Zevenbergen, Korthals, Huisman, Gulbrandson, Kroon Victorious

5/12/2017

Rapid Speedway

Zevenbergen, Korthals, Huisman, Gulbrandson, Kroon Victorious

Another gorgeous night for racing brought drivers and fans out to Rapid Speedway on Friday night. Dave Mulder’s racecar was parked at the track to raise money for Dave, as it was announced this past week that his cancer has returned and he began the treatment process once again. The Summit Racing USRA weekly racing program was joined by the Tailgator’s Bar and Grill Late Model Street Series for the first time this season on Friday.

The Cooperative Energy Sportsmans class started 9 cars in the feature event, with a pair of 14s battling for the win in the end. The first lap of the race saw opening night winner Andy Wieczorek spin off the top-side of the track, followed by Marni DeBoer on the next restart. Young racer Bryant Klaassen jumped out to the early lead, followed by Brian Kroon and Leon Sneller. Klaassen had victory in sight until a caution came out, setting up a green-white-checkered finish. On the final restart, Klaassen pushed up coming out of the final corner, opening the door for Kroon. Kroon took advantage and beat Klaassen to the finish line by half of a car length. Wieczorek, Sneller, and Marni DeBoer rounded out the top-5.

The Summit Racing USRA Lem’s Auto Recyclers Hobby Stock feature saw drama from the start, when last week’s feature winner Tom Kracht spun Dustin Gulbrandson on the opening start and was sent to the rear. Gulbrandson, who spun on the opening lap of his heat and raced back for the final redraw spot, gained the lead after Tyler Pospisil spun in front of the entire field, stacking up multiple cars, including Ryan Mulder and Aaron Stettnichs. Gulbrandson had to fend off a strong Chad Lonneman for the remainder of the feature event. The final caution came out with 4 laps to go, but Gulbrandson was able to fend off Lonneman for his first victory of the season. The top-5 was rounded out by Dylan Fitzpatrick, Tyler Pospisil, and Blake Arends.

A couple new faces, Dustin Kruse and Nick Barger, made their presence known in the Summit Racing USRA B-mod series on Friday. Both Barger and Kruse cruised to heat race victories on Friday, but Tyler Johnson and Chris Huisman stole the show in the feature event. Johnson took the lead on the opening lap from the front row, but it was short-lived when Huisman found the bottom of the speedway to take the lead. On a green-white-checkered restart, Huisman and Johnson were side-by-side through turns 3 and 4, but Huisman pulled away taking the white flag and came around to take his first checkered flag on the season. Tyler Johnson came home second, and Dustin Kruse rounded out the top-3.

Elijah Zevenbergen picked up right where he left off on Friday in the Summit Racing USRA Precision Auto Body Stock Car series. Zevenbergen started on the pole for the feature and grabbed the lead from the start. The Stock Car feature was a bit unusual, seeing multiple caution flags for wrecks mid-pack. Zevenbergen was able to survive every restart though to pull away for his second straight victory to begin the season. Zevenbergen donated all his winnings to Dave Mulder’s recovery fund. The top-5 was rounded out by Zach Olivier, Rich Gregoire, Scott Overgaard, and Colby Klaassen.

15 drivers showed up for the season debut of the Tailgator’s Late Model Street Stock series on Friday. Darrin Korthals took the lead from the third starting position, and the feature went caution free until there was 2 laps to go. On the final restart, Cory Yeigh muscled his way under Korthals car through turns 1 and 2, but Korthals was too strong off the corner. Korthals drove away the final lap and a half to pick the checkered flag. Cory Yeigh, Travis Schreurs, Tim Dann, and Brett Larson rounded out the top-5.

The MSTS 360 Sprint Cars will make their return to Rapid Speedway on May 19, along with the Summit Racing USRA Weekly Racing Series. Tickets will be $15 for adults and $5 for children with hot laps beginning at 7pm.