Home Page

 Article From the UMSS Focebook Page!!
********************************************************************************
Elko Canceled for May 3-4:
Mother Nature claims two more...with the forecast for the remainder of the week predicted to be cold and wet, Elko Speedway decided to pull the plug early and cancel the Spring Dirt Nationals. Unable to properly prepare the racing surface with cold, wet conditions and with little chance to draw much of a crowd, it's really the only decision track promoters can make given the adverse weather we've encountered so far this spring

*****************************************************************
Past Weekend Update:

4/29/13
We decided in the middle of the week to head out the the season opening at I-90 Speedway in Hartford, SD due to the UMSS opener being CANCELED. We pulled into the pits about 4:00 and draw a 7 which put us on the pole of the 3rd heat, 17 cars signed in for the season opener. Hots laps were extremely dry due to the crew not wanting to put too much water on the already soft track. In the heat I spun the tires on the start allowing the outside car to jump to the lead and me falling into second. Two laps into the heat race my motor dropped a cylinder, but I continued on and on lap 5 pass the leader and went on to win the heat race. When I got back to the pits the crew pull the value cover and seen we broke a lifter. With the risk of hurting the motor we loaded up and called it a weekend. Hoping for a better weekend this weekend at Elko.
************************************************************************************4/20/2013

Weather Forces UMSS To Push Back Season Openers

Adverse weather throughout the month of April with continued rain and snowfall have forced the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) to push back the season opening weekend for all divisions to May 3-4. Ron Bernhagen, UMSS CDO and co-owner of the St. Croix Valley Raceway (SCVR), had remained optimistic early in April, but as the cold/wet weather continued day after day, it soon became apparent that the season opener scheduled for all three UMSS divisions on April 26 at SCVR would not be possible. "We have not had any opportunity to dry out and get on the track," stated Bernhagen. "The Cedar Lake Speedway, just 30 minutes south of us, would also be in the same predicament. There is no way we can prepare an adequate racing surface for sprint cars and dry out the pit area in time to hold races on the last weekend in April," continued Bernhagen.

With the originally scheduled April 26-27 opening weekend for the UMSS scrapped due to the weather, the UMSS winged sprint division will kick off their season on Friday night May 3 and Saturday night May 4 at the Elko Speedway with the 2nd Annual Spring Dirt Nationals. Bernhagen, who was in contact with Elko Speedway owner Tom Ryan this past week, indicated that Elko only needs a few days of decent weather leading up to their May 3-4 weekend in order to get their track into racing condition. The temporary dirt surface in addtion to the concrete and blacktop pit area and infield gives Elko a big advantage over the regular dirt tracks here in our area this spring.

The May 3 Elko feature pays $1,000 to win while the May 4 feature pays $1,500 to win. There is a $500 Clean Sweep Bonus in effect from GRP Motorsports if one driver is able to win both UMSS features on opening weekend at Elko. The Saturday night Elko race is a Minnesota Mafia Point Fund event and will also kick off the eleven race MN Mafia Point Fund season schedule. With the first two planned UMSS races at SCVR and CLS falling victim to the weather, the Minnesota Mafia announced that the Open Wheel Nationals scheduled for June 28-29 at the St. Croix Valley Raceway will now be Minnesota Mafia Point Fund races. Further details on the 2nd Annual Open Wheel Nationals will be released soon.

In addition to the Clean Sweep Bonus on opening weekend at Elko, GRP Motorsports will also pay a $100 UMSS Past Point Champion bonus each night to the highest finisher in the feature event amongst previous UMSS point champions. Drivers who are eligible for this bonus are Leigh Thomas (2009), Cody Hahn (2010) and Jerry Richert, Jr. (2001 & 2012). GRP Motorsports will also pay out a $100 UMSS Hard Charger Award each night to the driver who advances the most positions in the A Feature. UMSS drivers who finished in the top 25 in the final 2012 season point standings are eligible for this bonus. The season opening weekend at Elko should be a great way to kick off the UMSS season, as many fans and drivers are anxious to go racing given the extremely poor weather in April.

The UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series (TSCS) will attempt to get their 2013 season underway at the St. Croix Valley Raceway on Friday night May 3 along with the UMSS Micro sprints. SCVR will try and lift the lid on their season one week later than planned with all of their regular Friday night divisions on the program. The TSCS non-winged sprints will then head south on Friday May 10 for a show at the Elko Speedway, as they have the opportunity to be the support division for the much-anticipated first-ever appearance by the World of Outlaws 410 winged sprints at Elko. The following night May 11 will see the TSCS sprints and UMSS micros on the program at SCVR for the first of two Bullring Blast programs featuring the WISSOTA late models and open wheel modifieds. The month of May certainly has several big events in the first two weeks to provide race fans with some exciting sprint car racing action.

With many race teams and fans waiting for the season to get underway, area race tracks and racing series are hoping that the month of May and the remainder of the season will see greatly improved conditions for racing. Check out the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com or their Facebook page to see where the popular sprint car series has events scheduled during the 2013 racing season or to keep tabs on how your favorite UMSS driver is doing. You can also contact series President/CDO Ron Bernhagen at 612-363-5302 for questions regarding any of the three UMSS racing divisions.

Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director

*************************************************
The Folkens Brorothers Spring Nationals

make-up date has been set for

Saturday May 18th, 2013

Picking make-up dates can be pretty tough, as we are always trying to work with area tracks and series to stay off of others specials, etc.  I know some in the Jackson Speedway Community would have like to see this race made up on Friday, June 28th. 

But in the end we felt we needed to stay off of this date because the UMSS has a race on this night.  With the New MN Mafia Series co sanctioning events with both series and with the Folkens Brothers Spring Sprint Car Nationals being by far and away the biggest race of the newly formed MN MAFIA series we felt it would be in the best interest of the MN Mafia, Jackson Speedway and the UMSS to pick a weekend that the UMSS has open.

The First MN Mafia Races will now be at ELKO Speedway on May 3rd and 4th.  This is a very nice facility and we encourage all of race teams and fans to check it out on these dates.  360 Sprint Racers - For these races we are running under the UMSS Rules which will have the SC-25 Tire on the RR; the RC-1 or D-12 on the LR and the Injection Stacks of 1-7/8".  This should be a really big weekend of racing.  See the Upper Mid-west Sprint Car Groups web-site for more details by Clicking Here.

Copied from: www.jacksonspeedway.com*****************************************************************************************************
The cars are starting to take shape!!



*******************************************************************
Graf Motorsports to Run for UMSS Championship.
Chris Graf and the #20G Graf Motorsports is proud to announce that we will be running for the 2013 UMSS Championship. Click on the Schedule/Results Tab to see the whole 2013 schedule. Continue to stop back for news and pictures of the 2013 cars!!!

 

**************************************************************************************
UMSS Sets 2012 Awards Banquet

by Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 11:26pm Hampton Inn-Shoreview To Host 2012 UMSS Awards Banquet
By: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director 

The Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) has set the date for their annual awards banquet to celebrate and honor the top drivers from the 2012 winged and traditional sprint car series season in addition to the inaugural micro sprint champion.  The 2012 UMSS awards banquet will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the Hampton Inn & Green Mill restaurant and bar located at 1000 Gramsie Road in Shoreview, Minnesota at the intersection of I-694 and Lexington Avenue North.  Activities will begin with a social hour from 5:00-6:00pm.  A cash bar will be available all evening.  A buffet dinner will be served from 6:00-7:30pm.  The awards ceremony will take place from 7:30-9:00pm.  The banquet room has three large screens where videos and photo highlights from the 2012 season will cycle through during the course of the evening.

The cost of the banquet is $30 per adult, children 6-15 are $15, and under 6 are free.  Tickets need be purchased by January 5, 2013 by contacting series head Ron Bernhagen at 612-363-5302.  Driving directions and other information about the Hampton Inn can be found on their website at http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/minnesota/hampton-inn-minneapolis-st-paul-north-MSPSVHX/index.html or by calling them at 651-482-0402.  The UMSS encourages race teams and fans to come out and make this an enjoyable family weekend.  The Hampton Inn has an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and video arcade.

Rooms have been set aside at the Hampton Inn under the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series name.  The rate for Saturday night for a room with two (2) queen-size beds is $89.00 or a single room with (1) king-size bed is $69.00 plus tax.  Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 651-482-0402 and mentioning the UMSS banquet room rate.  The cut-off date for reserving a room under the UMSS banquet rate is December 19, 2012.

The Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series looks forward to seeing many sprint car drivers, teams and fans at their fourth annual banquet on Saturday, January 19, 2013.  Sprint car race fans are especially encouraged to attend the banquet.  The UMSS has completed four successful seasons of winged sprint car racing, two seasons with the popular traditional non-winged sprint cars, and the first season for the micro sprints.  The UMSS continues to generate interest in sprint car and micro sprint racing, as they build and grow the sport near the Twin Cities and surrounding areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Please visit the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com or check out the UMSS Facebook page for information about this exciting series and the opportunities that are available for participants, sponsors and fans.

Welcome to the Hampton Inn Minneapolis-St. Paul North Hotel located in Shoreview, MN

 

 

 

 

 

 
***************************************************************************************************** THANK YOU!!!!
Well The 2012 race season has came to an end for the Graf Motorsports Pacific Equipment #20G. We ended up winning 4 feature and ended up 2nd in UMSS points, overall happy with the second half on the season after struggling the first half. I would like to thank all of are sponsors: Pacific Equipment, Randy Grages, Dairy Queen of Glencoe, Edward Jones (Arly Grages), Greg Parent-GRP, My Own Body Shop...

, Derik's Racing Decals, Al Parker Engines, Pro Shocks, Hot Shot Engine Heaters, Hooker Harness, PowderWerks, Minnesota Mafia. Also have to thank my crew for always giving me a good car: Ryan Graf, Chris Weidendorf, Randy Grages. Last but no least I have to thank my wife, son Owen, Mom, Trisha Graf and nieces Hannah and Malayna for always supporting me.......time to start planning for 2013, hope everyone has a great off-season.

**************************************************************************
It's Graf All The Way In Granite City UMSS Go

Chris Graf of Glencoe left little doubt as to who would be the car to beat in the first-ever appearance by the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) race at the Granite City Speedway on Sunday night September 23 when he turned in a very strong performance leading flag to flag in the feature event.  After a dominating run in his Challenge Race, Graf found himself starting on the pole position for the 20 lap main when top point driver Jason Tostenson redrew the #4 pill for the feature race invert.  Graf wasted no time in gaining the lead and distanced himself from the field on his way to picking up his third UMSS win of the season and tenth of his career.  Graf now sits solidly in second place in the current championship point standings following his $1,000 victory.

For the first time in twelve years, the winged sprints returned to the Sauk Rapids track and a strong field of 17 UMSS cars sigend into the pits on a cool but clear fall evening.  Following Ultimate Sprint Heat wins by Tony Norem, 2010 UMSS Champion Cody Hahn, and sprint car rookie Rick Kobs, the two Challenge Races were won by a pair of Glencoe drivers, Jason Tostenson and Graf.  With Graf and Kobs on the front row for the feature and Norem and Tostenson in row two, flagman Shaun Cimfl waved the green for the 20 lap feature.  Graf bolted to the cushion in turn one and began to slowly pull away.  The lone caution with six laps scored came for third place runner Rick Kobs who coasted to a stop exiting turn two with a flat tire and apparently some other damage to the right rear of his car.

On the restart, Graf was gone.  With a full straightaway lead still growing, Graf began working lapped traffic at the halfway point while fifth starter Cody Hahn took second from Tony Norem.  As Graf continued to work lapped traffic, his lead shrunk a little bit but he still maintained a comfortable margin with Hahn a distant second.  The final 14 laps of the race ran nonstop.  On the final lap exiting turn four, Graf slapped the turn four concrete wall a bit but it only slowed his pace slightly.  Hahn rode home to the checkers in second followed by eighth starter and current UMSS point leader Jerry Richert, Jr.  Tony Norem finished fourth with 2009 UMSS Champion Leigh Thomas rounding out the top five.  Tostenson was sixth ahead of Mark Toews of Spirit Lake, Iowa.  Toews was driving the Valentine sprinter.  The top seven cars finished on the lead lap.  Rounding out the top ten finishers was Sye Anderson, Jared Goerges and Tony Kaus.  Sixteen of the seventeen starters finished.

Defending UMSS Champion Jerry Richert, Jr. continues to lead the 2012 GRP Motorsports High Five UMSS Championship Point Standings with two races remaining.  Chris Graf is second in points followed by Sye Anderson, Tony Kaus and Anna Kouba.  Anna was unable to be on hand at Granite City, but she still held on to the fifth place position in the standings with a drivers two lowest scores being thrown out.  Joe Kouba had the #5 car on hand with his brother Jimmy Kouba's son Jake making his winged sprint car debut.  Jake Kouba had just made his nonwinged sprint car debut on Friday night at St. Croix Valley Raceway.  It's not often that a young driver gets to make their first lap in both divisions on the same weekend.  Also of interest at Granite City, it was the first time this season that all three past UMSS Champions were on hand at a UMSS race in 2012.

The UMSS takes one weekend off before the grand finale to the season takes place at the Elko Speedway on Friday and Saturday October 5-6 for the 2nd Annual Fall Dirt Nationals.  The October UMSS races last year at Elko were two of the best nights of racing seen around the area in quite some time, and the UMSS is looking forward to another strong field of competitors this year.  The Friday night feature pays $1,000 to win while the Saturday winner will go home with $2,000.  Be sure and join us for the final two UMSS races of the season at Elko Speedway, as we will crown the 2012 UMSS Champion on Saturday night October 6.  Fans can follow the UMSS on their website at

www.umsprints.com  or become a friend of the UMSS on their Facebook page. 

UMSS Race Results - Granite City Speedway September 23, 2012 (Race #18)

Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (6 laps): Tony Norem 45, Jason Tostenson 36, Chris Graf 20G, Jerry Richert Jr. 63, Mark Toews 32, Lucas Milz 60.

Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (6 laps): Cody Hahn 23, Sye Anderson 37, Tony Kaus 3TK, Jared Goerges 9, Chad Patterson 15, Reed Allex 91A.

Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat #3 (6 laps): Rick Kobs 34, Leigh Thomas 29, Cam Schafer 54, Dan Grams 13, Jake Kouba 5.

Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #1 (9 laps): Tostenson, Richert, Norem, Thomas, Toews, Kaus, Grams, Kouba, Allex.

Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Graf, Goerges, Kobs, Hahn, Schafer, Patterson, Milz, Anderson DQ (did not scale).

GRP Motorsports A Main (20 laps): Graf, Hahn, Richert, Norem, Thomas, Tostenson, Toews, Anderson, Goerges, Kaus, Kouba, Patterson, Schafer, Grams, Milz, Allex, Kobs DNF.

Lap Leader: Graf 1-20
Cautions: (1)
Victory Photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.

Chris Graf and crew following his Granite City Speedway UMSS victory on September 23.

*************************************************************************************************** 

Mighty Axe Win To Graf After Thiel Weighs In Light
Brainerd, MN

A solid field of seventeen UMSS sprint cars were on hand for the opening night of the 11th Annual Mighty Axe Nationals at the North Central Speedway on Saturday September 1. Although he did not cross the finish line first, Chris Graf of Glencoe picked up his second UMSS win of the season and second career Mighty Axe victory when apparent winner Scotty Thiel weighed in eight pounds light at the scale following the 25 lap feature race. For Graf, it was his ninth career UMSS win and moved him into second place in the GRP Motorsports High Five Championship standings.

Due to the large car count in all divisions on hand and lengthy racing program, the usual double round of qualifying races that the UMSS utilizes to determine the feature race line-up was replaced by three heat races with passing and finishing points. Following the heats, high point driver Jason Tostenson redrew the #4 pill putting Graf and Tony Norem on the front row for the main event. Graf blasted into the early lead on the cushion and was gone. A quick caution slowed the pace two laps into the race and then a fourteen lap green flag run ensued with Graf in command. A red flag stopped the action with 16 laps scored when third place runner Brooke Tatnell crashed hard into the turn three wall. Tatnell was not injured, but his car was done for the night and weekend.

When the green replaced the red for a nine lap sprint to the checkers, 8th place starter Scotty Thiel quickly disposed of Tony Norem for second and set his sights on the leader. Graf's car was not as fast as it had been before the red flag, and Thiel ran him down over the course of the next four laps. Thiel bolted into the lead on lap 20 and went on to score an apparent victory. However, Thiel's car was not able to make the minimum weight at the track scales after the race and was disqualified thus handing the win to Graf.

Commenting after the race and when it was official that he had won, Graf stated "I would rather win the race on the track than at the scale afterward, but I'll take another Axe trophy and the first place money. My car was a rocket before the Tatnell crash, but after that my left rear tire sealed over. I was having trouble getting off the corners, especially turn four. Scotty was faster than me in the end, but it's not over until you make it out of tech." North Central Speedway gave the sprinters a fresh track to race on for their feature. It was fast in the first part of the race, began changing in the middle stages, and slicked off some during the end of the feature providing a good challenge for the drivers and crews to dial in their cars.

Finishing behind Graf in the feature was Tony Norem in second, current point leader and defending champion Jerry Richert, Jr. in third, Andy Jones in fourth and Sye Anderson in fifth. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Jared Goerges, Tony Kaus, Leigh Thomas, Jennifer Eriksen and Anna Kouba. Heat races were won by Jason Tostenson, Graf and Tatnell. Tostenson was the first caution two laps into the feature when he slowed with what turned out to be a broken throttle linkage. Although obviously disappointed and even a bit surprised following the DQ at the scales, Thiel vowed to return the next night and get an Axe trophy to take back to Sheboygan, Wisconsin with him. Check out the race report from the final night of the Mighty Axe Nationals to see if he accomplished that goal.

UMSS Race Results - North Central Speedway September 1, 2012 (Race #15)
11th Annual Mighty Axe Nationals

Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (8 laps): Jason Tostenson 36, Jerry Richert, Jr. 63, Sye Anderson 37, Anna Kouba 5, Kevin Bradwell 95, Leigh Thomas 29.

Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (8 laps): Chris Graf 20G, Andy Jones 73, Scotty Thiel 64, James Broty 33, Brad Nelson 7N, Chad Patterson 15 DNS.

Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Heat #3 (8 laps): Brooke Tatnell 86AU, Tony Norem 45, Tony Kaus 3TK, Jared Goerges 9, Jennifer Eriksen 10x.

GRP Motorsports A Main (20 laps): Graf, Norem, Richert, Jones, Anderson, Goerges, Kaus, Thomas, Eriksen, Kouba, Patterson, Broty, Tatnell DNF, Nelson DNF, Bradwell DNF, Tostenson DNF, Thiel DQ.

Lap Leaders: Graf 1-19, Thiel 20-25 (but light at scales following the race).
Cautions: (2)

Victory Photo courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.

Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director

***************************************************************************************************
Video of #2 win at Brainerd is now posted below and on the Pictures/Videos Page. Check it out and Sign the guestbook and tell me what you think!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o97GPzz9mag