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Leigh Thomas Crowned First UMSS Champion At Inaugural Banquet
By: Greg Parent
BURNVILLE, MN (January 23) - The upstart Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS)
held its inaugural banquet at Pro Kart Indoors in Burnsville, Minnesota on
Saturday evening January 23. Earning the honor of being crowned the
first-ever champion of this new 360 sprint car group was Leigh Thomas from
Duluth. The banquet combined a dinner, awards presentation, and then was
followed by several sessions of go-kart racing at the indoor facility
featuring the "Beat The Pros" theme. Many of those in attendance
participated in the go-kart racing action to round out a very enjoyable
evening.
UMSS President, Ron Berhagen, held a meeting before the banquet began to
discuss some rules for the upcoming 2010 season along with several other
items. Ron was joined by Bob Allen from Arlington Raceway and IMCA to
discuss a joint effort between the two groups for several races in 2010.
Following dinner, the UMSS honored its top drivers and champion during the
awards ceremony. Ron Bernhagen thanked the drivers, car owners, crew
members, families, fans, track promoters and series sponsors for their
participation and support of the new organization in its first year.
Appreciation awards were presented to several in attendance. Champion Leigh
Thomas received a jacket and some contingency money from Hoosier Tire, a
cash bonus from GRP Motorsports, and two trophies. One trophy will be
Leigh's permanent first place trophy to keep while the other trophy is the
Barry Kettering Memorial Trophy honoring a fallen champion and sprint car
racing hero from years past. The Kettering Memorial trophy will be a
traveling UMSS champions trophy with Leigh Thomas the first name engraved on
the plate. As Leigh Thomas accepted the top honors, he stated that "twenty
years of intense passion for sprint car racing and a lot of blood, sweat and
tears have finally paid off tonight. It is an honor to be the first champion
of this series."
Finishing in second place through fifth place in the final point standings
and also receiving trophies along with some contingency money from Hoosier
Tire were Jerry Richert, Jr, Cody Hahn, Joseph Kouba, and Kevin Nickel. Cody
Hahn also earned the GRP Motorsports UMSS Rookie of the Year honors
including a trophy and cash prize. Cody's good fortune prevailed in the door
prize drawing as well when he won a new front nose wing donated by Lev
Enterprises from Jackson. The first UMSS Sportsmanship Award was presented
by GRP Motorsports to Greg Gunderson from Sioux Falls, SD. Several product
discount certificates were also presented to the top ten in the point
standings.
With the first season in the books and a foundation laid to build upon, the
outlook for 2010 for the UMSS is positive. Ron Bernhagen reported that he
knows of several new drivers and car owners who have either acquired a
sprint car or are in the process of doing so. Ron also indicated that a few
drivers who suffered some misfortune in the early to middle stages of last
season will be back out again. The UMSS is looking forward to another
successful season in 2010, as the group will be expanding its schedule. To
view the tentative schedule for 2010 or obtain more information on the UMSS,
please visit our website at www.umsprints.com .
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