Auto racers did their best to beat each other, but were not able to beat a rain shower that wiped out most of Friday’s feature races at Brown County Speedway, Aberdeen.
The evening included more than 30 Late Model drivers from across the region who were competing on the Tri-State series. Officials moved the Late Model feature up in the program trying to beat the approaching weather.
The Late Models were on the track and the green flag officially dropped for the feature, but the drivers were unable to complete even one lap before conditions quickly deteriorated.
“We dropped the green. That was exciting,” said Aberdeen’s Kent Arment, who started pole position in the 30-lap race. “Wouldn’t it have been something if they kept going?”
However, that was not going to happen.
“We were skating all over the place,” Arment said.
The yellow caution flag came out before a lap was even recorded.
“I think we were at yellow by the time we were down the straightaway,” Arment said.
Arment, who also serves as a track official at BCS, said it was uncertain if the show could be rescheduled at some point in the future.
“We’re not sure,” Arment said. “We’d certainly like to try to make it up later in the year and try something. We’re going to toss around some option and go from there.”
He said the difficult part of trying to reschedule is that race is part of a series that includes many drivers who are not regulars at BCS.
“It’s disappointing, because we had a good car count with those guys. We had The Tri-State deal,” Arment said. “It’s a traveling series, so it is hard to reschedule and bring them back up.”
The one feature that did take place was about as exciting as it could get.
Maria Broksieck of Goodwin led the Street Stock race from beginning to nearly end, only to have Braden Brauer of Eyota, Minn., weave through lap traffic and take the lead right before the checkered flag.
“I had to stick to my guns. You also have to try stuff to try and pass people,” Brauer said. “I really wasn’t planning on passing her there. I looked up at the board and there was one (lap) to go going into three so it just worked out.”
Brauer used the slower cars to his advantage as Broksieck was forced to try to find a way around them and he was able to find a spot to pass her.
“The lap traffic helped me close in on her,” Brauer said, “that was a big deal.”
The finish was so close that Brauer wasn’t even completely sure that he had won the race.
“I wasn’t sure if I passed her or not,” Brauer said. “I had to go off the track a little bit to get round that lap car.”
Brauer knew he was running out of time and needed to make a move soon.
“That’s what I started to think when I looked up at the board and there was three (laps) to go and I’m still in third,” he said.
The 20-year-old from southeast of Rochester, Minn., said he’s had some close races before, but this one was certainly special.
“I’ve had a few,” Brauer said, “but this is definitely towards the top of the list.”
Racing continues at 7 p.m. Friday.
To see Friday’s results, click on the following link:
