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Johnson Comes Up Big In Elko Speedway Super Late Models;
Wallace And Biffle Shine For The Cup Stars
Elko, MN – Brian Johnson relinquished the lead only during several cautions
on his way to victory lane Saturday night in the Budweiser Super Late Models
at Elko Speedway while Nextel Cup stars Kenny Wallace and Greg Biffle wowed
the near capacity crowd on their way to wins during the Cup Star Grudge
races. Steve Schultz set a torrid pace in picking up the win for the
Elko Sportsmen while Matt Carlander chalked up another win in the Coca-Cola
Thunders and Jeff Partington posted the victory for the ACDelco Power Stocks.
Nextel Cup stars Biffle and Wallace were joined in the two ten-lap grudge
races by Bill Elliott and Sterling Marlin along with NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series Champion Travis Kvapil. Wallace jumped to an early lead in the
first ten. Kvapil came from the back to challenge after getting around
the side-by-side cars of Marlin and Biffle. Biffle was driving the
number 3 Sportsmen car of Mike Skaja. Marlin quickly made the 3 look
like a 30 by laying the right front Hoosier of Greg Bieber’s car alongside
Biffle’s mount. Kvapil, in a Paul Neisius back-up car challenged for
the win but couldn’t get around Wallace. Elliott had the best seat in
the house but finished fifth. “I was having too much fun watching
Sterling and Greg go at it. I don’t think they like each other,”
quipped Elliott during the post race interview. After the full field
invert, Elliott jumped to the early lead in the second ten lapper, finally
giving way to Biffle, who coasted to the checkers.
Johnson had been searching for victory lane for several weeks until he was
able to hold off a determined Steve Murgic in the Budweiser Super Late Model
40 which was hampered by five caution sessions. On the restart of each,
Johnson would choose the high side, giving the lead to Murgic. A second
row of side-by-side racing included John Lemke and Jake Ryan staying with the
leaders. The spinning car of Brittney Fischer of Villard, MN brought out
the yellow on lap 31. After the restart, Ryan’s car shot up high in
turn four. Ryan was forced to retire the ride. Lemke made a late
race challenge against Murgic, but the veteran was able to hold on for second
followed by Lemke, Jeff Martin and a season best fifth place finish for Darrin
Giles. The win allowed Johnson to move into second place behind Lemke in
the battle for the division championship.
Steve Schultz worked the traffic to perfection in taking the win in the Elko
Sportsmen 30. Kvapil entertained the car by running with the Sportsmen,
starting from the back of the field. The Burnsville Toyota sponsored
driver showed patience after being boxed in for the first half of the
contest. The only caution flew on lap 16 allowing Kvapil some breathing
room. Kvapil was 11th on the restart, but quickly made his way through
the field finishing a strong 6th. Schultz was followed across the line
by Paul Neisius, Duane Halvorson, Mike Skaja and Greg Bieber.
Ironically, the second through sixth place cars had been used by the Nextel
Cup drivers earlier in the program with Schultz’s car earmarked as a
back-up.
Conrad Jorgenson grabbed the early lead in the Coca-Cola Thunder Car 25.
The only caution of the race came on lap 6. On the restart, Jorgenson
pulled his car into the pits, never to return. Matt Carlander moved
through from his sixth starting position taking the lead on the 12th circuit
and never looking back. Adam Wolfe followed Carlander through the
traffic and around Jerry Thomsen for second. A late race charge brought
Kevin Turek home third followed by Brent Kane and Kevin Lutz, with Thomsen
falling to sixth.
Jeff Partington used his outside front row starting spot to gain the early
lead in the ACDelco Power Stocks 20. Partington withstood two cautions
and restarts to claim the win in front of Tim Graff, Cliff Adee Dustin Mann
and Jeff Cook.
Racing continues Saturday night, August 28th as Waste Management presents a
full slate of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series action. The night will
also feature an Elko first ever Tuner Car and Lowrider Competition.
Racing will include the Budweiser Super Late Models, the Elko Sportsmen, the
Coca-Cola Thunder Cars, the ACDelco Power Stocks and Winged Figure
Eight’s. Gate will open at 5:30, qualifying at 6:15 and racing at
7. For tickets and information, call 952-461-RACE (7223) or go to the
website at www.goelkospeedway.com.
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