By: Greg Parent
The Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) is pleased to announce an added bonus will be in effect when the series makes its first appearance in a co-sanctioned event with the IMCA at Arlington Raceway on Saturday May 29. GRP Motorsports will be offering a $200 bonus to the highest finishing UMSS driver as well as another $200 bonus to the highest finishing IMCA driver in the feature race. UMSS President Ron Bernhagen stated, “this is just another way that GRP lends his assistance to our series and the sport here in our area. I know the drivers will appreciate it.”
When asked to comment on the bonus, Greg Parent (GRP) indicated that he wanted to be fair to both the UMSS and IMCA drivers, so a bonus will be in effect for each group. “I know our new affiliation with the IMCA this year has already allowed a few drivers to race with each group, but I am certain we will have no problems identifying which driver earns each bonus,” stated Greg. “This will give the UMSS drivers and the Arlington IMCA regulars a little extra money if they happen to be the highest finisher respectively,” continued Greg. It is quite likely that the feature winner will be one of the bonus recipients unless that driver is not a UMSS or IMCA regular competitor. A strong field of cars is expected at each event that weekend.
After the weather claimed three straight scheduled UMSS races on April 24 at Cedar Lake Speedway, April 30 at Kopellah Speedway, and again on May 7 at Kopellah, the series will take a few weeks off and return to action at Kopellah Speedway on Friday May 28. The double-header weekend continues at the Arlington Raceway on Saturday May 29 with the first combined show of the season with the IMCA sprints. Another double-header weekend is planned for Friday June 4 at Kopellah with the feature paying $1,000 to win that night thanks to some help from GRP, and the popular Kouba Memorial rounds out the weekend on Saturday June 5 at the North Central Speedway near Brainerd. Typically the Kouba family does a great job for the Kouba Memorial in securing additional money for the purse.
The UMSS is a value-based sprint car organization bringing open wheel racing back to the Twin Cities area of Minnesota by establishing reasonable rules for the participant, an economical purse structure for the race tracks, and an affordable race ticket and fan-friendly program for the race fan. For more information on the UMSS, please visit our website at www.umsprints.com or call series President Ron Bernhagen at 612-363-5302.
Upcoming UMSS Schedule (May & June):
May 28 – Kopellah Speedway
May 29 – Arlington Raceway (with IMCA sprints)
June 4 – Kopellah Speedway ($1,000 to win)
June 5 – North Central Speedway (Kouba Memorial)
June 11 – Kopellah Speedway (with Micro Sprint League)
June 25 – Kopellah Speedway
June 26 – Ogilvie Raceway
Note: The Micro Sprint League May 7 rain out is rescheduled for May 21 at Kopellah. The UMSS May 7 rain out will not be rescheduled.