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Eriksen steers to Sprint championship at IMCA Speedway Motors
Super Nationals
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 8) – It’s not unusual for a race car driver to get a hug
from his sister in victory lane.
It’s a rare occurrence, however, when that hug comes from the sister he
passed for the lead.
Shannon Eriksen caught up with his sister Jennifer after she spun while
running at the front of Tuesday’s Jackpot Junction Tour feature field at
Boone Speedway. After steering around Jennifer’s wobbly ride, he led the
next 18 circuits and captured the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals
Sprint Car championship.
He’d dedicate the victory to their father Dave, now undergoing radiation and
chemotherapy for throat cancer.
“It’s been hard for him to get our cars ready,” Eriksen said. “Both Jennifer
and I wanted to win tonight because we don’t know if this will be our last
trip to Boone and it was a fantastic race.”
Chris Graf took runner-up honors and earned his second series title, edging
third place finisher Brett Geldner for the title by all of two points.
Neil Stevens raced his way back to fourth after going off the track on the
opening lap and Jennifer Eriksen rounded out the top five.
Jennifer, the 2007 series champion, led the first seven laps from her pole
start, going to the extreme high side of the track on turn four and diving
into a lower line.
She got sideways in the first set of turns, but recovered and held onto
fourth until Stevens took the position away on the final lap.
Shannon, the 2008 tour king, took the opening green flag from outside row
one and was in the right place at the right time to take advantage of
Jennifer’s miscue, steering adroitly into the lead.
“I just prayed I could get around her and not run into her when I saw what
happened,” he said from victory lane. “The win tonight was absolutely the
highlight of my career. I’m looking forward to enjoying the moment with my
family.”
Eriksen’s Super Nationals win paid $1,000.
Bruce Allen ran sixth in the 19th Super Nationals main event appearance of
his career. Defending race winner Tim St. Arnold was part of a heat race
melee and did not start the feature.
Feature results –
1. Shannon Eriksen, Lakeville, Minn.;
2. Chris Graf, Glencoe, Minn.;
3. Brett Geldner, St. Peter, Minn.;
4. Neil Stevens, Bingham Lake, Minn.;
5. Jennifer Eriksen, Burnsville, Minn.;
6. Bruce Allen, Mankato, Minn.;
7. Donovan Peterson, Brookings, S.D.;
8. Brandon Allen, St. Peter, Minn.;
9. Justin Saathoff, Bruce, S.D.;
10. Brett Allen, Kasota, Minn.;
11. Nate Laugen, Lake Mills;
12. Marty Stephenson, Mitchellville;
13. Dwain Wilmes, Kasota, Minn.;
14. Jeremiah Jordahl, Madison, S.D.
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