster; 2.
Chase Weber, Apple Valley; 3. Tim Graff, Roseville; 4. Jeff Bratland,
Richfield; 5. Jeff Cook, Eagan; 6. Terry Nordwall, Faribault; 7. Paul Bryce
Lally, Savage; 8. Dustin Tuma, Lonsdale.
Heat 04 -- 1. Kerry Estes, Prior Lake; 2. Jason
Novak, Lakeville; 3. Dustin Mann, Welch; 4. Bud Kane, Morristown; 5. Robert
Clingingsmith, Lakeville; 6. Corey Butler Jr, Rosemount; 7. Tim Hollen,
Richfield.
NASCAR Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Steve Murgic, Rosemount; 2.
Dean Cornelius, Bloomington; 3. Brian Johnson, Lakeville; 4. Jason Schneider,
New Market; 5. Jon Lemke, Greenfiled; 6. Danny Fredrickson, Elko; 7. Jacob
Goede, New Germany; 8. Steve Schultz, Webster; 9. Mike Tuma, Northfield; 10.
Jeff Partington, Farmington; 11. Jeffrey Martin, Webster; 12. Steve Anderson,
Lakeville; 13. James Edwards Jr, Plymouth; 14. Jamie Farrell, New Prague; 15.
Rick Burns, Veseli; 16. Mark Nesheim, Bloomington; 17. Scotty Marschall, Elko;
18. Matt Kern, Bloomington; 19. Donny Reuvers, Dundas; 20. Dick Partington,
Farmington.
Heat 01 -- 1. Jeffrey Martin, Webster; 2. Jamie
Farrell, New Prague; 3. Jacob Goede, New Germany; 4. Jeff Partington,
Farmington; 5. Scotty Marschall, Elko; 6. Jon Lemke, Greenfiled; 7. Matt Kern,
Bloomington.
Heat 02 -- 1. Mike Tuma, Northfield; 2. Dean
Cornelius, Bloomington; 3. Steve Anderson, Lakeville; 4. Mark Nesheim,
Bloomington; 5. Dick Partington, Farmington; 6. Rick Burns, Veseli; 7. James
Edwards Jr, Plymouth.
Time Trial -- 1. Steve Murgic, Rosemount;(14.106)
2. Steve Schultz, Webster; 3. Jason Schneider, New Market; 4. Danny
Fredrickson, Elko; 5. Donny Reuvers, Dundas; 6. Brian Johnson, Lakeville; 7.
Jon Lemke, Greenfiled; 8. Dean Cornelius, Bloomington; 9. Jeffrey Martin,
Webster; 10. Mike Tuma, Northfield; 11. Jacob Goede, New Germany; 12. Steve
Anderson, Lakeville; 13. Jamie Farrell, New Prague; 14. James Edwards Jr,
Plymouth; 15. Scotty Marschall, Elko; 16. Rick Burns, Veseli; 17. Jeff
Partington, Farmington; 18. Dick Partington, Farmington; 19. Matt Kern,
Bloomington; 20. Mark Nesheim, Bloomington.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Danny Fredrickson, Elko;
2. Brian Johnson, Lakeville; 3. Jason Schneider, New Market; 4. Steve Murgic,
Rosemount; 5. Donny Reuvers, Dundas; 6. Steve
NASCAR Sportsmen
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mikie Skaja, New Prague; 2.
Paul Neisius, Hastings; 3. Duane Halvorson, Rosemount; 4. Josh Larsen, Glencoe;
5. Doug Brown, Savage; 6. Amy Woodward;; 7. Tom Sorem, Northfield; 8. Andrew
Ruthenbeck, Virginia; 9. Greg Bieber, Lakeville; 10. Matt Marschall,
Northfield; 11. Terry Moore, St Paul; 12. Lynn Peterson, Lakeville; 13. Mike
Felixberger,
Hastings; 14. Jonathan Eilen, Hampton; 15. Daniel Whitehead, Apple Valley; 16.
JERRY
Heat 01 -- 1. Greg Bieber, Lakeville; 2. Daniel
Whitehead, Apple Valley; 3. Amy Woodward;; 4. Terry Moore, St Paul; 5. Tom
Sorem, Northfield.
Heat 02 -- 1. Matt Marschall, Northfield; 2.
Josh Larsen, Glencoe; 3. Mike Felixberger, Hastings; 4. Andrew Ruthenbeck,
Virginia; 5. JERRY ANDERSON, PRIOR LAKE.
Time Trial -- 1. Lynn Peterson, Lakeville;(14.756)
2. Paul Neisius, Hastings; 3. Mikie Skaja, New Prague; 4. Doug Brown, Savage;
5. Jonathan Eilen, Hampton; 6. Duane Halvorson, Rosemount; 7. Daniel
Whitehead, Apple Valley; 8. Josh Larsen, Glencoe; 9. Tom Sorem, Northfield;
10. Mike Felixberger, Hastings; 11. Greg Bieber, Lakeville; 12. Matt Marschall,
Northfield; 13. Amy Woodward;; 14. Andrew Ruthenbeck, Virginia; 15. Thomas
Boisvert, Prior Lake; 16. JERRY ANDERSON, PRIOR LAKE; 17. Terry Moore, St
Paul.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jonathan Eilen, Hampton;
2. Duane Halvorson, Rosemount; 3. Mikie Skaja, New Prague; 4. Lynn Peterson,
Lakeville; 5. Doug Brown, Savage; 6. Paul Neisius,
NASCAR Thunder Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Kristopher Morelan, Nerstrand;
2. Conrad Jorgenson, Lakeville; 3. Kevin Lutz, Lakeville; 4. Matt Carlander,
Faribaullt; 5. Brent Kane, Prior Lake; 6. Mark Storlie, Lakeville; 7. Raymond
Sandgren, New Richmond, Wis; 8. Jimmy Welton, North Branch; 9. Ted Reuvers,
Dundas; 10. Jeff Choban, Oakdale; 11. Danny Weber, Elko; 12. Adam Wolfe,
Rosemount; 13. Dave Franek, Montgomery; 14. Jerry Thomsen, Cottage Grove; 15.
Dave Sorem JR, Northfield; 16. Roger Meyer, New Prague; 17. Steve Marschall,
Northfiield; 18. David Sellner Jr, Lakeville; 19. Tom Dougherty, Claremont;
20. James Schuelke, Rosemount.
Heat 01 -- 1. Kristopher Morelan, Nerstrand; 2.
Kevin Lutz, Lakeville; 3. Brent Kane, Prior Lake; 4. Matt Carlander,
Faribaullt; 5. Raymond Sandgren, New Richmond, Wis; 6. Jeff Choban, Oakdale;
7. Danny Weber, Elko; 8. Dave Franek, Montgomery; 9. David Sellner Jr,
Lakeville.
Heat 02 -- 1. Adam Wolfe, Rosemount; 2. Jimmy
Welton, North Branch; 3. Mark Storlie, Lakeville; 4. Conrad Jorgenson,
Lakeville; 5. Jerry Thomsen, Cottage Grove; 6. Ted Reuvers, Dundas; 7. Steve
Marschall, Northfiield; 8. Tom Dougherty, Claremont; 9. Dave Sorem JR,
Northfield; 10. James Schuelke, Rosemount; 11. Roger Meyer, New Prague.
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