7/8/2013
Jared Goerges
Breakthrough
When the 2013 UMSS winged sprint car schedule was released last winter, every team in the region circled the Open Wheel Nationals at St. Croix Speedway as the marquee event of the season. The Legend Racing Team had been gearing up for this race for some time. As rain robbed a couple races from the schedule and the late winter made finding practice time before the season impossible, we used the first four races to toy with some different torsion bar combinations. We learned a lot about what the car and driver need to compete at a high level. Everything we took away from the first month of the season was looked at as learning experience to help us at this big money race.
Jared and Greg were able to get out of town early to participate in a practice session on Thursday night at the St. Croix Speedway. This time on the track was invaluable. We were able to diagnose a faulty shifter cable and still dial the car in for Friday night.
We were expecting stiff competition, and as we pulled into the pits on Friday, we were not disappointed. Some the best in the region showed up to try and bring home the $5000 prize. Their homes included 5 different states and Canada. We were amped up to get going but once again rain looked like it might ruin things. The track received a heavy shower around 5:30 pm. Thanks to some dedicated work by Ron Bernhagen, Rick Kobs, and the rest of the UMSS crew, the track was in mint condition and ready for racing shortly before sundown. Nearly every competitor dirtied their cars up to help pack the track. Not all, but most. The preparation by all paid off as Jared turned in a focused effort in his heat race resulting in an important win.
With a heat race win, our reward was starting deep in the field after the invert for the challenge race. Jared made contact with the outside retaining wall on the first lap trying to improve his position. With so many tough cars in the field, you have to be a little more assertive as a driver if you want to compete for the win. Fortunately, the car was not badly damaged and we were ready to go again for Saturday night. Unfortunately, this mishap knocked us out of the preliminary A feature so we would have to find our way in the hard way.
The car was great every time we touched the track so we remained confident we could get in. Jared was able to make his way from 6th to 3rd in his last chance qualifier to put the #9 in the big show. With a 35 lap race, you have to plan for multiple track changes. We had a great strategy and Jared executed in the cockpit. At one point Jared was running as high as 7th. Trying for more, he looped it trying to put a slider on eventual race winner Scotty Thiel. This relegated him to a 14th place finish.
Overall, this was a great weekend for our team. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into the rest of the season. We had a really great time competing with good racers and meeting dedicated race fans from all over. Our thanks goes out to Ron Bernhagen, Rick Mastell, and anyone else who had a hand in bringing such a big race to our series. Thanks to the fans that came out and stayed up late to watch us do what we love to do. Without the fans, we couldn’t race for 5 dollars, never mind $5000. Those that couldn’t make it, check out the coverage provided by XSAN on Youtube.
This weekend the UMSS brings their exciting brand of wheel to wheel racing up north as we invade Hibbing Raceway on Saturday July 5, and the Proctor Speedway on Sunday July 6. Check it out!
Article Credit: Greg Zimmerman Jr.
Submitted By: Jared Goerges
