9/4/2015
Rick Kobs Wins Laursen Classic at Bullring Blast
The weather was hot and so was the action, as the Bullring Blast event welcomed back a classic race that started back in 1970 at Superior, the Russ Laursen Classic. Adding a new twist in its return, the UMSS Traditional sprints and the WISSOTA late models would be part of the Russ & Brent Laursen Classic on this warm summer evening leading into the long Labor Day holiday weekend.
For the Traditional sprints, their feature would pay $519 to win in memory and honor of Russ Laursen's car number. A competitive field of 20 cars turned out to see who would add their name to an already impressive list of previous winners in the sprint car portion of the Laursen Classic. When the final checkers waved, Rick Kobs won for the second time this season. Kobs passed Rob Caho, Jr. on lap 9 and led the remainder of the race in the Dan Peper/Dan Olson #81 non-winged sprinter on his way to Rock Auto Victory Lane at the St. Croix Valley Raceway.
Using their traditional three heat races with passing and finishing points, heat winners included Caho, rookie Tony Duran with his first win in a sprint car, and Jon Lewerer. Caho earned the most points and drew outside front row. Rookie racer Tony Duran pulled the pole position. Lewerer and last week's winner at "The Valley" Johnny Parsons III would occupy the second row. Caho got the advantage over Duran on the start to lead the opening lap. Coming out of turn four the next time around, Duran got crossed-up and collected Jake Kouba in the process. Kouba's car flipped over to bring out the red flag. Both cars were out of the race. Caho took off again on the restart, but Kobs, who started fifth, was quickly up to second and began applying the pressure on Caho. As Caho moved down from the top to the bottom of the track on lap 9 to race with Parsons, that was the opportunity Kobs needed to shoot into the top spot. Kobs would not relinquish the lead once he had it, as the race ran the final 24 laps nonstop to the finish. Caho finished second followed by Parsons, Jimmy Kouba and Mike Mueller. Joseph Kouba, Brian VanMeveren, Lewerer, Mike Walters and Blake Anderson completed the top ten.
Kobs joined previous winners of this event including the likes of Barry Kettering, Dave Skari, John Stevenson, Jerry Richert, Lyn McIntosh, Bob Hop, Bill Dollansky, Brad Pake and Loren Langerud. The Laursen Classic ran from 1970 through 1981, returned in 2003, and last ran in 2007 at Superior with the late models only. Kobs was surprised to learn that the feature race paid $519 to win, which was Russ Laursen's car number.
Thanks to the following sponsors for contributing to the sprint car portion of the Russ & Brent Laursen Classic purse: GRP Motorsports, D&D Motorsports, Steve Laursen Racing, and SCVR flagman Shaun Cimfl. In the late model portion of the event, JT Auto Sales, GRP Motorsports, Loren Miller from Trackside Collectibles, Dr. Troy Powers and Lucky Lenny added money to the purse. A total of $2,600 in sponsorship money was added to the purse for the Russ & Brent Laursen Classic portion of the Bullring Blast.
UMSS TSCS Race Results - St. Croix Valley Raceway September 4, 2015 (Race #22)
Russ & Brent Laursen Classic / Bullring Blast
GRP Motorsports/D&D Motorsports Russ/Brent Laursen Classic Feature (25 Laps): 1. 81-Rick Kobs[5]; 2. 78-Rob Caho Jr[2]; 3. 12-Johnny Parsons III[4]; 4. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[8]; 5. 87-Mike Mueller[7]; 6. 55-Joseph Kouba[9]; 7. 24-Brian Vanmeveren[10]; 8. 69S-Jon Lewerer[3]; 9. 27-Mike Walters[11]; 10. KA1-Blake Anderson[17]; 11. 7B-Scott Brandt[12]; 12. 23-Jake Hendrickson[15]; 13. 95-Kevin Bradwell[13]; 14. 21J-Jori Hughes[14]; 15. (DNF) 73-Sid Denzer[16]; 16. (DNF) 6-Jake Kouba[6]; 17. (DNF) N1-Tony Duran[1]; DNS 11-James Giossi; DNS 31-Doug Taubert; DNS 50-Chase Viebrock
Lap Leaders: Caho 1-8, Kobs 9-25. Cautions: (1) red with 1 lap scored when N1 got crossed-up in turn 4 and collect 6. 6 flipped over. Both cars out of the race. Feature then went 24 laps nonstop!
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 78-Rob Caho Jr[2]; 2. 81-Rick Kobs[3]; 3. 87-Mike Mueller[4]; 4. 6-Jake Kouba[7]; 5. 27-Mike Walters[6]; 6. KA1-Blake Anderson[1]; 7. 23-Jake Hendrickson[5]
Lap Leader: Caho 1-10. No Cautions.
Driverwebsites.com Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. N1-Tony Duran[2]; 2. 11-James Giossi[1]; 3. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[4]; 4. 24-Brian Vanmeveren[5]; 5. 50-Chase Viebrock[3]; 6. 73-Sid Denzer[6]; 7. 95-Kevin Bradwell[7]
Lap Leader: Duran 1-10. No Cautions. First heat win for rookie driver Duran!
Track Rat Photos Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 69S-Jon Lewerer[2]; 2. 12-Johnny Parsons III[4]; 3. 55-Joseph Kouba[1]; 4. 7B-Scott Brandt[3]; 5. 21J-Jori Hughes[5]; DNS 31-Doug Taubert
Lap Leader: Lewerer 1-10. No Cautions.
Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
