Norton fans treated to double features
By Mike Hughes

NORTON, KS (April 15, 2006)—Race fans at Elmwood Park Speedway got more than their money’s worth Saturday evening, April 15. Two make-up heat races, along with four make-up features from the rained out April 1st program were ran first, followed by a regular program for all four divisions.

In the make-up IMCA Modified feature, David Murray of Oberlin led wire-to-wire. The lone caution came on lap 2, bunching the field early, but by the halfway mark of the 20-lap race, Murray had pulled away from the field. Tim Watts was able to hold off Jason Schoenberger for the runner-up spot, with Ronnie Wallace and Randy Wilson rounding out the top five.

Russell’s Jason Schoenberger just happened to be in the right place at the right time to pick up the win the make-up IMCA Stock Car feature. Kensington’s Josh Hudson passed teammate Cory Struckhoff on lap 2 of the 20-lap event and had pulled out to a commanding lead. But Hudson developed problems with 2 laps to go and had to pit, giving second place Schoenberger the lead and the win. Jason Davis finished second, followed by Caleb Peters, Jason Rogers and Tyler Hahn.

Jason Koch of Cambridge, NE, passed Wade Wagenblast on lap four of the make-up IMCA Hobby Stock feature and was able to fend off Wagenblast the rest of the way in the caution free 12-lap event. Kelly Karnopp was third, trailed by Justin Wagner and Adam Balthazor.

Joe Carter of Russell & Josh Hudson of Kensington, subbing for Jim Carter, teamed up to win the make-up Cruiser feature. The duo passed leaders Macy & Kimberly Thomas with 2 laps to go for the victory. John Annon & Josh Wonderly also passed the Thomas’ before the checkered flag waved.

Murray made it a doubleheader with a win in the regular IMCA Modified feature, but Marty Clark made him work for it. Clark, of Russell, took the lead from Jordan Grabouski on lap 5 and the duo pulled away from the field. Murray reeled in the leading twosome and passed Grabouski on lap 12 for the runner-up spot. Murray slowly reeled in Clark and made the winning pass on lap 17. Chad Dolan won a close race for third over Randy Wilson and Rick Schwab. Twenty of the 22 starters finished the 20-lap race that went caution free. Heat race winners were Nate Schaben, Clark, and Wilson.

Josh Hudson of Kensington led all 20 laps of the caution free IMCA Stock Car feature. Hudson took the lead at the drop of the green and pulled away. But Cory Struckhoff caught up to Hudson and tried to make a pass on several occasions but had to settle for the runner-up spot. Jason Schoenberger, Jared Remus and Jason Rogers completed the top five. Caleb Peters and Hudson won the two heat races.

After finishing second earlier in the night, Wade Wagenblast made his way to victory lane in the IMCA Hobby Stock main event. Wagenblast passed veteran Gene Sneath on lap 4 of the 12-lap race to pick up the win. Sneath finished second, trailed by Jason Koch, Brady Schoen and Adam Balthazor. Heat race victors were Wagenblast and Brady Schoen.

Joe Carter & Josh Hudson made it 2-for-2 on the night with a win in the Cruiser feature. The duo, who also won the second heat race, passed the husband/wife team of Macy & Kimberly Thomas on lap 7 for the win. Third place went to heat one winners Mike Hockemeier & Jim Ellis.

During the evening, modified driver Doug Shearer of Hays proposed to his girlfriend Monie Schmidt. She said yes. Doug promptly applied a hose clamp on her finger to seal the engagement.

A tribute to modified driver Scott Gruber of Great Bend, who had competed at Norton the first 2 races of the season and passed away April 2nd, was held prior to the races. All the money from the 50/50 raffle went to the family, donation cans were set up, and decals and photos of the #27G were also sold with money going to the family. In his honor, the drivers in the modified feature left the pole position open on the parade lap.

Racing action returns to Elmwood Park Speedway this Saturday night, April 22. Race time is 6:00 p.m.



RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Make-up Feature: 1. Jason Koch, 2. Wade Wagenblast, 3. Kelly Karnopp, 4. Justin Wagner, 5. Adam Balthazor, 6. Brady Schoen, 7. Gene Sneath, 8. Dustin McClurg, 9. Brent Schoen, 10. Phil Hinger, 11. James Heinen, 12. Laura Hinger, 13. Jerry Hudson, 14. Brandon Naasz.

Heat 1: 1. Wagenblast, 2. Sneath, 3. Brad McCoy, 4. L. Hinger.

Heat 2: 1. Brady Schoen, 2. Koch, 3. P. Hinger, 4. Balthazor.

Feature: 1. Wagenblast, 2. Sneath, 3. Koch, 4. Brady Schoen, 5. Balthazor, 6. Karnopp, 7. Brent Schoen, 8. McClurg, 9. L. Hinger, 10. Naasz, 11. McCoy, 12. Heinen, 13. P. Hinger (DNF), 14. Wagner (DNF), 15. Hudson (DNS).

IMCA Stock Cars
Make-up Feature: 1. Jason Schoenberger, 2. Jason Davis, 3. Caleb Peters, 4. Jason Rogers, 5. Tyler Hahn, 6. J.R. McCreery, 7. Michael Dancer, 8. Dan Lauer, 9. Jay Hachmeister, 10. Jared Remus, 11. Michael Zajic, 12. Josh Hudson (DNF), 13. Brady Koch (DNF), 14. Nathan Glendening (DNF), 15. Cory Struckhoff (DNF), 16. Jason McCartney (DNF).

Heat 1: 1. Peters, 2. Schoenberger, 3. Hahn, 4. Remus.

Heat 2: 1. Hudson, 2. Struckhoff, 3. Davis, 4. McCreery.

Feature: 1. Hudson, 2. Struckhoff, 3. Schoenberger, 4. Remus, 5. Rogers, 6. Peters, 7. Davis, 8. McCreery, 9. Lauer, 10. Hachmeister, 11. Zajic, 12. Dancer (DNF), 13. Hahn (DNF), 14. Glendening (DNS).

IMCA Modifieds
Make-up Feature: 1. David Murray, 2. Tim Watts, 3. Jason Schoenberger, 4. Ronnie Wallace, 5. Randy Wilson, 6. Nate Schaben, 7. Jeff Walters, 8. Lonnie Veteto, 9. Don Hagan, 10. Mitch Kline, 11. Charley Brown, 12. Randy Porter, 13. Mike Petersilie, 14. Brian Calhoon, 15. Carl Hund Jr., 16. Marty Clark, 17. Steve Reedy, 18. Doug Shearer, 19. Chad Dolan (DNF), 20. Brice Riley (DNF), 21. Rick Schwab (DNF) 22. Wes O’Bannon (DNF), 23. Jordan Grabouski (DNF).

Heat 1: 1. Schaben, 2. Schwab, 3. Walters, 4. Wallace.

Heat 2: 1. Clark, 2. Dolan, 3. Murray, 4. Grabouski.

Heat 3: 1. Wilson, 2. Riley, 3. Brown, 4. Hagan.

Feature: 1. Murray, 2. Clark, 3. Dolan, 4. Wilson, 5. Schwab, 6. Grabouski, 7. Schoenberger, 8. Watts, 9. Walters, 10. Brown, 11. Schaben, 12. Kline, 13. Wallace, 14. Petersilie, 15. Riley, 16. Hagan, 17. Calhoon, 18. Hund, 19. Veteto, 20. Shearer, 21. Porter (DNF), 22. O’Bannon (DNF), 23. Reedy (DNS).

Cruisers
Make-up Heat 1: 1. Mike Hockemeier/Jim Ellis, 2. Jeremy Simmons/Roger Deal, 3. Jason Albrecht/Terry Gradig, 4. Rhona Annon/Joann Ellis.

Make-up Heat 2: 1. John Annon/Josh Wonderly, 2. Macy Thomas/Kimberly Thomas, 3. Joe Carter/Josh Hudson, 4. Tim Horn/Nick Horn.

Make-up Feature: 1. Carter/Hudson, 2. Annon/Wonderly, 3. Thomas/Thomas, 4. Simmons/Deal, 5. Hockemeier/Ellis, 6. Annon/Ellis, 7. Michael Smith/Heather Brown, 8. Jeremy Teselle/Dalton Remus, 9. Robert Mason/Lance Ellis, 10. Albrecht/Gradig (DNF), 11. Lee Hadley/Bryce Mariman (DNF), 12. Horn/Horn (DQ).

Heat 1: 1. Hockemeier/Ellis, 2. Annon/Wonderly, 3. Annon/Ellis, 4. Mason Ellis.

Heat 2: 1. Carter/Hudson, 2. Simmons/Deal, 3. Thomas/Thomas, 4. Teselle/Remus.

Feature: 1. Carter/Hudson, 2. Thomas/Thomas, 3. Hockmeier/Ellis, 4. Albrecht/Gradig, 5. Simmons/Deal, 6. Teselle/Remus, 7. Annon/Ellis, 8. Annon/Wonderly, 9. Mason/Ellis (DNF), 10. Brown/Smith (DNS), 11. Hadley/Mariman (DNS).