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bumpracer.com - WSORR TOUR 2007 Opener - Owatonna, MN

Taylor, Oberg, Wandasega, Beauchamp - All Go Back to Back!

Sunday
Saturday night a cold front blew through southeastern Minnesota. The rain fell throughout the night and into early Sunday morning. When bumpracer.com arrived at the fairgrounds in the morning, WSORR crews were already working on the track, but the competitors knew the first couple of races would be a mud fest.

WSORR Round 2

Super Stock Truck
The Super Stock Truck competitors knew that the wet and muddy track would be survival of the fittest. The start saw the Chevrolet of Ben Wandasega#297 grab the lead and continue on to take his second win of the weekend. Second place Dan Baudoux #217, finished a distant second, as his Ford battled with the slick corners. Don Williams #277, who ran the last four laps on a flat rear tire, finished a distant third.
1600 Light Buggy
The race was still a mess, but the show must go on!. Twenty seven 1600 Light Buggies took the green. The buggies slid and bumped their way to the finish. After a disappointing ninth place finish on Saturday, Matt Gerald #195, came across the line first, with Todd Lemke #109 second, and Mike Vanden Huvel #177, third.

Formula 4x4
Many of the competitors in this division don't mind running in the mud. In fact, some the drivers compete in these same trucks in other events such as Mud Bogs, and Tough Truck competitions, where the adverse conditions are the norm, and not the exception. The track was showing some signs of drying up, but the "Bratwurst Brawlers" still finished the fifteen minute race with extra ballast on board. The winner was Tim Moeller #433 , second place was Jerry Conrad #497, and third was Saturday's winner, Bob Sayers #432.
The top three finishers all drove Ford Broncos, all of which were different generations of the popular SUV.
1600 Buggy
Before the start of the 1600 Buggy division, WSORR officials had the track crew use their bulldozer and end loader to scrape off the loose mud that accumulated on the 1/2 mile clay stock car track. Now the drivers had a track they could really race on. The start saw current class champion, Mark Steinhardt #331, grab the lead part way through the first lap and continued on for the win. Second place went to Bob Blaney #376, and Saturday's winner Mike Seefeldt #301, grabbed the final spot on the podium.

Stock Truck
The track conditions were almost ideal, as the sun began to break through the clouds. The started with Eric Ruppel #837, grabbing the holeshot. The lead was short lived as mechanical failure stopped his Ford in the infield. This put Scott Beauchamp #820 back in front, all the way to the finish. Second place was Jason Bort #841, and Dan Beauchamp #826 finished third.
Super Buggy
The green flag dropped and Stephanie Krieman #918, grabbed lead with John Mason,#912, a close second. At the end of lap one, Mason made the pass for the lead, and quickly opened up a sizable lead. Back in the pack, Saturday's winner, Aaron Hawley #924, was fighting his way through traffic. On lap seven, Hawley passed Krieman for the second spot. On lap 10, Gary Nierop #904 made his way into third place. At the checkered flag it was 1st-Mason, 2nd-Hawley, 3rd-Nierop, and 4th Krieman.

PRO 4x4
The green flag fell with Mike Oberg #71, and Kent Brascho #8, racing side by side for the first four laps. Then Oberg took over the top spot and held it to the finish. Kent Brascho finished a few truck lengths back in second.
PRO LIGHT
The start saw Steven Federico #24, lead the field out of turn one, much of the field running side by side. Former Motocross star Marty Hart #15, sliced his was through the field and made the pass of the lead on lap six. Current class champ, Chad Hord #9, was starting to get comfortable in his backup truck ( Round 1 - DNF, endo,while leading), also made a charge to the front. At the finish it was 1st-Marty Hart, 2nd-Steven Federico, and 3rd-Chad Hord.

PRO 2WD
This division has some of the top competitors in the country. Evan Evans, Kevin Probst, Mike Oberg, Brian Hinman, and Scott Taylor are all past winners. Just like Round One, four of these drivers all had a shot at winning this round. The start saw Evan Evans take the lead, with Probst and Oberg battle for second, and Taylor in fourth.
On lap 11 everything changed, Evan dropped out with mechanical ills, Taylor who had been a disappointing (??) fourth, suddenly passed Oberg and Probst to take the lead. Three laps later Scott Taylor took the win, with a smiling Kevin Probst second, and Mike Oberg third.


ENDURO Trucks
CLASSIX
1st - Robert Weiland #621
2nd - Brent Anderson #637
3rd - Bill Groboski

The day didn't look very promising at the start, but a determined WSORR track crew and a little help from Mother Nature, Rounds 1 and 2 of the Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing Tour 2007, are in the books, without any major problems.

The competition was fierce as always, the spectator count could have been better, but the weather on Sunday morning didn't help. The PRO 4x4 division needs a few more competitors.

The town of Owatonna is awesome; retail stores, restaurants, fast food stops, lodging, were as close as across the street from the fairgrounds. Hopefully the Steele County Fairgrounds will get the opportunity to be apart of WSORR Tour 2008!

- Mike Reusche - bumpracer.com