Wakeeney Speedway crowns track champions

 

By Mike Hughes

WAKEENEY, KS (September 14)—The Wakeeney (KS) Speedway wrapped up the 2014 racing season Sunday night, September 14, with the regular five classes in action.

Point leader Kyle Rohleder of Wakeeney led all 20 caution free laps in the IMCA Modified feature to claim his second win of the season and the track championship.  ‘Dynamite’ Dylan Sherfick gave chase the entire race but had to settle for second.  Clay Sellard was third, followed by second heat winner Nate Moore and Chris Heim.  Rohleder won the other heat race.

The 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature saw track champion Jeff Tubbs of Colby jump out to the lead.  Then as the field came to the halfway mark, heat two victor Jason Rogers of Selden passed Tubbs on the outside in turn four to take the lead and drive on to win his third Wakeeney feature this year.  Tubbs held on to the runner-up spot, followed by heat one winner Chad Sterling, B.J. Wagoner and Josh Crombie.

The IMCA Sport Mod feature was cut short a couple of laps due to the time limit.  Point leader Blaine Walt of Collyer shot to the lead from his pole starting spot, followed by Daniel Gottschalk and ‘The Money Man’ Clay Money of Penokee.  Then on lap 2, the red flag flew when several cars tangled in turn 4 and Dan Lauer rolled.  He was okay but done for the night.  The yellow flag flew on lap 11 when Josh Appel went up in smoke.  As the green flag replaced the caution, Money got past Walt to take the lead and hang on for his second feature win.  Walt finished second to claim the track championship by a mere one point over Money.  Trenton Kleweno, Ryan Wark and Gottschalk rounded out the top five.  Heat race winners were Walt and Money.

The IMCA Hobby Stock track championship was also close.  ‘The Wild Child’ Garrett Hager of Hays led all 15 laps for his third trip to the Jason Oil winner’s circle in 2014.  Point leader Cody ‘Bam Bam’ Graham of Hays tangled with Colton Pfeifer on lap 6 to bring out a caution and track officials put both cars to the back of the line on the restart.  Colin Heim closed in on Hager but had to settle for second, trailed by Eric Pfeifer, Brady Bencken and Jeromy Wagner.  Graham charged his way back through the field to finish ninth, to claim the track title by 2 points over Hager.  Wagner and Hager were victorious in the two heat races.

Track champion Kiowa Higdon of Hays and Art Herzog swapped the lead a few times in the 10-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, but Higdon took the lead for good on lap 8 to notch his seventh win.  Herzog was second, followed by Michael Smith, heat race winner Randy Murphy and Brandon Lobell.

The evening’s race sponsor was TJ’s Alignment & Repair of Wakeeney.

The staff and management of Wakeeney Speedway would like to thank all their sponsors, drivers and fans for their support during the racing season.

 

RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat race winners: Jeromy Wagner, Garrett Hager.

Feature: 1. Hager, 2. Colin Heim, 3. Eric Pfeifer, 4. Brady Bencken, 5. Wagner, 6. Shay Simoneau, 7. Monte Honas, 8. Will Bauer, 9. Cody Graham, 10. Robert Emmons, 11. Colton Pfeifer, 12. Oscar Runyon, 13. Tanner Moss, 14. Al Emmons, 15. Jesse Prockish, 16. Justin Meserve.

IMCA Northern Sport Mods

Heat race winners: Blaine Walt, Clay Money.

Feature: 1. Money, 2. Walt, 3. Trenton Kleweno, 4. Ryan Wark, 5. Daniel Gottschalk, 6. Austin Walker, 7. Willie Wynn, 8. Jeremy Sigler, 9. C.J. Pfannenstiel, 10. Toby Witthuhn, 11. Kyle Pfeifer, 12. Tristen Barton, 13. Kenny Schmidt (DNF), 14. Dustin Daniels (DNF), 15. Josh Appel (DNF), 16. Tanner Portenier (DNF), 17. Dan Lauer (DNF), 18. Dakota Sproul (DNS), 19. Jeremy Couse (DNS).

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat race winners: Chad Sterling, Jason Rogers.

Feature: 1. Rogers, 2. Jeff Tubbs, 3. Sterling, 4. B.J. Wagoner, 5. Josh Crombie, 6. Michael Meyer, 7. Brent Moss, 8. Dusty Witthuhn, 9. Nick Tubbs, 10. Wheat Lippelman, 11. Justin Lewis, 12. Tyler Hahn (DNF), 13. Cody Williams (DNF).

IMCA Modifieds

Heat race winners: Kyle Rohleder, Nate Moore.

Feature: 1. Rohleder, 2. Dylan Sherfick, 3. Clay Sellard, 4. Moore, 5. Chris Heim, 6. Cody Gearhart, 7. Troy Plummer, 8. Matt Fabrizius, 9. Shannon Maughlin, 10. Brad Keller, 11. Wheat Lippelman, 12. Michael Martin, 13. Danny Keller, 14. Todd Schwarz, 15. Jeremy Zorn (DNF), 16. Matt Henke (DNF), 17. Brian Calhoon (DNS), 18. Scott Brown (DNS).

IMCA Sport Compacts

Heat race winner: Randy Murphy.

Feature: 1. Kiowa Higdon, 2. Art Herzog, 3. Michael Smith, 4. Murphy, 5. Brandon Lobdell, 6. Brooke Russell (DNF), 7. Madison Reed (DNF), 8. Kirk Pfannenstiel (DNF).

Category: Kansas / Nebraska, WaKeeney Speedway (Kansas)