USAC Sprint Car driver Bret Mellenberndt out of Sioux Falls, SD finishes out the season this past weekend at Manzanita Speedway with the Western World Championship. It was a two-day show for Mellenberndt at the famed Manzanita Speedway and Bret went there with great expectations as for last February he set quick time. With Sprint Car veteran Rick Ferkel and long time sprint racer Doug Martens on his side, Bret qualified in the top half of the field at 27th out of the 65 others and started the first heat race on the second row. Bret fell back at the start, but raced his way up to the number 6 spot just two spots outside the transfer position. Mellenberndt then had to run the Semi in which the sixth row was where he was to start. Passing 5 cars throughout the Semi, Bret finished 7th and unfortunately missed the transfer into the Preliminary Main Event for the two-day show at Manzanita. The Mellenberndt Team utilized the first night of the weekend as a trial to get the team set up for the final show on Saturday. Taking the points earned from Friday’s event, set Bret to start on the second row of the “C” Main. An unfortunate yellow flag was thrown with only two laps to go and Bret realized the rear tire was going down on the Sioux City Truck & Trailer WolfWeld Chassis. He decided to swing into the work area and change the tire and come back out for the restart at the tail of the field. But, with only two laps to go, Bret ran out of time and did not make the transfer. “Overall the weekend went well, explains Bret, we had a new team going into Manzanita and the car was good pretty much all weekend, but just wasn’t quite good enough.”

“We had a very respectful season this year, mentions Bret, we were more consistent than any other year I’ve raced and we had all the right equipment to win races, but we just weren’t consistent with the team. We struggled finding the right help and putting forth the time needed to conduct a ‘race winning’ program. I can’t wait for next year, I learned a lot this year and we just have to find the right help and stick with each other for the entire season. If we can do that, you will see the Sioux City Truck & Trailer WolfWeld Chassis in victory lane!”

Bret would like to thank all of the fans and supporters that stuck with him in 2008 and would also like to give a special thanks to Doug Martens, Rick Ferkel, Bill Mellenberndt, Sioux City Truck and Trailer, Petersen Motors, Hoosier Racing Tire, Keizer Wheels, Bell Racing, DMI, ATL Fuel Cells, Ultra-Shield, WolfWeld Chassis, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Howe Racing and Driver Websites.

USAC Sprint Car driver Bret Mellenberndt out of Sioux Falls, SD stayed home this past weekend to get another car ready to rock for the upcoming races in Phoenix, AZ. The racing at Manzanita Speedway begins with a USAC sanctioned two-day event on the 7th and 8th of November. The plans are uncertain in the Mellenberndt Shop on whether or not they will be racing with the ASCS Canyon Series on the 1/3 mile track the same weekend or if they will be heading out to Perris, CA for two USAC/CRA events on the 15th and 29th of November. The Mellenberndt Team would like to give a special thanks to all the fans and supporters of Mellenberndt Racing including: Sioux City Truck and Trailer, Petersen Motors, Hoosier Racing Tire, Keizer Wheels, Bell Racing, DMI, ATL Fuel Cells, Ultra-Shield, WolfWeld Chassis, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Howe Racing and Driver Websites. Be sure to follow Bret through the team website www.bretmellenberndtracing.com for all the latest news and results that will be coming up here in just a couple weeks.

USAC Sprint Car driver Bret Mellenberndt out of Sioux Falls, SD takes the team out to Jacksonville, Illinois this past Friday for a non-sanctioned event. Bret’s qualifying skills shine once again as he was able to put the Sioux City Truck & Trailer WolfWeld Chassis 4th quick out of a field of 40 plus. Racing towards the front in the heat race, Bret’s left rear tire went flat and Bret was sent to the ‘B’ Main. The rules were changed throughout the evening as Bret was suppose to line up in the ‘B’ Main based of his qualifying efforts, but with the inconsistency of the officiating, Bret had to line up at the rear of the field. Unfortunately, Mellenberndt was unable to make the transfer to the Main Event. After Jacksonville, it was time to roll out to Haubstadt, Indiana for a MSCS sanctioned event. Bret started the Heat Race in the third position and raced in that final transfer spot throughout most of the race until Bret spun with just two laps to go while racing hard against another competitor. Lining back up for the restart at the tail end, Mellenberndt attempted to charge up to that precious third spot, but fell short and had to run the ‘C’ Main. Bret led the ‘C’ until his throttle stuck and even with the throttle issues, Bret still managed to finish second and transfer into the ‘B’ Main. Mellenberndt started at the tail end of the field in the ‘B’ and had to make it to the number 5 spot to guarantee him a starting position in the Main. Bret raced all the way up to the 6th position and fell just one spot short of the transfer.

The Mellenberndt Team will be staying out in Indiana this week to prepare themselves for the upcoming show in Gas City this coming Friday followed by a $10,000 to win MSCS event held in Lawrenceburg, Indiana the following evening. Be sure to follow Bret through his website www.bretmellenberndtracing.com for all of his latest results and press releases. Special Thanks to Mike Dutcher, Andy Anderson, Petersen Motors, Hoosier Racing Tire, Keizer Wheels, Bell Racing, Sioux City Truck and Trailer, DMI, ATL Fuel Cells, Ultra-Shield, WolfWeld Chassis, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Howe Racing and Driver Websites.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota native Bret Mellenberndt takes the Sioux City Truck & Trailer WolfWeld Chassis out to Indiana again this past weekend for the attempt of a two day race weekend. The rain fell down Friday in Bloomington cancelling the event so the Mellenberndt Team had to pack up the rig and head to Putnamville, Indiana for the Saturday night show. The Mellenberndt Team has not raced at Lincoln Park Speedway since last May, but with last times’ showing, Bret had an impressive run winning the Semi and coming from the back of the field in the Main and finishing in the 6th position. This past Saturday, Bret and the gang were able to finish in the top 5 of the Heat Race and with only the top 4 transferring into the Main, the Semi was next up for Mellenberndt and the Sioux City Truck & Trailer WolfWeld Chassis. Starting in the third row, Bret raced to fifth on the rough surface which was unfortunately just outside of the transfer position of 4th and putting an early end to the evening. The Team’s plans for this week are to stay out in Indiana this week and they will be racing Gas City this coming Friday followed by the much anticipated Four-Crown Nationals at the historic Eldora Speedway. Be sure to swing by www.bretmellenberndtracing.com to keep up with all of Bret’s latest news and result updates and a very Special Thanks goes out to Mike Dutcher, Andy Anderson, Petersen Motors, Hoosier Racing Tire, Keizer Wheels, Bell Racing, Sioux City Truck and Trailer, DMI, ATL Fuel Cells, Ultra-Shield, WolfWeld Chassis, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Howe Racing and Driver Websites.

Bret Mellenberndt out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, takes the team out East to Indiana again this past weekend. To start out the three day series, Bret and the gang traveled to Gas City I-69 Speedway. Bret started in the rear of the Heat Race and drove forward through the field just outside the transfer spot to the 6th position. Mellenberndt then had to run the Semi for one last attempt to make it into the Main Event. Starting 8th, Bret raced forward until a mishap on the racetrack caused him to restart the event in the tail of the field. Mellenberndt put the hammer down to attempt to make the top four transfer, but was only able to pass 10 cars and finish eighth. “Not a bad run,” explains Mellenberndt, “but having to restart the ‘B’ at the tail of the field didn’t help much.”

Next up was Lawrenceburg Speedway. Bret started sixth in the heat and moved up one spot just outside of the transfer position. Dominating the Semi, Bret was able to put the Sioux City Truck & Trailer WolfWeld Chassis into that precious Main Event. Starting 18th, Mellenberndt set the car above the cushion and drove around 11 cars to finish in the 7th spot and add another top ten to the record books.

For the third night of the series, Bret and the gang traveled to Haubstadt, Indiana for an MSCS show. An impressive 41 cars showed up for the MSCS show at Tri-State Speedway. Bret started 7th in the second of four heat races and raced his way up to the number 2 spot to guarantee him a starting position in the Main Event. Having a nasty start in the Main, set Bret back to the 12th position. Mellenberndt put the elbows up and raced back up to 7th, but then late in the race, Bret jumped the cushion stalling the Sioux City Truck & Trailer WolfWeld Chassis. Restarting the race in the back of the pack, Bret raced up to 14th to finish out the evening. Watch for Mellenberndt at Bloomington Speedway next Friday followed by Lawrenceburg and the Season Championship in Kokomo. Keep up with all of Bret’s latest results through his website www.bretmellenberndtracing.com and be sure to swing by the guestbook to let Bret know you stopped by. Special Thanks to Mike Dutcher, Andy Anderson, Petersen Motors, Hoosier Racing Tire, Keizer Wheels, Bell Racing, Sioux City Truck and Trailer, DMI, ATL Fuel Cells, Ultra-Shield, WolfWeld Chassis, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Howe Racing and Driver Websites.