4/3/2014
UMSS Preseason Tech Session & Practice
Although winter is slow to release her icy grip here in the Upper Midwest, many race teams and fans are in the process of gearing up for another exciting season of UMSS sprint car racing. UMSS President Ron Bernhagen and Technical Director Joe Kouba have received enough positive responses regarding a preseason tech session for the winged and Traditional (non-winged) sprint cars.
Weather and track conditions permitting, the UMSS is planning on holding a tech session on Saturday April 26 beginning at 10:00 AM at the St. Croix Valley Raceway. The tech session will take place outside the back pit gate in the flat area on top of the hill. The tech session will run from 10:00 AM to noon for winged and Traditional sprint cars. At 11:00 AM, a practice session on the track will begin for rookie drivers or drivers who are new to the series in any of the three divisions. At noon, all other drivers will be allowed on the track for a three hour practice session. The cost for the practice session is $30.00 per car/driver.
If weather or track conditions are not suitable for hosting the tech and practice session outside on April 26, the tech session will still be held indoors at the Mastell Brothers Trailer Service located in Columbus, MN inside their heated service garage from 10:00 AM to noon. Several tech sessions and meetings have been held in years past at the Mastell facility. Drivers and teams will be notified in the days leading up to the scheduled tech and practice session as to whether it will be held outdoors at the St. Croix Valley Raceway or be forced indoors at the Mastell Brothers Trailer Service garage. Stay tuned to our website at www.umsprints.com or our Facebook page for further announcements.
Drivers and owners are encouraged to have their cars teched early in the season to avoid constantly having their engines teched throughout the season. As Joe Kouba stated, "Get your engine teched, approved and sealed early on so you won't have the hassle of having to do it before the races each night during the season." Several drivers have contacted Joe and are looking to do just that at the preseason tech session. UMSS officials are also planning on being at the tracks early during the first few races of the season in order to tech cars who were unable to participate in the preseason tech session.
The first scheduled races for the UMSS winged sprints will be on Friday May 2 at the St. Croix Valley Raceway and on Saturday May 3 at the Cedar Lake Speedway. For the Traditional sprints and the micro sprints, their season is slated to get underway on Friday April 25 at the St. Croix Valley Raceway. The UMSS and St. Croix Valley Raceway will make every effort to hold the April 26 tech and practice session at the track, but the weather will of course be the primary determining factor. Racers and fans are looking forward to the upcoming season. Now all we need is for the weather to start showing some signs of cooperating, as the winged sprints kick off their sixth season, the Traditional sprints run for their fourth season, and the micro sprints begin their third season under the banner of the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
