Father and son rule at RPM Speedway

     It was father and son night at RPM Speedway in Hays, KS, Friday evening, June 18, as father Jerry Hudson and son Josh ‘The Hammer’ Hudson, both of Kensington, won the feature races in their respective divisions.

     In the Lock & Load IMCA Hobby Stock feature, Jerry Hudson passed early leader Cody Ghumm on lap 5 of the 15-lap event, survived several caution flags, and held off the field for his second win in a row at the 3/8-mile oval. Josh Latka gave chase in his ‘Purple Prowler’ but had to settle for second, followed by heat one winner Daniel Irwin, Casey Gilmore, and point leader G.W. ‘Cheeseburger’ Fuller. Hudson also won the other heat race.

     Josh’s win came in the Adronics Elrob Manufacturing IMCA Stock Car division. Mike Wadel led the opening lap, then the lone caution flew on lap 2 when Rod Wadel went off turn 1. Mike Wadel led the field back to green, but heat two winner Hudson made his move to the lead on lap 6 and led the rest of the way in the 20-lap race to notch his fourth win of the year at Hays. Point leader Terry Cunningham stayed close but finished in second, trailed by Adam Balthazor, heat one victor Mike Wadel, and last week’s feature winner Cory Struckhoff.

     Gorham’s Jason Schoenberger became the first two-time winner in the Teel’s Trucks IMCA Modified class. Barry Maupin led the field the first half of the 20-lap main event, then on lap 11, Schoenberger and Danny Morrison Jr. both drove around Maupin to take the top two spots. Schoenberger was able to keep Morrison at bay to make his way to victory lane. Maupin settled for third, followed by John Fose and ‘Dynamite’ Dylan Sherfick. Heat race winners were Schoenberger, Shannon Maughlin, and Maupin.

     The Prater Oil Field Services IMCA Northern Sport Mod feature saw Beloit’s Tyler Sutton lead all 15 laps to make his way to the winner’s circle at RPM Speedway. Three-time winner Clayton Wilson finished second, with heat one winner Kaid Calhoon, Mathew Crowell, and point leader Josh Rice rounding out the top five. Sutton also won a heat race.

     The Steel Fabrications IMCA Sport Compact main event was a battle for survival as numerous cautions eliminated several contenders. However Utica’s Vincent Jasper took advantage of his pole starting position to stay ahead of trouble and lead from green to checkered in the 15-lap race. Heat two victor Russtin Weese finished second, followed by point leader Allen Rice, Jesse Dunlap and Trisch Claman. Doug Kreutzer was victorious in the other heat race.

     The evening’s race sponsor was Adronics Elrob Manufacturing. It was also Pepsi night with ‘Do the Dew’ night.

     Racing action returns to RPM Speedway on Friday evening, July 9. It will be Ladies Night with all ladies admitted free to the grandstand. The IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Northern Sport Mods will compete starting at 7:30 p.m.