Caution is difference maker in Allen’s Rice Lake victory
By Greg Parent
RICE LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 28) – What a difference one caution can make in a race.
With eight laps down in the 20-lap Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series feature at the Rice Lake Speedway Saturday night, Brandon Allen found himself running third behind rookie driver Ronnie Erickson and Cody Hahn.
When the green flay flew again, Allen immediately raced by Hahn and then followed Erickson for three more laps before he made what would be the winning pass in turn two on lap twelve. Once in front, Allen blasted away from the field for his first win of the season and his first-ever UMSS victory.
“That was fun. We finally got one this year. I messed up on the initial start, but I kept telling myself to settle down and figure out how to get back to the front,” Allen said. “That caution gave me a chance to look for a different lane.”
Not only did Allen have to convince himself he could win while rolling around under that lone caution, he also had to convince his mom on the phone afterwards that he had won. Everything came together for the St. Peter, Minn., driver on this warm and breezy late August evening, as he won in convincing fashion once he got the lead.
Allen had started on the pole position but it was Erickson who grabbed the lead from the outside front row. Hahn slipped under Allen for the runner-up spot on lap four.
With eight laps scored, Mike Luks looped his Sprinter in turn three but kept going. The caution light blinked on however. Under the yellow, Allen searched for different lanes on the speedway and what he discovered ultimately helped him race to the win.
On the restart, Allen raced past Hahn and back into second place. Three laps later, he drove around Erickson and never looked back enroute to a $1,000 payday thanks to some purse sponsorship help from GRP Motorsports.
Jerry Richert Jr. drove by Erickson for second on lap 19. Hahn also slipped by Erickson for third just moments later. 2009 UMSS champion Leigh Thomas was fifth.
The next events on the UMSS 2010 schedule include the popular double-header weekend for the annual Mighty Axe Nationals at the North Central Speedway at Brainerd on Labor Day Weekend Saturday and Sunday Sept. 4-5.
Feature results – 1. Brandon Allen; 2. Jerry Richert Jr.; 3. Cody Hahn; 4. Ronnie Erickson; 5. Leigh Tho mas; 6. Troy Manteufel; 7. David Craft; 8. Jack Zweber; 9. Kevin Nickel; 10. Mike Luks; 11. Charley Cropp; 12. Blake Anderson; 13. Alan Gilbertson; 14. Joseph Kouba.
Heat winners were Richert and Hahn. Thomas an Allen won the challenge races.
