Austin McCarl picked up his sixth career win at Huset's (Rob Kocak Photo)
(Bill W) May 12, 2021, Monroe, IA – Mother Nature hasn’t been the biggest sprint car fan in the Upper Midwest this spring, but Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, South Dakota got underway with their Mother’s Day opener. Austin McCarl prevailed in that one, after leader Justin Henderson got tangled in lapped traffic.
Austin was gaining on Justin, and add Dominic Scelzi to the mix and the race had the makings of a barnburner in traffic. As it was, Austin prevailed for his sixth career win at Huset’s with Scelzi, aboard Dave Lunstra’s #3 (Tim Kaeding was out of town). Matt Juhl was on the podium for the first time this season with TKS Motorsports, while Brooke Tatnell and Carson McCarl rounded out the top five. Austin and Dominic split for California this weekend.
Jack Dover was in his first 410 event of the season in the Rick and Chris Bowers #81 and finished up sixth. Chris Martin, Elliot Amdahl, Riley Goodno and Skylar Prochaska rounded out the top ten. It was great to see Dusty Zomer back at it, and Chuck McGillivray has somewhere to race the #101 weekly again.
The car count of 24 was a pleasant surprise this early (some thought it may take a year or two to get a weekly full field), but with several drivers absent who are expected to compete on a weekly basis, things are going to be just fine on Sunday nights.
The all-time leading feature winner at the track, Terry McCarl, was helping out sons Austin and Carson. He announced before the season that he wouldn’t be running every week at Huset’s.
Mark Dobmeier is making progress and healing his back injury sustained in 2020, but is still not cleared to race. Hopefully, we see him sooner than later.
Jesse Lindberg won the Racesaver portion of the program, followed by Lee Goos Jr., Dusty Ballenger, Casey Abbas and Shane Fick. Bayley Ballenger follows grandpa Steve and father Dusty to the track in 2021. John Lambertz was second in his heat, but scratched from the feature. The class came strong with 23 cars.
The top eleven all-time 410 feature winners at Huset’s (track championships)…
1. Terry McCarl, 98 (8)
2. Mark Dobmeier, 67 (6)
3. Danny Lasoski, 42 (3)
4. Harold Petree, 35 (2)
5. Harry Torgerson, 34 (3)
6. Jim Matthews, 30 (1)
7. Gerald Bruggeman, 28 (3)
8. Leland Van Emmerik, 21 (2)
Marlon Jones, 21 (1)
10. Arnie Nimmerfroh, 20 (3)
11. Doug Wolfgang, 19
Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by OpenWheel101.com
Austin McCarl’s second win with the series was the only action for the Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by OpenWheel101.com. This week is going to be very busy. NOSA hits the upper Midwest with a tripleheader at Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota on Friday, I-90 Speedway in Hartford, South Dakota Saturday, and Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, South Dakota Sunday. Weekly 410 action will see Jacksonville Speedway in Illinois pushing off Friday night, and Knoxville Raceway in Iowa will be back in action after rain last weekend.
Gio Scelzi leads the current point standings over Brian Brown, Rico Abreu, Ayrton Gennetten and Austin McCarl. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Kyle Larson, Lynton Jeffrey, Zach Hampton and Tim Kaeding round out the early season top ten.
We’d like to thank race fan Jim Harris of Omaha, Nebraska, and The Dirt Racing Podcast for coming on as sponsors of the point fund again! If you’d like to help sprint car drivers in the Midwest, drop me a line…
Sponsors are being sought to grow the point fund for the series fifth season! Whether you are a fan like all of us, or a business that would like advertising through the series and OpenWheel101.com, join us!
Thousands of fans visit OpenWheel101.com each week to get the latest results, stories, video highlights, interviews and more. You can also search there for old results and stories. It’s a great place to advertise, and know that your contributions go straight to the drivers! E-mail Bill Wright at sprntcar@hotmail.com to set up your deal! Any amount is welcome!
Up Next…
Fri, May 14 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) NOSA
Fri, May 14 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, May 15 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, May 15 – I-90 Speedway (SD) NOSA
Sun, May 16 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
2021 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Gio Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 235
2. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 189
3. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 188
4. Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO, 142 (1)
5. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 140 (2)
6. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX, 120
7. Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 110
8. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA, 101 (2)
9. Zach Hampton, Mooresville, IN, 100
10. Tim Kaeding, Campbell, CA, 95
11. Tucker Klaasmeyer, Paola, KS, 90
12. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 80
13. Davey Hesin, St. Michael, MN, 78
14. Clinton Boyles, Greenwood, MO, 76
(tie) Riley Goodno, Knoxville, IA, 76
16. Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 70
17. Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 69
18. Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 68
19. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 63
(tie) Joe B. Miller, Millersville, MO, 63
21. Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 61
22. Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 57
23. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 52
24. Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 51
25. Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA, 50
26. Noah Gass, Mounds, OK, 46
27. Garet Williamson, Columbia, MO, 42
28. Cory Eliason, Visalia, CA, 40
(tie) Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 40
30. Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 38
31. Carson Short, Marion, IL, 36
32. Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL, 35
33. Kyle Bellm, Nixa, MO, 30
(tie) Brandon Hanks, Burlison, TN, 30
(tie) Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO, 30
36. Jake Bubak, Arvada, CO, 28
37. Cale Thomas, Fairland, IN, 25
38. Brayton Lynch, Springfield, IL, 22
39. Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN, 20
(tie) Ben Brown, Marshall, MO, 20
(tie) Jack Dover, Springfield, NE, 20
(tie) Skylar Prochaska, Lakefield, MN, 20
43. Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL, 18
44. Elliot Amdahl, Flandreau, SD, 16
45. Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL, 14
(tie) Cole Duncan, Lockbourne, OH, 14
(tie) Robert Ballou, Rocklin, CA, 14
48. McKenna Haase, Des Moines, IA, 12
(tie) Cody Ledger, Omaha, NE, 12
(tie) Jacob Patton, Bethalto, IL, 12
51. Dustin Barks, Farmington, MO, 10
(tie) Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 10
(tie) Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD, 10
54. Kyle Schuett, Philo, IL, 8
(tie) Andy Bishop, Harrisburg, IL, 8
(tie) Brendan Mullen, Grand Forks, ND, 8
57. Jeremy Standridge, Springfield, IL, 6
(tie) Terry Babb, Lincoln, IL, 6
(tie) Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA, 6
60. Mitchell Davis, Auburn, IL, 4
(tie) Chuck McGillivray, Madison, SD, 4
(tie) Presley Truedson, Kennedy, MN, 4
63. AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA, 2
(tie) Tyler Drueke, Eagle, NE, 2
(tie) Austin Miller, Lacona, IA, 2
Platinum WoO Member Wins
6, Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA
1, Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH
Tentative 2021 Races that will be counted for points with the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by OpenWheel101.com
Sat, March 27 – Lake Ozark Speedway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Fri, April 2 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sat, April 3 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Fri, April 16 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA (Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO)
Sat, April 17 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) (Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH)
Sat, April 24 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) (Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA)
Thur, April 29 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Fri, April 30 – I-70 Speedway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sat, May 1 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) (Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA)
Sat, May 1 – I-70 Speedway (MO) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sun, May 9 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) (Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA)
Fri, May 14 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) NOSA
Fri, May 14 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, May 15 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, May 15 – I-90 Speedway (SD) NOSA
Sun, May 16 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sat, May 22 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, May 23 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, May 28 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, May 29 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, May 30 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Mon, May 31 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Thur, June 3 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) All Stars/IRA
Fri, June 4 – Lee County Speedway (IA) MOWA
Fri, June 4 – Wilmot Raceway (WI) All Stars/IRA
Fri, June 4 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, June 5 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, June 5 – Granite City Speedway (MN) WoO
Sat, June 5 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) All Stars/IRA
Sun, June 6 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sun, June 6 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) All Stars/IRA
Sun, June 6 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, June 11 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) WoO
Fri, June 11 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, June 12 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) WoO
Sun, June 13 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Thur, June 17 – 34 Raceway (IA) WoO
Fri, June 18 – Dubuque Speedway (IA) WoO
Sat, June 19 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, June 19 – Beaver Dam Raceway (WI) WoO
Sun, June 20 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Mon, June 21 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) WoO
Tue, June 22 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) WoO
Thur, June 24 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) WoO
Fri, June 25 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) WoO
Sat, June 26 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) WoO Jackson Nationals
Sun, June 27 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA
Thur, July 1 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) IRA
Fri, July 2 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) WoO
Sat, July 3 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, July 3 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) WoO
Sat, July 10 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, July 11 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, July 16 – Lincoln Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, July 17 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, July 18 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, July 23 – Lake Ozark Speedway (MO) All Stars
Fri, July 23 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, July 24 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, July 24 – Lake Ozark Speedway (MO) All Stars
Sun, July 25 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sun, July 25 – Humboldt Speedway (KS) All Stars
Tue, July 27 – I-70 Speedway (MO) All Stars
Thur, July 29 – Missouri State Fair Speedway All Stars
Fri, July 30 – 34 Raceway (IA) All Stars
Fri, July 30 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, July 31 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) All Stars
Sun, Aug 1 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sun, Aug 1 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Aug 6 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO
Sat, Aug 7 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO
Sun, Aug 8 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Capitani Classic
Mon, Aug 9 – Southern Iowa Speedway Front Row Challenge
Wed, Aug 11 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Thur, Aug 12 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Fri, Aug 13 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Sat, Aug 14 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) Nationals
Fri, Aug 20 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 21 – Wilmot Raceway (WI) IRA
Sat, Aug 21 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO
Sun, Aug 22 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) WoO
Sun, Aug 22 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Aug 27 – I-80 Speedway (NE) WoO
Fri, Aug 27 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, Aug 28 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sun, Aug 29 – Huset’s Speedway (SD) NOSA
Sun, Aug 29 – Route 66 Raceway (IL) IRA/MOWA
Fri, Sept 3 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Fri, Sept 3 – Dodge Co. Fairgrounds (WI) IRA
Sat, Sept 4 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) IRA
Sun, Sept 5 – 141 Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Sept 10 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, Sept 10 – Outagamie Speedway (WI) IRA
Sat, Sept 11 – Spoon River Speedway (IL) MOWA Tom Knowles Memorial
Sat, Sept 11 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) IRA Jerry Richert Memorial
Fri, Sept 17 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL)
Sat, Sept 18 – Beaver Dam Raceway (WI) IRA
Fri, Sept 24 – Dodge Co. Fairgrounds (WI) IRA
Sat, Sept 25 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Sat, Sept 25 – Plymouth Dirt Track (WI) IRA
Sun, Sept 26 – Huset’s Speedway (SD)
Fri, Oct 8 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, Oct 22 – Lakeside Speedway (KS) WoO
2020 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 766
2. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 667 (9)
3. Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 660 (11)
4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 587 (3)
5. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 479 (3)
6. Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 440
7. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 419
8. Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 413
9. Tim Kaeding, Campbell, CA, 402
10. Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 385 (1)
2019 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Final Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 954 (2)
2. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 947 (7)
3. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 731 (5)
4. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 713 (2)
5. James McFadden, Warrnambool, VIC, Aust., 592 (2)
6. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 505 (1)
7. Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 484 (1)
8. Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI, 471 (3)
9. Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL, 427 (5)
10. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 400 (2)
2018 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 866 (7)
2. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 686 (7)
3. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 602 (5)
4. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 565
5. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 420 (1)
6. Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 398 (4)
(tie) Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 398
8. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 390 (2)
9. Cory Eliason, Selma, CA, 386 (1)
10. Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 365 (1)
2017 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Final Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 1086 (5)
2. Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 1031 (7)
3. Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND, 800 (6)
4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 760 (6)
5. Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA, 760 (2)
6. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 533 (1)
7. Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 529 (2)
8. David Gravel, Watertown, CT, 481 (3)
9. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 437 (1)
10. Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA, 425 (2)