The Upper Midwest Sprint Series visited Kopellah Speedway for the final time during the 2009 season and, appropriately enough, Jerry Richert Jr. drove his number 62 to victory lane. Richert has been dominant in series action this year, particularly at Kopellah Speedway where he had won four of the eight races contested there. On Friday night, Richert started fiffh and worked his way by Brad Barickman early in the race to take second place. Meanwhile, rookie driver Cody Hahn was having a great night as he led from his pole position.

Richert pursued Hahn and the veteran snookered the youngster when they approached a lapped car to take the lead. Shortly after, Barickman also moved by Hahn and attempted to reel in Richert. On the final lap, Jimmy Kouba flipped in turn one which set up a green-white-checkered finish. Barickman gave Richert a run but the Forest Lake, Minnesota, driver was too strong and held on for his sixth win of the season. Barickman, Hahn, Sye Anderson and tenth-starting Scotty Thiel followed him across the line.

Stan Meissner PhotoBy: Greg Parent
Jerry Richert Jr continued his winning ways, as the Forest Lake driver earned his fourth straight victory in UMSS feature race action at the Kopellah Speedway on Friday evening June 12. Richert earned $1,000 for his triumph, as a last minute bonus announced at the drivers meeting by GRP Motorsports boosted the first place payout. Leigh Thomas led the first eight laps before a bobble entering turn one allowed Richert to swoop underneath him for the top spot. Richert was able to race ahead of the field during the remainder of the 20 lap feature. Richert indicated, "It's great to keep the winning streak alive. At first the race seemed to go by slowly, but once I got the lead it went by much quicker." Thomas was happy with his second place run, but he "wanted that one lap back to do over." Richert will attempt to continue his winning streak when the UMSS sprints complete their double header weekend with a $1,000 to win show at North Central Speedway near Brainerd on Saturday night June 13.

By Gregg Parent
Forest Lake, Minnesota's Jerry Richert Jr made it three straight UMSS feature wins at the Kopellah Speedway when he passed early leader Jason Tostenson enroute to victory in the upstart series fourth appearance of the season on Friday night June 5. Richert and Tostenson entered the night's racing events tied for the series point lead, but it was Richert who now sits atop the standings all alone after his third win of the season in the five UMSS races held so far. Stated a happy Richert, "It feels great to get three straight. I hope I can keep the streak alive next week." Tostenson, who kept pace with Richert throughout the race, indicated "that guy is tough, he's good." Tostenson will be looking for his first series win when the UMSS sprint cars return to the Kopellah Speedway next Friday June 12.

By: Greg Parent
The first repeat winner of the inaugural UMSS season came in the fourth race when veteran driver Jerry Richert, Jr. earned his second straight victory at Kopellah Speedway on Friday evening May 22. Racing in front of a good sized crowd on a pleasant spring evening, the Forest Lake, Minnesota native knew where he wanted to run on the opening lap of the 15 lap feature race. "I was waiting for the track official to move out of the way, so I could run a couple of hot laps up above the cushion in turns one and two while we were lining up for the feature," stated Richert. Unlike the previous UMSS race at Kopellah, tonight's event saw a heavy, rough track with plenty of traction available for the 360 sprint cars. Richert made the most of his early scouting run, as he blasted from his fourth starting spot to the lead by the time he exited turn two on the opening lap enroute to his second win of the season.

By: Greg Parent
The third race of the season for the UMSS sprint cars proved to be the charm for Forest Lake, Minnesota's Jerry Richert, Jr. on Friday night May 8 at the Kopellah Speedway. The upstart UMSS series for 360 sprint cars was making their second appearance of the 2009 season at Kopellah, and the veteran experience of Richert showed on the wind-swept 1/4 mile oval. Richert passed Joseph Kouba on lap 7 enroute to the win in the 15 lap feature which was reduced five laps due to strong winds and dry track conditions. Stated Richert afterwards, "I was glad to see the checkered flag. It was kind of tricky out there."

By: Greg Parent
On a day that went from summer-like to winter-like in a matter of hours, the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) made its debut at the Kopellah Speedway on Friday night April 24. A field of sixteen 360 sprint cars were on hand for the series lid lifter at the 1/4 mile western Wisconsin oval, as the start of racing action was delayed by a brief rain shower followed by plummeting temps and a bitingly cold wind. Veteran racer Tony Norem etched his name in the record books by becoming the first-ever UMSS feature winner in a race that was halted twice for hard crashes.

By: Greg Parent
On a day that went from summer-like to winter-like in a matter of hours, the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) made its debut at the Kopellah Speedway on Friday night April 24. A field of sixteen 360 sprint cars were on hand for the series lid lifter at the 1/4 mile western Wisconsin oval, as the start of racing action was delayed by a brief rain shower followed by plummeting temps and a bitingly cold wind. Veteran racer Tony Norem etched his name in the record books by becoming the first-ever UMSS feature winner in a race that was halted twice for hard crashes.

Summer finally arrived in time for week number three at Kopellah Speedway as race time temperatures hovered in the mid sixties. As is the case most Friday nights, excitement was the name of the game as the racers got the Memorial Day weekend off to a flying start.

With an unfortunate downpour just before the scheduled start time, Kopellah Speedway fans and racers had to wait out a nearly hour-long delay before getting their Friday night adrenaline fix. The wait turned to to be well worth it, as the extra moisture from above kept the track rocket-fast all night long. In addition to the regular six racing divisions, the Northern Vintage Stockcar Racers were on hand to show off and race their hot rods from years gone by.