BRANDON, S.D. — Justin Henderson, J.J. Zebell and Christopher Thram capped a stellar Huset’s Speedway racing season with wins on Sunday during the Bull Haulers Brawl presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking finale.
Additionally, two track champions were decided during the track’s season finale as Brooke Tatnell earned the Cressman Sanitation 410 Outlaw Sprint Cars title and Zach Olivier recorded the Nordstrom’s Automotive Late Model Street Stocks championship – both for the second straight season.
Tatnell’s came with some anxiety during the main event as he pulled into the work area in the infield running third early in the race. The crew diagnosed a potential problem and Tatnell returned to the track in the 18th position. He rallied to finish 11th to hang onto his narrow lead in the championship standings.
“As a driver you know all right we’ve got a problem,” he said. “‘Can we fix it or can’t we fix it?’ You know typically whether it’s a spark plug, it’s a nozzle line, it’s a rocker arm. I knew if we could get back out, where we had to finish we had to be within 10 of (Chase) Randall and we were safe. I knew if we got to 10th we’re safe. I just sat there and counted. When you’re at the back it’s pretty bloody scary.
“They all said we’re too freakin’ old. They can eat some humble pie.”
Olivier led the Nordstrom’s Automotive Late Model Street Stocks division with seven top fives and 11 top 10s in a dozen main events this season.
“We were really consistent this year, a lot of top fives just like tonight,” he said. “The competition has gotten better. You can’t win them all. We won a few. Just to be in contention, run top five, top 10 every night is really what it’s all about.”
410 Outlaw Sprints Feature
Henderson captured his second Cressman Sanitation 410 Outlaw Sprint Cars victory of the season to garner the $6,000 top prize. He led all 25 laps to win by 1.100 seconds, which was his 30th career triumph at the track. Henderson also became only the second driver to garner multiple wins in the division this year.
“Very special,” he said. “I love having my baby boy and my wife here.”
Six total cautions occurred during the race and led to the closest calls for Henderson as runner up Scott Bogucki attempted slide jobs on a couple of late restarts. Henderson maintained his spot on the cushion to stay out front throughout the race.
Bogucki finished second with Dusty Zomer ending third and Mark Dobmeier fourth. Kaleb Johnson hustled from 21st to fifth.
Late Model Street Stock Feature
Brandon Ferguson paced the field for the first three laps before Zebell took the lead on lap four. Mike Chaney battled by Zebell for the top spot on lap five with Zebell reclaiming the position on the ensuing lap. Chaney again captured the lead on lap 15 before Zebell answered on lap 16 and led the final five laps to win by 0.447 seconds.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It was a blast out there. I’m pumped.”
Chaney was the runner up with Colby Klaassen placing third, Olivier fourth and Matt Steuerwald fifth from the 14th starting position.
360 Sprints Feature
Thram led the final 14 laps of the Gunderson Racing Inc. Midwest Sprint Touring Series and QualityFreightRate.com Midwest Power Series 360 sprint cars main event.
“I was a little snug at the beginning, but the track slicked off beautiful,” he said. “It was a great race track they gave us to race on and the car kept getting better and better until it was about out of fuel with five to go. It was a little touch and go there the last little bit, but we got it done.”
Tatnell held the point for the first 11 laps before Thram used a diamond move to exit turn four on the bottom to edge Tatnell at the line. He then held onto the lead throughout the remainder of an A Main that was slowed by three red flags and two additional cautions.
Tatnell finished 0.602 seconds behind Thram with Riley Goodno advancing from 11th to third. Micah Slendy was fourth and Brendan Mullen charged from 18th to fifth.
410 Outlaws Feature Finish (25 Laps)
1. 83-Justin Henderson (2); 2. 10-Scott Bogucki (4); 3. 3J-Dusty Zomer (5); 4. 13-Mark Dobmeier (6); 5. 22K-Kaleb Johnson (21); 6. 9-Chase Randall (7); 7. 22-Riley Goodno (11); 8. 14T-Tim Estenson (9); 9. 17B-Ryan Bickett (20); 10. 6-Jake Blackhurst (10); 11. 16-Brooke Tatnell (1); 12. 10J-Justin Jacobsma (13); 13. 7B-Ben Brown (12); 14. (DNF) 1K-Kelby Watt (3); 15. (DNF) 5G-Gage Pulkrabek (18); 16. (DNF) 4-Cody Hansen (14); 17. (DNF) 8-Aaron Reutzel (8); 18. (DNF) 14H-Carson McCarl (15); 19. (DNF) 111-Chad Frewaldt (19); 20. (DNF) 11M-Brendan Mullen (16); 21. (DNS) 98-Nate Barger.