Large field gathers for opener at Oberlin Speedway
By Mike Hughes

Oberlin, KS (April 9, 2006)—Over 80 race cars in six divisions overflowed the pit area at Oberlin (KS) Speedway at the 2006 season opener Sunday evening, April 9.

Hometown driver David Murray Jr. was able to hold off a late charge from Robby Haines to win the IMCA Modified feature. Murray led all 20 laps enroute to the victory, but a late race caution set up a 3-lap shootout to the finish with Murray leading Haines and Ronnie Wallace back to the green. Haines tried to get underneath Murray in turn 4 the final 3 laps but was not able to make the pass and settled for the runner-up spot. Wallace was third, followed by Rick Schwab and Jason Schoenberger. Heat race winners were Wallace, Haines and Schwab.

Jason Schoenberger of Russell and Weskan’s Randy Tipton exchanged the lead a couple of times late in the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car main event. Bill Matson led the first nine laps before Schoenberger, who started 11th, worked his way to the front. After a caution with 5 laps to go, Tipton got by Schoenberger for the lead on lap 17 before Schoenberger regained it on the white flag lap and held on for a narrow win. Tony Schultz was third, trailed by Cory Struckhoff and Matson. Schultz, Lloyd Meeske and Jason Rogers won the three heat races.

Norton’s Kelly Karnopp won a wild IMCA Hobby Stock feature that saw more than its share of caution flags. Karnopp took the lead at the drop of the green, but the red flag came out on lap 2 when Jason Koch rolled over. Koch was okay but the car was done for the night. Karnopp was hounded by Adam Balthazor the entire distance but was first to the checkers for the win. Justin Wagner, Gene Sneath and Brady Schoen rounded out the top five. Heat race winners included Sneath, Wagner, Brian Conness, and Karnopp, while Jerry Hudson took top honors in the B-feature.

Larry Pollmann of McCook, NE, took the lead at the halfway mark of the 10-lap Classic Modified feature and led the remaining distance for the win. Early leader Devin Allen was second with Duke Ebert third. Pollmann and Allen won the two heat races.

Another Murray found their way to the winner’s circle as Oberlin’s Sarah Murray won the Mini Truck main event. Sarah led all 8 laps to the checkers. Heat race winner Curtis Richards was second, followed by Cindy Murray.

Heat race winners Joe & Jim Carter of Russell led from green to checkered in the Cruiser feature. Jason Davis & Josh Wonderly teamed up to place second, with Wes & Chuck Eagleburger third. Bret & Alan Marietta rolled their car on lap 5 but escaped unharmed.

Racing returns to Oberlin Speedway Saturday evening, April 29, with a 7:00 p.m. start time.



RESULTS

Classic Modifieds
Heat 1: 1. Larry Pollmann, 2. Duke Ebert, 3. A.C. Werner, 4. Larry Ayers.

Heat 2: 1. Devin Allen, 2. Karl Wickizer, 3. Loren Pollmann, 4. Michael Brenning.

Feature: 1. Larry Pollmann, 2. Allen, 3. Ebert, 4. Wickizer, 5. Loren Pollmann, 6. Max Pollmann, 7. Tony Miller, 8. A.C. Werner, 9. Andrew Richards, 10. Ayers, 11. Brenning (DNF), 12. John Werner (DNF).

Mini Trucks
Heat: 1. Curtis Richards, 2. Sarah Murray, 3. Cindy Murray, 4. Josh Bopp.

Feature: 1. S. Murray, 2. Richards, 3. C. Murray, 4. Bopp, 5. Delbert Ridnow.

Cruisers
Heat: 1. Joe Carter/Jim Carter, 2. Jason Davis/Josh Wonderly, 3. Norman Weismann/Milo Lippelmann, 4. Wes Eagleburger/Chuck Eagleburger.

Feature: 1. Carter/Carter, 2. Davis/Wonderly, 3. Eagleburger/Eagleburger, 4. Weismann/Lippelmann, 5. Jeremy Simmons/Roger Deal, 6. Alan Marietta/Bret Marietta (DNF).

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1: 1. Gene Sneath, 2. Jason Koch, 3. Greg Hoing, 4. Aaron Koch.

Heat 2: 1. Justin Wagner, 2. John Huffman, 3. Austin Davis, 4. Jim Huttman.

Heat 3: 1. Brian Conness, 2. Adam Balthazor, 3. Brady Schoen, 4. Bret Hagan.

Heat 4: 1. Kelly Karnopp, 2. Dustin McClurg, 3. Jay Hrabe, 4. Brad McCoy.

B-Feature (top 4 advance): 1. Jerry Hudson, 2. Phil Hinger, 3. Cody DeWester, 4. Barry Brush, 5. Chad Brenning, 6. Laura Hinger, 7. Bryan Smotherman (DNF), 8. Bret Gray (DNF), 9. Jebb Tally (DNF), 10. Jeromy Wagner (DNS).

A-Feature: 1. Karnopp, 2. Balthazor, 3. Wagner, 4. Sneath, 5. Schoen, 6. Conness, 7. Hagan, 8. Hudson, 9. P. Hinger, 10. DeWester, 11. McCoy, 12. Huffman, 13. Brush (DNF), 14. McClurg (DNF), 15. Huttman (DNF), 16. J. Koch (DNF), 17. Hoing (DNF), 18. Davis (DNF), 19. Hrabe (DNF), 20. A. Koch (DNF).

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1: 1. Tony Schultz, 2. Jason Schoenberger, 3. Jay Hachmeister, 4. Dan Lauer.

Heat 2: 1. Lloyd Meeske, 2. Josh Hudson, 3. Casey Werkmeister, 4. Tyler Hahn.

Heat 3: 1. Jason Rogers, 2. Bill Matson, 3. Brady Koch 4. Randy Tipton.

Feature: 1. Schoenberger, 2. Tipton, 3. Schultz, 4. Cory Struckhoff, 5. Matson, 6. Hudson, 7. Meeske, 8. Jason Davis, 9. Hahn, 10. C. Werkmeister, 11. Hachmeister, 12. Lauer, 13. Mike Giesenhagen, 14. Caleb Peters, 15. Rogers, 16. Terry Fletcher, 17. Koch (DNF), 18. Kyle Werkmeister (DNS).

IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1: 1. Ronnie Wallace, 2. David Murray Jr., 3. Nick Schaben, 4. Kenny Schmidt.

Heat 2: 1. Robby Haines, 2. Marty Clark, 3. Brice Riley, 4. John Fabrizius.

Heat 3: 1. Rick Schwab, 2. Jason Schoenberger, 3. Don Hagan, 4. Brad Wagoner.

Feature: 1. Murray, 2. Haines, 3. Wallace, 4. Schwab, 5. Schoenberger, 6. Schaben, 7. D. Hagan, 8. Doug Shearer, 9. Schmidt, 10. Clark, 11. Lane Linthecum, 12. Fabrizius, 13. Wagoner, 14. Bruce Eskew, 15. Charley Brown (DNF), 16. Mike Saathoff (DNF), 17. Milo Lippelmann (DNF), 18. Riley (DNF), 19. Nick Tubbs (DNS), 20. Brandon Hagan.