Don Droud, Jr., decimated Saturday night’s NCRA/NSL 360 Sprint Car field by wiring the 20-lap feature atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park clay oval for his second consecutive series triumph.
While the Lincoln, Nebraska racer dominated the Sprint Car ranks, Cole Traugott picked off his second IMCA Modified score of the year with first-time DCRP winners of 2016 including Darren Hacker in IMCA Sport Modifieds, Jason Rogers in IMCA Stock Cars and Matt O’Hair in IMCA Hobby Stocks.
In the NCRA/NSL 360 Sprint Car feature, Droud, Jr., led all 20 laps aboard the Ochs Brothers MAP Inc. Crop Insurance/Heeke Farms No. 1x Sprint Car.
After winning his heat race, Droud, Jr., gridded the field outside the front row. Pole starter C.J Johnson won the race to the first turn, but Droud, Jr., powered by on the high side and led the way off of turn two.
That essentially sealed the deal for Droud, Jr., who stretched his lead to a full straightaway within the opening handful of laps and held a half-lap lead by the time the checkered flag flew in the non-stop affair.
In the leader’s wake, Johnson outdueled Jeremy Campbell for runner-up honors with Tony Bruce, Jr., and J.D. Johnson rounding out the top five.
In IMCA Modified action, Woodward’s Cole Traugott raced by Arizona native Tanner Black on the top side three laps in and led the rest of the way in the 20-lapper for his second score of the season over a field of 25 entries.
While Black took the initial lead from the pole position, Traugott wasted little time rallying from the sixth starting into the lead. With Traugott and Black pacing the field ahead of Jack Kirchoff and Trent Gray much of the way, the trio of Clay Sellard, Clay Money and Cody Gearhart were battling their way through the field.
By the time a final caution flew with three laps to go, Sellard had worked his way to third in front of Money and Gearhart. Traugott took off to secure the win with Money cashing in on the final opportunity to snare runner-up honors from the 11th starting position ahead of Black, Gearhart and Sellard.
Woodward, Oklahoma reached victory lane as well in the 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified feature with Darren Hacker besting the 24-car field.
After starting tenth, Hacker chased down early pacesetter Toby Witthuhn on the seventh round and utilized the top side the rest of the way to fend off middle runner Witthuhn and bottom feeder Mike Appel for the win.
Witthuhn did pull alongside to challenge unsuccessfully on the 16th round with Appel slipping underneath for second the next time around.
Hacker was up to all challenges, taking the checkered flag just ahead of Appel and Witthuhn with Brian May in fourth and Josh Appel fighting his way into fifth in the final rounds.
In the 15-lap IMCA Stock Car feature, Selden’s Jason Rogers needed just two laps to chase down Michael Pepper for the point and paced the field the rest of the way for his first DCRP win of the year.
While Rogers cruised out front, Colorado’s Angel Munoz picked off a handful of positions over the final circuits to capture runner-up honors with Darren Pfeifer, Dusty Witthuhn and Pepper rounding out the top five.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks offered up a fourth different winner in as many events with Laverne, Oklahoma’s Matt O’Hair racing into the lead on the fourth circuit en route to his first DCRP triumph since August of last year.
After starting fifth, O’Hair rallied past early pacesetter Bryan Habiger early on and cruised out front the rest of the way for his first triumph after capturing four DCRP victories last year. Habiger crossed the stripe second with Ruben Eichman emerging atop a wild four-car battle for third ahead of Cody Davis, Reagan Sellard and Shay Simoneu.
Action continues at Dodge City Raceway Park on Saturday night, May 21, with a full slate of championship chase action including Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Hobby Stocks.
- administrator on May 09, 2016
- Article Date: 5/8/2016