5/24/2013
A Night of Firsts,Sautbine Wins TSCS Feature
It was a night of firsts for the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series at the St. Croix Valley Raceway on May 24 during the 2nd Annual Davey Tabor Memorial. Katrina Sautbine became the first female driver to win a UMSS feature race. It was also her first career sprint car feature win.
Following heat race wins by Sautbine and rookie Mike Mueller with his first win in a sprint car, high point driver Sautbine drew the zero pill for a straight-up start. It was also the first time "Hurricane Katrina" was high point and got a chance to draw. Her first attempt was a good one.
With the hour getting late, the skies finally delivered on their threat of rain as a light sprinkle began to fall at the start of the UMSS Traditional Sprint feature race. Katrina Sautbine led from the pole for laps 1-3 before yielding to Denny Stordahl. Stordahl held the point for three laps before Sautbine reclaimed the lead on lap seven following a restart. Behind the leaders, reigning series champion Rob Caho, Jr. was searching for a line to the front along with inaugural champion Kevin Bradwell and Brad Nelson. A late caution reset the field with Sautbine leading Caho, Bradwell, Stordahl and Nelson. Upon the restart, Bradwell’s #95 mount climbed Caho’s rear tire, launching “The Rocketman” into a frightening series of cartwheel flips in front of the grandstand. While the car was heavily damaged, Bradwell emerged from his overturned car seemingly unhurt. With rain continuing to fall, officials declared the race complete after twelve laps resulting in Sautbine’s first career feature win in a sprint car.
UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series Results - St. Croix Valley Raceway May 24, 2013 (Race #2):
Mora Motorworks Heat #1 (8 laps): Katrina Sautbine, Denny Stordahl, Rob Caho Jr, Brian Van Meveren, Lucas Milz, Ryan Olson.
Mora Motorworks Heat 2 (8 laps): Mueller, Bradwell, Cam Schafer, Brad Nelson, Tom Porter, Johnny Parsons III DNF.
GRP Motorsports Feature (15 laps): Sautbine, Caho, Stordahl, Milz, Schafer, Olson, Parsons, Nelson, Bradwell DNF, Van Meveren -2 laps, Mueller DNF, Porter DNF.
Lap Leaders: Sautbine 1-3, Stordahl 4-6, Sautbine 7-12.
Cautions: (3), race cut to 12 laps following accident and light rain.
Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Portions of this race report are from Terry Lehnertz at St. Croix Valley Raceway.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
