From Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
Ogilvie, MN — (October 24, 2015) — About a month before the Topless Nationals at the Ogilvie Raceway was scheduled to run, Jeremy Kerzman called UMSS Media Director Greg Parent and asked if the Traditional sprints could be added to the program. It was only fitting that the driver from Grey Eagle, Minnesota picked up his first career Traditional Sprint Car Series victory at the Big O on Saturday night October 24 during the running of the 5th Annual Topless Nationals. Kerzman came from his fourth starting spot up to second three laps into the race, and then made the winning pass of race leader Mike Mueller coming off turn two down the back stretch on lap 11. Although Mueller stayed closed, Kerzman drove to the win and celebrated his first “topless” sprint car feature win in Rock Auto Victory Lane along with his crew chief Ronnie Wuiff.
The Traditional sprints certainly fit right into the theme of the Topless Nationals, as the event was a late addition to the 2015 schedule. With the points championship already determined back in September at the Richert Memorial, the Topless Nationals race would be a non-point show but a fully sanctioned UMSS event. The series returned to Ogilvie for the first time since its inaugural season in 2011 when they ran twice at the Big O.
Although the Traditional sprints were only scheduled for the final night at the Topless Nationals, rain nixed the scheduled Friday night portion of the event for the other seven divisions on the program. Reduced to a one-day show on Saturday, the sun shown during the afternoon with seasonal temperatures. A huge field of 191 cars descended upon the Big O, as the pit area overflowed into the parking lot with race haulers. It would make for a long afternoon and evening of racing action at the big 3/8ths mile dirt oval, but the large crowd on hand certainly saw plenty of variety amongst the eight classes in action with some good racing taking place.
The Traditional sprints ran their usual format with Kerzman and Mike Walters winning the heat races. The top four drivers in passing and finishing points redrew for the top four starting spots in the main event. Walters drew the pole with Mueller outside of him. Scott Brandt and Kerzman sat in row 2 for the 20 lap feature. At the drop of the green, Mueller, who was looking for his first win of the season, got the advantage over Walters for the lead. Kerzman moved up to second on lap 3 and began looking for a way around Mueller. Kerzman was running up top on the cushion in turns 1 & 2, but at the opposite end, the bottom line was the quicker way around in turns 3 & 4. Making the winning pass on lap 11 flying off the top side of turn two, Kerzman led the remaining 10 laps for the victory. Mueller stayed close during the last half of the race but was unable to mount a real serious bid to regain the top spot. Mike Walters finished third behind the lead duo with 2015 TSCS Champion Rob Caho, Jr. and Brian VanMeveren rounding out the top five. Brandt, rookie Ty Sampair, Jori Hughes, Doug Taubert and Sid Denzer completed the top ten. The Traditional sprints ran all 36 laps (heats and feature) during the night caution-free.
With the late addition of the Topless Nationals in the books, the 2015 racing season officially concluded for this popular non-winged sprint division. Kerzman, who had previous winged sprint car racing experience, jumped into a Traditional sprint part way through the season when he purchased the car from Jim Goerges. A smiling Kerzman stated after the race that he was going to purchase a new Ron Olson race motor for the 2016 season and looked forward to more trips to victory lane next season.
UMSS Traditional Sprint Race Results, Ogilvie Raceway, October 24, 2015 (Race #25):
5th Annual Topless Nationals
GRP Motorsports A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 3K-Jeremy Kerzman[4]; 2. 87-Mike Mueller[2]; 3. 27-Mike Walters[1]; 4. 78-Rob Caho Jr[8]; 5. 24-Brian Vanmeveren[6]; 6. 7B-Scott Brandt[3]; 7. N1-Ty Sampair[7]; 8. 21J-Jori Hughes[5]; 9. 31-Doug Taubert[10]; 10. 73-Sid Denzer[11]; 11. (DNF) 69S-Jon Lewerer[9].
Lap Leaders: Mueller 1-10, Kerzman 11-20.
No cautions.
Meeks Video Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 3K-Jeremy Kerzman[6]; 2. 87-Mike Mueller[1]; 3. 24-Brian Vanmeveren[2]; 4. 78-Rob Caho Jr[4]; 5. 69S-Jon Lewerer[5]; 6. 31-Doug Taubert[3].
Lap Leaders: Mueller 1-3, Kerzman 4-8.
No cautions.
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 27-Mike Walters[2]; 2. 7B-Scott Brandt[3]; 3. 21J-Jori Hughes[4]; 4. N1-Ty Sampair[5]; 5. 73-Sid Denzer[1].
Lap Leaders: Walters 1-8.