By: Greg Parent (9-12-09)
It was a night of firsts at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday September 12 during the running of the 9th Annual Jerry Richert Memorial. It was the first time the 360 sprint cars were part of this great event that honors the memory of one of the true legends of the sport of sprint car racing. For young Milo, IA driver Rob Kubli, it was his first trip to the Cedar Lake Speedway, his first time racing with the upstart UMSS series, and best of all, his first victory in his very first time racing a 360 sprint car. During an incredible evening of sprint car racing at CLS, it just doesn't get any better than that. Stated a very happy Kubli following the race, "I've raced a couple of seasons in the 305 sprint car division in Southern Iowa, but this was my first race running with a 360 in the car. I had a blast. This is an awesome event." Indeed, the young Iowa driver will remember this night for the rest of his life.

A strong field of 19 UMSS 360 sprint cars were on hand on a fantastic September night for racing. Unfortunately for UMSS point leader Jerry Richert Jr, his night ended early in the 360 division when something broke during hot laps sending his car hard into the turn four wall and into a series of wild flips. Richert was able to compete in the 410 division, as he walked away from the wreck. The remaining 18 cars made it through the double round of qualifying utilized by the UMSS series and were able to start their 25 lap feature race. Paced by young Robby Wolfgang and Brad Barickman, the field sprang to life under the green. The race was immediately under caution when rookie driver Cody Hahn spun in turn two on the opening lap. The race got underway on the second attempt with Wolfgang, who was making his second appearance at CLS this season, blasting into the early lead.

Brooke Tatnell, who was returning to sprint car racing after breaking his leg over a month ago while running in Pennsylvania, went from fourth to second on the opening lap in the Nelson Motorsports sprinter. Just five laps into the race, the leaders began to encounter some lapped traffic. Wolfgang continued to show the way, as the race stayed under green. On lap 9, Tatnell moved to first when Wolfgang bobbled just slightly. Tatnell extended his lead on the racy track. Contact between the leader Tatnell and the lapped car of Jimmy Kouba with 11 laps in resulted in a flat left front tire on Kouba's car. Kouba pulled to a stop on the frontstretch with the second caution of the race slowing the pace. When the green replaced the yellow, a couple of quick tours around the 3/8 mile high-banked oval found the race at the halfway mark with Tatnell leading Wolfgang, Rob Kubli, Barickman, and Brett Geldner. Things were about to get very interesting up front shortly.

With 15 laps scored, Tatnell suddenly slowed entering turn three on lap 16. Tatnell drove around the high side of turn four, down the frontstretch, and exited to the pits with a flat tire. Later in the evening, Tatnell would defend his Jerry Richert Memorial title in the IRA 410 sprint car feature. His night was over in the 360 though. This gave the lead back to Robby Wolfgang, as the race stayed under green. Three laps later, Wolfgang suddenly spun in turn two to bring out the third and final caution. Wolfgang was towed to the work area where his crew changed a flat tire, and he returned to tag the tail. This twist of fate put young Milo, IA driver Rob Kubli in the lead followed by Barickman, Mighty Axe double winner Sye Anderson, Geldner, and MSA driver Danny Schlafer. The final seven laps clicked off quickly, as Wolfgang charged from the back of the pack. In his first race in a 360 sprinter, Rob Kubli rode home with the victory in the UMSS portion of the Jerry Richert Memorial. Brad Barickman finished second. Robby Wolfgang was able to make it back up to third at the checkers. Sye Anderson finished fourth. Danny Schlafer and Brett Geldner swapped the fifth spot a couple of times in the closing laps with Schlafer getting back by on the final lap to finish fifth. Completing the top ten were Brett Geldner, Chris Graf, Leigh Thomas, Lyn Franklin and Kevin Nickel. The race ended just in time for Kubli. On his cool down lap, Kubli's left rear tire exploded. Kubli entered Victory Lane on the back of a wrecker, but it didn't matter to the young Iowa driver, as he had just earned the biggest win of his career.

In qualifying race action, Ultimate Sprint Heats were won by Barickman, Geldner and Kubli. The Challenge Race victories went to Tatnell and Anderson. With Jerry Richert Jr only earning show points for the night, Leigh Thomas was able to close the margin in the season-long point battle in UMSS competition. The UMSS sprinters will return to the Cedar Lake Speedway next Saturday night September 19 for a full race program during the running of the Legendary 100. It will mark the final race of their inaugural season, and the point title will be contested between Richert and Thomas. If the final race of the season is anything like the Jerry Richert Memorial, it will be a very entertaining evening for race fans. For more information, please visit the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com or pick up a copy of the free newsletter The UMSS Report at the track. For more information on the Legendary 100, visit the Cedar Lake Speedway website at www.cedarlakespeeedway.com or call 1-866-4CLS-FUN. See you at CLS for the annual Legendary 100.

UMSS Race Summary - September 12, 2009 Jerry Richert Memorial:

Feature (25 laps) - Rob Kubli, Brad Barickman, Robby Wolfgang, Sye Anderson, Danny Schlafer, Brett Geldner, Chris Graf, Leigh Thomas, Lyn Franklin, Kevin Nickel, DNF: Cody Hahn, Joseph Kouba, Brooke Tatnell, Bruce Tull, Johnny Parsons III, Jimmy Kouba, Ronnie Erickson, Al Schlafer, DNS: Jerry Richert Jr.

Lap Leaders: Wolfgang 1-8, Tatnell 9-15, Wolfgang 16-18, Kubli 19-25.
Cautions: (3)

Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (6 laps): Barickman, Wolfgang, Jimmy Kouba, Thomas, Nickel, Erickson.
Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (6 laps): Geldner, D. Schlafer, Parsons, Anderson, Graf, Tull.
Ultimate Sprint Heat #3 (6 laps): Kubli, Tatnell, Hahn, Joseph Kouba, Al Schlafer, Franklin.
Challenge Race #1 (8 laps): Tatnell, Thomas, Wolfgang, Joseph Kouba, Geldner, Al Schlafer, Tull, Parsons, Nickel.
Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Anderson, Kubli, Barickman, Jimmy Kouba, Franklin, Hahn, D. Schlafer, Graf, Erickson.