All new faces in Wakeeney winner’s circle
By Mike Hughes

WAKEENEY, KS (June 10) - It was a night of firsts at Wakeeney (KS) Speedway Sunday evening, June 10, as first time winners appeared in victory lane in all four divisions.

The IMCA Modified feature saw 20 cars start, 20 cars finish, and the 20-lap event go caution free. Hometown driver Matt Fabrizius led the first 13 laps before Colby’s Jeff Tubbs made the pass on lap 14 for a lead he would not relinquish. Randy Wilson made his way to second at the checkers, followed by Mark Zorn, Fabrizius, and Ronnie Hill. Heat race winners were Tubbs, Fabrizius, and Rob Day.

Kensington’s Cory Struckhoff won his second IMCA Stock Car feature in as many nights but his first of the season at Wakeeney. The 20-lap race got off to a rough start when polesitter Arnold Williams spun in turn 4 on the opening lap, creating an 8-car melee. Williams and Jay Hachmeister were unable to continue, but the rest of the drivers involved, including Struckhoff were able to restart. Heat two winner Terry Cunningham took the lead at the drop of the green and led to a caution period on lap 8 when Travis Towns drove off turn 2. After the restart, Struckhoff was able to drive under Cunningham in turn 3 to take the lead. Struckhoff had Tyler Hahn nipping at his heels at the checkers, followed by Dan Lauer, Cunningham, and heat one winner Travis Sherfick.

Gene Sneath of Plainville followed in Struckhoff’s footsteps. After winning the previous night at Elmwood Park Speedway, Sneath led all 15 laps to score his first trip to Wakeeney’s victory lane this season. Brian Hilbert was glued to Sneath’s back bumper most of the race but he could not make a pass and had to settle for the runner-up spot. Adam Balthazor, Jerry Hudson and heat one winner Brian Conness rounded out the top five. Duane Wahrman won the other heat race.

After easily winning the first Cruno heat race, Norman Weichman of Scott City and Oberlin’s Milo Lippelmann led all 15 laps of the feature race, never really challenged. Reed Bernbeck finished second and Daniel Erwin & Travis Blide third. Joe & Jim Carter were victorious in the other heat race.

Racing action returns to Wakeeney Speedway on Sunday, June 24, with the regular four divisions in competition. Race time is 6:00 p.m.



RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1: 1. Brian Conness, 2. B.J. Dauer, 3. Gene Sneath, 4. Leon Pfannenstiel.

Heat 2: 1. Duane Wahrman, 2. Jerry Hudson, 3. Adam Balthazor, 4. Brian Hilbert.

Feature: 1. Sneath, 2. Hilbert, 3. Balthazor, 4. Hudson, 5. Conness, 6. Brett Glassman, 7. Wahrman, 8. Dauer, 9. Pfannenstiel, 10. Michael Lauber, 11. Deric Funk, 12. Mike Frenzl, 13. Adam Bryant (DNF), 14. Cody Zimmerman (DNF), 15. Joe Couse (DNS).

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1: 1. Travis Sherfick, 2. Jay Hachmeister, 3. Tyler Hahn, 4. Arnold Williams.

Heat 2: 1. Terry Cunningham, 2. Jason Davis, 3. Dan Lauer, 4. Cory Struckhoff.

Feature: 1. Struckhoff, 2. Hahn, 3. Lauer, 4. Cunningham, 5. Sherfick, 6. Marty Barth, 7. Davis, 8. C.J. Pfannenstiel, 9. Travis Towns (DNF), 10. Josh Crombie (DNF), 11. Kenny Cain (DNF), 12. Jeremy Blackwill (DNF), 13. Hachmeister (DNF), 14. Williams (DNF).

IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1: 1. Jeff Tubbs, 2. Marty Clark, 3. Corey Lagroon, 4. Mike Petersilie.

Heat 2: 1. Matt Fabrizius, 2. John Fabrizius, 3. Jerry Phillips, 4. Mark Zorn.

Heat 3: 1. Rob Day, 2. Randy Wilson, 3. Ronnie Hill, 4. Bryan Lariviere.

Feature: 1. Tubbs, 2. Wilson, 3. M. Zorn, 4. M. Fabrizius, 5. Hill, 6. Phillips, 7. Petersilie, 8. Lariviere, 9. Day, 10. J. Fabrizius, 11. Lagroon, 12. Jason Schoenberger, 13. Jeremy Zorn, 14. Clark, 15. Kyle Rohleder, 16. Milo Lippelmann, 17. Clinton Hockersmith, 18. Gary Kline, 19. John Fose, 20. John LaShell, 21. Barry Maupin (DNS), 22. Jim Bell (DNS).

Cruisers/Econos
Heat 1: 1. Norman Weichman/Milo Lippelmann, 3. Alfred Emmons/Kenny Cain, 3. Todd Lutters, 4. John McMortrie.

Heat 2: 1. Joe Carter/Jim Carter, 2. Daniel Erwin/Travis Blide, 3. Reed Bernbeck, 4. #13.

Feature: 1. Weichman/Lippelmann, 2. Bernbeck, 3. Erwin/Blide, 4. McMortrie, 5. Nathan Myers, 6. Gerry Gardner, 7. David Evel/Ryan Evel, 8. #13, 9. Matt Phillips (DNF), 10. Emmons/Cain (DNF), 11. Carter/Carter (DNF), 12. Dean Swart (DNF), 13. Lutters (DNF), 14. Don Strecker (DNS).