By Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
Brainerd, MN
(6-11-11)
For the third time during their inaugural season, the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series (TSCS) raced an exhibition-style program which produced the third different winner. At the North Central Speedway in Brainerd on Saturday night June 11, it was young Jalen Morris of Elk River defeating racing veteran Johnny Parsons III of Owatonna in a nonstop feature race. Morris led the entire distance on the 1/3 mile oval from his front row starting spot.
Six TSCS non-winged sprint cars were on hand, as the upstart series continues to generate interest. Opening night winner Kevin Bradwell won the eight lap exhibition heat race over Reactor Racing teammates Tommy Kamrath of Maplewood and Johnny Parsons III. Morris finished fourth in the heat, but an invert for the feature race put him outside row one.
Morris, making his third start in a non-winged sprint car and fourth start ever in his young career, immediately bolted into the lead at the drop of the green for the 12 lap exhibition feature. Positions behind Morris swapped around a few times with Parsons eventually settling into second. Parsons slowly began closing the distance on the leader, but Morris was able to maintain his lead throughout the race. Commenting after his victory, Morris stated “Be sure and make mention that this young gun beat the veterans tonight. I’m pumped up about getting my first win. I can’t wait until we race again.” All six cars finished the feature. Finishing behind race winner Morris was Parsons, Bradwell, Kamrath, series engine builder and sponsor Travis Jehlicka of Mora in Jeff Pellersels car, and newcomer Adam Taubert from Mora. With Taubert’s car, there have now been eight different cars at the first three shows with more cars still under construction. Stated UMSS series CDO Ron Bernhagen, “It’s possible we could see about twelve different cars by the end of the season. This deal is taking shape and gaining momentum. There have been a lot of inquiries as to rules and cost to put one of these together. With motors around $4,500, it is about as economical as it can get. We have something here.”
The next race for the TSCS series is scheduled for the Cedar Lake Speedway on Friday July 8, as the series will run with the World of Outlaws that night. With the sale of Kopellah Speedway slated to take place on June 28 and the season at that track scheduled to get underway on July 22, the TSCS cars will have a weekly Friday night track to race at. Traditional sprint car fans can follow the growth of the UMSS TSCS series throughout the course of its initial season on the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com by clicking on the blue logo to enter the TSCS home page. TSCS news and results will also be on the UMSS Facebook page and highlighted in the free UMSS Report newsletter available at each event. With more cars expected to be out soon and a great deal of interest being generated, the outlook for this new series is bright.
UMSS TSCS Race Results – North Central Speedway June 11, 2011 (Race #3):
SprintSource.com Ultimate Exhibition Race #1 (8 laps): Kevin Bradwell Luck, WI, Tommy Kamrath, Maplewood MN, Johnny Parsons III, Owatonna MN, Jalen Morris, Elk River MN, Travis Jehlicka, Mora MN, Adam Taubert, Mora MN.
Mora Motorworks Exhibition A Main (12 laps): Morris, Parsons, Bradwell, Kamrath, Jehlicka, Taubert.
Lap Leader: Morris 1-12.
No cautions.