Wilson threepeats at RPM Speedway

     It was a rather bizarre night at RPM Speedway in Hays, KS, Friday evening, June 11, but once the track rolled in and racing action got underway, it was Wakeeney driver Clayton Wilson picking up his third feature win of the season at the 3/8-mile oval.

     The Prater Oil Field Services IMCA Northern Sport Mod feature took four tries before finally getting underway with 6 cars out of the race before the opening lap was complete. The Holloway brothers of Osborne jumped out front with Shaylon leading older brother Tracy the first half of the 15-lap event. The first caution waved on lap 9 when Wilson and Kaid Calhoon tangled, sending Wilson to the back of the line on the restart. However, during the caution period, a fuse blew on the lights in turns 1 & 2, and the race was halted until repairs could be made. After a lengthy delay, Shaylon Holloway led the field back to green. One lap later, Holloway spun after contact from Troy Robinson, bringing out another caution. Holloway again led the charge back to green, but on lap 13, Wilson had worked his way through the field and took the lead. A late race caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, but Wilson held on for his third win of the season at RPM Speedway. Blaine Walt finished second, followed by Shaylon Holloway, Tracy Holloway and Robinson. The Holloway brothers won the 2 heat races.

     Marty Clark, the ‘Racing Magistrate’ from Russell, took advantage of his outside pole starting position to lead all 20 laps of the Teels Trucks IMCA Modified feature. The caution flag waved on three occasions, and former track champions Danny Morrison and Ronnie Hill gave chase, but Clark kept his cool to make his way to the winner’s circle. Morrison and Hill finished second and third, followed by Jesse Richter and Corey Lagroon. Clark, John Fose, and Morrison were first to the checkers in the 3 heat races.

     The #32 stock car found itself in victory lane for the second week in a row, however this time, with owner/driver Cory ‘Chopper’ Struckhoff of Kensington behind the wheel. Struckhoff led all 20 laps in the Adronics Elrob Mfg. IMCA Stock Car feature for the win. Last week, Josh Hudson of Kensington had transmission problems and borrowed Struckhoff’s car to run the feature, starting scratch but coming through the field for the win. Struckhoff With three caution periods for the first half of the race, Struckhoff was able to maintain the lead, although hounded by Pat Bedore. Bedore had to settle for the runner-up spot, but the real race was for third place with Terry Cunningham, Hudson, and Adam Balthazor in a battle for third. Coming to the checkers on the last lap, Hudson tried diving to the bottom under Cunningham but spun, taking Balthazor with him. The race was checkered, but track officals gave Balthazor his spot back, fourth place, while Hudson was declared the cause of the caution and scored at the back of the field. Dalton Bauer rounded out the top five. Struckhoff and Jay Hachmeister claimed wins in the 2 heat races.

     Veteran driver Jerry Hudson of Kensington led all 15 laps in the Lock & Load IMCA Hobby Stock feature. A couple of caution flags kept the field close, but Hudson was up to the challenge to score the win. Aaron Honas chased Hudson most of the race but had to settle for second, trailed by Leon Pfannenstiel, heat two winner Luke Pfannenstiel and Mark Normandin. Casey Gilmore won the other heat race.

     Tim Augustine led the opening lap of the Steel Fabrications IMCA Sport Compact main event before Schoenchen’s Doug Kreutzer would take a lead he would not relinquish. A caution on the final lap set up a one-lap shootout to the checkers with Kreutzer chased to the finish line by points leader Allen Rice, Jesse Dunlap, Shaun Woods, and Augustine. Woods and Dunlap were heat race victors.

     The evening’s race sponsor was American Tank Service. Taz Fireworks also presented a very nice fireworks show.

     Racing action returns to RPM Speedway on Friday evening, June 18. All five IMCA sanctioned divisions return, along with the Figure 8’s. Race time is 7:30 p.m.