Johnson King of the Wheatshocker Nationals

RPM Speedway was host once again to the annual Wheatshocker Nationals for the United Rebel Sprint Series on Saturday and Sunday, July 17-18. Six other divisions were also in action during the 2-day show.

In the Sprint Car main event on Sunday, Smokey Fairbank and Kirby Hagan battled for the lead during the early laps in the 30-lap finale. The first caution flag waved on lap 9 when defending champion Patrick Bourke broke and came to a stop on the track. Hagan led the field back to green, followed by C.J. Johnson, Fairbank, Keefe Hemel and Cory Lutters. Johnson then passed Hagan on lap 10 to take a lead he would not relinquish. The caution flag waved 3 more times throughout the race, but ‘The Natural’ from Quinter was up to the task and was first to the checkers to pick up the $2,000 winner’s check. Jason ‘The Hitman’ Martin charged his way from 12^th to second, followed by ‘Flyin’ Brian Herbert, ‘The Rainman’ Ray Seemann, and Cody Salem.

In qualifying action on Saturday, the top 10 spots in the A-feature automatically locked in to the Sunday night main event. Dodge City’s Tyler Knight picked up his first URSS win as he led all 25 caution free laps. Keefe Hemel chased Knight the entire distance but had to settle for second, followed by Brian Herbert, Cory Lutters and Ray Seemann.

Montana Mike’s of Hays hosted a car show for the sprint cars both days in their parking lot, and were joined by members of the Kansas Antique Racers, who also were on hand both nights.

Also in action on Sunday were the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and a return appearance of the Mod Lites.

‘The Minneapolis Missle’ Dave Hardesty led the opening lap of the Teels Trucks IMCA Modified feature before Kyle Rohleder took the hot seat on the following lap. That was short lived however as Jeremy Zorn took over the lead and led the 20-car field to the halfway mark of the 20-lap race. Rohleder regained the lead on lap 15, but Wichita’s Ken Sweet passed Rohleder on lap 17. Back to back cautions on laps 18 and 19 set up a green-white-checkered finish and Sweet was up to the task as he was first to the checkers to capture the $1,000 winner’s check. Danny Morrison Jr. chased Sweet but had to settle for second, with Rohleder, Troy Plummer and B-feature winner Chris Bragg of Springtown, TX, rounding out the top five.

Lenora’s Jay Hachmeister took advantage of his pole starting position to lead all 20 laps in the Adronics Elrob Manufacturing IMCA Stock Car feature. The caution flag only waved twice, once for Dustin Daniels who stopped on the track with a flat tire on lap 3, then again on lap 12 when Dustin McClurg and Dalton Bauer spun. However Hachmeister was able to hold on for his first win at the 3/8-mile oval this season, worth $500 on this night. Adam Balthazor was second, followed by Josh Hudson, Terry Cunningham and Nick Tubbs.

Veteran Bud Lee led all the way in the 15-lap Mod Lite feature. The lone caution waved on lap 6 for a spinning Tracy Ayers. Dustin Forsburg, Ryan Ayers, Justin Kinderknecht and Tyler Bradshaw would complete the top five.

On Saturday night, the IMCA Nothern Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and IMCA Sport Compacts were also in competition with bonus money on the line in all 3 divisions.

Wakeeney’s Clayton Wilson led all 15 laps of the Prater Oil Field Services IMCA Northern Sport Mod feature. Chris Heim and Mathew Crowell chased Wilson all the way but Wilson held the field at bay to score his 4^th win of the season at the 3/8-mile oval. Trailing Heim and state point leader Crowell at the checkers were Jason Nelssen and Troy Attwood.

In the Lock N Load IMCA Hobby Stock main event, Luke Pfannenstiel was the early leader, followed by G.W. Fuller and Mike Traskousky. Traskousky got inside of Pfannenstiel in turn 4 on lap 5 to then take control. Hometown driver Josh Latka passed Traskousky down the backstretch and completed the lap before the caution waved for a spinning Robert Emmons. Aaron Honas then spun on the white flag lap to bring out a caution and set up a one lap shootout to the checkers. Latka held off ‘Cheeseburger’ Fuller for his third win of the season at RPM Speedway. Traskousky finished third, followed by Casey Gilmore and Jerry Hudson.

A new face appeared in victory lane in the Steel Fabrications IMCA Sport Compact feature as Jamie Rice of Minneapolis led all 12 caution free laps. Jesse Dunlap, Art Herzog, Vincent Jasper and Mathew Jermark would complete the top five.

Racing action returns to RPM Speedway on Friday, August 6, with all five IMCA classes in action. The green flag waves at 7:30 p.m.