Peters, Schaben, Hudson among Norton winners
By Mike Hughes

NORTON, KS (April 28)—Racing action resumed at Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton, KS, Saturday evening, April 28.

Casey Werkmeister of North Platte, NE, took the lead on the opening lap of the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature with Lenora’s Jay Hachmeister close behind. But Hachmeister’s motor let go on the second lap, bringing out the lone caution flag of the race and sidelining Hachmeister for the remainder of the night. After the restart, Werkmeister and Oberlin’s Caleb Peters swapped the lead several times the first half of the race with Josh Hudson, Cory Struckhoff, John Huffman and Jared Remus close behind. Peters was able to slowly pull away from the field the last half of the race to score his first win at the ½-mile oval this season. Heat one winner Struckhoff finished second, followed by Werkmeister, heat two victor Hudson, and Huffman.

Selden’s Nate Schaben led all 20 laps of the IMCA Modified feature. Three caution flags kept the field close, but Schaben was up to the task to win his first race at Norton this year. Matt Fabrizius made a late charge to finish second, followed by Marty Clark, heat one winner Brian Calhoon, and Mitch Kline. Brandon Blochlinger won the other heat race.

Athol’s Jerry Hudson won his second IMCA Hobby Stock feature of the season at Elmwood Park. Plainville’s Laura Hinger led the first 2 laps before Hudson, who started 8th in the nine car field, took command. By the halfway mark, Hudson had checked out enroute to the checkers. Heat race winners Kelly Karnopp and Dustin McClurg finished second and third, followed by Gene Sneath and Phil Hinger.

The 4-cylinder Young Gun feature got off to a wild start as Levi Kiser rolled his car on the opening lap in turn 4. Kiser was not injured but finished for the night. Tyrel Smith of Goodland took the lead from Lenora’s Loyd Schoen on lap 3 and drove on the for the victory. Schoen was second, trailed by Royal Fisher. Kiser won the heat race.

After winning the heat race earlier in the evening, the team of Joe Carter & Driscoll of Russell won the Cruiser main event. Last week’s feature winners Jim Carter & Ron Watson finished second.

Racing returns to the ½-mile oval this Saturday, May 5. Race time will be 7:00 p.m.



RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1: 1. Kelly Karnopp, 2. Jerry Hudson, 3. Frank McClurg, 4. Laura Hinger.

Heat 2: 1. Dustin McClurg, 2. Gene Sneath, 3. Phil Hinger.

Feature: 1. Hudson, 2. Karnopp, 3. D. McClurg, 4. Sneath, 5. P. Hinger, 6. L. Hinger, 7. F. McClurg, 8. Matt Christensen (DNS), 9. Tim Horn (DNS).

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1: 1. Cory Struckhoff, 2. Casey Werkmeister, 3. Jason Davis, 4. John Huffman.

Heat 2: 1. Josh Hudson, 2. Jay Hachmeister, 3. Jared Remus, 4. Bob Rutherford.

Feature: 1. Caleb Peters, 2. Struckhoff, 3. Werkmeister, 4. Hudson, 5. Huffman, 6. Remus, 7. Davis, 8. Michael Zajic, 9. Dan Lauer, 10. Rutherford, 11. Hachmeister (DNF).

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

Heat 2: 1. Brandon Blochlinger, 2. Rick Schwab, 3. Matt Fabrizius, 4. Tim Watts.

Feature: 1. Schaben, 2. M. Fabrizius, 3. Marty Clark, 4. Calhoon, 5. M. Kline, 6. Schwab, 7. Watts, 8. Gary Kline, 9. Schoenberger, 10. Blochlinger (DNF), 11. John Fabrizius (DNF).

4-cylinder Young Guns

Heat: 1. Levi Kiser, 2. Loyd Schoen, 3. Royal Fisher, 4. Dalton Dolan.

Feature: 1. Tyrel Smith, 2. Schoen, 3. Fisher, 4. Dolan (DNF), 5. Kiser (DNF).

Cruisers
Heat: 1. Joe Carter/Driscoll, 2. John Annon/Jeff Soderlund, 3. Jim Carter/Ron Watson.

Feature: 1. Carter/Driscoll, 2. Carter/Watson, 3. Annon/Soderlund.