NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader returns to RPM Speedway

admin | June 9, 2014

By Mike Hughes

HAYS, KS (June 7)—NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader returned to RPM Speedway Saturday night, June 7, to compete in the IMCA Modified division with his #9 Federated Auto Parts modified.

Twenty-four cars started the 20-lap S & W Supply modified A-main with outside polesitter Tim Watts jumping out to an early lead, trailed by Jesse Richter, Corey Lagroon, Brian Calhoon and Kevin Gray. Then Lagroon took over the top spot on lap 3 and held on to that position thru lap 12. Then ‘The Iceman’ David Murray of Oberlin got under Lagroon in turns 3 & 4 on lap 13 and assumed command. The man on the move however was Kyle Rohleder. Rohleder reeled in Murray and was about to make a pass when the final caution waved on lap 18. Murray was able to hold on after the restart for his third feature win at Hays this season. Rohleder finished second, followed by Lagroon, ‘Dynamite’ Dylan Sherfick and Watts. Schrader finished sixth. Heat race winners were Eddie Edwards, Murray, Calhoon and Richter, with ‘The Z Man’ Jeremy Zorn winning the B-feature.

After his hometown track Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, NE, rained out, Casey Werkmeister made the long haul to Hays worthwhile as he won the 20-lap Advantage Glass Plus IMCA Stock Car main event. Werkmeister took the lead from Scot Granzella on lap 7 and led the remaining distance to the checkers. Heat one winner Michael Pepper finished second, trailed by Tyler Tipton, heat two victor Granzella, and Nolan Remus.

Over 30 Golden Plains Trucking IMCA Northern Sport Mods checked in with 24 cars qualifying for the A-main. Kaid Calhoon jumped to the early lead, but gave it up to Kurtis Pihl on lap 3. Pihl continued to lead at the halfway mark, followed by Collyer’s Blaine Walt and ‘The Frye Man’ Tyler Frye. Then on lap 11, Frye took the high groove to drive by both Walt and Pihl to take the lead. But as the field came to the white flag, Walt drove by Frye and held on to make his way to the winner’s circle. Daniel Gottschalk finished third, followed by Trenton Kleweno and Pihl. Walt, newlywed Brenden Damon, ‘The Money Man’ Clay Money and Dakota Sproul were all victorious in their heat races, while Nate Ginest claimed the win in the B-feature.

The 20-lap Rebel Tank Service IMCA Hobby Stock A-feature saw its share of caution flags. Jacob Olmstead led the first 3 laps before Trevor ‘The Hit Man’ Schmidt took command. Schmidt continued to lead through several caution periods and led the field at the halfway mark. Then ‘The Wild Child’ Garrett Hager took the lead and drove on to his second main event win in a row at his hometown track. Schmidt held on for second, with Adam Armstrong, Ron Wehling and Cody ‘Bam Bam’ Graham rounding out the top five. Heat race winners included Billy McBride, Wehling, Armstrong, and Brady Bencken. Jeromy Wagner won the B-feature.

Kiowa Higdon appeared to have won his fourth Tom’s Machine & Welding IMCA Sport Compact feature in a row. Higdon took the lead from Amber Bird on lap 2 of the 12-lap race and was first to the checkers, followed by heat one winner Smith, Art Herzog, Bird, and Madison Reed. But Higdon was disqualified as he did not pass post-race tech, giving Smith his second win of the year at Hays. Kirk Pfannenstiel won the other heat race.

The evening’s race sponsor was Federated Auto Parts/S & W Supply.

Racing returns to RPM Speedway on Saturday, June 14. The United Rebel Sprint Series makes their first appearance of the season, and for the first time ever at RPM Speedway, the Late Models was invade the 3/8-mile oval. They will be joined by the IMCA Sport Compacts, Cruisers and School Buses. Race time is 7:00 p.m.

RESULTS

IMCA Sport Compacts

Heat race winners: Michael Smith, Kirk Pfannenstiel.

Feature: 1. Smith, 2. Art Herzog, 3. Amber Bird, 4. Madison Reed, 5. Brandon Lobdell, 6. T.J. Janousek, 7. Richard Tegethoff, 8. Shaun Woods, 9. Brooke Russell, 10. Justin Rohr, 11. Pfannenstiel, 12. Ashlyn Bird (DNF), 13. Josh Howard (DNF), DQ – Kiowa Higdon.

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat race winners: Billy McBride, Ron Wehling, Adam Armstrong, Brady Bencken.

B-Feature (top 4 advance): 1. Jeromy Wagner, 2. Brett Henke, 3. Al Emmons, 4. Robert Emmons, 5. Kolton Vogel, 6. Jacob Harms (DNS), 7. Justin Rezabek (DNS), 8. Jason Sucky (DNS).

A-Feature: 1. Garrett Hager, 2. Trevor Schmidt, 3. Armstrong, 4. Wehling, 5. Cody Graham, 6. Colton Pfeifer, 7. Jacob Olmstead, 8. McBride, 9. Eric Ross, 10. Kent Tammen, 11. Duane Wahrman, 12. Wagner, 13. R. Emmons, 14. Oscar Runyon, 15. A. Emmons, 16. Henke, 17. Preston Shamburg (DNF), 18. Bencken (DNF), 19. Lyle Russell (DNF), 20. Daniel Irwin (DNF), 21. Kyle Pfeifer (DNF), 22. G.W. Fuller (DNF), 23. Monte Honas (DNF), 24. Travis Coop (DNF).

IMCA Northern Sport Mods

Heat race winners: Blaine Walt, Brenden Damon, Clay Money, Dakota Sproul.

B-Feature (top 4 advance): 1. Nate Ginest, 2. Jeremy Sigler, 3. Cody Pancake, 4. Kamron Gruber, 5. J.R. Ewing, 6. Derrick Pfannenstiel, 7. Phillip Goering, 8. Ryan Gier, 9. Kenny Schmidt (DNF), 10. Mark Axelson (DNF), 11. Triston Barton (DNS).

A-Feature: 1. Walt, 2. Tyler Frye, 3. Daniel Gottschalk, 4. Trenton Kleweno, 5. Kurtis Pihl, 6. Damon, 7. Money, 8. Tyler Watts, 9. Brian Fink, 10. Gruber, 11. Pancake, 12. Sigler, 13. Eric Pfeifer, 14. Pat Bedore, 15. Cody Stefanski, 16. Josh Appel (DNF), 17. Jeremy Couse (DNF), 18. Tony Fisher (DNF), 19. Sproul (DNF), 20. Cory McGann (DNF), 21. Jacob Crowell (DNF), 22. Kaid Calhoon (DNF), 23. Ginest (DNF), 24. Mike Appel (DNF).

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat race winners: Michael Pepper, Scot Granzella.

Feature: 1. Casey Werkmeister, 2. Pepper, 3. Tyler Tipton, 4. Granzella, 5. Nolan Remus, 6. Jeff Tubbs, 7. Nick Tubbs, 8. Casey Woken, 9. B.J. Wagoner, 10. Jason Davis, 11. Cody Zimmerman, 12. Robert Rutherford, 13. Bob Chalupa, 14. Chris Cates, 15. Jason McIntyre (DNF), 16. Derek Wendt (DNF), 17. Cody Williams (DNF).

IMCA Modifieds

Heat race winners: Eddie Edwards, David Murray, Brian Calhoon, Jesse Richter.

B-Feature (top 4 advance): 1. Jeremy Zorn, 2. Joel Lane, 3. Nick Link, 4. Randy Wilson, 5. Todd Schwarz, 6. Clinton Hockersmith, 7. Tracy Link, 8. Millard Gibson, 9. Heath Myers.

A-Feature: 1. Murray, 2. Kyle Rohleder, 3. Corey Lagroon, 4. Dylan Sherfick, 5. Tim Watts, 6. Ken Schrader, 7. Richter, 8. Jason Schoenberger, 9. Calhoon, 10. Cody Gearhart, 11. Troy Plummer, 12. Ronnie Hill, 13. Clay Sellard, 14. Mike Petersilie, 15. Zorn, 16. N. Link, 17. Wilson, 18. Kevin Gray, 19. Marty Clark, 20. Craig Colgin, 21. Dusty Springer, 22. Edwards (DNF), 23. Lane (DNF), 24. Scott Drake (DNF).

Category: Kansas / Nebraska, RPM Speedway