SCHWIEN BREAKS THRU IN NORTON FOR FIRST URSS WIN

NORTON KS. (Sept. 2, 2006) - Justin Schwien finally ended his run of 2nd place finishes as he charged from his 8th starting position and then held of a last lap assault from Jon Johnson to win his first United Rebel Sprint Series ‘A’ feature on Saturday night in Norton, Ks. The race format used by the URSS worked to perfection as the race fans were treated to a great night of exciting action as 17 cars checked into the pits of Elmwood Park Speedway ’s big half mile.

McCook Nebraska’s Darren Berry led the field to the green flag with outside front row starter Larry Radcliffe beating him into the first turn to take the lead. Jumping right in behind Radcliffe was Dodge City’s Nick King keeping constant pressure on the Hill City driver until the yellow flew on lap six for debris as the inside wing panel flew off of Tommy Williams mount going down the front straightaway. By this time Schwien had moved through the field and was running third with 9th starting Johnson hot on his heels. During the yellow King pulled off with an overheating engine putting Schwien and Johnson on Radcliffe’s bumper for the restart. When the green flag waved Schwien disposed of Radcliffe down the long back straightaway with Johnson also getting by him coming off turn four.

A determined Schwien started to put some distance between himself and Johnson until with four to go Johnson found some moisture on top and began reeling in the young driver. About three car lengths separated the two when the white flag flew. Johnson made a last lap assault as he ran hard into turn three and had the fans on their feet as he dove to the bottom and pulled up almost even with Schwien coming off turn four for the checkers, only to be outrun to the flag by the
jubilant first time winner from Russell Ks. Radcliffe followed in third with a half winged Williams holding off Smokey Fairbanks to round out the top five. Norton hard charger Billy Smith came from his twelfth starting spot for sixth with Goodland’s Mark Bantam seventh, Darren Berry eighth and Parker Colorado’s Tim Perkins leading Randy Bantam to round out the top ten. Heat races were won by Johnson, Schwien and King with Perkins taking the B feature.

A feature results
1. 76J Justin Schwien
2. 86 Jon Johnson
3. 8 Larry Radcliffe
4. 29T Tommy Williams
5. 2 Smokey Fairbank
6. 13 Billy Smith
7. 82 Mark Bantam
8. 44 Darren Berry
9. 99 Tim Perkins
10. 5R Randy Bantam
11. 33 Bill Hays
12. 72 Kyle Fields
13. 84T Travis Decker
14. 24R Doug Roth
15. 00 Nick King
16. 28 Tom Belsky (DNS)
17. 7R Cody Keiswetter (DNS)