8/21/2015
From Header To Checkers, Justin Henderson Wins Kouba Memorial at Princeton
Justin Henderson's debut with the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series proved to be an interesting and entertaining one to say the least. The Tea, South Dakota racer recovered from a rollover in his heat race to win his Challenge race and then come from seventh to win the $2,300 Ethel Kouba Memorial feature race at the Princeton Speedway on Friday night August 21. It was also the third race in the Midwest Power Series, as Henderson became the third different winner. A smiling Henderson celebrated his win in Rock Auto Victory Lane.
Three heat races were held with Thomas Kennedy, Tony Norem, and Brooke Tatnell the winners. Lou Kennedy, Jr. and Henderson copped the Challenge races. The top four drivers in passing and finishing point redrew for the first two rows of the feature. Thomas Kennedy and Tatnell made up the front row with Rick Kobs and Lou Kennedy, Jr. sitting in the second row. The 25 lap feature got off to a rough start for current UMSS point leader Ryan Bowers, as he flipped exiting turn four on the opening lap. Although his crew tried frantically to get his car repaired and back into the race during the red flag, they ran out of time and were forced to watch the main event from the infield.
The feature race was only one lap old when the yellow blinked on for Rick Kobs over the berm in turn one. Kobs restated tail-end. Meanwhile, Thomas Kennedy had taken the early lead. On lap four, Kennedy was over the berm in turn four and the yellow light blinked on again. Although Thomas recovered from his mishap and was able to get back on the track, he was charged with the caution and relegated to the tail for the restart. This handed the lead to Henderson who had benefited from some of the early problems some of his fellow front-runners had endured. With one last caution on lap seven for spin by Jamey Ogston, the race would run the final 18 laps caution-free to the checkers. Brooke Tatnell finished second ahead of Lou Kennedy, Jr. Chris Graf and Tony Norem rounded out the top five. Derrik Lusk, Kobs, Mark Toews, Thomas Kennedy and Jerry Richert, Jr. completed the top ten. Sixteen of the eighteen starters were running at the checkers.
With three races out of the four now complete in the Midwest Power Outlaw Sprint Car Series, Richert and Graf are tied for the top spot with Bowers in third. The race in the series will take place on Friday night September 11 during the running of the Earl Kouba Memorial at the St. Croix Valley Raceway. The winner of the series will be awarded the $1,000 top prize from Midwest Power Equipment following the feature race that night. Winners in the three race completed so far include Jerry Richert, Jr. at Deer Creek, Tony Norem at Granite City and now Justin Henderson here at Princeton. Henderson and Graf are sponsored by Midwest Power Equipment.
UMSS Race Results - Princeton Speedway August 21, 2015 (Race #15)
Ethel Kouba Memorial
Midwest Power Equip & GRP Motorsports Ethel Kouba Memorial Feature (25 Laps): 1. 1-Justin Henderson[7]; 2. 14-Brooke Tatnell[2]; 3. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[4]; 4. 20G-Chris Graf[8]; 5. B1ST-Tony Norem[6]; 6. 2-Derrik Lusk[13]; 7. 34-Rick Kobs[3]; 8. 5T-Mark Toews[10]; 9. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[1]; 10. 34D-Jerry Richert Jr[11]; 11. 1D-Dean Brown[12]; 12. 95-Kevin Bradwell[14]; 13. 5-Anna Kouba[17]; 14. 03-Jamey Ogston[15]; 15. 52-Jake Lempelius[18]; 16. 91A-Reed Allex[16]; 17. (DNF) 73-Todd King[5]; 18. (DNF) 199-Ryan Bowers[9]Lap Leaders: Thomas Kennedy 1-3, Henderson 4-25. Cautions: (4)...red on opening lap for 199 flip turn 4; yellow with 1 lap in for 34 over berm turn 2; yellow with 3 laps in for 20K over berm turn 4; yellow with 7 laps in for 03 spin turn 2.
Hoosier Racing Tire Challenge Race 1 (9 Laps): 1. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[1]; 2. 34-Rick Kobs[4]; 3. 73-Todd King[3]; 4. 20G-Chris Graf[5]; 5. B1ST-Tony Norem[6]; 6. 1D-Dean Brown[9]; 7. 95-Kevin Bradwell[8]; 8. 91A-Reed Allex[7]; 9. (DNF) 03-Jamey Ogston[2]Lap Leaders: L Kennedy 1-6, Kobs 7, L Kennedy 8-9. Cautions: (1)
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race 2 (9 Laps): 1. 1-Justin Henderson[1]; 2. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[5]; 3. 14-Brooke Tatnell[6]; 4. 199-Ryan Bowers[3]; 5. 5T-Mark Toews[9]; 6. 34D-Jerry Richert Jr[4]; 7. 2-Derrik Lusk[2]; 8. 5-Anna Kouba[8]; 9. 52-Jake Lempelius[7]Lap Leader: Henderson 1-9. No cautions.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[5]; 2. 34-Rick Kobs[2]; 3. 2-Derrik Lusk[3]; 4. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[6]; 5. 91A-Reed Allex[1]; 6. 5-Anna Kouba[4]Lap Leaders: Kobs 1, T Kennedy 2-6. No cautions.
Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. B1ST-Tony Norem[2]; 2. 34D-Jerry Richert Jr[1]; 3. 73-Todd King[6]; 4. 1-Justin Henderson[4]; 5. 52-Jake Lempelius[3]; 6. (DNF) 1D-Dean Brown[5]Lap Leader: Norem 1-6. Cautions: (2)...yellow for 34D over berm turn 2 lap 1 & red for Henderson flip turn 2 on restart. Henderson tagged the tail with crumpled top wing.
Sprintsource.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 3 (6 Laps): 1. 14-Brooke Tatnell[2]; 2. 20G-Chris Graf[1]; 3. 199-Ryan Bowers[5]; 4. 03-Jamey Ogston[6]; 5. 95-Kevin Bradwell[3]; 6. 5T-Mark Toews[4]Lap Leader: Tatnell 1-6. Cautions: (1)
Victory Lane Photo courtesy of Scott Swenson.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
