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Kroon, Gulbrandson, Christiansen, and Arends Grab Rocky Wins with Fans in Attendance

For the first time this season Rapid Speedway was able to welcome race fans back into the grandstands at 50% capacity and the fans responded. The stands were just shy of the 50% mark and made for a great sound echoing back out over the track as they cheered on their favorite drivers. They were treated to a Hobby Stock Special, a Mechanics Race, and a Back Row Challenge on the Evening.
Feature action started as always with the Lems Auto Recyclers Sportsmans class and Bill Kroon became the first repeat winner in the class Friday night. Kroon lead from the get go with Brian Kroon chasing right behind him. After a caution on lap 4 Brian thought he had enough of a run on his dad to get by as he dipped low in turns 1 & 2, but no, Bill was able to pull away off of two and put some distance between the two Rock Rapids drivers. On the last lap Bill had all kinds of pressure on his back bumper from Brian, as well as Marni DeBoer. Heading into corner 1 Marni got too high and went off the track while Brian stayed in contention, but could never get by. “I knew they were there,” said Kroon in victory lane. Brian would finish 2nd followed by Gerold Steenhoven, Tyler Bradley, and Leon Sneller. Bradley and Deboer were the heat race winners.
The Sybesma Graphics Hobby Stocks were the featured class of the night and once again saw a full field as there totals climb over the 30 car mark again this season setting up 2 B features once again before setting the main event field of 20. Nick Brady of Sioux Falls took the early race lead with Todd Uhl and Dustin Gulbrandson in tow. Those three would battle for the lead all the way to the half way point where Guldbrandson would have sole possession of 2nd and start his challenge of the leader. Finally, on lap 10 Gulbrandson would be able to get by Brady for the lead and race his way to the checkers. In a 15 lap non-stop event there would be great battles throughout, but Gulbrandson was the big winner taking home a $500 pay day. “Over the years I’ve had to learn to go where the other guys weren’t and we were able to make it work tonight,” were the words from the Sioux Falls driver. It would be Gulbrandson’s 2nd win of the season at Rapid Speedway. Todd Uhl and Tyler Schlumbohm would get by Brady in the closing laps to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively, and the top 5 would go to Cory Kelderman. Eric Gaul would pick of the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger award coming from 20th to 10th. B features were won by Rick VanderWeide and Alex Wiertzema while went to Uhl, Schlumbohm, Brady, Guldbrandson, and Dawson DeBoer. Elroy Sybesma Won the Special Mechanics Race at the end of the night in Todd Uhl’s 11T Machine.
The J&L RV Sales B-Modifieds would get their 4th different winner in as many weeks, this time going to a young driver out of Sioux Falls. Cole Christensen got a great jump from row two on the initial start pulling even down the front stretch and taking the lead into the first corner. Point leader Brock Hess made his way into 2nd early in the race and would continue to try and keep pace with the leader all night long. The battle for 3rd through 8th would go 3 and sometimes 4 wide as drivers jockeyed for position. With a green, white, checkered finish after a late caution, Christensen looked like an old pro outlasting the challenges behind him and grabbing his first win of the season. “I was nervous the whole race, and on that last caution they said the 16 was behind me, I REALLY got nervous and didn’t want to screw up,” Christensen expressed in victory lane. Tyler Johnson made a late charge and snagged the runner-up spot away from Hess with Lyndon Johnson fourth and Damien Vandenberg charging from 10th to 5th. Lyndon and Tyler Johnson as well as Trevor Tesch picked up the heat race wins.
The final feature of the night was much anticipated. Elijah ZevenBergen had won all 3 features so far at Rapid Speedway, and coming into the night EZ had accepted a Back Row Challenge to start last on the field in 21st position. He would receive $10 for ever car head could pass and an extra bonus if he could get the win. Well, with EZ starting last that would open the door for all other competitors to capitalize on the occasion and Colten Arends of Luverne, MN did just that. He took the pole position and ran to the lead on the opening lap and with the track wearing out late in the night the bottom was the place to be. All drivers were tight around the bottom on the raceway trying to stick their noses in and nudge the other out of the way to try and gain a position. Dustin Larson trying to change his bad luck so far this year would be the main challenger to Arends on the night holding on to second, but finding himself battling with Curt Lund of Redwood Falls, MN. Halfway through the race with multiple cautions all eyes were on Zevenbergen as he had made his way into the top 5. He moved into 3rd with 8 laps to go and with a caution with 7 to go, the back row challenger had a shot. On the restart EZ would start to battle for 2nd and got a little too low getting inside of Larson and the car got upset dropping him back to fourth as Lund would get back by. With another green, white, checkered finish on the night Arends would have to hold off Larson one last time as the 5L would put his front bumper right on the back bumper, but Arends was never rattled and took home his first win of the season. “Oh man, I’m just glad we won, those guys are good and I’m just glad we did it,” said Arends. Larson would finish 2nd, with Lund in 3rd, Zevenbergen would garner a $170 bonus for coming from 21st to 4th and Trent Schroeder would finish 5th. Arends, Zevenbergen, and Rich Gregoire would win the heats.
Another great night of racing next Friday night as Rapid Speedway welcomes the Mark Llyod Memorial welcomes the Late Model Street Stock Touring Series with bonus money in every class. Hot Laps at 7.

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