7/5/2014
The Wait Is Over, As Cody Hahn Wins On First Night Out
Hibbing, MN
Patience can be a virtue and sometimes it is just simply a necessity. Nonetheless, the wait can be agonizing if you're a race car driver waiting for your motor to get done while the season is underway. Cody Hahn was late in getting his motor to his builder for a freshening this spring, and finally the day arrived that he would be able to race. His path to Victory Lane was not without some last minute trials and tribulations though, as Cody had to make a second trip down to Iowa to resolve an issue before he headed up to the annual UMSS Rumble on the Range on Saturday July 5. Later that night his long day would end in the Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup/Rock Auto Victory Lane having passed race leader and two-time UMSS Champion Jerry Richert, Jr. on lap 22 of the 25 lap feature race. The win paid the 2010 UMSS Champion Hahn and his team $1,000 and came on a very well-prepared Hibbing Raceway surface that saw the lead group of cars battling amongst themselves for a good share of the race.
Jason Tostenson was the high point driver following the usual double round of qualifiers used by the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series. Heat race wins went to Tostenson and Jennifer Eriksen. Tostenson also won a Challenge Race as did rookie Ryan Bowers. During the driver autograph session at intermission, Tostenson had a young race fan draw the feature race invert pill for him. The young man drew the lucky number zero pill. The front row would see Tostenson on the pole with Bowers outside. Tostenson's luck changed for the worse right on the opening lap, as he jumped over the berm in turn four and rolled to a stop. This meant he would restart tail-end. Rick Kobs found the pole spot to his liking on the second attempt and immediately blasted into the lead. Kobs led the first two laps until Richert got by. Three laps later it was Kobs back at the point. A second caution blinked on with eight laps scored and kept the field bunched up. Kobs maintained the top spot as drivers battled behind him.
Kobs had actually opened up a bit of a lead when the final yellow flag flew for Tostenson who rolled to a stop in turn 4 with 13 laps in the books. It was an unlucky 13 number for Jason, as the engine expired in his #19 sprinter. It was also an unfortunate yellow for Kobs. Richert regained the lead on the restart, as Ryan Bowers also stuck his car in the battle for the lead. Meanwhile tenth starter Cody Hahn was steadily working the bottom lane and gaining positions. Bowers got by Kobs a couple laps after Richert took the lead, and Hahn raced to third on lap 17. On lap 20, Hahn ducked under Bowers for second. Two laps later, Hahn passed Richert for the top spot as the crowd cheered. Hahn went on to win on his first night out in 2014 to write a dramatic finish to the day's script. Richert finished second followed by Bowers in third with his best career sprint car finish in just his ninth time behind the wheel. Kobs and Jared Goerges completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten was Sye Anderson, Eriksen, Leigh Thomas, Anna Kouba and Neal Matuska.
The UMSS then headed south to complete their Northern Tour double header weekend at the Proctor Speedway on Sunday night July 6. The UMSS thanks the Hibbing Raceway for providing a great track for feature racing action. It showed with plenty of drivers being able to race their way forward and battle for the top spots. At last the weather cooperated on the Range and the full show got in before some light sprinkles hit the track about a half hour later.
UMSS Race Results - Hibbing Raceway July 5, 2014 (Race #8)
4th Annual Rumble on the Range
Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Race #1 (6 laps): 19 Jason Tostenson, 34 Rick Kobs, 23 Cody Hahn, 9 Jared Goerges, 63 Jerry Richert Jr, 5 Anna Kouba, 91A Reed Allex DNS.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Race #2 (6 laps): 10x Jennifer Eriksen, 03 Jamey Ogston, 199 Ryan Bowers, 10 Leigh Thomas, 48 Neal Matuska, 37 Sye Anderson.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #1 (9 laps): Tostenson, Richert, Anderson, Thomas, Hahn, Ogston, Allex DNS.
Hoosier Racing Tire Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Bowers, Goerges, Kobs, Eriksen, Matusak, Kouba.
Motter Equipment Feature (25 laps): Hahn, Richert, Bowers, Kobs, Goerges, Anderson, Eriksen, Thomas, Kouba, Matuska, Ogston, Allex, Tostenson DNF.
Lap Leaders: Kobs 1-2, Richert 3-5, Kobs 6-13, Richert 14-21, Hahn 22-25.
Cautions: (3)
Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
