9/10/2016
James Giossi Tops TSCS Portion of Richert Memorial at Cedar Lake
The final full-point show of the 2016 UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series season was only fitting to once again be held at the Cedar Lake Speedway for the running of the 16th Annual Jerry Richert Sr. Memorial. The 2016 Traditional Sprint Car Series Championship was up for grabs as was the top spot in the 2016 GRP Motorsports High Five Championship Bonus standings. When the final checkers waved, young James Giossi from New Richmond, Wisconsin had picked up his sixth career TSCS feature win and third at his home track, the Cedar Lake Speedway. The win paid Giossi $563 thanks to some help from GRP Motorsports in boosting the first place payout. It was the second time this season Giossi drove his potent #11 non-winged sprint car to Rock Auto Victory Lane at Cedar Lake.
The Traditional sprints ran their usual three heat races using passing and finishing points for the twenty car field on hand. Denny Stordahl had an engine issue in warm-ups and was scratched for the evening, so nineteen cars raced during the evening. Heat race wins went to Jake Kouba, leading CLS 2016 feature winner Rick Kobs and Jeremy Kerzman. Kobs was the high-point driver after the heats and drew the #4 pill. Kerzman drew the pole with Giossi sitting to his outside. Jake Kouba would start inside row two for the feature.
The scheduled 25 lap feature got underway with Giossi pulling out to a comfortable lead during the first 14 lap green flag run. The first of two red flags waved when Jake Kouba and Kobs made contact in turn two, resulting in Kouba's car partially resting on the back stretch wall and partially on the track while Kobs headed to the work area to make repairs. Kobs returned to tag the tail while Kouba was done for the night. Two laps later a violent series of flips took place on the front stretch when rookie Hunter Custer hopped the wheel of Mike Walters and rode out several hard flips. Custer came to rest right-side up near the end of the inside wall past the ramp for Victory Lane. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where word later came that he had a broken collarbone. The long delay caused UMSS officials to decide to run five more laps and checker the race after 21 laps had been completed. Giossi led those remaining five laps for the win. Johnny Parsons III finished second ahead of Cam Schafer, Jimmy Kouba and 2016 TSCS GRP Motorsports Rookie of the Year Ty Sampair. Completing the top ten was Kerzman, Neal Matuska, Kobs, Walters and Joseph Kouba. Fourteen of the nineteen starters did finish the race.
The chase for the 2016 UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series Championship and the GRP Motorsports High Five Championship Bonus was certainly not without controversy. A DQ issued by the Competition Committee stemming back to an incident on July 2 was in play for the championship. Greg Parent of GRP Motorsports had not addressed a zero point score outside of post-race tech in his document explaining his bonus that was posted on the UMSS website earlier in the season. In keeping with his philosophy of drivers earning GRP bonus money with their on-track performance, and considering James Giossi was not directly involved himself but due to the actions of his dad regarding the July 2 incident, GRP decided to stick with his original decision to drop that race from his bonus standings while the UMSS of course followed the rules they have in effect. This resulted in a disagreement that played out for many weeks. At the conclusion of the TSCS point season on September 10, James Giossi won the 2016 GRP Motorsports High Five Championship Bonus with top ten finishes in 18 out of the 19 point races runs. Also with a stellar season, Rick Kobs won seven races and was awarded the 2016 UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series Championship based on the series rules in effect which meant the July 2 zero point DQ would stand for Giossi. The final UMSS TSCS point standings would show Kobs, Jake Kouba and Giossi in the top three spots while fourth on back was unaffected by the ruling.
In the future, and in order to avoid any confusion or disagreement, GRP indicated that he will unlink his bonus money from the point standings and return to how it was awarded in 2010 when Brad Barickman won the GRP Sweet 16 Bonus with Cody Hahn earning the 2010 UMSS Championship. It worked well that year. The drivers will earn the bonus money based on their on-track performance which is what GRP has always wanted from the very beginning many years ago when he first started sponsoring races and adding bonus money to various events for a variety of on-track performance-related items. UMSS President Ron Berhagen asked that the bonus money be linked to the season point standings in 2011, and it worked well for 2011-2015 in both divisions given the fact that a couple of races could be thrown out regardless. That changed in 2016, and the result has caused additional changes to take place for all parties involved. The series will naturally crown their champions based on their rules that are in effect while bonus money from sponsors will be awarded in the manner in which each sponsor specifies. Lessons learned for all parties involved. Both Rick Kobs and James Giossi should be congratulated for their 2016 season performances, as both drivers had strong runs in most races throughout the season.
The Traditional sprint cars still have two non-point races remaining on their 2016 schedule, as the popular non-winged division will attempt to race at the Legendary 100 at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Thursday, September 15. The season will conclude at the Topless Nationals at the Ogilvie Raceway on Saturday, October 22. Last year, Jeremy Kerzman won the Topless Nationals during the first-ever appearance for the Traditional sprints at this typical late season-ending event at Ogilvie. For news and other information, race fans can check out the Traditional Sprint Car Series website at www.umsprints.com by clicking on the blue logo or follow us on Facebook.
UMSS TSCS Race Results - Cedar Lake Speedway September 10, 2016 (Race #22)
16th Annual Jerry Richert Sr Memorial
GRP Motorsports 16th Annual Jerry Richert Sr Memorial Feature (21 Laps): 1. 11-James Giossi[2]; 2. 12-Johnny Parsons III[5]; 3. 14-Cam Schafer[6]; 4. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[9]; 5. N1-Ty Sampair[10]; 6. 3K-Jeremy Kerzman[1]; 7. 48-Neal Matuska[8]; 8. 81-Rick Kobs[4]; 9. 27-Mike Walters[11]; 10. 55-Joseph Kouba[13]; 11. 6L-Joe Lallier[12]; 12. 93-Brad Peterson[17]; 13. 99-Bryan Roach[15]; 14. 7B-Billy Mohn[18]; 15. (DNF) 29-Hunter Custer[14]; 16. (DNF) 6-Jake Kouba[3]; 17. (DNF) 87-Mike Mueller[7]; 18. (DNF) 90-Tony Klose[19]; 19. (DNF) 00-Kyle Finnegan[16]; (DNS) 34-Denny Stordahl
Lap Leader: Giossi 1-21. Cautions: (2) red flags. First red for crash in turn 2 with 14 laps scored between 6 & 81. Both drivers okay and 81 returned to race. Second red for wild series of flips down front stretch 2 laps later by 29 Custer. Custer taken to hospital and reportedly had broken collar bone. Race reduced to 21 laps following accident delay. 2K Kouba won $150 GRP Motorsports Hard Charger Award.
Meeks Video Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 6-Jake Kouba[1]; 2. 12-Johnny Parsons III[3]; 3. 2K-Jimmy Kouba[2]; 4. 87-Mike Mueller[6]; 5. 29-Hunter Custer[5]; 6. 99-Bryan Roach[4]; 7. 93-Brad Peterson[7]
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Kouba 1-2, Jake Kouba 3-10. Cautions: (1) yellow with 7 laps in for 93 spin turn 4.
Track Rat Photos Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 81-Rick Kobs[2]; 2. 14-Cam Schafer[1]; 3. 48-Neal Matuska[3]; 4. 27-Mike Walters[5]; 5. 6L-Joe Lallier[4]; 6. 00-Kyle Finnegan[6]; 7. 7B-Billy Mohn[7]
Lap Leader: Kobs 1-10. No cautions.
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 3K-Jeremy Kerzman[1]; 2. 11-James Giossi[4]; 3. N1-Ty Sampair[2]; 4. 55-Joseph Kouba[3]; 5. 90-Tony Klose[5]; (DNS) 34-Denny Stordahl
Lap Leader: Kerzman 1-10. No cautions. 34 Stordahl scratched after warm-ups with engine issue.
Rock Auto Victory Lane photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
