SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (June 22, 2002) - A very warm and humid day greeted the Joe Kouba Racing team at the arrival to Deer Creek Speedway. The speedway was hosting it's first show of sprints, and it was set for a good night of racing. 21 sprinters showed up for the show. Amongst them, defending 2001 Wissota Champion Jimmy Kouba (#2K), Langerud (#56), Roger Rager (#6), Swenson (#X), Richert Jr. (#62), and Joseph Kouba (#74). As usual a strong field with plenty of fast sprinters. It was to be an “inaugural” sprint car show for the Deer Creek Speedway, not having raced sprint cars in recent years.

Joe was slated to start inside 2nd row for the 10 laps of the 2nd heat race. When the green flag flew, it seemed Joe was tapped slightly on the bumper by the #X. However, Joe came out of turn 2 to find himself in the 5th spot. It turned out to be a good heat race. Joe held his 5th spot as the laps winded down. Lap 7 came, and the #29W of Gary Walton spun out in turn 2. Turn 2 and 4 was going to turn into the tricky parts of the racetrack Saturday night, being treacherous to even the most routined drivers on the circuit. The restart came, and by lap 9, Joe almost had 4th place at the line, but couldn't quite get the run he needed. Thus taking the checkered in the heat race in 5th spot. Both brother Jimmy Kouba (#2K), and Son Joseph Kouba (#74) did well in their heat races. Both capturing 3rd in their heats.

The top 2 of each heat was to run in the Dash for Cash. Our good friend Jerry Richert Jr. of the #62, went and won the dash! Great job, Sonny!!

Feature:

The feature was going to be an eventful main event of the night, as 21 sprinters took the very slick 3/8's mile long track after quite a wait in the staging area. Up front: Jimmy Kouba (#2K) had the pole. Joseph had the outside 3 row spot, and Joe found himself outside 7th row for the start.

The green flag flew and Joe found himself 15th as the sprinters came thundering out of turn 4 on lap 1. The very slick track of the evening proved to be a challenge to may drivers. On lap 4, the yellow #97 of Alan Gilbertson gets tangled up with Joe in the middle of turn 1 and 2. Something that caused the entire Kouba Clan' to jump up on their feet. It is very, very unusual to see Joe sitting still on the track after the race has started. However, Joe got his sprinter checked for damage by friend Chuck Priefer who drove one of the push trucks Saturday night. And with the "thumbs up" he was push started again and back into 14th spot. The #97 team has had trouble staying rubber side down and out of trouble this season, and Saturday night was no different. The restart came, and Joe picked up another spot the following lap. One more lap goes by, and Joe found himself in 12th coming to the line for lap 6.

At times it looked more like bumper cars then sprint cars. And Joe seemingly got tapped ever so slightly in turn 4 by the #105 of Mike Sargent. Joe kept going, but the #105 spun and subsequently caused a yellow. On the restart we found brother Jimmy Kouba (#2K) hanging on to 2nd place. With Jerry Richert Jr. of the #62 in 4th. The restart comes, and we find the #82 & #85 spun in turn 4 causing another yellow. After the restart, Jimmy got passed the yellow #X of Swenson for the lead. 1 lap later Joe has acquired 8th spot.

Lap 11: #56 of Langerud & #29W of Walton have trouble coming into turn 1, and both sprinters tap the wall hard. Langerud's #56 sprinter is out of the race. The restart flies, and another yellow flies. This time both #91 & #29W gets towed back to their pits. The restart comes and Joe is still in 8th place, with brother Jimmy Kouba (#2K), leading the pack. As lap 13 comes and goes, Joe had taken yet another spot. Now in 7th, as we see the #97 of Gilbertson head off the track for the night. Lap 15: Joe is racing hard, and nearly took the 6th spot.

Lap 16:Mr. Sprint Car racing himself, Roger Rager (#6), got very high up in turn 2. The slick track proved to be just a tad too slick even for Rager, and he subsequently spins causing yet another yellow. At this point several crew's are getting slightly concerned about the amount of fuel left in the sprinters. Although a good job was done by the track crew, the yellows where long and we had seen many more caution laps then usual. The question on many minds: Will we have enough fuel to finish the race?

As the restart comes, the race had been shortened. Namely because of fuel concerns. We had 5 to go at this point. However, not even 1 lap is completed before we see 3 cars slide up the track in turn 3 to cause another yellow. Gene Kelly (#22) & Roger Rager (#6) being one of the sprinters involved.

Restart 5 to go: Jimmy is in the lead. Joe holding on to 7th. 4 laps to go: The #85 slips by Joe on the inside in turn 2. However, Joe responded right away by taking 7th back. 3 to go: Brother Jimmy (#2K) is still in the lead, Joe running 7th. 2 to go: Joe 7th and brother Jimmy (#2K) in the lead.

The boys held their positions, for the checkered. Joe finished up a good race with 7th place. Brother & Jimmy Kouba (#2K), took home the win in front of a "home town crowd"! Congratulations, Jimmy. Great run!