9/1/2012
Mighty Axe Win To Graf When Thiel Weighs In Light
Mighty Axe Win To Graf After Thiel Weighs In Light
Brainerd, MN
A solid field of seventeen UMSS sprint cars were on hand for the opening night of the 11th Annual Mighty Axe Nationals at the North Central Speedway on Saturday September 1. Although he did not cross the finish line first, Chris Graf of Glencoe picked up his second UMSS win of the season and second career Mighty Axe victory when apparent winner Scotty Thiel weighed in eight pounds light at the scale following the 25 lap feature race. For Graf, it was his ninth career UMSS win and moved him into second place in the GRP Motorsports High Five Championship standings.
Due to the large car count in all divisions on hand and lengthy racing program, the usual double round of qualifying races that the UMSS utilizes to determine the feature race line-up was replaced by three heat races with passing and finishing points. Following the heats, high point driver Jason Tostenson redrew the #4 pill putting Graf and Tony Norem on the front row for the main event. Graf blasted into the early lead on the cushion and was gone. A quick caution slowed the pace two laps into the race and then a fourteen lap green flag run ensued with Graf in command. A red flag stopped the action with 16 laps scored when third place runner Brooke Tatnell crashed hard into the turn three wall. Tatnell was not injured, but his car was done for the night and weekend.
When the green replaced the red for a nine lap sprint to the checkers, 8th place starter Scotty Thiel quickly disposed of Tony Norem for second and set his sights on the leader. Graf's car was not as fast as it had been before the red flag, and Thiel ran him down over the course of the next four laps. Thiel bolted into the lead on lap 20 and went on to score an apparent victory. However, Thiel's car was not able to make the minimum weight at the track scales after the race and was disqualified thus handing the win to Graf.
Commenting after the race and when it was official that he had won, Graf stated "I would rather win the race on the track than at the scale afterward, but I'll take another Axe trophy and the first place money. My car was a rocket before the Tatnell crash, but after that my left rear tire sealed over. I was having trouble getting off the corners, especially turn four. Scotty was faster than me in the end, but it's not over until you make it out of tech." North Central Speedway gave the sprinters a fresh track to race on for their feature. It was fast in the first part of the race, began changing in the middle stages, and slicked off some during the end of the feature providing a good challenge for the drivers and crews to dial in their cars.
Finishing behind Graf in the feature was Tony Norem in second, current point leader and defending champion Jerry Richert, Jr. in third, Andy Jones in fourth and Sye Anderson in fifth. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Jared Goerges, Tony Kaus, Leigh Thomas, Jennifer Eriksen and Anna Kouba. Heat races were won by Jason Tostenson, Graf and Tatnell. Tostenson was the first caution two laps into the feature when he slowed with what turned out to be a broken throttle linkage. Although obviously disappointed and even a bit surprised following the DQ at the scales, Thiel vowed to return the next night and get an Axe trophy to take back to Sheboygan, Wisconsin with him. Check out the race report from the final night of the Mighty Axe Nationals to see if he accomplished that goal.
UMSS Race Results - North Central Speedway September 1, 2012 (Race #15)
11th Annual Mighty Axe Nationals
Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (8 laps): Jason Tostenson 36, Jerry Richert, Jr. 63, Sye Anderson 37, Anna Kouba 5, Kevin Bradwell 95, Leigh Thomas 29.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (8 laps): Chris Graf 20G, Andy Jones 73, Scotty Thiel 64, James Broty 33, Brad Nelson 7N, Chad Patterson 15 DNS.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Heat #3 (8 laps): Brooke Tatnell 86AU, Tony Norem 45, Tony Kaus 3TK, Jared Goerges 9, Jennifer Eriksen 10x.
GRP Motorsports A Main (20 laps): Graf, Norem, Richert, Jones, Anderson, Goerges, Kaus, Thomas, Eriksen, Kouba, Patterson, Broty, Tatnell DNF, Nelson DNF, Bradwell DNF, Tostenson DNF, Thiel DQ.
Lap Leaders: Graf 1-19, Thiel 20-25 (but light at scales following the race).
Cautions: (2)
Victory Photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
