5/23/2015
Lee Grosz Is Great At Rice Lake in UMSS Run
The northern invasion of the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) continued at the Rice Lake Speedway on Saturday night May 23. Lee Grosz of Harwood, North Dakota passed Winnipeg, Manitoba racer Thomas Kennedy on lap 17 of the 25 lap winged sprint car feature en route to his fifth career UMSS victory. Kennedy was looking for a clean sweep in weekend double-header action, as he took home top honors the night before in the Tabor Memorial at St. Croix Valley Raceway. Grosz, also a winner on Friday night down in Jackson, made the winning pass while utilizing the middle lane with Kennedy running up top. The race was only slowed once under caution with seven laps remaining.
Grosz became the sixth different winner in UMSS racing events held at Rice Lake, as he joined previous winners Brandon Allen, Chris Graf, Jerry Richert Jr, Scotty Thiel and Brooke Tatnell in receiving a feature winning trophy in the UMSS RockAuto.com Victory Lane. Grosz started third on the grid behind Thomas Kennedy and his dad Lou Kennedy, Jr. Thomas bolted by Lou on the opening lap and set sail up on the cushion. Grosz quickly positioned himself in second and reeled in fellow northern invader Kennedy. Grosz searched high, low and middle as the laps clicked off under the green flag. Grosz found the middle lane to his liking and ducked under Kennedy exiting turn two on lap 17 for the lead. With 18 laps scored, the lone caution waved. Grosz went unchallenged the remaining seven laps for the $1,000 victory.
Finishing behind the two young hot-shoes was Lou Kennedy, Jerry Richert Jr., and Rick Kobs. For the second consecutive night, Richert claimed the GRP Motorsports Past Champion Bonus for the highest finishing past UMSS champion in the feature event. Ultimate Sprint Heat wins went to Jerry Richert Jr. and Lou Kennedy. Thomas Kennedy and Grosz captured the Challenge Races.
The UMSS winged sprints have a weekend off before returning to action with another double-header scheduled for June 5 & 6. The 14th Annual Billy Anderson Memorial is up next at the Princeton Speedway on Friday June 5 followed by the Big O Showdown at the Ogilvie Raceway on June 6. Look for a special announcement regarding a nice increase in purse money for the top positions at the Princeton race.
UMSS Race Results - Rice Lake Speedway, May 23, 2015 (Race #3):
GRP Motorsports A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 4J-Lee Grosz[3]; 2. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[1]; 3. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[2]; 4. 63-Jerry Richert Jr[4]; 5. 34-Rick Kobs[5]; 6. 23-Cody Hahn[6]; 7. 20G-Chris Graf[8]; 8. 199-Ryan Bowers[7]; 9. 55-Joseph Kouba[9]; 10. 91A-Reed Allex[12]; 11. 52-Jake Lempelius[11]; 12. (DNF) 95-Kevin Bradwell[10]; DNS 29-Leigh Thomas; DNS 7M-Bob McVitty
Lap Leaders: T. Kennedy 1-16, Grosz 17-25. Cautions: (1) for 52 Lempelius spin on backstretch, lap 18.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race 1 (8 Laps): 1. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[4]; 2. 34-Rick Kobs[3]; 3. 199-Ryan Bowers[2]; 4. 63-Jerry Richert Jr[5]; 5. 55-Joseph Kouba[1]; 6. 52-Jake Lempelius[6]; DNS 29-Leigh Thomas
No cautions.
Hoosier Racing Tire Challenge Race 2 (8 Laps): 1. 4J-Lee Grosz[4]; 2. 23-Cody Hahn[2]; 3. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[5]; 4. 20G-Chris Graf[3]; 5. 91A-Reed Allex[1]; 6. 95-Kevin Bradwell[6]; DNS 7M-Bob McVitty
No cautions.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat 1 (7 Laps): 1. 63-Jerry Richert Jr[5]; 2. 4J-Lee Grosz[6]; 3. 34-Rick Kobs[4]; 4. 23-Cody Hahn[7]; 5. 55-Joseph Kouba[1]; 6. (DNF) 29-Leigh Thomas[3]; 7. (DNF) 95-Kevin Bradwell[2]
Cautions: (1) for 29 Thomas backed into turn 2 wall, done for the night.
Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[1]; 2. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[4]; 3. 20G-Chris Graf[3]; 4. 199-Ryan Bowers[5]; 5. 91A-Reed Allex[1]; 6. 52-Jake Lempelius[6]; DNS 7M-Bob McVitty
No cautions. 7M McVitty rolled on frontstretch during hot laps, done for the night.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
