Cooler temps don’t stop crowd or competitors at Rapid Speedway

  • May 7, 2021
  • by Joel Vis
Tyler Schlumbohm won the Mensink Racing Products USRA Hobby Stock main event.

Tyler Schlumbohm won the Mensink Racing Products USRA Hobby Stock main event.


The temperature was a little chilly Friday night, but the protection of the historic covered grandstands at the Rapid Speedway protected the fans. Engines from the 109 race cars kept the action on the track hot.

The Mensink Racing Products USRA Hobby Stocks saw a group of hard chargers put on a show for the fans as Tyler Schlumbohm came from 12th to win the event.

Eric Gaul of Luverne grabbed the early lead, but a loose wheel went flying off his car and eliminated him from the race early.

From there, last week’s winner Dylan Fitzpatrick inherited the lead and looked to be headed for a second straight victory, but more bad luck for the leader showed it’s face as he fell victim to a flat left front tire.

After the restart, Tyler Schlumbohm worked his way to the front followed by defending champion Dustin Gulbrandson from 11th and Tracey Halouska from 10th, while Levi Vander Weide charged from 13th to take fourth. Doug Brinkhouse rounded out the top five.

The USRA B-Mods kept the action happening as it became slide job city with Tyler Johnson and Anthony Roth. The two drivers swapped the lead in each corner, sliding up in front of the other every other corner.

Finally Roth captured the lead for good and pulled away for what looked like his first win at Rapid Speedway, but the Columbus, Nebraska, driver failed post-race tech and the victory was given to Johnson.

Last week’s winner, Jackson Mulder, grabbed runner-up honors ahead of Devon Schlumbohm, Tyler Tesch and Clint Erickson.

The Medieval USRA Stock Cars produced the first repeat winner of the year as Chad Overgaard once again used the high line to drive his way to victory lane.

Austin Brands held the early lead and the Boyden rookie had to hold off heavy pressure from from Chad Lonneman, Dustin Gulbrandson and Overgaard.

As Overgaard assumed the lead the battle behind him stayed intense as Gulbrandson grabbed second followed by Colton Arends in third. Darrin Korthals and Lonneman rounded out the top five.

Rapid Speedway returns to action Friday, May 14, with the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring Medieval USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and Mensink Racing Products USRA Hobby Stocks, plus the Good Old Time Racing Association (GOTRA) vintage cars on hand.