Crane wins first URSS feature

By the URSS

LIBERAL, Kan. — For a few seconds, there was a feeling of deja vu for Barry Crane.

The race was shaping up like the early season race a year earlier. He was leading the pack and coming up on lap traffic. That night ended with a vicious wreck that destroyed his sprint car and ended his 2012 season. On Saturday night, though, things went differently, and Crane piloted his United Rebel Sprint Series sprint car into victory lane — capturing his first URSS career victory. “It was a nice way to start off, especially with the way we started off last year,” Crane said. Crane was leading the second night of the Cow Chip Nationals last year in Beaver, Okla , when he tangled with a lap car, ending his chances at his first victory — and eventually his season. “It was the horribly longest off season of my life,” Crane said. “I was more than ready, but I was really nervous, too.” Crane started on the pole, but the win didn’t come easy. He battled side-by-side with Taylor Velasquez early, then had to hold off a hard-charging Luke Cranston for the win. He even had to work his way through lap traffic. “I gave them a little bit extra space until I could make my move,” Crane said. “That wall comes up fast. I didn’t want to pin myself between the wall and the other car. It taught me some patience.” Crane was the class of the field last year while leading the race at Beaver before the accident. On Saturday, he was the class of the field again by holding on for the win. “There’s none of these guys who are going to just give you a race,” Crane said. When he saw there was only one lap remaining in the feature, he knew the end was near.

“I just thanked God it was over,” Crane said. “I stood up on the tank, and I was pretty happy. We ran 25 laps, and it seemed like 100. I’ve never been so happy to see that white flag.”

Cranston finished second, followed by Velasquez in third and Ray Seemann in fourth. Herbert, last year’s URSS national champ, was fifth.

Heat race winners were Kaden Taylor, Herbert and Ty Williams.

Feature results

1. Barry Crane, 2. Luke Cranston, 3. Taylor Velasquez, 4. Ray Seemann, 5. Brian Herbert, 6. Richie Dewell, 7. Kris Miller, 8. Koby Walters, 9. Kris Moore, 10. Jerry Caldwell, 11. Zac Taylor, 12. Cody Caldwell, 13. Ty Williams (DNF), 14. Tyler Knight (DNF), 15. Kaden Taylor (DNF).

The next race on tap for the Rebels will be this Weekend when they visit Decatur County Speedway in Oberlin , KS on Saturday and then finish a two day weekend at Dawson County Raceway in Lexington , NE on Sunday

Pullen, Rogers win $2500 at Stroker Ace Nationals

By Kayla Kvacik

Liberal, Kan.– GT Promotions opened the 2013 race season in southwest Kansas April 12-13 with the Stroker Ace Nationals held at the Liberal Fair Ground Speedway. The Stroker Ace Nationals event featured a $2,500 payout for the IMCA SportMod division (Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Southwest Racing Specialties Southern SportMod) and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division. Qualifying was held on Friday, with last chance qualifiers and the features being held on Saturday evening for those two divisions. Two non-sanctioned divisions, Hornets and Thunders, ran complete shows both nights, and the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds joined the show on Saturday night.

Thirteen SportMods were scheduled to take the track in Saturday evening’s last chance qualifier to fill the final twelve spots of the $2,500 to win A Feature event. It became a battle for position when only eleven cars made the call. Trevor Geist jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

After Friday night’s stock car events, there were still twenty drivers looking to secure a spot in the big show Saturday night. This set up two 10-car, 15-lap last chance qualifiers with the top 6 from each advancing.

In the first last chance qualifier there were a couple cautions early, keeping the field tight allowing for two-wide racing for the top six positions. Kyle Clough and Mike Wilson fought for the lead the beginning of the race, with Clough winning the battle and extending his lead to win the qualifier. Wilson finished second. Other qualifiers were Raegan Sellard, Cody Williams, Pat Bedore and Jody York.

The second stock car last chance qualifier saw Casey Woken jump out to an early start. Rich Wadel caught him and passed on lap four, but a caution flag put him back behind Woken on the next restart. Woken got another good jump and maintained the lead the remainder of the race. Advancing with Woken included Ruben Eichman, Rich Wadel, Jason Schoenberger, Shannon Orth and Angel Munoz.

The first feature on the track for the night were the non-sanctioned Hornets. An entry-level class, the average age of drivers in the division is 12-15 years of age. Four young drivers put on their safety equipment and belted in for the 8-lap feature. Gage Barton started on the pole and led each lap, only being stopped once when the caution came out for James Phelps as he went for a bit of a ride when he lost control of his racecar in turns three and four on the final lap. Barton finished third in Friday night’s feature behind winner Tristen Barton and second place finisher Brendon O’Hair.

Edwin Elliot started on the outside pole of the Thunder feature and quickly gained the first place position from pole setter Michael Penrod, leaving the rest of the field to race for second.

Twenty-two IMCA Modifieds filled the remaining spaces in the pits Saturday afternoon. Three heats set the field for the feature event. Following a caution on lap 2, the drivers on the inside had the most success, with Jon Herring Jr. still in the lead, followed by Cole Traugott and Brendon Gemmill who started in third and fifth place respectively. Gemmill opted to go high on the restart which fared well for him, giving him the lead on that lap and the eventual win.

Three drivers had their chance to picture themselves holding a $2,500 paycheck in the opening 10 laps of the SportMod feature. The fourth and final lead change occurred on lap 12 as Conner Pullen, driving a Hoffman chassis, found his way to the front from an eleventh place starting position. Pullen finished first in his SportMod qualifier Friday night. Dustin Robinson challenged Pullen much of the race, but would end up finishing second.

It’s not over ’til it’s over, and for Justin Temeyer, who led all 30 laps in the Stock Car feature, and Nick Tubbs, who battled Perry Misner for three laps before picking up and running second place for 20 laps, that meant also making it through the tech lane, which ended up costing them their first and second place finishes. After the disqualifications (both for illegal trailing arm bushings), Jason Rogers picked up the $2,500 paycheck. Mike Nichols earned the second place finish and Perry Misner picked up third.

The Stroker Ace Nationals was the third race on the Dirt Track Central Great Plains Stock Car Series presented by Goodland Machine. The next race will be tonight at WaKeeney Speedway (WaKeeney, Kan.) This is a make-up race from last weeks rainout.

Saturday Night Stroker Ace Nationals Feature Results

Hornets: 3G-Gage Barton, 10-Marci O’Hair, 17N Nathan Barton, 11M-James Phelps

Thunder/Hobby: 67-Edwin Elliot, 2M-Matt O’Hair, 72T-Tobby Schield, 97J-Jimmy Jenkins, 22-Dan Rogers, 45P-Michael Penrod, 11M-WD Matteson, 30-Blake Casey, F22-Tina Cawyer, 8-Tyler Olson, 82 DNF-Mike Olson, 32 DNF-Norman Rogers

Modifieds: G3-Brendon Gemmill, 7L-Nate Moore, 96JR-John Herring Jr., 9-Cole Traugott, 5J-John Schwab, 1M-Cody Gearhart, 721-Troy Gemmill, 1N-Nick Link, 16-Kevin Gray, 57-Joel Lane, 3H-Ryan Hager, 3C-Dale Wanger, 96-John Herring, B4-Jared Baird, 05-Rick Taylor, 25-Kale Beavers, 94-Jim Graves, 88J-Jack Kirchoff, A1-Ronnie Akridge, 12 DNF-Jim Armstrong, 06 DNF-Chad Taylor, 22 DNF-Jason Edwards

SportMods: IH3-Connor Pullen, 10X-Dee Gossett, 92-Jeff Kaup, 69-Brandon Smith, 02-Chance McDaniel, 1F-Robert Elliot, 85C-Clay Sellard, 21-Randy Eitel, 4-Kenny Morris, 10T-Trevor Geist, 83-Michael Shinberger, 55-Brian Carey, 25-Humberto Rocha, 44-Austin Walker, 4P-Daylon Bergeron, 37-Bart Baker, 15B-Andy Barton, 14N-Marty Chockley, 91-Donald Kaup, 32 DNF-Cole Brown, 26T DNF-Travis Mclemore, 10 DNF-Dustin Robinson, 42R DNF-Ross Mcartney, 39 DNF-Brian May, 61 DNS-Dahl Lauvaul

Stock Cars: 37-Jason Rogers, 63-Mike Nichols, 20M-Perry Misner, 51W-BJ Wagoner, 00A-Chris Adams, 37X-Jeff Tubbs, 22A-Ruben Eichman, 11K-Kyle Clough, 35JW-Casey Woken, R0C-Cody Williams, 00X-Andy Altenburg, 99B-Pat Bedore, 01W-Jason Schoenberger, 80-Rich Wadel, 2S-Raegan Sellard, 00-Jody York, 64-Shannon Orth, 05-Jesse Taylor, 66-Jeff Joldersma, 93-Michael Jeannette, 9S-Sonny O’Hair, 46M BF-Mike Wilson, 56T DQ-Justin Temeyer, 737 DQ-Nick Tubbs

Friday Night Stroker Ace Nationals Results

Hornet Heat # 1: 81T- Tristen Barton, 12- Marci O’Hair, 11m- James Phelps, 3G- Gage Barton, 10- Marci O’Hair, 17n-nathan Barton

Hornet feature: 81t-Tristen Barton,10-Marci O’hair,3G-Gage Barton,11m-James Phelps,17n-Nathan Barton,12 DNF- Brendon O’hair

Hobbies Heat #1: 72t-Toby Shield,11m-W.D Madison,2m-Matt O’hair,32-Norman Rogers,74 DNF-Brandon Mclemore,8 DNF-Tyler Olson,82 DNF-Mike Olsen.

Hobbies Heat #2: 67-Edwin Elliot,22- Don Rogers,97J- Jimmy Jenkins,45p-Michael Penrod, F22-Tina Cawyer,4d DNF-Chad Gearson

Hobbies feature: 97J-Jimmy Jenkins,67- Edwin Elliot,22-Don Rogers,11m-W.D Madison,72-Toby Shield,2m-Matt O’hair,45p-Michael Penrod,82-Mike Olsen,32-Norman Rogers,8-Tyler Olson,74 DNF-Brandon Mclemore,F22 DNF-Tina Cawyer,4d DNS-Chad Gearson.

Stocks heat #1: 37x-Jeff Tubbs, 51w-BJ Wagoner, 01w-Jason Schoenberger, 00x- Andy Altenberg, 00- Jody York, 11-Ron Rich, 064-cody Orth, 33 DNF-Marlin Hogie.

Stocks heat #2: 20m-Perry Misner,05-Jesse Taylor,9s-Sonny O’hair,93-Michael Jeannette,11m-Billy Phelps,80-Rich Wadel,64-Shannon Orth,22t DNS-Jason Taylor

Stocks heat#3: 66-Jeff Joldersma,37-Jason Rogers,737-Nick Tubbs,46m-Mike Wilson,22a-Ruben Eichman,22-Michael Pepper,2m DNF-Angel Munoz,35jw-Casey Woken

stocks heat #4: 56T-Justin Temeyer,00a-Chirs Adams,99b-Pat Bedore,ROC-Cody Williams,11k-Kyle Clough,2s-Raegan Sellard,63-Mike Nichols,26 DNS-Chad Tanguary.

Stock Qualifier #1: 05-Jesse Taylor, 37x- Jeff Tubbs, 737-Nick Tubbs, 66-Jeff Joldersma, 00A-Chris Adams, 93-Michael Jeannette, 22T-Jason Taylor, 80-Rich Wadel, 00-Jody York, 01W-Jason Shoenberger, 064-Cody Orth, 22A-(DNF)Ruben Eichman, ROC-(DNF)Cody Williams, 9S-(DNF)Sonny O’Hair, 2S-(DNF)Raegan Sellard, 2M-(DNS)Angel Munoz

Stock Qualifier #2: 20M-Perry Misner, 56T-Justin Temeyer, 37-Jason Rogers, 63-Mike Nichols, 51W-BJ Wagoner, 00x-Andy Altenberg, 35JW-Casey Woken, 46M-Mike Wilson, 11-Ron Rich, 11K-Kyle Clough, 11m-Billy Phelps, 22-Michael Pepper, 64- Shannon Orth, 26 DNF- Chad Tanquary, 33 DNS- Marlin Hogie, 99B DNS- Pat Bedore

Sport Mod Heat #1: 69- Brandon Smith, 42R- Ross Mcartney, 10- Dustin Robinson, 10T- Trevor Geist, 14N- Marty Chockley, 4P DNS- Daylon Bergeron

Sport Mod Heat #2: 1H3- Conner Pullen, 92- Jeff Kaup, 4-Kenny Morris, 02- Chances McDaniel, 37-Bart Baker, 15B- Andy Barton

Sport Mod Heat #3: 44- Austin Walker, 1F- Robert Elliot, 32- Cole Brown, 55-Brian Carey, 26T- Travis Mclemore, 83 DNF- Michael Shinberger.

Sport Mod Heat #4: 10- Dee Gossett, 85C- Clay Sellard, 21- Randy Eitel, 25- Humberto Rocha, 91- Donald Kaup, 61 DNF- Dahl Lauvaul

Sport Mod Qualifier #1: 69- Brandon Smith, 85C- Clay Sellard, 92- Jeff Kaup, 02- Chance McDaniel, 44- Austin Walker, 25- Humberto Rocha, 32- Cole Brown, 26T- Travis Mclemore, 14N- Marty Chockley, 15B- Andy Barton, 10- Dustin Robinson, 61 DNS- Dahl Lauvaul

Sport Mod Qualifer #2: 1H3- Conner Pullen, 10- Dee Gossett, 1F- Robert Elliot, 55- Brian Carey, 21- Randy Eitel, 4- Kenny Morris, 10T- Trevor Geist, 83- Michale Shinberger, 37- Bart Baker, 91- Donald Kaup, 42R DNF- Ross Mcartney, 4P DNF- Daylon Bergeron

– Thanks
Matt Kvacik