Sprint cars, late models return to RPM Speedway

By Mike Hughes

HAYS, KS (August 30)—The United Rebel Sprint Series made their final appearance of the 2014 racing season and the NESmith Late Model Racing Series returned for a second time at RPM Speedway in Hays, KS, Saturday evening, August 30.  The IMCA Sport Compacts, ‘Crazy’ Cruisers and School Buses were also on the race card.

Justin Schwein took the early lead in the URSS 25-lap feature before young gun Jeremy Huish took the lead.  Brandon Sprott drove off turn 4 on lap 10 to bring out the first caution with Huish leading the field back to green.  Huish continued to lead through the second caution on lap 16 when Rick Salem tagged the wall coming out of turn 4.  Then on lap 18, Liberal’s Steven Richardson took the top spot.  The final caution waved on lap 24 when Kirby Hagans and Schwein went off the backstretch, setting up a green-white-checkered finish.  Heat two winner Richardson hung on to win his second URSS feature of the year.  Zac Taylor made a late charge to finish second, followed by Josh Fairbank, Koby Walters and Huish.  Heat race winners Zach Blurton and Keefe Hemel finished sixth and seventh.

The father & son duo of Delbert Smith and Dan Smith won the two NESmith Late Model Racing Series heat races, giving them the front row starting spots for the 20-lap feature.  Dan took the lead at the drop of the green and slowly pulled away from his father and led at the halfway mark, with Tracy Holloway, Chris Kratzer and Darrick Klima rounding out the top five.  The caution waved on lap 13 when Jill Roberg spun on the frontstraight.  Then on the restart, Dan Smith and Holloway made contact, and Smith ended up with a flat tire, ending his night.  Delbert ‘The Iceman’ Smith of Wichita then led the field back to green and held on for the win.  Kratzer closed in at the finish but had to settle for the runner-up spot, trailed by Klima, Holloway and Chris Bratcher.

Kirk Pfannenstiel led the opening lap of the Tom’s Machine & Welding IMCA Sport Compact feature before point leader Art Herzog took the lead and drove on for his second feature win of the year at his hometown track.  Heat race winner Michael Smith finished second, with Pfannenstiel, Randy Murphy and Richard Tegethoff completing the top five.

The ‘Crazy Cruisers’ returned to the 3/8-mile oval.  Tony & Talbot Driscoll of Russell led the first 3 laps before heat race winners Brady & Dee Bauer took over the top spot and continued to lead at the halfway mark of the 15-lap feature.  Then on lap 10, the Driscolls and Bauers made contact and spun to bring out the lone caution.  Both cars were sent to the back, giving Harlen Kentzsch & Shawn Woods the lead on the restart.  But the Driscolls quickly made their way back to the front to take the checkers.  Kentsch & Woods held on for second, with the husband & wife team the Bauers finishing third, giving the Ness City couple the track championship.

Mike Wagner of Hays debuted a new School Bus and started last in the 8-bus feature field.  Wagner made quick work of the competition as he passed the other 7 buses on the opening lap and drove off for the win in the 10-lap feature.  The 09D bus finished second, with Art Herzog doing double duty to claim third.

Race sponsors for the evening were Royal Drilling, Russell; Myers Engine Service, Ness City; Miller Trucking, Lacrosse; Polymer Services and Steve’s Electric, Plainville; and Vernie’s Trux N Equipment/Toys 4 Trux and Cutting Edge Collision of Hays.

Racing returns to RPM Speedway on Saturday, September 20, for championship night.  All five IMCA divisions will compete with the green flag flying at 7:00 p.m.

 

RESULTS

United Rebel Sprint Series

Heat race winners: Zach Blurton, Steven Richardson, Keefe Hemel.

Feature: 1. Richardson, 2. Zac Taylor, 3. Josh Fairbank, 4. Koby Walters, 5. Jeremy Huish, 6. Blurton, 7. Hemel, 8. Barry Crane, 9. Toby Knight, 10. Jed Werner, 11. John Webster, 12. Cody Caldwell, 13. Greg Reiners, 14. Brandon Sprott, 15. Justin Schwein (DNF), 16. Kirby Hagans (DNF), 17. Shawn Radcliffe (DNF), 18. Rick Salem (DNF), 19. Jared Kern (DNS).

NESmith Late Models

Heat race winners: Delbert Smith, Dan Smith.

Feature: 1. Delbert Smith, 2. Chris Kratzer, 3. Darrick Klima, 4. Tracy Holloway, 5. Chris Bratcher, 6. Scott Phillips, 7. Rod Bencken, 8. Dan Smith (DNF), 9. Jill Roberg (DNF), 10. Terry Malm (DNS).

IMCA Sport Compacts

Heat race winner: Michael Smith.

Feature: 1. Art Herzog, 2. Smith, 3. Kirk Pfannenstiel, 4. Randy Murphy, 5. Richard Tegethoff, 6. Madison Reed, 7. Kiowa Higdon (DNF).

Cruisers

Heat race winner: Brady Bauer/Dee Bauer.

Feature: 1. Tony Driscoll/Talbot Driscoll, 2. Shawn Woods/Harlen Kuntzsch, 3. Bauer/Bauer, 4. Scott Lang/Shawn Lang, 5. Jeff McQuad/Jordan Steinert, 6. Bill Woods/Shianne Carter, 7. Dustin Prewitt/Austin Prewitt (DNF).

School Buses

Feature: 1. Mike Wagner, 2. 09D, 3. Art Herzog.

 

 

 

Category: Kansas / Nebraska, RPM Speedway