It was a successful season of racing for two Luverne men who won season championships at Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, in 2022.
Colton Arends won the USRA Stock Cars class title, and Eric Gaul claimed the season championship in the USRA Hobby Stocks class.
For Arends it was his first-ever season championship. “This is the first year we raced for points at a single track,” he said.
After placing second in the first race of the season May 6, Arends won the next three races in a row and led the standings for the remainder of the summer.
In all, he won seven of the 13 feature races staged at Rapid Speedway this season and ended the year 182 points ahead of the second place driver, Josh Kelderman of Sioux Center, Iowa.
“Racing is a lot of work, but it’s fun when the hard work pays off,” Arends said, “and it did this season.”
On average 15 cars are entered in the Stock Cars class each Friday night at Rapid Speedway.
Arends, who has been racing for eight years overall and stock cars for four seasons, also raced in Fairmont, Jackson, Worthington, Slayton, Spencer, Iowa, and Bristol, Tennessee this season.
“It’s fun racing close to home and kind of having that home crowd,” Arends said of Rapid Speedway, 17 miles south of his farm near Luverne.
Gaul has been racing for 18 years overall, and 2022 was his fourth season championship. He’s also won in the Sportsman’s class over the years and in Worthington and Slayton.
The Hobby Stock class at Rapid Speedway is especially competitive, according to Gaul.
“It was close all season and the pressure was definitely high all year,” he said.
“It’s probably the best USRA Hobby Stocks in the nation. Four of the top five national points leaders race in Rock Rapids.”
On average, 21 to 23 cars enter the hobby stocks race in Rock Rapids each Friday night.
Gaul won four feature races at Rapid Speedway in 2022. His lowest finish of the season was seventh and he averaged a place finish of 2.75 over the 13 races.
He won the championship 17 points ahead of Dustin Gulbrandson of Sioux Falls.
“It was a season you only dream of,” Gaul said.
He said he is grateful to Steve Schouwenburg and Ron Schouwenburg who own the car he races.
“Without those two, I couldn’t do what I do.”
Both Gaul and Arends praised their sponsons, crew members, family and friends who make their racing hobby possible.
“It takes a lot of people and time to be successful, and we appreciate all the support,” Arends said.