Rapid Speedway fans witness Arends, Christensen, Gulbrandson drive to winner's circle

Colton Arends won the American Racer USRA Stock Car main event.

Colton Arends won the American Racer USRA Stock Car main event.


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, mechanics race and Back Row Challenge on the evening.

The Mensink Racing Products USRA Hobby Stocks presented by Sybesma Graphics 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 two "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 payday.

“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 was Gulbrandson’s second win of the season at Rapid Speedway.

Todd Uhl and Tyler Schlumbohm got by Brady in the closing laps to finish second and third, respectively, and fifth was Cory Kelderman. Eric Gaul picked up 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 No. 11T machine.


Dustin Gulbrandson won the Mensink Racing Products USA Hobby Stock main event.

The USRA B-Modifieds presented by J&L RV Sales got their fourth 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.

Points leader Brock Hess made his way into second early in the race and would continue to try and keep pace with the leader all night long. The battle for third through eighth would go three- and sometimes four-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 tenth to fifth. Lyndon and Tyler Johnson as well as Trevor Tesch picked up the heat race wins.


Cole Christensen won the USRA B-Mod main event.

The final feature of the night was much anticipated. Elijah ZevenBergen had won all three 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 every car he could pass and an extra bonus if he could get the win.

With EZ starting last that would open the door for all other competitors to capitalize on the occasion and Colten Arends of Luverne, Minnesota, 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, was the main challenger to Arends on the night holding on to second, but finding himself battling with Curt Lund.

Halfway through the race with multiple cautions all eyes were on Zevenbergen as he had made his way into the top five. He moved into third with eight laps to go and with a caution with seven to go, the back row challenger had a shot. On the restart EZ would start to battle for second and got a little too low getting inside of Larson and the car got upset dropping him back to fourth as Lund got back by.

With another green-white-checkered finish on the night, Arends had to hold off Larson one last time as the No. 5L 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 finished second with Lund in third. Zevenbergen garnered a $170 bonus for coming from 21st to fourth and Trent Schroeder finished fifth. Arends, Zevenbergen and Rich Gregoire won 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 with hot laps at 7 p.m. You can find full results and upcoming events from the races at rockrapidsspeedway.com.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa
Friday, June 5, 2020

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.

AMERICAN RACER USRA STOCK CARS

Heat #1:
1. (2) 66Z Elijah Zevenbergen, Ocheyedan, Iowa
2. (7) 5L Dustin Larson, Rushmore, Minn.
3. (1) 81 Travis Vanden Top, Rock Rapids, Iowa
4. (6) 32 Justin Regnerus, Middleburg, Iowa
5. (8) 04 Roger Verdoorn, Sibley, Iowa
6. (5) 43K Josh Kelderman, Sioux Center, Iowa
7. (4) 51 Mark Sanow, Jasper, Minn.
8. (3) 81T Tanner Vanden Top, Rock Rapids, Iowa

Heat #2:
1. (1) 32X Rich Gregoire, Russell, Minn.
2. (3) 31 Trent Schroeder, Worthington, Minn.
3. (7) 14 Jason Fisher, Lakefield, Minn.
4. (5) 20K Spenser Kalass, Luverne, Minn.
5. (4) 36 Glenn Wynia, Sioux Center, Iowa
6. (6) 84L Alan Lange, Pipestone, Minn.
7. (8) 46-7 Jacob Foster, Melvin, Iowa
DNS – 84 Matt Lange, Pipestone, Minn.

Heat #3:
1. (1) 46 Colton Arends, Luverne, Minn.
2. (2) 11K Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids, Iowa
3. (3) 34K Colby Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
4. (6) 30 Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn.
5. (7) 117L Chad Lonneman, Adrian, Minn.
6. (4) 0TG Brad Te Grotenhuis, Orange City, Iowa
7. (5) 15 Brandon Ferguson, Lennox, S.D.

Feature:
1. (1) 46 Colton Arends, Luverne, Minn.
2. (10) 5L Dustin Larson, Rushmore, Minn.
3. (5) 30 Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn.
4. (21) 66Z Elijah Zevenbergen, Ocheyedan, Iowa
5. (3) 31 Trent Schroeder, Worthington, Minn.
6. (2) 14 Jason Fisher, Lakefield, Minn.
7. (9) 32X Rich Gregoire, Russell, Minn.
8. (14) 117L Chad Lonneman, Adrian, Minn.
9. (15) 43K Josh Kelderman, Sioux Center, Iowa
10. (11) 11K Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids, Iowa
11. (12) 04 Roger Verdoorn, Sibley, Iowa
12. (13) 36 Glenn Wynia, Sioux Center, Iowa
13. (7) 81 Travis Vanden Top, Rock Rapids, Iowa
14. (18) 51 Mark Sanow, Jasper, Minn.
15. (20) 46-7 Jacob Foster, Melvin, Iowa
16. (4) 32 Justin Regnerus, Middleburg, Iowa
17. (6) 34K Colby Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
18. (19) 15 Brandon Ferguson, Lennox, S.D.
19. (16) 84L Alan Lange, Pipestone, Minn.
20. (8) 20K Spenser Kalass, Luverne, Minn.
21. (17) 0TG Brad Te Grotenhuis, Orange City, Iowa
DNS – 81T Tanner Vanden Top, Rock Rapids, Iowa
DNS – 84 Matt Lange, Pipestone, Minn.

USRA B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. (1) 21T Trevor Tesch, Lennox, S.D.
2. (3) 7C Cole Christensen, Sioux Falls, S.D.
3. (4) 16 Brock Hess, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. (5) 97 Damien VanDenBerg, Renner, S.D.
5. (2) 21 Josh Van Westen, Sibley, Iowa
6. (6) 7 Aaron De Thury, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Heat #2:
1. (3) 11L Lyndon Johnson, Montrose, S.D.
2. (4) 4 Jackson Mulder, Doon, Iowa
3. (1) 21K Dave Kennedy, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. (5) 8M Kaleb Modder, George, Iowa
5. (6) 11X Quinten Johnson, Emery, S.D.
DNS – R6 Danny Myrvold, Westbrook, Minn.

Heat #3:
1. (1) 91 Tyler Johnson, Montrose, S.D.
2. (4) 20 Derek VanVeldhuizen, Rock Rapids, Iowa
3. (5) 19 Tracy Johnson, Lake Preston, S.D.
4. (2) 22T Tyler Tesch, Lennox, S.D.
5. (3) 66R Randy VanVeldhuizen, Rock Rapids, Iowa

Feature:
1. (3) 7C Cole Christensen, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. (2) 91 Tyler Johnson, Montrose, S.D.
3. (4) 16 Brock Hess, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. (8) 11L Lyndon Johnson, Montrose, S.D.
5. (10) 97 Damien VanDenBerg, Renner, S.D.
6. (7) 20 Derek VanVeldhuizen, Rock Rapids, Iowa
7. (9) 21K Dave Kennedy, Sioux Falls, S.D.
8. (16) 11X Quinten Johnson, Emery, S.D.
9. (6) 4 Jackson Mulder, Doon, Iowa
10. (11) 8M Kaleb Modder, George, Iowa
11. (13) 66R Randy VanVeldhuizen, Rock Rapids, Iowa
12. (15) 7 Aaron De Thury, Sioux Falls, S.D.
13. (5) 19 Tracy Johnson, Lake Preston, S.D.
14. (1) 21T Trevor Tesch, Lennox, S.D.
15. (14) 21 Josh Van Westen, Sibley, Iowa
16. (12) 22T Tyler Tesch, Lennox, S.D.
DNS – R6 Danny Myrvold, Westbrook, Minn.

MENSINK RACING PRODUCTS USRA HOBBY STOCKS

Heat #1:
1. (4) 11T Todd Uhl, Sheldon, Iowa
2. (3) 22 Blake Arends, Little Rock, Iowa
3. (5) 8 Levi Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. (7) S1X Rick VanderWeide, Sioux Falls, S.D.
5. (1) 81VT Dylan Vanden Top, George, Iowa
6. (2) 14S Aaron Stettnichs, Rock Rapids, Iowa
7. (6) 2* Dustin Schultz, Marshall, Minn.

Heat #2:
1. (1) 61N Nick Brady, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. (3) 23 Marty Halouska, Worthing, S.D.
3. (5) 18K Landon Krohn, Rowena, S.D.
4. (4) 81 Josh Froseth, Sioux Falls, S.D.
5. (7) 22E Eric Gaul, Rushmore, Minn.
6. (2) 88 Chad Kooiker, Rock Valley, Iowa
7. (6) 82 Dylan Fitzpatrick, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Heat #3:
1. (2) X Tyler Schlumbohm, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. (5) 4D Cory Kelderman, Hills, Minn.
3. (7) 15 Thomas Kracht, Luverne, Minn.
4. (6) 35K Brady Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
5. (3) 19 Brandon Jurrens, Rock Rapids, Iowa
6. (4) 15B Brent Van Hill, Alvord, Iowa
DNS – 7A Justin Van Otterloo, Rock Rapids, Iowa

Heat #4:
1. (1) 31 Dawson DeBoer, Little Rock, Iowa
2. (5) L82 Logan Fitzpatrick, Worthing, S.D.
3. (3) 22W Michael Weidert, Lismore, Minn.
4. (7) 17 Jaden Gannott, Marshall, Minn.
5. (6) 46-7 Tyler Glienke, Ocheyedan, Iowa
6. (2) 69 Cayden Wessels, Luverne, Minn.
DNS – 20 Travis Christensen, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Heat #5:
1. (3) 6 Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. (2) 14K Bryant Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.
3. (6) 86 Tracy Halouska, Worthing, S.D.
4. (4) 13X Alex Wiertzma, Little Rock, Iowa
5. (1) 51 Tyler Lursen, Adrian, Minn.
6. (5) 37 Jason Scott, Worthing, S.D.

"B" Feature #1:
1. (1) S1X Rick VanderWeide, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. (9) 82 Dylan Fitzpatrick, Sioux Falls, S.D.
3. (5) 22E Eric Gaul, Rushmore, Minn.
4. (4) 19 Brandon Jurrens, Rock Rapids, Iowa
5. (7) 88 Chad Kooiker, Rock Valley, Iowa
6. (3) 81VT Dylan Vanden Top, George, Iowa
7. (6) 14S Aaron Stettnichs, Rock Rapids, Iowa
8. (8) 2* Dustin Schultz, Marshall, Minn.
9. (10) 7A Justin Van Otterloo, Rock Rapids, Iowa
10. (2) 81 Josh Froseth, Sioux Falls, S.D.

"B" Feature #2:
1. (3) 13X Alex Wiertzma, Little Rock, Iowa
2. (1) 35K Brady Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
3. (5) 51 Tyler Lursen, Adrian, Minn.
4. (7) 37 Jason Scott, Worthing, S.D.
5. (2) 17 Jaden Gannott, Marshall, Minn.
6. (4) 46-7 Tyler Glienke, Ocheyedan, Iowa
7. (8) 69 Cayden Wessels, Luverne, Minn.
8. (9) 20 Travis Christensen, Sioux Falls, S.D.
DNS – 15B Brent Van Hill, Alvord, Iowa

"A" Feature:
1. (3) 6 Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. (2) 11T Todd Uhl, Sheldon, Iowa
3. (5) X Tyler Schlumbohm, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. (1) 61N Nick Brady, Sioux Falls, S.D.
5. (4) 4D Cory Kelderman, Hills, Minn.
6. (9) L82 Logan Fitzpatrick, Worthing, S.D.
7. (11) 8 Levi Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.
8. (7) 22 Blake Arends, Little Rock, Iowa
9. (15) 86 Tracy Halouska, Worthing, S.D.
10. (20) 22E Eric Gaul, Rushmore, Minn.
11. (6) 23 Marty Halouska, Worthing, S.D.
12. (8) 14K Bryant Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.
13. (17) 13X Alex Wiertzma, Little Rock, Iowa
14. (12) 18K Landon Krohn, Rowena, S.D.
15. (18) 82 Dylan Fitzpatrick, Sioux Falls, S.D.
16. (19) 35K Brady Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
17. (14) 22W Michael Weidert, Lismore, Minn.
18. (16) S1X Rick VanderWeide, Sioux Falls, S.D.
19. (13) 15 Thomas Kracht, Luverne, Minn.
20. (10) 31 Dawson DeBoer, Little Rock, Iowa
DNS – 51 Tyler Lursen, Adrian, Minn.