Lonnie Wheatley, DODGE CITY, Kan. (May 9, 2014) – Will there be a tenth consecutive different winner?
That’s the big question that looms as the United Rebel Sprint Series kicks off its 2014 campaign atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park on Saturday night.
While the URSS Sprint Car forces make the first of four scheduled DCRP stops on Saturday, championship action will be in full force as well for the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and Hornets with racing action getting under way at 7:30 p.m.
Parity has definitely prevailed among the URSS ranks at Dodge City with nine different winners in the last nine races dating back to 2009.
It looked as though that streak would end at eight different winners in last September’s Inaugural Jerry Soderberg Memorial Championship event when Turpin, Oklahoma’s Taylor Velasquez flashed under the checkered flag in first.
But when Velasquez, who also topped last year’s June 29 event, weighed in below the required minimum weight at the scales it handed the win off to Great Bend’s Zach Blurton to extend the streak to nine winners in as many races.
While Blurton enters Saturday’s action as the most recent URSS winner at DCRP, other winners last year in Dodge City along with Blurton and Velasquez included J.D. Johnson and Brian Herbert, who scored the win in the May event.
Others among the nine winners include Jake Bubak and Mike Peters in 2012, Jason Martin and Jason Radcliffe in 2011 and C.J. Johnson in 2009.
Bubak is the reigning URSS National champion while Ness City’s Luke Cranston took top honors in Kansas Region URSS points.
Ryan Heger leads the IMCA Modified ranks into Saturday’s action with Van Gemmill, Clay Sellard and Joel Lane each posting wins in the initial three events of the season.
A pair of reigning champions are atop their respective points charts entering Saturday night including Jeff Kaup in IMCA Sport Modifieds and Jarett Lunow in Hornets with 2012 track champ Perry Misner two-for-two in IMCA Stock Cars to hold the early point lead as well
Tickets to Saturday’s season-opening URSS Sprint Car event at Dodge City Raceway Park are just $15 for adults with children 11 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Pit passes are $30. Fans are encouraged to get coupons for $2 off general admission by stopping by the Lewis Auto Group in Dodge City.
Season passes are available for all 13 nights of DCRP competition (excluding the World of Outlaws Boothill Showdown in July) for just $140. Contact the track at 620-225-3277 for Season Passes. World of Outlaws Boothill Showdown tickets for July 4-5 may be purchased in advance at http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=129.
Dodge City Raceway Park is located on the south edge of Dodge City, KS, on US 283, then 0.9 miles west on US 56, then 0.1 miles south. For more information, contact the track at 620-225-3277 or check www.dodgecityraceway.com.
- Admin Account on May 10, 2014
- Article Date: 5/10/2014 by Lonnie Wheatley