Late Models, Sprint Cars invade RPM Speedway
By Mike Hughes

HAYS, KS (July 15, 2005) - Another huge crowd was in attendance at Rolling Plains Motor Speedway in Hays Saturday evening, July 15, for the opening night of the Ellis County Fair. And race fans were treated to the TORA (Topless Outlaw Racing Association) Late Models and URSS (United Rebel Sprint Series) 305 Sprint Cars, along with the Bombers and the Econos.

Twenty cars started the TORA Late Model feature, and Colorado’s John Kuchar led from start to finish in the 30-lap event to capture his first TORA win of the season. Delbert ‘The Iceman’ Smith and Kelly Boen gave chase early on with Boen moving to second on lap 5 and applying pressure on the leader. However Boen got wide coming out of turn 4 and made contact with the outside wall and later retired from the race during a caution period on lap 13. Point leader Larry McDaniels of Park City moved to the runner-up spot at the halfway point with Dimond Mundy in third. The final caution waved on lap 25, bunching the field, but Kuchar was able to hang on for the win over McDaniels and Munday. Earl Kinderknecht and David Conkwright rounded out the top five. Heat race winners were Delbert Smith, Kuchar and McDaniels.

‘The Kansas Tornado’ Jon Johnson of Utica blew through the 305 Sprint Car field to increase his URSS point lead. Randy Bantam led the opening lap of the 20-lap feature before the first caution flag waved on lap 2 for a spinning Kyle Field. On the restart, Johnson took a lead he would not relinquish. Justin Schwien chased Johnson to the checkers but had to settle for second. Larry Radcliffe finished third, followed by rookie Billy Smith, and Bantam. Johnson and Smokey Fairbank won the two heat races.

The Bombers made their second appearance of the season at the 3/8-mile oval and Wakeeney’s Kyle Rohleder drove to victory lane in the 15-lap feature. Rohleder took the lead on lap 4 from Jim Dirks and beat previous winner Jeremy Blackwill to the finish line. Brent Moss finished third, however he did not pass post-race tech and was disqualified. Gene Sneath moved to third spot, followed by Josh Latka and Bobby Denning. Rohleder and Blackwill were victorious in the two heat races.

The Econos made their debut at RPM Speedway and Reed Bernbeck of Ransom found his way to the winner’s circle. Heat race winner Corey Luetters finished second, followed by Brian Leiker and Dan Luetters.

Racing returns to Rolling Plains Motor Speedway on Friday evening, July 28. The IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks, along with the Bombers, return to action. Race time is 8:00 p.m.



RESULTS

Econos
Heat: 1. Corey Luetters, 2. Brian Leiker, 3. Reed Bernbeck, 4. Caleb Lovin.

Feature: 1. Bernbeck, 2. C. Luetters, 3. Leiker, 4. Dan Luetters, 5. Lovin (DNF).

Bombers
Heat 1: 1. Kyle Rohleder, 2. Jim Dirks, 3. Ron Haremza, 4. Gene Sneath.

Heat 2: 1. Jeremy Blackwill, 2. Brent Moss, 3. Duane Wahrman, 4. Clinton Hockersmith.

Feature: 1. Rohleder, 2. Blackwill, 3. Sneath, 4. Josh Latka, 5. Bobby Denning, 6. Haremza, 7. Shaylon Holloway, 8. Dirks (DNF), 9. Wahrman (DNF), 10. Hockersmith (DNF), Moss (DQ).

URSS 305 Sprint Cars
Heat 1: 1. Jon Johnson, 2. Justin Schwien, 3. Travis Decker, 4. Billy Smith.

Heat 2: 1. Smokey Fairbank, 2. Tommy Lee Williams, 3. Tim Perkins, 4. Mark Bantam.

Feature: 1. Johnson, 2. Schwien, 3. Larry Radcliffe, 4. Smith, 5. Randy Bantam, 6. Doug Roth, 7. Decker, 8. Perkins, 9. M. Bantam, 10. Fairbank, 11. Kyle Field, 12. Nick Tubbs (DNF), 13. Williams (DNF).

TORA Late Models
Heat 1: 1. Delbert Smith, 2. Kelly Boen, 3. Dimond Mundy, 4. Bo Egge, 5. Lonnie Smith.

Heat 2: 1. John Kuchar, 2. David Conkwright, 3. Chris Kratzer, 4. Jim Clifton, 5. Zeke Hanger.

Heat 3: 1. Larry McDaniels, 2. Earl Kinderknecht, 3. Tyler Gottschalk, 4. Craig Preble, 5. Brad Fortney.

Feature: 1. Kuchar, 2. McDaniels, 3. Mundy, 4. E. Kinderknecht, 5. D. Conkwright, 6. Preble, 7. D. Smith, 8. L. Smith, 9. Mike Conkwright, 10. Justin Kinderknecht, 11. Fortney, 12. Doug Clark, 13. Clifton, 14. Hanger, 15. J.D. Botts, 16. Kratzer (DNF), 17. Egge (DNF), 18. Gottschalk (DNF), 19. Ryan Rairdan (DNF), 20. Boen (DNF).