5/8/2015
"V is for Victory" as Chase Viebrock Wins TSCS Season Opener at SCVR
With 18 non-winged UMSS Traditional sprints in the pits for their season opener at the St. Croix Valley Raceway on Friday May 8, the battle up front in their 25 lap feature was contested between young racer and 2014 TSCS Rookie of the Year Chase Viebrock from New Richmond and veteran driver and 2012-2013 TSCS series champion Rob Caho, Jr. from Wyoming. Although Viebrock ended up the winner, by no means whatsoever was it an easy victory. Commenting afterwards, Chase indicated that "He (Caho) really made me work hard for that win. I was huffing and puffing under those cautions trying to catch my breath while waiting for the race to restart. It's great to start off the season with a win." For Viebrock, it was his fourth career TSCS feature win as the "New Richmond Nightmare" begins his second season behind the wheel of a non-winged UMSS Traditional sprint car. The 18 car turnout tied a series car count record.
For 2015, the Traditional sprints will continue with their usual race format of heat races and a feature on most race nights. Tonight was no different, but the redraw procedure to determine the starting lineup for their feature event has changed some from previous seasons. The top four drivers in passing and finishing points following the heat races now draw for the first four starting positions in the main event while the remainder of the field lines up straight-up from fifth on back. Heat races on opening night were won by Caho, Viebrock and Jon Lewerer. Lewerer got the luck of the draw with the pole position for the feature race. Sitting on the outside of row one was winged racer Anna Kouba. Viebrock and Caho comprised the second row.
At the drop of the green, Viebrock dove low coming off turn four and beat Lewerer and the rest of the field into turn one for the lead. The race was under the red flag with six laps scored when "Hurricane" Katrina Sautbine contacted an infield tractor tire in turn four and rolled over. She was a bit banged up but otherwise okay. Viebrock continued to lead following the restart with Caho applying heavy pressure at times for the top spot. Meanwhile, Rick Kobs was on the move forward from his ninth starting spot and soon found himself in third. The yellow waved when Mike Walters stalled on the front stretch with eleven laps in. The next three laps after the restart where really exciting up front, as Viebrock and Caho exchanged the lead on a couple of occasions. The final caution flew three laps later with 14 laps scored when Jake Kouba stopped in turn four and was refired. The final 11 circuits ran caution-free to the finish with Viebrock holding off Caho for the win. Kobs finished third ahead of Lewerer and Jimmy Kouba.
The series continues in action on Friday nights at the St. Croix Valley Raceway with the second race of the 2015 season slated for next Friday May 15. On Memorial Day weekend, the non-winged sprints double up with the winged sprints at SCVR on May 22 for the Davey Tabor Memorial and then head to Rice Lake Speedway on May 23. Keep tabs on the action by visiting the UMSS website, SCVR website or by following us on Facebook.
TSCS Race Results - St. Croix Valley Raceway May 8, 2015 (Race #1):
GRP Motorsports A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 50-Chase Viebrock[3]; 2. 78-Rob Caho Jr[4]; 3. 81-Rick Kobs[9]; 4. 69S-Jon Lewerer[1]; 5. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[10]; 6. 48-Neal Matuska[15]; 7. 16-Anna Kouba[2]; 8. 87-Mike Mueller[13]; 9. 6-Jake Kouba[5]; 10. 14-Tommy Kamrath[7]; 11. (DNF) 12-Johnny Parsons III[6]; 12. (DNF) 90-Tony Klose[17]; 13. (DNF) 7B-Scott Brandt[8]; 14. (DNF) 27-Mike Walters[11]; 15. (DNF) 95-Kevin Bradwell[16]; 16. (DNF) 55-Joseph Kouba[14]; 17. (DNF) 13K-Katrina Sautbine[12]; DNS 21J-Jori Hughes.
Lap Leader: Viebrock 1-25. Cautions: (3)
Meeks Video Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 78-Rob Caho Jr[2]; 2. 14-Tommy Kamrath[1]; 3. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[3]; 4. 81-Rick Kobs[6]; 5. 87-Mike Mueller[4]; 6. 55-Joseph Kouba[5].
Mora Motorworks Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 50-Chase Viebrock[2]; 2. 16-Anna Kouba[3]; 3. 7B-Scott Brandt[4]; 4. 27-Mike Walters[5]; 5. (DNF) 21J-Jori Hughes[1]; DNS 95-Kevin Bradwell.
Driverwebsites.com Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 69S-Jon Lewerer[1]; 2. 6-Jake Kouba[3]; 3. 12-Johnny Parsons III[5]; 4. 13K-Katrina Sautbine[2]; 5. 90-Tony Klose[6]; 6. (DNF) 48-Neal Matuska[4].
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
