9/22/2012
Championship? I'll Flip You For It!
Championship? I’ll Flip You for It!
By Terry Lehnertz and Greg Parent
(St. Croix Falls, WI, September 21 and 22, 2012)
Over the winter of 2010/2011, the leaders of the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) put into place the framework for a new type of sprint car. This new car would sport the traditional sprinter frame and suspension, and forgo the modern-day top wing. But unlike modern sprinters, this “new traditional” sprinter would utilize an abundantly available and affordable engine. The thought process behind this development – lower costs will allow more drivers access to sprint racing, keep the playing field even and competitive, and racing excitement would ensue. As clearly as the UMSS Traditional Sprintcar Series (TSCS) visionaries saw the future, no one could have envisioned the events that transpired over the weekend at St. Croix Valley Raceway.
To close out its first full season of operation, St. Croix Valley Raceway hosted the two-night Badger State Championships. On the schedule each night were the UMSS Traditional Sprints, a complete show each evening. Reigning TSCS champion Kevin “Rocketman” Bradwell arrived on Friday night, trailing Rob Caho Jr. by a single point in the 2012 title chase. A season-high and series-high turnout of 14 TSCS sprints were on hand with Johnny Parsons and Jack Clark picking up heat race wins. The redraw for the scheduled 20 lap feature race saw rookie Ryan Olson on the pole with the three title contenders of Caho, Bradwell and Parsons in the second through fourth starting positions. Olson bolted into the early lead ahead of Caho, but the bid for his first sprint car win came to an end after six laps when the rear-end in his sprinter broke and he coasted to a stop on the back stretch to bring out the first caution. On the restart, Parsons made an incredible charge on the bottom and went from third to first. A second yellow for a spin in turn four slowed the pace once again. Parsons led laps seven and eight before Caho took the top spot on lap nine. Seeing what Parsons had done a few laps earlier, Bradwell used the low line to get by Parsons on lap nine. The third yellow waved for a spin in turn two with nine laps in the books, and on the restart Bradwell blasted under Caho in turn four to lead lap ten. The final yellow light blinked on when Tom Porter lost the left rear tire on his sprinter with ten laps scored. At this point, the number of laps was reduced due to time limitations and the threat of rain approaching. Bradwell went on to lead the final six laps while Caho rode home in second ahead of Parsons in third. Clark and Jeff Pellersels completed the top five. The win for Bradwell, his series best seventh of the season, left him tied with Caho going into Saturday’s finale with Parsons still mathematically alive in the title chase.
That’s when things got really exciting.
Bradwell won the opening heat on Saturday night, but TSCS does not award points for heat races, so the win was inconsequential to the championship. Caho, after starting fourth, was going for the lead in his heat race when he came together with the leader, Katrina Sautbine. On a lightning fast track, the contact with Saubtine was just enough to upset #78 of Caho, sending him spinning down the front stretch. Mid-spin, Caho’s rear tire dug into the clay, flipping him violently at the entrance to turn one. Quite sore but otherwise unharmed, Caho gingerly extracted himself from his torn up mount and made the longest walk in motorsports, back to his hauler, with any serious notion of a championship dashed. Sautbine went on to win the heat, her first race win since graduating from the karting ranks.
In the pits, the assessment of Caho’ ride was grim. Fellow TSCS competitor Lucas Milz offered to forfeit his starting spot in the feature, allowing Caho the use of his car – so that the championship could be decided under a green flag, instead of red flag. However, UMSS rules stipulate that a racer cannot race a feature in a car in which he did not qualify. So the generous offer from Milz had to be declined.
But the collective spirit of the racers wasn’t broken. Attention immediately turned from the rule book back to Caho’s sprinter. Fuel cell, wheels, linkages…the list of components needing replacement was built and attacked. Among those offering to help included Caho’s championship foil, Kevin Bradwell. A veritable swarm and mechanics and pit-helpers buzzed about Caho’s sprinter. Using spare parts from Caho’s trailer and, when needed, parts off of Milz’ car, Caho’s crew – with the help of several of Caho’s competitors – began the task of stripping and rebuilding the #78. With several minutes to spare, Caho’s sprinter was reassembled and race ready.
The anticipation and electricity in the air during the three-wide salute to the fans prior to the feature was a welcome diversion for the chilly spectators, eager to see this epic clash for the championship title. Bradwell started outside of the third row, with Caho at the back in row six. Open Wheel Nationals champion Johnny Parsons III immediately vaulted from his third starting spot to the point at the drop of the green. Parsons, a long shot championship contender, was doing everything he could to claim the title, and he could do no better than a win. Entering turn four on the second lap, Katrina Sautbine, Jeff Pellersels, Denny Stordahl and Jack Clark were all involved in a wild crash, with Pellersels and Clark both flipping their cars. Clark took the harder tumble, but both Pellersels and Clark would emerge from the carnage unharmed. Unfortunately, neither car was race worthy afterwards. On the restart Bradwell was quickly up to second and with three laps in the books, Caho was up to third. For the middle section of the race, it was a high-tension, nerve-wracking affair as the running order remained Parsons, Bradwell, Caho through lapped traffic. With Parsons’ advantage shrinking on lap fifteen and Bradwell applying pressure for the lead, Parsons lost the handle on his car coming out of turn three. The spin collected Bradwell as Caho took evasive action up high. During the spin, Bradwell’s car throttled over the implement tire in the infield and came to a rest, upside-down, between turns three and four.
Fortunately it was an “easy” roll for Bradwell, and both Parsons and Bradwell would be able to continue, restarting from the back of the field while Caho, sporting Milz’ #60 fuel cell, inherited the lead. Both Bradwell and Parsons immediately charged forward, slowed only by a final caution with two laps to go. The half-mile championship dash started with Parsons in fifth, Bradwell in fourth. At the white flag, Bradwell had gotten past both Sautbine and Stordahl and was staring down the #78/60 ride of Caho. With only a quarter of a mile to work with, Bradwell closed the gap, but ultimately did not have enough left to pull of the clean sweep championship drive. On the final lap, of the final race, after both top contenders flipped their cars and were able to continue racing, Rob Caho Jr. won the race and the season championship by a single point. An exhausted and disappointed Bradwell finished in second ahead of Parsons, Sautbine and Stordahl.
UMSS Traditional Sprints – Friday feature: Kevin Bradwell, Rob Caho Jr., Johnny Parsons III, Jack Clark, Jeff Pellersels, Lucas Milz, Denny Stordahl, Katrina Sautbine, Adam Taubert, Mike Huesmann, Jake Kouba, Tom Porter, Ryan Olson, Brad Nelson.
UMSS Traditional Sprints - Saturday feature: Rob Caho Jr., Kevin Bradwell, Johnny Parsons III, Katrina Sautbine, Denny Stordahl, Mike Huesmann, Travis Jehlicka, Tom Porter, Brad Nelson, Jack Clark, Jeff Pellersels, Ryan Olson (DNS), Lucas Milz (DNS)
2012 UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series Champion - Rob Caho, Jr. #78
Article Credit: Terry Lehnertz
