5/25/2015
14th Annual Billy Anderson Memorial Gets Purse Boost
The Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) and the Princeton Speedway are once again proud to be a part of the Billy Anderson Memorial race. This year will mark the 14th Annual running of this popular event for the winged sprint cars here in our area on Friday night June 5. The Billy Anderson Memorial is held each year as a tribute to honor the memory of sprint car driver Billy Anderson from Dayton, Minnesota. Billy was seriously injured in a racing accident at the Knoxville Raceway on June 13, 1998. Following a long battle with numerous complications from the horrific crash, Billy Anderson took his final checkered flag when he crossed the finish line of life on October 19, 2001 surrounded by his family and friends.
The 2015 edition will see a boost in the purse thanks to sponsorship help from Midwest Power Equipment and GRP Motorsports. The winner will take home $2,300 with second place paying $1,000, third $750 and fourth $500. Drivers who have expressed an interest in racing at Princeton on June 5 include the current top two drivers in Knoxville 410 points, Danny Lasoski of Dover, Missouri and Justin Henderson of Sioux Falls, SD. 2013-2014 winner of this event Brooke Tatnell is expected to be on hand in an attempt to become the first three-time winner. With no NSL race scheduled for that night, Davey Heskin of nearby St. Michael should have the opportunity to add his name to the winners list. Current UMSS point leader from Winnipeg, Manitoba Thomas Kennedy and his dad Lou Kennedy, Jr. who sits second in points have indicated they will be there along with the most recent UMSS feature winner at Rice Lake from Harwood, ND Lee Grosz. Three-time UMSS Champion Jerry Richert, Jr. of Forest Lake, 2013 UMSS Champion Chris Graf of Glencoe, 2010 UMSS Champion Cody Hahn of Oak Grove, 2009 UMSS Champion Leigh Thomas of Duluth, 2014 UMSS Rookie of the Year Ryan Bowers of Ham Lake are expected along with several other regular UMSS competitors. The 14th Annual Billy Anderson Memorial has the potential to be the biggest and the best on yet!
The event began at the Cedar Lake Speedway in April of 2002 and switched to the Princeton Speedway in 2011, the track where Billy Anderson began his racing career in a street stock in 1994. Previous winners of this prestigious race include Tony Norem, Bill Boles, Jerry Richert Jr., Loren Langerud, Jake Peters, Chuck Swenson, Lou Kennedy Jr., Cody Hahn and Brooke Tatnell. Richert and Tatnell have won it twice. The event has also fallen victim to the weather twice.
Princeton Speedway is a high-banked 1/4 mile dirt oval where the sprint cars often times get into lapped traffic early on during green flag runs. A full 20 car starting field is expected for the Billy Anderson Memorial. The Anderson family, Princeton Speedway, and the UMSS encourage each of you to come out and enjoy a fast-paced evening of sprint car racing in remembrance of Billy Anderson and his passion for the sport. The UMSS races the following night on Saturday June 6 at the Ogilvie Raceway for the annual "Big O Sprint Showdown" just a short distance northeast of Princeton.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
