Elko Speedway (MN): 4/19/08

Legends Stories

By Lindsey Marks

LegendsNation.com

Johnson Dominates Unusually Mellow Great North Legends Feature

Ryan Johnson visited victory lane Saturday in his Legends Car. (LN Photo)

Ryan Johnson, of Eagan, Minn., made Legends racing look easy at Elko Speedway (MN) when he took the lead on lap six and never looked back.

The young Pro driver moved to the Super Late Model class this season, but decided to return to his Legends Car rather than race in the ASA Midwest Tour event this weekend.  It turns out he made a good decision and picked up yet another Great North Legends victory as well as the Pro Division win.

“It (the ASA Midwest Tour) can be a big wreck-fest,” said Johnson. “So we decided to get this car together.”

Johnson had a large lead until the one and only wreck of the night occurred at the halfway point, which bunched up the field for a restart.  Despite a lot of bumping and banging, Johnson hung on to the top spot and checked out within a few laps.

Mike Tuma, a Master Division driver from Elko, Minn., crossed the finish line in second place overall and took the Master’s victory.  Chalking his second-place finish up as merely ‘okay’, Tuma was proud of how the overall race was run.

“This is a class that’s improving everyday I run it,” explained Tuma. “It’s going to be a lot of fun (this season).”

Taking the Semi-Pro Division win was Beau Barry, who ended up fifth overall.

Legends Nationals On The Mind Of Many At Elko

The racing action at Elko Speedway on Saturday wasn't the only thing on the minds of the Legends racers.  Their focus was split between the racing of the day and getting their cars ready for the 2008 Legends Nationals event, which will be held in their backyard this season at Elko later this season.

One driver, Pro divsion racer Dirk Henry, will value every racing event between now and October as he gets ready to show the nation what he has for the drivers across the country.

“We have a lot of work to do," said Henry.  "Right now I don’t think I could win (at the National event), but it is only the second night (of the season)."

Elko Speedway 4/19 Results (unofficial)

1) 99 Ryan Johnson

2) 82 Mike Tuma

3) 3 Dirk Henry

4) 69 Jonathan Lewerer

5) 33 Beau Barry

6) 87 Robert Carter

7) 03 Todd Tracy

8) 31 Greg Erhardt

9) 60 Patrick Brejcha

10) 28 Dustin Tuma

11) 97 Ryan Schleusner

12) 00 Tim Brockhouse

13) 13 Casey Traxler

14) 17 Jon Lemke

15) 88 Jaycen Brockhouse

16) 9 Gene Traxler

17) 51 Justin Henry

18) 11 Ray (Tony) Brockhouse

19) 15 Christopher Henry

20) 43 Bruce Allen

21) 38 Pat Zandstra

22) 7 Bruce Maloney

23) 18 Carson Gramm

24) 73 Luke Connolly