www.theracingconnection.comwww.theracingconnection.com March, 2013 20132013 SpeedweeksSpeedweeks HighlightsHighlights Inside... UMSS Traditional Sprint Champ Rob Caho Jr. Racing Observations March, 2013 Page 2 Page 3 March, 2013 JB Dist. Co. Inc. / Gillund Enterprises 14760 Martin Drive Eden Prairie, MN. 55344 Proud sponsors of; Adam Royle, Jonny Hentges & Vince Corbin March, 2013 Page 4 The Midwest Publisher's Note RACING Connection Racing According March, 2013 P.O. Box 22111 to Plan St. Paul MN, 55122 651-451-4036 www.theracingconnection.com A replica of Tiny Lund's 1963 Daytona 500 Publisher winning Ford (duct tape and all) on display Dan Plan (Dan Plan photo) Contributing Writers troubles persisted into the evening; taking away the Dale P. Danielski NASCAR Minnesota State Champions chance to Kris McMartin showcase his ability on a bigger stage. Jason Searcy Dean Reller While it was cool to see a local driver compete at Charlie Spry Daytona, the racing itself left something to be desired. While much of the blame was placed on the track Photographers Dan Plan Jim Ambruoso (815-623-3200) configuration, an equal share of the performance Rick Blewett (507-398-9483) The cool thing about Daytona Beach during should be placed on the drivers. The layout of the D's Racing Imagery (608-448-2288) Speedweeks is all of the history associated with the track doesn’t make you drive into the person in front Martin DeFries (651-346-1199) event, and the spectacle surrounding the 500. It’s of you. It was not a pretty site either night. All three Joe Gibbs (612-860-6622) Doug Hornickel (920-563-0993) pretty much non-stop entertainment throughout the feature races that took place during the Battle at the Tom Johnson (612-309-7142) week; at the track, and away from the track. Mark Melchiori (414-463-0131) continued on page 6 Stan Meissner (651-428-4717) This year, a new event was on tap Mary Schill/Forte Design (608-792-1317) Jerry Zimmer (715-792-2174) called The Battle at the Beach. It was pretty cool to see short track drivers (Dan Plan photo) The Midwest Racing Connection is published ten have an opportunity to race at times during the summer racing season by The Plan Daytona. It’s not often fans from the Company, Inc. All material is copyrighted 2013 and Midwest get to see local drivers may not be reprinted without permission. compete in Florida, and it’s even rarer Subscriptions are $20 for ten issues. Call 651-451-4036. to see somebody from Minnesota compete at Daytona. I can remember Cover photos by: Vince Peterson and Dan Plan reading stories of Blackie Wangerin, along with seeing Joey Miller or the late Christian Elder run at Daytona on TV, but never had a chance to see any Member of the NMPA of our local drivers compete in person. National Motorsports Press Association This year local driver Adam Royle had a chance to compete in the Battle at the Beach. Unfortunately, things didn’t go well for the Royle team, as troubles Adam Royle during the Battle at the plagued them throughout practice. The Beach autograph session AIRPORT SERVICE - CALL 24 HOURS *Time Calls - Appointments DISCOUNT TAXI FOR TRANSPORTATION Toll Free 1-888-240-8294 612-723-5500 www.discounttaxiracing.com Page 5 March, 2013 The Midwest Racing Connection Directory Page RaceFab 3BDJOH1BSUTt$VTUPN.FUBM'BCSJDBUJPO La Crosse, WI Daniel Navrestad 952-461-3300 www.dcaracefab.com Tel: 608.781.3929 20152 Kenrick Ave. West Downtown Shakopee Lakeville, MN 55044 952-445-9668 Phone (952) 469 - 3182 * Fax (952) 469 - 7724 impimpactact printing 651-489-0803 www.impactprintingink.com I-90 and Hwy. 162 Bangor, WI 54614-0409 800-562-0907 www.wehrschevrolet.com www.araceworthwinning.org Appleton, WI 920-739-1550 www.araceworthwinning.org March, 2013 Page 6 continued from page 4 have been a few nights Volusia World of Outlaws Late Model like that as well this winner Josh Richards Beach, had the leader taken out on the last lap. That’s year, but not the nights (Dan Plan photo) just downright dirty in my book. Although, it would we were in attendance. have been cool to see the drivers get out of their cars Things were much and then hear Ken Squier on the PA say; “And improved from our last there’s a fight. Tempers overflowing; they are angry, visit, with all of the they know they have lost. And what a bitter defeat.” shows attended at the The temporary track on the backstretch just wasn’t short tracks being conducive to showcasing good short track racing. completed in 3 hours or They could have just as easily put some cones in the less, with little or no parking lot. Hopefully they can find a way to make down time. The same this event better for next year. thing could not be said about the Battle at the Along with the Battle at The Beach, we took in the Beach. Hopefully they ARCA race, Sprint Ultimate (aka Busch Clash or can get a handle on Bud Shootout) along with the Duels. Watching the things for next year at new Gen 6 Cup car on the track for the first time Daytona, or better yet, move the Battle at the Beach class of the field in the Super Lates, and would have made me feel old, as I have now seen Generations 2 to New Smyrna to let the drivers have a chance to been in contention for the overall title, had they not through 6 of the Sprint Cup cars compete in person. actually race. And the best part about the local short been DQ’d for weight violations on opening night. For those that are getting ready to ask, no I wasn’t tracks? None of the main events we saw at Volusia Nasse and Benjamin finished one-two on our first born yet when the first generation of Cup cars were or New Smyrna ended with the leader getting taken night at New Smyrna, and put on a great battle for the racing, but I’m pretty sure a couple of the guys from out on the last lap. lead. Minnesota in my hotel in Daytona are old enough to have seen the first generation Cup cars on the beach. We were able to see several Midwest racers We also had a chance to test out the kid’s new GoPro More on them later. compete while at the short tracks. Jimmy Mars, camera on a couple of cars while in town. I have to Brady Smith and Pat Doar ran with the WoO Late While it’s fun to visit a track of this size and all of the Models and Jason Gross running in the Modifieds at other things going on, what really brings me to Volusia. Mars would win a B-Feature on our visit continued on page 7 Speedweeks is the short track racing. We were able with Josh Richards taking the main to catch one show at Volusia County Speedway and a event. Gross was having a strong run couple of shows at New Smyrna Speedway. In past to the front of the Modified feature, trips to the Florida short tracks, we experienced before a mechanical failure took him several shows that were far too long. There may out of the race. Down the road at Big Block Mods from the East Coast at Volusia New Smyrna, Paige (Dan Plan photo) Decker, Austin Luedtke and Adam Royle all made laps in the Super Late Model division, with Danny Church running in the Pro Teenager Stephen Nasse Late Model division. won a Super Late Model Stephen Nasse and feature at New Symrna Speedway Kyle Benjamin (Dan Plan photo) appeared to be the CEDAR VIEW ELECTRIC, INC. 952-469-2100 New Construction - Remodel - Service Work Pools/Hot Tubs - Basements - Additions Residential & Commercial Lakeville, MN www.cedarviewelectric.com Page 7 March, 2013 continued from page 7 Luckily, they left me alone the rest of the week, as long as I stopped in at the local send out a huge thanks to Adam Royle, along with watering hole after the races. USAC driver Aaron Peirce, for letting us test out the camera before the racing season gets under way. Our We also had a chance to see the in-car footage was uploaded to our YouTube channel, birthplace of NASCAR, the Streamline http://www.youtube.com/theracingconnection. Feel Hotel. Chances are, if this place wasn’t free to check these videos if you get a chance. We the birthplace of NASCAR, I’m guessing hope to provide more video like this as the season it wouldn’t still be around, but it does have goes on. that nostalgic look to it. I addition to the non-stop racing action during Seeing the beach that started it all, Speedweeks, we did find time to experience some of highway A1A, and the north turn in person the other events on the beach in Daytona. I’ve been are all items every race fan should to Speedweeks four times in my life, but never had experience at some point in their life. the chance to stay on the beach. The night life at the Having the opportunity to let my kid establishments is second to none. I had the chance to experience all of these items, along with Top photo, the birthplace of NASCAR - The run into several Minnesota drivers/crewmembers on getting to meet Kenny Wallace in person Streamline Hotel. Bottom photo, a young Greg my first visit to the Ocean Deck.