NASCAR Driver Sets Record For Second Time

(The following is a release from Raceway Park in Shakopee.)

With the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Championships scheduled for this coming Sunday night at in Shakopee, NASCAR Super Late Model driver Chad Walen must have wanted to put an exclaimation point on his successful season. 

Back on June 3, . This past Sunday night he did it again, breaking his former effort with a record qualifying time of 13.466. Its rare for a track record to be set twice during one season, especially by the same driver, and Walen carried that momentum into the feature action.

It was Crystal's Jerry Ziemiecki and Tom Quade of Bloomington on the pole for the NASCAR Super Late Model Feature, but it didn't take long for Walen, who started in the second row, to move past the top two and take the point. After a caution 9 laps into the run, lane choice placed Bryan Roach of Goodhue next to the Prior Lake driver. Walen was able to stay just ahead of Roach for the next several laps, until a second caution with 16 laps to go placed both drivers side by side once again for the restart.

The battle resumed between the two drivers, until Walen was able to lock in the top spot down the back straight with 12 laps remaining as Roach was overtaken by Carver's Jacob Goede.  At the checkers it was Walen bringing in his 13th feature win of the season, followed by Goede in second, Roach a close third, and Bloomington's Mark Lamereaux crossing in fourth place.

The American Short Tracker Feature began with Hastings driver Mike Dimmick starting along side  Jeremy Roche of New Prague. One lap into the run, caution slowed the field as Rich Springborn of Lake Elmo blew a tire entering turn two, sending his car spinning into the infield grass and throwing dirt up onto the racing surface. Lane choice placed Farmington's Todd Kamish next to Dimmick, and Kamish didn't waste time edging into the lead at the restart. The top 2 pulled away with 11 laps to go as Prior Lake driver Charlie Pehrson moved to third after a 3-way battle with Roche and Matt Schaar of Hastings. With Pehrson starting to reel in the leaders, Roche and Scharr continued their side by side run for fourth place until 6 to go, when Schaar finally cleared into the position. At the line it was Kamish with the win, Dimmick in second, and Pehrson taking third.

In additional racing action, fast passing and side by side racing dominated the Hobby Stock feature, with Brent "The Freight Train" Kane of Lonsdale taking the feature win,  followed in second by Jacob Goede of Carver after making the switch to his Hobby Stock ride from his Super Late Model. Chaska's Jeremy Wolff charged in for a third place finish following an exciting feature run.

Wild'n'Crazy Figure-8 action kept fans going full speed in both features, with plenty of excitement in the "Crossroads of Doom" beginning early and continuing throughout both runs. In race number one, Ricky Martin of Farmington started outside the front row, and immediatelty went to the point, staying ahead of the group and narrowly missing the traffic crossing in the "X" in route to the checkers. It was Martin with the win, Dennis "The Menace" Barta of Richfield in second, and Bloomington's Mike Dickey taking third.

In the second feature, Burnsville driver Todd Wilson started on the pole into an early lead, despite an opening lap caution as multiple cars made contact in both turns sending drivers spinning all over the circuit.  "Big Kidz Racing" dominated the restart as Wilson was joined by team mate Mark Bronstad of Maple Plain, and the two drivers stayed together through the remaining laps in a charge to the checkered flag.  It was Wilson with the win, Bronstad in second, and Shakopee's John Lebens taking third.  In this second feature, Ricky Martin had a tougher challenge, starting this race at the very back of the pack.  He powered his machine up to 5th place before laps ran out.

The Mini Stock feature turned into a competition showcase for Bloomington driver Jack Purcell and Todd Tacheny of Mankato.  Purcell started on the pole and lead the race early.  With 15 laps to go, as the leaders stated to move through slower traffic, the caution flew as Tyler Christensen of Bloomington got together with Burnsville's Rylee Michaelson, sending both cars spinning on the back straight.  Lane choice placed Tacheny next to Purcell, and when the green waved, the chase was on. Both drivers stayed side by side for the lead, exchanging the top spot multiple times each lap, but Tacheny was ahead where it matters, staying inches ahead of Purcell every time the cars crossed the line as the laps clicked down. It was Tacheny with the win, Purcell a tight second, and Shakopee racer Brandon Plekkenpol crossing in third.

The Bomber division started out in favor of Greg Michaud of Maple Grove, who's had a great run of racing over the past few weeks. Starting on the pole, Michaud took the lead early, staying ahead of the pack until a caution with 15 laps to go placed him along side 2011 Bomber Champion Justin Kotchever of Jordan at the restart. This time, the Maple Grove driver couldn't power back to the lead, as Kotchever stayed just ahead of Michaud before moving forward for the win.  Michaud settled for a second place finish, with Shakopee's Mike Stoer in third.

For information on upcoming races, visit goracewaypark.com or call (952)-445-2257. The 2012 motorsports season is ending soon.