(Minneapolis, MN-August 1, 2000) Jimmy Mars decided to take the
weekend off from the grueling Hav-A-Tampa racing series to regroup and to put the
finishing touches on a brand new car. This was also a few days that he could spend with
his wife and family, but at a racetrack?
In the meantime, Paul Gilberts (his father-in-law) talked him into driving his Wissota late model three out of the four nights. Jimmy very seldom turns down the opportunity to get behind the wheel. Mars originally planned on driving Gilberts' car on Friday night, and then Paul was going to drive it the rest of the weekend. Gilberts retires from driving several times every racing season! Plans must have changed after Jimmy picked up a win on Friday night.
On Monday night Mars was at Rice Lake, and secured his first career win at that facility. Mars started from the 8th starting position and used the top groove to work his way through traffic. Mars grabbed the lead on a restart at lap twenty-three and went on for the win. Mars also picked up a Wissota win at Menomonie last Friday night and a second place finish at Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday night.
The Mars ParkerStore team was also experimenting with some spring combinations and set-ups, and will use this information when they head to LaSalle for the next Hav-A-Tampa event on Tuesday, August 2.
Mars will be back at the Cedar Lake Speedway this weekend for the USA Nationals 100. Mars is a previous winner of this event, and is looking for a big win on his home turf.
(John Strand)
(Photo by Mike Holzhueter)
Rice Lake Speedway (July 31,2000)
FRS Racing and Rod’s Painting and Sandblasting 40
Wissota Late Models
40 lap Feature- 1 Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound; 2 Brent Larson, Maplewood Mn; 3 Duane
Mahder, Eau Claire ; 4 John Kaanta, Elk Mound; 5 Joel Cryderman, Thunder Bay Ont. ; 6
Steve Laursen, Cumberland; 7 Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay Ont. ; 8 Jeff Keeney, River Falls; 9
Tony Bahr, Eau Claire ; 10 Jerry Redetzke, Eau Claire ; 11 Pat Doar, New Richmond ; 12 Don
Copp, Brule; 13 Terry Casey, New London; 14 Lance Matthees, Winona Mn; 15 Danny Young,
Thunder Bay Ont. ; 16 Ashley Anderson, Eau Claire ; 17 Steve Egersdorf, Stacy Mn; 18 Harry
Hanson, Eveleth Mn; 19 Dave Zimmerman, Elizabeth Mn; 20 Mark Hessler, Menomonie ; 21 Todd
Gehl, Solon Springs; 22 W.C. Field, New Richmond; 23 Mitch Johnson, Hickson N.D.; 24 Jon
Kurshinsky, Eau Claire .
(Results courtesy of Ed Reichert)
