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Brad Barickman Blasts to Elko Dirt Nationals Win

Elko, MN
By: Greg Parent (7-16-10)

On a hot summer night, a field of 23 UMSS-IMCA sprint cars saw Brad Barickman become the first repeat winner in Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series action in the seventh event of the season. Starting on the outside front row, Barickman led the entire 20 lap distance during the series third appearance at the Elko AMSOIL Dirt Nationals, but he only defeated Cody Hahn by about a car length at the checkers. Following his second victory of the season, a smiling Barickman commented. "I had just caught up to lapped traffic, and I could hear Cody behind me. I was glad to see the checkered flag. My crew gave me a great car tonight, but Cody might have been a little better than me late in the race. I'll try and make it three wins tomorrow night."

The 2009 UMSS Rookie of the Year, Cody Hahn, equaled his best career feature race finish with a fine second place run. Hahn started on the pole in the Metro Air sponsored main event and fell in behind Barickman in the early laps. A caution with four laps in for Jennifer Eriksen and Jessie Smith sitting sideways in turn four bunched the field back up. Three laps later the race was under the red flag when Jennifer Eriksen hopped the right rear wheel of Dwain Wilmes' car and executed a very hard flip in turn two. Jennifer was okay, but her sprinter sustained heavy damage. When the green replaced the red, the next thirteen laps would go nonstop.

With Barickman holding a comfortable lead up front, Mark Toews cracked the top five from his eighth starting spot on the restart. At the halfway mark, it was Barickman, Hahn, Alan Gilbertson, Jerry Richert Jr, and Toews. Last Friday night's feature winner Bill Johnson was the car on the move though. Johnson moved to sixth place a few laps past the mid point of the race from his fifteenth starting spot. As the laps clicked off under green, Hahn slowly began reeling in Barickman. With three laps to go, the battle for third really heated up. Richert moved by Gilbertson for third on lap seventeen only to see Gilbertson get back around him with two to go. Barickman was approaching lapped traffic at the same time with Hahn now right behind him and Gilbertson closing quickly.

As the white flag flew, the crowd's attention was focused up front with things starting to get interesting. Brad Barickman was able to hold off Cody Hahn by about a car length for the victory. Alan Gilbertson finished just a couple of car lengths behind the lead duo in third. Jerry Richert Jr. and Mark Toews completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten was Bill Johnson, Tony Kaus, Joseph Kouba, Brandon Allen, and Shannon Eriksen. Kaus had returned with a borrowed car from Neil Stevens after demolishing his primary ride last Friday. Mark Toews was making his first full show with the UMSS this season, although he had been at the rained out Kouba Memorial back in June. Fourteen of the twenty two starters completed the 20 lap distance.

In Ultimate Sprint Heat race action, The Dirt Show first heat saw female driver Jennifer Eriksen defeat Toews for the win after leader Chris Graf blew a motor reportedly from purchasing bad fuel at the track. Graf was the only car not able to start the feature race. The Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems second heat would be a solid run all the way for the win by Gilbertson who had been upside down in last Saturday's show at Elko. The Mastell Brothers Trailer Service third heat had Barickman and Richert moving forward to finish first and second. Like the previous Friday, the usual and entertaining UMSS format was not in effect. All cars transferred to the feature race from the heats with the top eight cars in passing and finishing points eligible for the redraw.

Racing action returns for the fourth and final appearance of the season at the AMSOIL Dirt Nationals at Elko Speedway on Saturday night July 17 with the UMSS and IMCA sprint cars. The busy UMSS schedule then takes the series to the North Central Speedway near Brainerd on Saturday July 24 for the continuation of the rained out Kouba Memorial from June 5 along with another complete show following the Kouba Memorial main event, giving the North Central Speedway the distinction of hosting the first UMSS double features night. Fans can stay tuned to all the latest news, results, points and upcoming schedule by checking the new and improved UMSS website at www.umpsrints.com or by following along with the UMSS on Facebook.

UMSS Race Results - Elko Speedway July 16, 2010 (Race #7):

The Dirt Show Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (8 laps): Jennifer Eriksen, Mark Toews, Joseph Kouba, Dwain Wilmes, Tony Kaus DNF, Chris Graf DNF, Johnny Parsons DNF, Richard Smith Jr DNS.

Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (8 laps): Alan Gilbertson, Cody Hahn, Andy Jones, Jared Goerges, Bill Johnson, Shannon Eriksen, Terry Anderson DNS, Mike Luks DNS.

Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Ultimate Sprint Heat #3 (8 laps): Brad Barickman, Jerry Richert Jr, Dave Becker, Jessie Smith, Brandon Allen, Ronnie Erickson, Troy Manteufel.

Metro Air UMSS-IMCA A Main (20 laps): Barickman, Hahn, Gilbertson, Richert, Toews, Johnson, Kaus, Kouba, Allen, S. Eriksen, J. Smith, Manteufel, Erickson, Wilmes, R. Smith DNF, Goerges DNF, Jones DNF, J. Eriksen DNF, Becker DNF, Anderson DNF, Parsons DNF, Luks DNF, Graf DNS.

Lap Leader: Barickman 1-20
(2) cautions.

GRP Motorsports/BP Trading Company Rookie of the Race: Ronnie Erickson

Current UMSS Top Five Point Standings: Barickman 1634, Allen 1585, Hahn 1566, Parsons 1542, Becker 1504.

Current GRP Motorsports/BP Trading Company Top Three Rookie Contenders: Jones, Erickson, Goerges.

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