4/15/2016
Kobs Kicks Off Season With Traditional Sprint Win At CLS
Rick Kobs continued his winning ways at the Cedar Lake Speedway when the veteran racer from Deer Park won for the very first time at the legendary track in a non-winged sprint car. Kobs picked up his third career win in the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series, but his opening night victory to kick off the 2016 racing season on Friday April 15 meant that the versatile driver has now won in at least seven different divisions throughout his nearly 30 year racing career at Cedar Lake. Kobs, driving the Dan Olson #81 sprinter, started on the pole in the 25 lap feature but quickly was overtaken by second year driver James Giossi from New Richmond. Giossi, driving one of two cars owned by his dad Jim, led the first six laps until Kobs got going and took the top spot on lap seven. The race ran nonstop to the checkers with Kobs driving the bottom line to victory. Kobs commented on the race in his Rock Auto Victory Lane interview and indicated he was glad to be a part of this exciting division once again in 2016.
A decent field of sixteen Traditional sprints were on hand at CLS for the first race. The night got off to a rough start for the driver who has the second most wins in the Traditional Sprint Car Series since its inception in 2011. While on the hot lap prior to lining up for the first heat race, Johnny Parsons III hit the turn three wall and flipped over. "JP3" climbed out of his battered car under his own power, but his night ended early. Heat race wins went to Kobs from sixth to first in the first heat and Giossi in the second heat. Giossi is a previous winner at CLS having won last July in his first season that helped earnhim the 2015 TSCS Rookie of the Year honors. Passing and finishing points in the heats saw Kobs, Giossi, Chase Viebrock and Mike Mueller in the top four in points. Kobs drew the #1 pill while Viebrock ended up outside front row. Giossi and Mueller would start in row two; however, Mueller required a second push to start and was relegated to the tail of the field for the initial under UMSS rules.
Following Kobs to Jeff Stacken's checkered flag was Jake Kouba. Kouba won the Richert Memorial last September at CLS and looked strong throughout the night. Kouba got by Giossi for second on lap 22. Giossi finished third with three-time and defending series champion Rob Caho, Jr. riding home in fourth ahead of Viebrock. Thirteen of the fifteen starters finished the race with only two cars a lap down. Jake Kouba advanced the most positions (4) in the feature.
The Traditional sprints are scheduled for twelve more shows at the Cedar Lake Speedway in 2016. Season opening weekend continues on Saturday night April 16 with another complete Traditional sprint show in addition to the other four weekly divisions at Cedar Lake. Keep tabs on all of the UMSS Traditional sprint action by visiting our website at www.umsprints.com or by liking us on Facebook.
UMSS TSCS Race Results - Cedar Lake Speedway April 15, 2016 (Race #1)
RockAuto.com A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 81-Rick Kobs[1]; 2. 6-Jake Kouba[6]; 3. 11-James Giossi[3]; 4. 78-Rob Caho Jr[4]; 5. 50-Chase Viebrock[2]; 6. 21J-Jori Hughes[9]; 7. 48-Neal Matuska[7]; 8. 22-Jeff Pellersels[11]; 9. N1-Ty Sampair[10]; 10. 95-Kevin Bradwell[12]; 11. 69S-Jon Lewerer[8]; 12. 29-Hunter Custer[14]; 13. 99-Bryan Roach[13]; 14. (DNF) 24-Brian VanMeveren[6]; 15. (DNF) 87-Mike Mueller[15]; DNS 12-Johnny Parsons III
Lap Leaders: Giossi 1-6, Kobs 7-25. No cautions! Note: Mueller scheduled to start 4th but required a second push-start, so he had to tag the tail. Parsons DNS following heat race crash.
GRP Motorsports Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 81-Rick Kobs[6]; 2. 50-Chase Viebrock[3]; 3. 87-Mike Mueller[5]; 4. 69S-Jon Lewerer[1]; 5. 21J-Jori Hughes[2]; 6. 22-Jeff Pellersels[4]; 7. 99-Bryan Roach[7]; DNS 12-Johnny Parsons III
Lap Leaders: Viebrock 1, Kobs 2-10. No cautions! Note: Parsons hit turn 3 wall on warm-up lap prior to start of heat race and flipped over. Red flag flew. Car done for the night.
Track Rat Photos Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 11-James Giossi[3]; 2. 78-Rob Caho Jr[1]; 3. 6-Jake Kouba[2]; 4. 24-Brian VanMeveren[5]; 5. 48-Neal Matuska[7]; 6. 95-Kevin Bradwell[4]; 7. N1-Ty Sampair[6]; 8. 29-Hunter Custer[8]
Lap Leaders: Caho 1, Giossi 2-10. Cautions: (1) for Sampair spin turn 3 at halfway mark.
Rock Auto Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
