Sprint Cars Invade RPM Speedway

     The United Rebel Sprint Series 305 Sprint Cars made their first appearance of the season at RPM, Friday evening, April 23, and fans were treated to an excellent feature, as well as the main events in the three support divisions.

     Twenty cars took the green flag in the Sprint Car A-feature and Cody Salem of St Joseph, MO, led the entire distance but was pushed all the way by several challengers.  Ray Seemann, Brian Herbert and Keefe Hemel chased Salem the first 6 laps before the first caution waved on lap 7 when Darren Bowman and Ken Lutters tangled in turn 4, with Lutters getting upside down.  No one was injured, but both drivers were done for the night.  After the restart, the top five stayed closed when the caution waved again on lap 15 when Don Stieben drove off turn 2 and came to a stop.  On the restart, Salem led Herbert, Seemann, Ty Williams and Barry Crane back to green.  Seemann and Williams stayed close to Salem, thanks to lapped traffic, but Salem held on to win.  Herbert, Williams, Seemann and Crane rounded out the top five.  Heat race winners were Cole Wood, Herbert, Reed Bernbeck, and Williams, while Bernbeck and Bowman took honors in the two B-features.

     It took 3 tries to get the IMCA Northern Sport Mod feature underway, but once the green waved on the third attempt, the 15-lap event went caution free.  Wakeeney's Clayton Wilson led from green to checkered, but was pressured the entire distance by heat three winner Troy Robinson.  Blaine Walt finished third, followed by Joe Couse and Josh Rice.  Also winning heat races were Couse and Ryan Goheen.

     The Lock & Load IMCA Hobby Stock feature got underway on its second attempt, and it also went caution free 15 laps.  The race saw 3 different leaders with Cody Ghumm leading the first two laps before veteran Jerry Hudson took over the top spot.  Hudson led at the halway mark, but on lap 9, hometown driver Cody Graham put his #10 in front. Father-in-law Leon Pfannenstiel chased Graham the last few laps but had to settle for the runner-up spot.  Hudson, Ghumm and Kent Tammen completed the top five.  Graham and Pfannenstiel were victorious in the two heat races.

     The Steel Fabrication IMCA Sport Compacts made their first appearance at the 3/80-mile oval and Nick Wolff of Victoria led all 15 caution free laps to find his way to victory land.  Wayne Jueneman and Allen Rice stayed within striking distance but could not catch up to Wolff.  Mark Cotton and Art Herzog finished fourth and fifth.  Wolff and Jesse Dunlap won the two heat races.

     The evening's race sponsor was Discovery Drilling of Hays.

     Racing returns to the speedway Friday, April 30, with all 5 IMCA sanctioned classes in action.  It is also 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink' night.  Area relay for life teams will be on hand with some special events planned.  Race time is 7:30pm.