by Dale Leech

The much anticipated closeout night of the 2009 Minneapolis Raceway Season featuring the Midwest Dirt Series Late Models simply was everything that all had hoped for. Beautiful weather brought out a nice size crowd to cheer on 104 cars on this inaugural night of Late Model cars racing at the MRW.  No one should have left dissapointed as the night was filled with great races in all car classes on an exceptional track.

A packed grandstand welcomed the late models for their first visit to Minneapolis Raceway.

Gary Gorby directs changes to his mount after his hot lap session.

The Midwest Dirt Series Late Models class brought 22 drivers to the MRW from 5 states to quench the thirst of fans throughout the area that have been awaiting such an occasion throughout the 4 year history of the MRW. Seven of the top ten season point holders in the Midwest Dirt Series participated.  The Late Models ran 3 Heats, 1 "Dash for Cash race", 1 "B" Feature and the "A" Feature which featured 15 second laps by several of the cars.

Jason Friesen, MDLMS Mudslinger!

Al Humphrey showed great form in rewarding a fan with a frisbee.

In the random drawing for the "A" Feature starting position among the top finishers of the Heat races, Delbert "Iceman" Smith drew the inside pole position with Mike Wiarda on his outside.  Both exhibited an exciting duel for 13 laps, actually passing the flagstand side by side at the end of the 13th lap before Smith began pulling away.  His lead increased to almost a half a lap before a caution flag restart brought the cars back close together again.  Smith again pulled away from the field and maintained a several car length lead to bring home the checkered flag and the $1,000 purse.  The heat race winners were Jimmy Seagraves, Wiarda and Al Humphery. The winner of the "Dash for Cash" race with it's $100 prize was the series points leader, Chuck Comer.  Cale Gottschalk won the the "B" Feature.

Delbert Smith held off the #1W of Mike Wiarda to take his series leading third win of the season.

Chuck Comer, the Speedy Cash Dash winner & current MDLMS points leader, battles Dave Conkwright.

 Photos and Captions by Sly's Speedshots, http://slysspeedshots.photoreflect.com

Heat winner Jimmy Segraves fought the #6 of Al Humphrey for a top five finish.

Wichitan Delbert Smith flashes under the checkers at the Minneapolis Raceway.

Delbert Smith & Mike Wiarda discuss their 1-2 finish.

The BSB Racing crew in victory lane.

The Lott Implement IMCA Sport Compact Mosquitos put on good show.  Phillip Brown started on the 3rd row inside position and by mid race had passed the 4 cars who started ahead of him.  For the last 4 laps of the race, Brown, Jeff Thummel, Branston Arnder, and Mark Colton battled each other to get to the checkered flag first.  Brown was the victor with Arnder literally on his rear bumper, followed closely by Thummel and Colton.  This was Brown's first Feature win.  The Heat races were won by Thummel and Donnie Cleveland.  The season points champion, Alan Rice was knocked out for the night in a collision on the home stretch in his Heat race.

Phillip Brown took his first feature win on the last night of the season.

Kurt Kalivoda and Shane Meeks started on the pole positions for the T&R Dirt Construction IMCA Sportsman Modifieds "A" Feature. In this caution filled race, the MRW 2009 class champion, Tyler Frye got tangled up with Kurt Kalivoda in the home stretch and left the race on the hook for the first time in this writers memory, along with Kalivoda.  Meeks and Brian Fink then put on quite a duel for four laps before the next caution.  With the restart Meeks pulled away from the field and eventually claimed the checkered flag.  This was also Meek's first Feature win. Trevor Kropp, Kalivoda and Fink won the Heat races.

Shane Meeks held off the attempts by Kurt Kalivoda to take the sport mod A-main.

The Coors Lite IMCA Hobby Stocks provided the usual amount of thrills in their "A" Feature. The pole positions for the race were occupied by GW Fuller and Tony Slothower.  Three time class points champion BJ Dauer started on row 4 outside. Slothwer gained an early lead from his outside pole position and as usual it didn't take long for Dauer to work his way to the front and start challenging the leaders. Howver, this time Dauer's front bumper was torn away with body contact with another car.  After completing several laps with this bumper hanging from the car, it finally fell off, bringing out the caution flag and relegating Dauer to the rear of the pack. He later left the race with mechanical problems.  Meanwhile Slothower maintained his early lead throughout the race until with two laps to go, Fuller passed him for the lead.  One last caution with one lap to go caused a two lap restart, but Fuller held off Slothower and the rest of the field to claim his 2nd "A" Feature win of the season. The Heat races were captured by David Weber, Pete Beaumont, and Dauer.  The "B" Feature race was won by Casey Gilmore.

This contact between race leader Tony Slothower & G.W. Fuller resulted in the winning pass.

Brandon Belvill pokes his nose into G.W. Fuller's passenger door.

The Grandma Max's Restaurant IMCA Modifieds were not to be out done.  Kurt Johnston drew the inside pole position and gained an immediate lead which he held for 5 laps.  But then class points champion Danny Morrison Jr., came from behind and passed Johnston.  Following close behind were Joe Cleveland and Jarrod Johnston.  The last few laps turned into a duel between Morrison and Jarrod Johnston with Tim Echevarria and Corey Lagroon close behind.  Then coming out of turn 4 on the last lap, Jarrod Johnston pulled by Morrison on the low side as Morrison began experiencing engine difficulties.  Johnston captured his 1st "A" Feature win of the season while Morrison coasted into 3rd behind Echevarria.  Johnston and Morrison won the Heat races.

Brian Knoell runs the high line around A.J. Hupfer.

Jarrod Johnston took over late in the feature to capture the Modified checkered.

 This concluded the 2009 season for Minneapolis Raceway.  The MRW management issues a hearty thanks to the drivers and fans who made it a great season!