Cranston tops sprint car field at Hays

 

By Mike Hughes

HAYS, KS (August 29)—Luke Cranston topped the 28-car United Rebel Sprint Series field to make his way to the winner’s circle at RPM Speedway Saturday evening, August 29.

The URSS made their final appearance of the season at the 3/8-mile oval and put on a show for the fans.  In the A-feature, Nate Berry jumped out to the early lead with Tracy Hill close behind.  Berry continued to lead the field at the halfway mark of the 25-lap race when the second caution flag waved for Jed Werner who came to a stop on the track on lap 17.  Berry led the field back to green with Hill in second.  But heat two winner Luke Cranston shot by both Berry and Hill on the restart to take the lead and power away for the win.  Following Berry and Hill to the checkers were ‘The Natural’ C.J. Johnson and fourth heat winner Zac Taylor.  Also winning heat races were Hill and ‘The Hill City Hotshoe’ Jeff Radcliffe.  In the two B-features, Werner and Keefe Hemel were first to the checkers.

Hometown driver ‘Bam Bam’ Cody Graham won the Golden Plains Trucking IMCA Hobby Stock feature but had to work hard for it.  Heat 3 victor Jace Smith took the early lead when the red flag came out on lap 6 when Mark Normandin rolled in turn one.  Normandin was not injured but was done for the night.  Smith led the field back to green and continued to lead at the halfway mark of the 20-lap race with Graham, Colton Pfeifer and Shay Simoneau in a heated battle for the runner-up spot.  Graham finally got around Smith on lap 14 to take a lead he would not relinquish.  Smith held on for second, followed by Pfeifer, heat one winner Simoneau, and ‘The Wild Child’ point leader Garrett Hager.  Kyle Pfeifer also won a heat race.

Ryan Murphy of Colby led all 12 laps to pick up his first win at RPM Speedway in the Cutting Edge Collision IMCA Sport Compact feature.  Art Herzog chased Murphy most of the race, and the field had a chance when the caution waved on lap 11, setting up a green-white-checkered finish, but Murphy held on for the win.  Herzog was second, followed by Brooke Russell, Kirk Pfannenstiel and point leader Kiowa Higdon.  Randy Murphy and Toby Schwein won the two heat races.

The Radke Implement Cruisers were on hand and Jeff McQuade of Victoria & Justin Schwein of Russell teamed up to win their third feature of the season at Hays.  Heat two winners Hake & Brummer finished second, followed by Justin Yarmer, and heat one winners Brady & Dee Bauer.

In the Tom’s Machine & Welding School Buses, Dayne Breit drove to victory lane in the main event.

The evening’s race sponsors were Steve’s Electric & Roustabout of Plainville, Myers Engines of Ness City, and Miller Trucking of Lacrosse.

Racing action returns to RPM Speedway on Saturday, September 19.  It will be Championship Night for all the regular divisions.  It will also be College Night with NCK Tech, Fort Hays State University and Hays Academy of Hair Design faculty, staff and students admitted for only $5 with their school ID.

RESULTS

Cutting Edge Collision IMCA Sport Compacts

Heat race winners: Ryan Murphy, Toby Schwein.

Feature: 1. Ryan Murphy, 2. Art Herzog, 3. Brooke Russell, 4. Kirk Pfannenstiel, 5. Kiowa Higdon, 6. Randy Murphy, 7. Schwein, 8. Kyle Benoit, 9. Dean Herzog.

Golden Plains Trucking IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat race winners: Shay Simoneau, Kyle Pfeifer, Jace Smith.

Feature: 1. Cody Graham, 2. Smith, 3. Colton Pfeifer, 4. Simoneau, 5. Garrett Hager, 6. Duane Wahrman, 7. Brady Bencken, 8. Jeromy Wagner, 9. K. Pfeifer, 10. Kent Tammen, 11. Roger Garrison, 12. Oscar Runyon, 13. Justin Meserve, 14. Jesse Prockish, 15. Michael Smith, 16. Tyrel Smith (DNF), 17. Mark Normandin (DNF).

Radke Implement Cruisers

Heat race winners: Brady Bauer/Dee Bauer, Hake/Brummer.

Feature: 1. Jeff McQuade/Justin Schwein, 2. Hake/Brummer, 3. Justin Yarmer, 4. Bauer/Bauer, 5. Bill Woods/Shianne Carter, 6. Shannon Maughlin, 7. Shane Pfeifer, 8. Shaun Woods/Harlan Kuntzsch, 9. Austin Tammen/Cole Dinges.

United Rebel Sprint Series

Heat race winners: Tracy Hill, Luke Cranston, Jeff Radcliffe, Zac Taylor.

B-Feature #1 (top 5 advance): 1. Jed Werner, 2. Jordan Randles, 3. Craig Yecha, 4. Brian Herbert, 5. Ryan Wolters, 6. Brandon Sprott, 7. Kaden Taylor, 8. Ken Lutters, 9. Cody Lampe.

B-Feature #2 (top 5 advance): 1. Keefe Hemel, 2. James Riner, 3. Darren Bowman, 4. Steven Richardson, 5. Kris Moore, 6. Aaron Ploussard, 7. Austin Mclean, 8. Howard VanDyke, 9. Darren Berry (DNF).

A-Feature: 1. Cranston, 2. Nate Berry, 3. Hill, 4. C.J. Johnson, 5. Z. Taylor, 6. Zach Blurton, 7. Jeremy Huish, 8. Radcliffe, 9. Ray Seeman, 10. Riner, 11. Koby Wolters, 12. Herbert, 13. Randles, 14. Hemel, 15. Bowman, 16. Yecha, 17. Moore (DNF), 18. Werner (DNF), 19. R. Wolters (DNF), 20. Richardson (DNF).

 

Category: Kansas / Nebraska, RPM Speedway