Riley, Karnopp finally make it to Norton’s victory lane
By Mike Hughes

NORTON, KS (July 8, 2006) - Brice Riley of Indianola, NE, and Norton’s Kelly Karnopp finally drove their way into victory lane for the first time this season at Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton, KS, Saturday evening, July 8.

Riley took the lead at the drop of the green and pulled away from the field at the halfway mark of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. The lone caution of the race came on lap 11 when Jason Schoenberger wrecked. After the restart, Selden’s Nate Schaben stayed close to Riley but was not able to make a pass and had to settle for second. Mitch Kline was third, followed by Tim Watts and Rick Schwab. Schaben and Riley won the two heat races.

Karnopp had to work much harder for his victory. Laura Hinger led the opening lap of the IMCA Hobby Stock feature before husband Phil Hinger made a pass on the following lap. But after leading one lap, Phil spun and was tagged by a couple of other cars. Laura led the field back to green but was passed by Karnopp on lap 3. The caution waved 3 more times in the 15-lap race, keeping the field close. Karnopp was able to hang on for the win with heat one winner Brady Schoen and Gene Sneath close behind. Jerry Hudson and Dustin McClurg rounded out the top five. Wade Wagenblast won the other heat race.

Kensington’s Josh Hudson won his third IMCA Stock Car feature of the season at the half-mile oval. Hudson passed first lap leader Tyler Hahn on the second lap and led the field to the checkered flag. Hahn finished second, trailed by Caleb Peters, Cory Struckhoff and Jason Davis. Heat race winners were Jason Schoenberger and Hudson.

Wes & Chuck Eagleburger of Norton took the lead from heat two winners John Annon & Josh Wonderly on lap 2 of the Cruiser feature to earn their third win of the season at their hometown track. Joe & Jim Carter finished third. Michael Hockemeier & Jim Ellis were victorious in the other heat race.

The Good Ol’ Time Racing Association made a special appearance. Ken Ganskow of Columbus, NE, took the lead on lap 5 from son Mike Ganskow in the 12-lap feature and held on to win over Rich Anderson and Ron Stohlmann. Heat race winners were Dennis Proskocil and Howard Sheets, with Proskocil also winning the trophy dash.

Racing action returns to Elmwood Park Speedway Saturday night, July 15, with the regular four divisions. Race time is 7:00 p.m.



RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1: 1. Brady Schoen, 2. Gene Sneath, 3. Phil Hinger, 4. Adam Balthazor.

Heat 2: 1. Wade Wagenblast, 2. Dustin McClurg, 3. Laura Hinger.

Feature: 1. Kelly Karnopp, 2. Brady Schoen, 3. Sneath, 4. Jerry Hudson, 5. McClurg, 6. P. Hinger, 7. Balthazor, 8. Brent Schoen, 9. L. Hinger, 10. Jebb Tally (DNF), 11. Wagenblast (DNF).

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1: 1. Jason Schoenberger, 2. Jay Hachmeister, 3. Caleb Peters, 4. Cory Struckhoff.

Heat 2: 1. Josh Hudson, 2. Tyler Hahn, 3. Jason Rogers, 4. Travis Sherfick.

Feature: 1. Hudson, 2. Hahn, 3. Peters, 4. Struckhoff, 5. Jason Davis, 6. J.R. McCreery, 7. Sherfick, 8. Dan Lauer, 9. Rogers, 10. Schoenberger (DNF), 11. Hachmeister (DNF), 12. Michael Zajic (DNF).

IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1: 1. Nate Schaben, 2. Jason Schoenberger, 3. Marty Clark, 4. Mitch Kline.

Heat 2: 1. Brice Riley, 2. Tim Watts, 3. Jeff Walters, 4. Brian Calhoon.

Feature: 1. Riley, 2. Schaben, 3. Kline, 4. Watts, 5. Rick Schwab, 6. Clark, 7. Walters, 8. Calhoon, 9. Robby Haines, 10. Randy Washburn, 11. Schoenberger (DNF).

Cruisers
Heat 1: 1. Michael Hockemeier/Jim Ellis, 2. Macy Thomas/Kimberly Thomas, 3. Nick Horn/Tim Horn, 4. Rhona Annon/Joann Ellis.

Heat 2: 1. John Annon/Josh Wonderly, 2. Wes Eagleburger/Chuck Eagleburger, 3. Jim Carter/Joe Carter.

Feature: 1. Eagleburger/Eagleburger, 2. Annon/Wonderly, 3. Carter/Carter, 4. Jeremy Simmons/Roger Deal, 5. Hockemeier/Ellis, 6. Annon/Ellis, 7. Brandon St. Clair/Scott St. Clair (DNF), 8. Thomas/Thomas (DNF), 9. Horn/Horn (DNS).

GOTRA
Heat 1: 1. Dennis Proskocil, 2. Jim Mills, 3. Bill Hunter, 4. Mike Ganskow.

Heat 2: 1. Howard Sheets, 2. Rich Anderson, 3. Ken Ganskow, 4. Ron Stohlmann.

Trophy Dash: Proskocil.

Feature: 1. K. Ganskow, 2. Anderson, 3. Stohlmann, 4. Mills, 5. Sheets, 6. M. Ganskow, 7. Butch Lavicky, 8. Proskocil, 9. Rocky Fagen, 10. John Ferguson, 11. Hunter (DNF).