Schaben, Struckhoff notch third Norton win
By Mike Hughes

NORTON, KS (June 9) -Nate Schaben of Selden and Kensington’s Cory Struckhoff both scored their third feature win of the season in their respective divisions in racing action Saturday night, June 9, at Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton, KS.

Norton’s Gary Kline jumped to the lead on the opening lap of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature before ‘The Wichita Lineman’ Randy Wilson took the top spot. Wilson led the field to the first caution on lap 9 when Brian Calhoon lost a driveshaft. After the green replaced the yellow, heat one winner Schaben got by Wilson to assume command. The caution waved two more times, but Schaben was up to the task and went on to score his third win of the season at the half-mile oval. Heat two winner Matt Fabrizius finished second, followed by Wilson, Jason Schoenberger and Mitch Kline.

In the IMCA Stock Car feature, Lenora’s Jay Hachmeister led the first 8 laps of the 20-lap race before heat two winner Cory Struckhoff took over the lead. Two more cautions kept the field bunched, but Struckhoff was able to pull away for his third win of the year at Norton. Josh Hudson, Jason Davis, Nathan Glendening and Bob Rutherford rounded out the top five. Hachmeister won the other heat race.

Gene Sneath of Plainville made it two in a row at Elmwood Park Speedway as he led the final 11 laps of the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Early leader Kelly Karnopp stayed close but had to settle for second, followed by Rhett Kingsbury, Frank McClurg and Phil Hinger. Heat race winners were Dustin McClurg and Sneath.

The 4-cylinder Young Guns had the most exciting feature of the night. As heat one victor Dale Heyen and point leader Tyrel Smith were battling for the lead on the final lap, the two made contact out of turn 4 coming to the checkers. The two continued to make contact until the flagstand when Smith was sent through the inside pipe guardrail. Fortunately he was not injured. The race then ended under the red flag with Heyen out front. After a brief discussion, track officials decided both Heyen and Smith were at fault for the incident and both drivers were disqualified for rough driving. Third running Dusty Eagleburger of Norton was then declared the winner, followed by Royal Fisher and Elliott Conard. Dalton Dolan won the other heat race.

The Crunos saw heat race winners Jim Carter & Ron Watson of Russell drive away to an easy feature win over Jeff Soderlund.

Racing action returns to the ½-mile oval this Saturday evening, June 16, with the regular five divisions, plus a visit from the Good Ol’ Time Racers Association (GOTRA). Race time is 7:00 p.m.



RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1: 1. Dustin McClurg, 2. Frank McClurg, 3. Phil Hinger, 4. Matt Christensen.

Heat 2: 1. Gene Sneath, 2. Kelly Karnopp, 3. Rhett Kingsbury, 4. Deric Funk.

Feature: 1. Sneath, 2. Karnopp, 3. Kingsbury, 4. F. McClurg, 5. P. Hinger, 6. Laura Hinger, 7. D. McClurg (DNF), 8. Christensen (DNF), 9. Jerry Hudson (DNF), 10. Funk (DNF), 11. Jason McClung (DNS).

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1: 1. Jay Hachmeister, 2. Bob Rutherford, 3. Dan Lauer, 4. Josh Hudson.

Heat 2: 1. Cory Struckhoff, 2. Michael Zajic, 3. Jason Davis.

Feature: 1. Struckhoff, 2. Hudson, 3. Davis, 4. Nathan Glendening, 5. Rutherford, 6. Zajic, 7. John Annon, 8. Lauer (DNF), 9. Hachmeister (DNF), 10. Caleb Peters (DNF).

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

Heat 2: 1. Matt Fabrizius, 2. John Fabrizius, 3. Caleb Peters, 4. Marty Clark.

Feature: 1. Schaben, 2. M. Fabrizius, 3. Wilson, 4. Jason Schoenberger, 5. M. Kline, 6. J. Fabrizius, 7. Clark, 8. Rick Schwab, 9. Peters, 10. Gary Kline, 11. J.R. McCreery, 12. Calhoon (DNF), 13. Rusty Miller (DNF).

4-cylinder Young Guns

Heat 1: 1. Dale Heyen, 2. Drew Eagleburger, 3. Tyrel Smith, 4. Royal Fisher.

Heat 2: 1. Dalton Dolan, 2. Dusty Eagleburger, 3. Elliott Conard, 4. Robin Runge.

Feature: 1. Dusty Eagleburger, 2. Fisher, 3. Conard, 4. Drew Eagleburger, 5. Runge (DNF), 6. Dolan (DNF), DQ – Smith, Heyen.

Cruisers/Econos
Heat: 1. Jim Carter/Ron Watson, 2. Jeff Soderlund.

Feature: 1. Carter/Watson, 2. Soderlund.