Large field gathers for Sunflower Classic
By Mike Hughes
HAYS, KS (March 27-28)—RPM Speedway in Hays, KS, kicked off the 2015 racing season with the Sunflower Classic, sponsored by Xtreme Motorsports and D & B Motors, both of Great Bend, and powered by Casey’s General Stores, with over 150 race teams from an 8 state area competing for added prize money over the two nights Friday & Saturday, March 27-28.
Clay Sellard of Ellis started outside pole in the 25-lap IMCA Modified A-feature, jumped out to a quick lead, and never looked back in the caution free event to make his way to victory lane and a $1,000 payday Saturday night. Friday night’s feature winner Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, IA, chased Sellard the second half of the race but settled for the runner-up spot, followed by Cody Gearhart, Ryan Heger and ‘The Z Man’ Jeremy Zorn.
Mike Nichols of Harlan, IA, picked up where he left off 365 days ago as he claimed the win and $750 in the IMCA Stock Car A-main. Nichols, who won both nights of the Sunflower Classic one year ago, took the lead on lap 10 of the 25-lap race from ‘The Spiderman’ Nick Tubbs. Casey Woken finished second in the caution filled event, followed by Friday night winner Kyle Vanover, Chad Sterling, and Tubbs.
‘The Money Man’ Clay Money of Penokee led all 20 laps in the IMCA Sport Mod main event, the same race he won a year ago. ‘The Frye Man’ Tyler Frye chased Money most of the race but could not mount a serious threat and settled for second. Friday night’s feature winner Daniel Gottschalk was third, trailed by Blaine Walt and Delbert ‘The Ice Man’ Smith. The win was worth $500 for Money.
Duane Wahrman led the opening lap of the 20-lap IMCA Hobby Stock A-feature before Jesse VanLaningham of Beatrice, NE, took a lead he would not relinquish enroute to a $500 payday. Fellow Beatrice driver and national points runner-up last year Adam Armstrong would finish in the second spot, with ‘The Wild Child’ Garrett Hager, Tyrel Smith and Kyle Bond rounding out the top five.
Ramsey Meyer of Pierce, NE, led all 12 laps in the caution free IMCA Sport Compact feature. Kirk Pfannenstiel, Art Herzog, Kiowa Higdon and Randy Murphy completed the top five. Meyer pocketed $200 for the win.
In racing action on Friday night, Jesse Sobbing took the lead on lap 9 and drove on for the win and a $1,000 paycheck in the IMCA Modified A-main. Four-time national champion David Murray Jr. settled in the runner-up spot, followed by Mike Densberger, ‘Dynamite’ Dylan Sherfick, and Cody Gearhart.
Kyle Vanover of Beatrice, NE, led all 25-laps in the IMCA Stock Car A-feature but was challenged throughout the race by Jason Rogers and Mike Nichols. Vanover was up to the challenge for the win and $750. Rogers held off Nichols for second, followed by Tyler Tipton and Casey Woken.
Kurtis Pihl led the first 4 laps of the 20-lap IMCA Sport Mod main event before Daniel Gottschalk of Ellis took control and led the rest of the way to the checkers and a $500 payday. ‘The Money Man’ Clay Money got by ‘The Frye Man’ Tyler Frye on the last lap for second place. Dakota Sproul finished fourth and Joe Couse fifth.
Andrew Burg of Adel, IA, made his first ever appearance at RPM Speedway and made it worth the long drive as he led all 20-laps of the IMCA Hobby Stock A-main, which garnered him a $500 winner’s check. Kyle Bond, Colton Pfeifer, Jesse VanLaningham and Tyrel Smith rounded out the top five.
Ramsey Meyer took the lead from Art Herzog on lap 4 of the 12-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature. Kiowa Higdon passed Herzog for second, with Kirk Pfannenstiel and Randy Murphy finishing fourth and fifth.
Racing action returns to the 3/8-mile oval on Saturday, April 11, with the regular five divisions in competition. The green flag flies at 7:00 p.m.
RESULTS (Friday)
IMCA Modifieds
Heat race winners: Clay Sellard, David Murray Jr., Ryan Heger, Cody Gearhart, Greg Gustos.
B-Feature #1 (top 2 transfer): 1. Anthony Roth, 2. Nate Moore, 3. Jacob Adler, 4. Jeff Hunter, 5. Larry Sutton, 6. Bryan Bettcher, 7. Kale Beavers, 8. Clinton Hockersmith, 9. Jason Anderson, 10. Danny Keller, 11. Randy Wilson (DNF), 12. Paul Jones (DNS).
B-Feature #2 (top 2 transfer): 1. Mike Petersilie, 2. Jesse Richter, 3. Kevin Gray, 4. Mike Martin, 5. Todd Schwarz, 6. Randy Dolberg, 7. Heath Steffan, 8. Grant Florence, 9. Brad Keller (DNF), 10. Trent Gray (DNF), 11. Tim Watts (DNF).
A-Feature: 1. Jesse Sobbing, 2. Murray, 3. Mike Densberger, 4. Dylan Sherfick, 5. Gearhart, 6. Eddie Belec, 7. Kyle Rohleder, 8. Heger, 9. Jeremy Frenier, 10. Gustos, 11. Corey Lagroon, 12. Roth, 13. Petersilie, 14. Joel Lane, 15. Jason Schoenberger, 16. Moore, 17. Richter, 18. Rick Fierro, 19. Joe Cleveland (DNF), 20. Dusty Springer (DNF), 21. Nick Link (DNF), 22. Jeremy Zorn (DNF), 23. Sellard (DNF), 24. Brian Calhoon (DNF).
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat race winners: Jason Rogers, Tyler Tipton, Trevor Schmidt, Mike Nichols.
B-Feature (top 4 transfer): 1. Lloyd Meeske, 2. Nick Tubbs, 3. Nolan Remus, 4. B.J. Wagoner, 5. Jeff Tubbs, 6. Robert Rutherford, 7. Josh Schweitzer, 8. Chase Conaway, 9. Dustin Newlin, 10. Aaron Gray, 11. Bob Arnold, 12. Jason McIntyre, 13. Jason Davis (DNS).
A-Feature: 1. Kyle Vanover, 2. Rogers, 3. Nichols, 4. Tipton, 5. Casey Woken, 6. N. Tubbs, 7. Jody York, 8. Chad Sterling, 9. Schmidt, 10. Andrew Altenburg, 11. Tyler Hahn, 12. Remus, 13. Michael Pepper, 14. Kevin Wagoner, 15. Meeske, 16. Cody Zimmerman, 17. Aaron Gray, 18. Josh Crombie (DNF), 19. Wagoner (DNF), 20. Geoff Jermark (DNF), 21. Brandon Conkwright (DNF), 22. Jason Schoenberger (DNF), 23. Luke Pfannenstiel (DNF), 24. Justin Lewis (DNF).
IMCA Sport Mods
Heat race winners: Pat Bedore, Clay Money, Austin Carter, Tyler Frye, Daniel Gottschalk.
B-Feature (top 4 transfer): 1. Angel Munoz, 2. Justin Gibbens, 3. Henry Henderson, 4. Ryan Moser, 5. Tyler Watts, 6. Adam Stenzel, 7. Jeremy Couse, 8. Thomas Nelson, 9. Travis Coop, 10. Triston Barton, 11. Jacob Fehler (DNF), 12. C.J. Pfannenstiel (DNF), 13. Cody Stefanski (DNF), 14. Rick Julian (DNF), 15. Eric Pfeifer (DNF), 16. Jake Krone (DNS), 17. Jerad Sasser (DNS), 18. Kolton Vogel (DNS), 19. Delbert Smith (DNS), 20. Kaid Calhoon (DNS), 21. Nate Ginest (DNS).
A-Feature: 1. Gottschalk, 2. Money, 3. Frye, 4. Dakota Sproul, 5. Joe Couse, 6. Carter, 7. Trenton Kleweno, 8. Kurtis Pihl, 9. Moser, 10. Jeremy Sigler, 11. Brian Cross, 12. Bedore, 13. Cameron Meyer, 14. Gibbens, 15. Shane Meeks, 16. Kenny Schmidt, 17. Bentley Pywell, 18. Munoz (DNF), 19. Tyler Watts (DNF), 20. Brendon Damon (DNF), 21. Kevin Tabor (DNF), 22. Henderson (DNF), 23. Bryan Herrick (DNF), 24. Blaine Walt (DNF).
IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat race winners: Adam Armstrong, Jamie Songer, Kyle Pfeifer, Kyle Bond.
B-Feature (top 4 transfer): 1. Brock Beeter, 2. Shay Simoneau, 3. Jason Sucky, 4. Duane Wahrman, 5. Jason Cleveland, 6. Christopher McNulty, 7. Jace Smith, 8. Rudy Brunkhordt, 9. Johnny Gieber, 10. Jason McClung (DNF), 11. Irvin Earl (DNF), 12. Mark Normandin (DNS), 13. Kurt Hansen (DNS), 14. Craig Smith (DNS), 15. Lyle Russell (DNS).
A-Feature: 1. Andrew Burg, 2. Bond, 3. Colton Pfeifer, 4. Jesse VanLaningham, 5. Tyrel Smith, 6. K. Pfeifer, 7. Brock Beeter, 8. Eric Cross, 9. Monte Honas, 10. Zach Olmstead, 11. Garrett Hager, 12. Songer, 13. Tommy Fose, 14. Cody Williams, 15. Reagan Sellard, 16. Brady Bencken, 17. Brandon Beeter, 18. Simoneau, 19. Wahrman, 20. Brian Stich (DNF), 21. Ron Wehling (DNF), 22. Armstrong (DNF), 23. Cody Graham (DNF), 24. Sucky (DNF).
IMCA Sport Compacts
Heat race winners: Ramsey Meyer, Kirk Pfannenstiel.
Feature: 1. Meyer, 2. Kiowa Higdon, 3. Art Herzog, 4. Pfannenstiel, 5. Randy Murphy, 6. Brandon Lobdell, 7. Andrew McClellan, 8. Nathan Barton.
RESULTS (Saturday)
IMCA Modifieds
Heat race winners: Jeremy Zorn, Ryan Heger, Kyle Rohleder, Jesse Sobbing, David Murray Jr.
B-Feature #1 (top 2 transfer): 1. Anthony Roth, 2. Brian Calhoon, 3. Randy Wilson, 4. Dusty Springer, 5. Joel Lane, 6. Mike Martin, 7. Chadd Brown, 8. Bryan Bettcher, 9. Grant Florence, 10. Todd Schwarz, 11. Corey Lagroon (DNF), 12. Jason Anderson (DNF).
B-Feature #2 (top 2 transfer): 1. Jacob Adler, 2. Jason Schoenberger, 3. Mike Petersilie, 4. Tim Watts, 5. Greg Gustos, 6. Kevin Gray, 7. Kale Beavers, 8. Brad Keller, 9. Danny Keller, 10. Paul Jones, 11. Randy Dolberg (DNF), 12. Matt Henke (DNF).
A-Feature: 1. Clay Sellard, 2. Sobbing, 3. Cody Gearhart, 4. Heger, 5. Zorn, 6. Dylan Sherfick, 7. Eddie Belec, 8. Murray, 9. Jeff Hunter, 10. Jeremy Frenier, 11. Larry Sutton, 12. Rohleder, 13. Nate Moore, 14. Roth, 15. Adler, 16. Joe Cleveland, 17. Mike Densberger, 18. Schoenberger, 19. Jesse Richter, 20. Nick Link, 21. Rick Fierro, 22. Calhoon, 23. Trent Gray, 24. Heath Steffen (DNF).
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat race winners: Mike Nichols, Jeff Tubbs, Nick Tubbs, Tyler Tipton.
B-Feature (top 4 transfer): 1. B.J. Wagoner, 2. Chase Conaway, 3. Cody Zimmerman, 4. Trevor Schmidt, 5. Dustin Newlin, 6. Aaron Gray, 7. Michael Pepper, 8. Lloyd Meeske, 9. Josh Schweitzer, 10. Kevin Wagoner, 11. Bob Arnold, 12. Mason McIntyre (DNF).
A-Feature: 1. Nichols, 2. Casey Woken, 3. Kyle Vanover, 4. Chad Sterling, 5. N. Tubbs, 6. Shannon Maughlin, 7. Tyler Hahn, 8. Tipton, 9. Nolan Remus, 10. Andrew Altenburg, 11. J. Tubbs, 12. Jason Davis, 13. Jeff Whiting, 14. Conaway, 15. Robert Rutherford, 16. Schmidt, 17. Jody York, 18. Justin Lewis, 19. Brandon Conkwright (DNF), 20. Luke Pfannenstiel (DNF), 21. Zimmerman (DNF), 22. Wagoner (DNF), 23. Jason Rogers (DNF), 24. Jason Schoenberger (DNF).
IMCA Sport Mods
Heat race winners: Tyler Frye, Daniel Gottschalk, Angel Munoz, Delbert Smith, Nate Ginest.
B-Feature (top 4 transfer): 1. Dakota Sproul, 2. Bentley Pywell, 3. Justin Gibbens, 4. Tyler Watts, 5. Triston Barton, 6. Jacob Fehler, 7. Adam Stenzel, 8. Kenny Schmidt (DNF), 9. Pat Bedore (DNF), 10. Travis Coop (DNF), 11. Jeremy Couse (DNF), 12. Shane Meeks (DNF), 13. Cody Stefanski (DNF), 14. Kurtis Pihl (DNS), 15. Austin Walker (DNS), 16. Rick Julian (DNS), 17. Jake Krone (DNS), 18. Kevin Tabor (DNS).
A-Feature: 1. Clay Money, 2. Frye, 3. Gottschalk, 4. Blaine Walt, 5. Smith, 6. Austin Carter, 7. Ginest, 8. Trenton Kleweno, 9. Joe Couse, 10. Munoz, 11. Ryan Moser, 12. Henry Henderson, 13. Jeremy Sigler, 14. Cameron Meyer, 15. Sproul, 16. Kaid Calhoon, 17. Gibbens, 18. Pywell, 19. Eric Pfeifer, 20. Brian Cross, 21. Thomas Nelson (DNF), 22. C.J. Pfannenstiel (DNF), 23. Watts (DNF), 24. Brendon Damon (DNF).
IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat race winners: Garrett Hager, Cody Williams, Brandon Beeter, Adam Armstrong.
B-Feature (top 4 transfer): 1. Cody Graham, 2. Tyrel Smith, 3. Brian Stich, 4. Zach Olmstead, 5. Mark Normandin, 6. Craig Smith, 7. Raegan Sellard, 8. Jason Cleveland, 9. Rudy Brunkhordt, 10. Irvin Earl, 11. Andrew Burg (DNF), 12. Christopher McNulty (DNS), 13. Jason McClung (DNS), 14. Johnny Gieber (DNS).
A-Feature: 1. Jesse VanLaningham, 2. Armstrong, 3. Hager, 4. Smith, 5. Kyle Bond, 6. Brady Bencken, 7. Jeromy Wagner, 8. Eric Cross, 9. Brock Beeter, 10. Duane Wahrman, 11. Jamie Songer, 12. Tommy Fose, 13. Colton Pfeifer, 14. Stich, 15. Olmstead, 16. Jason Sucky, 17. Jace Smith, 18. Shay Simoneau (DNF), 19. Brandon Beeter (DNF), 20. Kurt Hansen (DNF), 21. Graham (DNF), 22. Kyle Pfeifer (DNF), 23. Williams (DNF), 24. Monte Honas (DNF).
IMCA Sport Compacts
Heat race winner: Ramsey Meyer.
Feature: 1. Meyer, 2. Kirk Pfannenstiel, 3. Art Herzog, 4. Kiowa Higdon, 5. Randy Murphy, 6. Brandon Lobdell, 7. Andrew McClellen, 8. Nathan Barton (DNF), 9. Trenton Cantrell (DNF).
Category: Kansas / Nebraska, RPM Speedway
