Countdown: Minnesota

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is a sportsman's paradise, with bountiful hunting and fishing. At the same time, the Gopher State produces vast amounts of grain, timber, taconite and hockey players. The Mississippi River starts at Lake Itasca, while the Great Lakes end at Duluth.

The Mayo brothers opened a famous clinic in Rochester, while the Andrews sisters sold a lot of records after they left Minneapolis. Frances Gump, from Grand Rapids, went over the rainbow as Judy Garland, while Austin's John Madden refuses to fly anywhere.

It's a place that can claim both Bob Dylan and Prince as native sons, as well as Walter Mondale and Jesse Ventura.

So it's no surprise that Minnesota's connection to NASCAR doesn't fit the typical mold.

Inside the Numbers Joe Frasson (top-10 Cup finishes) Year Site Finish 1972 Darlington 3 1973 College Station 3 1973 Atlanta 3 1971 Michigan 5 1971 College Station 6 1972 Talladega 6 1971 Rockingham 7 1974 Atlanta 7 1971 Rockingham 8 1973 Rockingham 8 1974 Darlington 8 1975 Talladega 8 1976 Darlington 8 1970 Columbia 9 1970 Malta 9 1972 Charlotte 9 1974 Darlington 9 1972 College Station 10 1973 Daytona 10

Best behind the wheel

• Joe Frasson, Golden Valley

Joe Frasson didn't win a NASCAR race, but he certainly had the character for it. Standing about 6-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Frasson almost always wore a black felt slouch hat when not behind the wheel -- and a smile on his face.

Known primarily for being "that other car" in one of NASCAR's greatest finishes, Frasson cracked the top 10 just 19 times in 107 career starts. But it was his colorful personality that shines through more than 25 years after his last race.

It was Frasson whom David Pearson should thank for his victory in the 1976 Daytona 500. After colliding with Richard Petty, Pearson's car clipped the car driven by Frasson, who was 17 laps down at the time. That helped point Pearson's Mercury in the direction of the finish line, and as Petty sat helplessly watching in the infield grass, Pearson crept across to take the checkered flag.

In 1971, Frasson teamed with Union 76 Oil public relations director Bill Broderick and three journalists to drive a 27-foot motorhome in the first official Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. They finished last, 57 hours and 25 minutes after they started. The only incident, according to Broderick, was when Frasson swerved at a highway detour, which spilled hot lasagna on the motorhome's shag rug.

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Marty Robbins, a character in his own right, had a fast car at Talladega in 1972. In fact, it was too fast. After the race, Robbins went up to one of the NASCAR officials and told him that something was wrong with the carburetor. It turned out Robbins was right -- and the car was disqualified, which cost him about $1,300.

"It was worth it," Robbins said. "In fact, I'd have paid that much money for a picture of Joe Frasson's face when I passed him."

In 1975, Frasson attempted to bring Pontiac back into the sport, but had little success. After failing to qualify for the World 600 at Charlotte, Frasson hastily called a news conference, took out a tire iron and pounded the tar out of his car.

"I would like to announce Pontiac is retiring from racing," he said.

Frasson, who started racing roadsters in 1952, was involved in a fiery accident during the Late Model Sportsman race at Daytona in 1979 and made just one more start in NASCAR, finishing 12th in a Busch Series race at Charlotte -- driving a Pontiac.

Other noteworthy drivers from Minnesota

• Blackie Wangerin, Bloomington: In 27 starts from 1971-1984, his best finish was a 13th at Charlotte in 1980

We wish ...

Football legend Bronko Nagurski had become a NASCAR driver.

A two-time All-American at Minnesota, the Golden Gopher from chilly International Falls who wore the famous No. 3 led the Chicago Bears to three NFL titles as a fullback, but he was just as impressive on defense. After his playing days were over, he became a professional wrestler.

Keeping it on track

• Elko Speedway, Elko

Elko Speedway is a high-banked, three-eighths-mile paved oval track which has been affiliated with NASCAR for half of its 40-year history. NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division IV champion Donny Reuvers of Dundas won eight of 24 races during Elko's Saturday night shows in 2005.

• Raceway Park, Shakopee

This quarter-mile, semi-banked paved oval has been in operation for five decades, running on Sunday nights. NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division IV champion Donny Reuvers of Dundas won 12 times in 17 races, while never finishing outside the top five.

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A word from our sponsor

• 3M, St. Paul

3M was founded in 1902 at the Lake Superior town of Two Harbors. Five businessmen set out to mine a mineral deposit for grinding-wheel abrasives. But the deposits proved to be of little value, and the new Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. quickly moved to nearby Duluth to focus on sandpaper products, then settled in St. Paul in 1910. In 1925,

Richard G. Drew, a young lab assistant, invented masking tape, which in turn, led to Scotch cellophane tape, audio recording tape, fax paper, Scotchgard, videotape and Post-It notes.

St. Paul is also home to Ecolab cleaning products, while Graco fluid-handling systems are based in Minneapolis, hometown of Betty Crocker and General Mills.