8/28/2015
Parsons All The Way In Traditional 40 at 4th Annual Open Wheel Nationals
Both the Traditional 40 and the Open Wheel Nationals moved to a different date this year. The 4th Annual edition of the popular Open Wheel Nationals went back to its successful one-day format for the first time since the inaugural event back in 2012. The Traditional 40 was combined for the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series portion, and Johnny Parsons III put on a commanding performance in leading all 40 laps. For Parsons, it was his second Open Wheel Nationals victory and first Traditional 40 triumph. Parsons won the very first Open Wheel Nationals race for the non-winged sprints. Parsons and crew celebrated in Rock Auto Victory Lane following his eighteenth career TSCS win.
A strong field of 23 Traditional sprints ran three ten lap heat races. 2014 TSCS Champion Cam Schafer, rookie James Giossi and Jon Lewerer picked up heat race wins. Parsons was the high point driver and drew the pole position for the 40 lap feature. Jeremy Kerzman, Lewerer and Giossi started two through four on the grid. Right from the drop of flagman Jeff Stacken's green flag, Parsons bolted into the lead running his patented bottom lane.
The feature race was under the red flag four laps in when Brian VanMeveren hopped over an infield tire and did a slow rollover. Cam Schafer, Jake Kouba and Scott Brandt were also collected in the incident. Only Kouba was unable to restart, as VanMeveren's car was rolled upright and he tagged the tail on the restart. With nine laps in, the yellow blinked on when Denny Stordahl blew his engine and coasted to a stop in turn three. The final caution waved with 17 laps in the books for a spin by Blake Anderson. The race then went 23 laps nonstop to the finish with Parsons in command up front. At times, Giossi would close in a bit but was unable to make a serious bid for the lead. Giossi rode home in second behind Parsons followed by Rob Caho, Jr. in third with Joseph Kouba and Kerzman rounding out the top five. Jimmy Kouba, Mike Mueller, rookie Tony Duran, Lewerer and VanMeveren, who recovered from his mishap, rounded out the top ten. Nineteen of the 23 starters were still running at the end with 16 cars still on the lead lap.
Earning GRP Motorsports bonuses for the Open Wheel Nationals were Parsons with the Half Way Leader Bonus, Mike Mueller with the Hard Charger Award, and Jake Kouba with the Hard Luck Award. Parsons earned $500 for the win. Just three races remain for the Traditional Sprints before the season concludes. Two of them are big events at St. Croix Valley Raceway. The TSCS sprints will race for $519 to win at the Russ Laursen Classic which is part of the Bull Ring Blast next Friday September 4. Then the non-winged sprints will return to SCVR on Friday September 11 as part of the 23rd Annual Earl Kouba Memorial race which will see the first place prize at $555.
UMSS TSCS Race Results - St. Croix Valley Raceway August 28, 2015 (Race #21)
4th Annual Open Wheel Nationals / Traditional 40
Mastell Brothers & GRP Motorsports Traditional 40 Feature (40 Laps): 1. 12-Johnny Parsons III[1]; 2. 11-James Giossi[4]; 3. 78-Rob Caho Jr[7]; 4. 55-Joseph Kouba[13]; 5. 3K-Jeremy Kerzman[2]; 6. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[18]; 7. 87-Mike Mueller[22]; 8. N1-Tony Duran[19]; 9. 69S-Jon Lewerer[3]; 10. 24-Brian VanMeveren[5]; 11. 95-Kevin Bradwell[20]; 12. 50-Chase Viebrock[11]; 13. 7B-Scott Brandt[8]; 14. 27-Mike Walters[16]; 15. 21J-Jori Hughes[10]; 16. KA1-Blake Anderson[14]; 17. 14-Cam Schafer[6]; 18. 23-Josh Hendrickson[21]; 19. 73-Sid Denzer[17]; 20. (DNF) 31-Doug Taubert[23]; 21. (DNF) 34-Denny Stordahl[15]; 22. (DNF) 6-Jake Kouba[9]; 23. (DNF) 81-Dan Peper[12]
Lap Leader: Parsons 1-40. Cautions: (3) - Red flag with 4 laps in for 24 rollover turn 2, collected 14,6,7B (all cars restarted tail except 6); yellow with 9 laps in for 34 blown engine turn 3; yellow with 17 laps in for KA1 spin turn 3.
Meeks Video Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 14-Cam Schafer[1]; 2. 7B-Scott Brandt[3]; 3. 6-Jake Kouba[5]; 4. 78-Rob Caho Jr[8]; 5. KA1-Blake Anderson[6]; 6. 27-Mike Walters[4]; 7. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[7]; 8. 23-Josh Hendrickson[2]
Lap Leader: Schafer 1-10. No cautions.
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 11-James Giossi[2]; 2. 24-Brian VanMeveren[4]; 3. 3K-Jeremy Kerzman[7]; 4. 21J-Jori Hughes[6]; 5. 34-Denny Stordahl[3]; 6. 31-Doug Taubert[8]; 7. (DNF) N1-Tony Duran[5]; 8. (DNF) 87-Mike Mueller[1]
Lap Leader: Giossi 1-10. Cautions: (1) yellow on opening lap for turn 4 spin by 87, collected 34 & N1 (87 & N1 out).
Mastell Brothers Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 69S-Jon Lewerer[2]; 2. 12-Johnny Parsons III[6]; 3. 50-Chase Viebrock[3]; 4. 81-Dan Peper[5]; 5. 55-Joseph Kouba[7]; 6. 73-Sid Denzer[4]; 7. 95-Kevin Bradwell[1]
Lap Leader: Lewerer 1-10. No cautions.
Photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
