Frye, Armstrong, Tubbs repeat at RPM Speedway
By Mike Hughes
HAYS, KS (April 26)—RPM Speedway in Hays, KS, returned to racing action Saturday night, April 26, with three drivers making repeat appearances in victory lane.
Adam Armstrong of Beatrice, NE, was the first of the three drivers to repeat as he took the lead from Trevor ‘The Hit Man’ Schmidt on lap 12 of the 20-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Monte Honas led the first 9 laps before Schmidt took control. But Armstrong, who started 12th, worked his way forward and into the lead to go on to win his third features of the year at Hays. Ron Wehling finished second, followed by Colton Pfeifer, first heat winner ‘Cheeseburger’ G.W. Fuller and Jeromy Wagner. H.J. Colburn, ‘The Wild Child’ Garrett Hager, and Armstrong also won heat races, while Darren Unrein beat the field to the checkers in the B-feature.
‘The Frye Man’ Tyler Frye of Belleville won his third IMCA Sport Mod feature in a very competitive 20-lap A-main. Jake Krone led the first 5 laps before the first caution flag flew. After the restart, Trenton Kleweno used the top line to his advantage to take the lead, only to give way back to Krone on the following lap. Kleweno took the lead back at the halfway mark when the red flag came out on lap 11 when Tracy Holloway’s motor breathed fire. After the restart, Frye went from third to first for a lap before Kleweno retook the top spot. But Frye took command again on lap 13 and held on for a trip to victory lane. Kleweno finished in the runner-up spot, trailed by Daniel Gottschalk, Austin Carter, and Krone. Heat race winners included Nate Ginest, Krone, Blaine Walt, and Frye. Cory Struckhoff took top honors in the B-feature.
Colby’s Jeff Tubbs won his second IMCA Stock Car feature, also in a very competitive race with fellow Colby drivers Nick ‘The Spiderman’ Tubbs and B.J. Wagoner. Cody Williams led the first 2 laps before Nick Tubbs took the lead. Then at the crossed flags, Wagoner held the top spot. The caution flew on lap 17 when Michael Pepper spun and Wagoner led the field back to green, only to be passed by both Tubbs brothers on the restart with Nick leading Jeff. Jeff then took the lead on lap 18 with Nick back in front at the white flag, but Jeff made the winning pass on the last lap in an exciting finish. Nick held off Wagoner for second, with Jason Davis and Geoff Jermark scored fourth and fifth. Nolan Remus and Jeff Tubbs were heat race winners.
Jason Schoenberger of Russell led all 20 laps to score the win in the IMCA Modified feature. David Murray chased Schoenberger the entire distance but could not make a pass and had to settle for the runner-up spot. Cody Gearhart flew from 15th to finish third, with ‘Dynamite’ Dylan Sherfick and Clay Sellard rounding out the top five. Heat race winners included Corey Lagroon, Murray, and Nate Moore.
Hometown driver Kiowa Higdon led all 12 laps to score his first IMCA Sport Compact feature at the 3/8-mile oval. Kirk Pfannenstiel reeled in Higdon but ran out of laps and settled for second. Third was Michael Smith, followed by heat two winner Art Herzog and Madison Reed. Higdon was victorious in the other heat race.
It was Merchants Night with several area merchants offering tickets to race fans.
Racing returns to RPM Speedway Saturday, May 10, with the regular five divisions returning at 7:00 p.m. along with the school buses. It will also be ‘Kids Night’ and there will be a drawing for bicycles.
RESULTS
IMCA Modifieds
Heat race winners: Corey Lagroon, David Murray, Nate Moore.
Feature: 1. Jason Schoenberger, 2. Murray, 3. Cody Gearhart, 4. Dylan Sherfick, 5. Clay Sellard, 6. Moore, 7. Ronnie Hill, 8. Michael Wadel, 9. Kyle Rohleder, 10. Randy Wilson, 11. Lagroon, 12. Marty Clark, 13. Brian Calhoon, 14. Mike Petersilie, 15. Trent Gray, 16. John Fose, 17. Shaylon Holloway, 18. Matt Henke, 19. Jesse Richter (DNF), 20. Tim Watts (DNF), 21. John Fabrizius (DNS).
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat race winners: Nolan Remus, Jeff Tubbs.
Feature: 1. J. Tubbs, 2. Nick Tubbs, 3. B.J. Wagoner, 4. Jason Davis, 5. Geoff Jermark, 6. Remus, 7. Michael Pepper, 8. Mark Zorn, 9. Robert Rutherford, 10. Cody Zimmerman, 11. Cody Williams (DNF).
IMCA Northern Sport Mods
Heat race winners: Nate Ginest, Jake Krone, Blaine Walt, Tyler Frye.
B-Feature (top 4 advance): 1. Cory Struckhoff, 2. Cody Pancake, 3. Bart Baker, 4. Jeremy Couse, 5. Dan Lauer, 6. Rick Julian, 7. Eric Pfeifer, 8. Andy Barton, 9. Mark Axelson (DNF), 10. Tristen Barton (DNF), 11. Michael Copper (DNF), 12. Bentley Pywell (DNF).
A-Feature: 1. Frye, 2. Trento Kleweno, 3. Daniel Gottschalk, 4. Austin Carter, 5. Krone, 6. Ginest, 7. Walt, 8. Pancake, 9. Kaid Calhoon, 10. Jeremy Sigler, 11. Baker, 12. Kamron Gruber, 13. Clay Money, 14. Kenny Schmidt, 15. Pat Bedore, 16. Randle McRoberts, 17. J.R. Ewing, 18. Couse (DNF), 19. Struckhoff (DNF), 20. Kurtis Pihl (DNF), 21. Tracy Holloway (DNF), 22. Dakota Sproul (DNF), 23. Mike Appel (DNS), 24. Josh Appel (DNS).
IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat race winners: G.W. Fuller, H.J. Colburn, Garrett Hager, Adam Armstrong.
B-Feature (top 4 advance): 1. Darren Unrein, 2. Jason Sucky, 3. Tommy Fose, 4. Kyle Pfeifer, 5. Kelly Pihl, 6. Mike Kennedy, 7. Brady Bencken, 8. Al Emmons, 9. Lyle Russell, 10. Brett Henke, 11. Preston Shamburg, 12. Oscar Runyon, 13. William Bauer (DNF), 14. Christopher McNulty (DNF), 15. Jason McClung (DNF), 16. Leon Pfannenstiel (DNF), 17. Josh Hrabe (DNF), 18. Billy McBride (DNF), 19. Robert Emmons (DNS).
A-Feature: 1. Armstrong, 2. Ron Wehling, 3. Colton Pfeifer, 4. Fuller, 5. Jeromy Wagner, 6. Cody Graham, 7. Hager, 8. Cody Davis, 9. Travis Coop, 10. Trevor Schmidt, 11. Colburn, 12. Aaron Gray, 13. Kent Tammen, 14. Unrein, 15. K. Pfeifer, 16. Sucky, 17. Daniel Irwin (DNF), 18. Monte Honas (DNF), 19. Luke Pfannenstiel (DNF), 20. Fose (DNF).
IMCA Sport Compacts
Heat race winners: Kiowa Higdon, Art Herzog.
Feature: 1. Higdon, 2. Kirk Pfannenstiel, 3. Michael Smith, 4. A. Herzog, 5. Madison Reed, 6. T.J. Janousek, 7. Brandon Lobdell (DNF), 8. Richard Tegethoff (DNF), 9. Dean Herzog (DNF), 10. Justin Rohr (DNF).
Category: Kansas / Nebraska, RPM Speedway
