One axe is good, but two are better. Sye Anderson took home two of the unique trophies when he completed a sweep of both UMSS sprint car features during the Mighty Axe Nationals on Labor Day Weekend at North Central Speedway near Brainerd. For Anderson, it was his first victories of the season in UMSS competition and came at a very opportune time while racing in front of his hometown fans. In Saturday’s 20 lap feature race, Anderson waited until the final lap coming off of turn four to take the lead in an exciting finish with Jimmy Kouba. On Sunday night, Anderson traded the top spot with Kenny Melanson in the early going before taking command of the race and then had to withstand a couple of late race cautions in the 25 lap feature race. Anderson earned over $2,000 for his efforts in sweeping the UMSS 360 sprint car portion of this annual event. Stated a very happy Anderson after his second feature win of the holiday weekend, “It’s great to win two races in a row in my hometown. Now we’ll head to Cedar Lake Speedway the next two Saturdays and see if I can continue the winning streak.”
The opening night of the Mighty Axe Nationals on Saturday September 5 saw Jimmy Kouba and rookie driver Jack Zweber lead the 16 car field to the green flag for 20 laps of exciting winged sprint car racing. Kouba grabbed the early lead with third starter Sye Anderson ducking into second on the opening lap. The lone caution of the race waved with two laps in for a spin by Johnny Parsons III in turn one. Kouba continued to set a steady pace up front on the slick surface when the race returned to green. Fifth starter Jerry Richert, Jr. moved by another rookie driver, Cody Hahn, for third on lap three. At the midway mark, it was Jimmy Kouba leading Anderson, Richert, Hahn and Eric Lutz. Just when it appeared as though Kouba might earn his first win of the season, an exciting final lap changed the outcome of the race. Kouba missed his mark a bit when entering turn one and skated out, leaving the bottom lane open for Sye Anderson.
Anderson was right on his bumper and took advantage to pull even with Kouba down the backstretch. As the leaders raced through the final turn, Anderson emerged with the lead exiting turn four to bring the hometown crowd to their feet. Anderson recorded his first UMSS sprint car feature win of the season. Jimmy Kouba had to settle for second after leading the entire race up until the final corner. Jerry Richert, Jr. finished third while Eric Lutz got by Cody Hahn on the final lap to grab the fourth spot. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Tim Johnson, Leigh Thomas, Eric Schulz, Kenny Melanson, and Jack Zweber. Richert, Hahn and Thomas won the Ultimate Sprint Heats while Anderson and Lutz took home the top spots in the Challenge Races.
Another fantastic evening of weather greeted fans and drivers for the second night of the annual Mighty Axe Nationals at North Central Speedway on Sunday September 6. Fresh off his first win of the season the previous night, hometown driver Sye Anderson and veteran racer Kenny Melanson lined up on the front row of the 25 lap UMSS sprint car feature. Anderson edged past Melanson to lead the opening lap, but Melanson raced to the outside of Anderson to lead the next two laps on a racy track surface. As the leaders raced side by side, several good battles were developing behind them as well. Anderson regained the lead on lap four, but Melanson continued to apply the pressure. Meanwhile, Eric Lutz and Jerry Richert, Jr. were racing for third while teammates Jimmy Kouba and Tim Johnson dueled for fifth. By lap ten, Anderson had finally taken control of the top position. With the race continuing under green, it was Anderson, Melanson, Lutz, Richert and Jimmy Kouba in the top five at the halfway mark. With Anderson opening up a little more comfortable margin, the race for second heated up. On lap fifteen, Lutz got by Melanson for second while Richert did likewise the following lap. With Richert putting the pressure on Lutz for second, contact between the two cars in turn two with 21 laps in brought out the first caution of the race. Richert was out of brakes by this time and got into Lutz. Lutz did a 360 loop and continued on while Richert was relegated to the tail of the 16 car field. The caution erased the lead Anderson had built up and put Lutz and Melanson right behind him. On the restart, Lutz and Melanson battled intensely for the runner-up spot while Anderson edged away. Just when it appeared as though the race would run green to the finish, Kevin Nichol lost power and rolled to a stop on the frontstretch. This set the stage for a two lap dash to the checkers. Sye Anderson was able to earn his second feature win of the weekend, as he doubled up at his hometown track. Kenny Melanson won the battle with Eric Lutz for second. In an incredible three car race for fourth, Jimmy Kouba topped Tim Johnson and Joseph Kouba. Completing the top ten finishers were Johnny Parsons III, Cody Hahn, Leigh Thomas, and Jerry Richert, Jr. in what ended up being another very good sprint car feature event. Ultimate Sprint Heats were won by Richert, Lutz and Anderson. Challenge Race victors were Melanson and Lutz.
With just two more races to go in their inaugural season, the UMSS 360 winged sprint cars return to the Cedar Lake Speedway as part of the 9th Annual Jerry Richert Memorial on Saturday night September 12. It will be a dream night for open wheel fans, as the IRA Outlaw 410 sprints will race against Knoxville and other area cars for the Jerry Richert Memorial title making it an all sprint car show. The following Saturday September 19 will see the UMSS close out their season with another appearance at the Cedar Lake Speedway. On September 19, the UMSS will run a complete show as part of the annual Legendary 100 event. Jerry Richert Jr. continues to lead the point standings with just two races remaining.
UMSS Feature Race Summary:
September 5 Mighty Axe Nationals (20 laps): Sye Anderson, Jimmy Kouba, Jerry Richert Jr, Eric Lutz, Cody Hahn, Tim Johnson, Leigh Thomas, Eric Schulz, Kenny Melanson, Jack Zweber, Joseph Kouba, Austin Johnson, Johnny Parsons III, Lyn Franklin, Kevin Nichol, Anna Kouba.
September 6 Mighty Axe Nationals (25 laps): Sye Anderson, Kenny Melanson, Eric Lutz, Jimmy Kouba, Tim Johnson, Joseph Kouba, Johnny Parsons III, Cody Hahn, Leigh Thomas, Jerry Richert Jr, Lyn Franklin, Austin Johnson, Jack Zweber, Eric Schulz, Anna Kouba, Kevin Nichol (DNF).
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