---

Barickman Tops Largest UMSS Field at Kopellah Speedway

With summer-like temperatures on a pleasant spring evening, the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) swung back into action on Friday night May 28 at the Kopellah Speedway for their second event of the 2010 season. Brad Barickman raced to his third career UMSS feature victory over the largest field of cars ever to assemble for a UMSS race.

In a caution-filled race that saw three different leaders, Barickman took advantage of Joseph Kouba's misfortune to earn his first UMSS win of the young season and his third Kopellah Speedway win in his racing career. Kouba had taken the lead on the 11th lap of the scheduled 20 lap feature race and appeared headed for victory. Following a lap 13 restart, Kouba lost the left rear tire on his sprinter. With the race at the time limit, Barickman once again found himself leading and dashed to a quick green-white-checker victory. Stated a happy Barickman, "we might have been a second place car tonight, but I was going to give it all I had to regain the lead during the final few laps. I knew I needed to get back up top where I had been most of the race. Tough break for Joseph, but our car was also pretty good."

As cars continued to pass through the pit gate, it became apparent that the UMSS would see its largest field of cars ever in just its second year of operation. A fine field of 24 cars ran three heat races, two challenge races, and their feature event on the 1/4 mile Kopellah bullring. Earning Ultimate Sprint Heat Race wins were Jerry Richert Jr. with a last lap pass, opening night winner Dave Becker, and Brad Barickman. In the first Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems Challenge Race, Arlington IMCA driver Brandon Allen topped Joseph Kouba. In the second Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race, young Jack Zweber recorded his first win over Johnny Parsons III. A couple of strong competitors were done before the feature event, as Chris Graf blew an engine in hot laps while Jerry Richert Jr. was involved in a turn four crash in his Challenge race. The 24 car field was pared down to 18 starters for their feature, as second year sprint car driver Mike Luks got upside down in turn one of his Challenge race. Luks was the only driver to flip during the evening.

Sye Anderson and Joseph Kouba brought the field to the green for the scheduled 20 lap feature. Anderson, who was minus a nose wing from the Mike Luks Challenge race accident, led the first two laps before Barickman blew by. The race was under caution for the first time with three laps in when rookie Jared Georges spun in turn two. Barickman continued to lead Anderson for the next four circuits when the race went green with Brandon Allen, Joseph Kouba and Johnny Parsons III occupying the top five spots. Following a Kevin Nickel spin with seven laps in, Anderson saw his right rear tire begin losing air under the caution. The race was quickly under another caution on the restart when Dave Becker spun. With the tire nearly flat, Anderson dropped out of the race moving Leigh Thomas into the top five.

One lap later, Jennifer Eriksen stalled in turn one with a right rear tire flat. Defending UMSS champion Leigh Thomas caught a bit of a break, as he had just spun sideways in turn two at the same time Eriksen stopped. Eriksen's crew changed the tire, and she tagged the tail for the restart. Barickman meanwhile continued to show the way up front followed by Allen, Kouba, Parsons and Cody Hahn. Kouba moved to second on lap 10 and closed in on the leader. On the next lap, Kouba raced under Barickman and took the lead. A second spin by Dave Becker with 12 laps in bunched up the field again. One lap later, Kevin Nickel looped his car for the second time. With the race nearing the time limit, one last attempt to go the full distance was indicated. Barickman blasted around Kouba in turns one and two on the restart, as Kouba's car appeared to be having a problem. Indeed it was a problem, as the left rear tire flew off the car on the front stretch the next time by. Kouba's fine run ended on the back of the wrecker. With the allotted time limit used up, it would be a two lap dash to the checkers.

Brad Barickman went on to record the feature win over Johnny Parsons III, Brandon Allen, Leigh Thomas and Jesse Smith. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Jack Zweber, Jennifer Eriksen, and UMSS rookies Anna Kouba, Blake Anderson and Andy Jones. Cody Hahn was running in fourth on the final lap when his left front locked up in turn four and he spun. Several cars darted to avoid him, causing a few positions to change at the finish line. Five of the six UMSS GRP Motorsports/BP Trading Company rookie contenders on hand made the feature race, and all five were able to finish. The other rookie driver on hand, Mark Yetter, experienced some mechanical issues following hot laps and was scratched for the evening. The UMSS wishes to thank all drivers and fans, as six IMCA Arlington cars helped support the event on the eve of the first IMCA vs UMSS Challenge at the Arlington Raceway on May 29.

UMSS Race Results - Kopellah Speedway May 28, 2010 (Race #2):

SprintSource.com Ultimate Sprint Race #1 (8 laps): Jerry Richert Jr, Sye Anderson, Jimmy Kouba, Jack Zweber, Kevin Nickel, Andy Jones, Blake Anderson, Chris Graf DNS.

Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Race #2 (8 laps): Dave Becker, Joseph Kouba, Mike Luks, Brandon Allen, Brett Allen, Anna Kouba, Cody Hahn DNF, Mark Yetter DNS.

Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Race #3 (8 laps): Brad Barickman, Leigh Thomas, Jennifer Eriksen, Jesse Smith, Jared Georges, Johnny Parsons III, Ronnie Erickson, Shannon Eriksen DNF.

Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems Challenge Race #1 (11 laps): Brandon Allen, Joseph Kouba, Jennifer Eriksen, Brad Barickman, Jimmy Kouba, Kevin Nickel, Anna Kouba, Ronnie Erickson, Jared Georges, Jerry Richert, Jr. DNF, Blake Anderson DNF, Chris Graf DNS.

Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #2 (10 laps): Jack Zweber, Johnny Parsons III, Andy Jones, Sye Anderson, Dave Becker, Leigh Thomas, Cody Hahn, Jesse Smith DNF, Brett Allen DNF, Mike Luks DNF, Shannon Eriksen DNS, Mark Yetter DNS.

UMSS A Main (15 laps): Barickman, Parsons, Brandon Allen, Thomas, Smith, Zweber, Jennifer Eriksen, Anna Kouba, Anderson, Jones, Erickson, Georges, Hahn DNF, Joseph Kouba DNF, Nickel DNF, Becker DNF, Jimmy Kouba DNF, Anderson DNF, Richert DNS, Luks DNS.

Lap Leaders: Anderson 1-2, Barickman 3-10, Joseph Kouba 11-13, Barickman 14-15.
(7) cautions.
GRP Motorsports/BP Trading Company Rookie of the Race: Anna Kouba
GRP Motorsports/BP Trading Company Rookie Standings: Andy Jones, Ronnie Erickson, Anna Kouba, Blake Anderson, Jared Georges, Mark Yetter.

Photo courtesy of Stan Meissner: Brad Barickman UMMS Win at Kopellah May 28

Back to News