Local racers run in All-Star series

Trent Snyder finished ninth in the Yellowbook USA Midwest All-Star Series Late Model 100-lap feature at I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre Saturday.

Snyder said his car's rear tires started wearing out and caused his car to fishtail in the corners as the race wore on.

"At the beginning we were running right up there," he said. "The car was just flying."

Snyder, of Ironton, started third in his 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo after qualifying 12th and finishing fourth in his heat race. He was racing his Chevy Monte Carlo that he normally races at the raceway for its ASA Super Late Model class.

He said he was running in second and third place for the first 40 laps of Saturday's feature. When he made contact with another racer, he lost several positions, he said.

D.J. Dondelinger of Brainerd also finished 13th in the feature in his 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo. The raceway's Web site said he spun out in Turn Four, bringing the race's first caution on lap 36.

Dondelinger said he spun out when he attempted to pass another racer. "I looped it and it just spun," he said.

He noted that he thought his tires were wearing out. He also was having problems with his front brakes throughout the race.

"I kind of stayed in the back the rest of the night," Dondelinger said.

Snyder and Dondelinger will have no rest in the series. The third round of the 12-round series is Saturday at the Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wis.

Snyder was working on installing a new engine Wednesday night for his other Monte Carlo which is specifically set up for this series.

NCS loses avid fan

Sitting in the scorer's suite at North Central Speedway Saturday nights will not be the same since Mike Murphy passed away Sunday.

I could always look over the edge of the window and sitting right below the suite on the top row of the bleachers would be Murphy and his wife Kathy. They were watching his stepson, Mark Johnson of Baxter, racing in the Wissota Street Stock class.

I can remember the day before Mother's Day very well. Both Murphy and Kathy were very excited, sometimes Kathy even had both arms raised, when Johnson took the lead en route to winning the feature.

Murphy hardly ever missed a race. He was there every race so far this season, even when the first three were in cold weather.

I was really hoping that Johnson could have won Saturday's feature. It sure would have made Murphy proud. Johnson finished third.

But never less, Murphy will still be watching Johnson race, just from a different vantage point.

clint wood, staff writer and photographer can be reached at clint.wood@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5869.