Fairbank Earns URSS Victory at Dawson County Raceway
By: Darin Racek

LEXINGTON, NE (May 6) - Despite the look of the sky, the track at Dawson County Raceway in Lexington was ready to go, and several cars from three states came to do battle on opening night May 6. The United Rebel Sprint Series 305 Sprint Cars made their first appearance to the track, and with it, Smokey Fairbank of Ransom, Kan. won his first ever A Feature, in any racing division. Ronnie Wallace of North Platte, Josh Hudson of Kensington, Kan., and Aaron Koch of Cambridge took the other opening night wins.

Fifteen URSS Sprint Cars lined 15 cars up for the biggest Sprint Car A Feature has seen in years, if ever. Tommy Lee Williams of North Platte, who had by far the most experience at Dawson County Raceway of any of the starters, started on the pole and jumped out to the lead. On lap three, Smokey Fairbank found a way around the North Platte driver, and took off. The field caught back up to him with six laps to go after the engine on North Platte racer Tom Belsky’s car gave up the ghost. On the restart, heat race winner Justin Schwien of Russell, Kan. had a great start, and quickly went from sixth place to third place. He eventually caught Williams and battled for the second spot. As they came out of corner four to take the white flag, they made contact. Schwien was able to continue, but Williams’s car stalled on the track, resulting in a caution, and sending him to the back. Schwien realigned in second place, but had nothing to deny Fairbank that first URSS win. Schwein, who started in row five, settled for second place, and earned the hard charger award. Mike Spear of Lincoln, Kan., finished in third place while Larry Radcliffe of Hill City, Kan., who also started in row five, finished in fourth place. Cody Salem of St. Joseph, Mo. rounded out the top five. Schwein, Salem, and Randy Bantam of Norton, Kan. took the three heat race wins.

The IMCA Modified drivers had issues during their main event, having seven caution periods during the first 8 laps. Fortunately, the last twelve laps went unabated. David Jewett, Jr. of Elkhorn paced the early laps of the race, until he was passed by Ronnie Wallace. Wallace got by him once, only to have to return to second place after a caution. Wallace got by on the restart, as did heat winner Vince Leibert of Lexington. Leibert applied his own pressure on Wallace and came within a fender of leading a lap. Another caution period aligned Wallace ahead of Leibert, and that’s how the two remained to the end of the race. Jewett stayed within range to earn the third spot. Mike Saathoff of North Platte was one of the few drivers who started near the back and stayed out of trouble to earn fourth. Jay Steffens of North Platte took home fifth place. The other IMCA Modified heat races were won by Wade Cross of Phillips and Chuck Stryker of Eddyville.

Twenty IMCA Stock Cars started their A Feature, which started out a little slow as a result of a cone violation on the start and a splash of water on the track after a couple of drivers drove into a big water hole at the bottom of corner two. Cory Struckhoff of Kensington, Kan. passed Casey Werkmeister of Maywood on lap three to take the lead of the race. A couple of laps later, Josh Hudson, who started in row six and found the high line to his liking, blasted by his teammate to become the new leader. As Hudson paced the field, Werkmeister came back to challenge Struckhoff for the second spot. He was able to get by one of the Kansas drivers, but was unable to track down Hudson. Jason Smidt of Minden drove his new car to third place, while Shawn Alberts of Ayr followed him in fourth place. Zach Scultz of North Platte rounded out the top five. Joining Hudson as heat race winners were Dan Walker of Eddyville and John Huffman of McCook.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks had a pretty clean race, slowed by only one caution. Jason Koch of Cambridge started on row one and was in a battle early on with heat race victor Kyle Bond of Kearney to keep the spot. While those two paced the field, Aaron Koch was finding his way to the front. He first got by Bond, and then, with three laps to go, found a way around his brother for the lead. He was able to hold Jason and the rest of the field off for the win. Bond finished in third place, ahead of fellow heat race winner Derek Thiem of Columbus. Newcomer Anthony Martin of Wilcox rounded out the top five.

With Mother's Day next week, Dawson County Raceway will next be in action on Sunday night, May 20. The Super Late Models will join the Modifieds, Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks that night. The gates open at 5 PM, and the races will start at 7 PM.

May 6 results

URSS 305 Sprints
Heat 1
23-Cody Salem
27G-Greg Thyfault
54-Mike Spear

Heat 2
5R-Randy Bantam
7R-Larry Radcliffe
C3-Reed Bernbeck

Heat 3
76J-Justin Schwien
2-Smokey Fairbank
84T-Travis Decker

A Feature
2-Smokey Fairbank
76J-Justin Schwien
54-Mike Spear
7R-Larry Radcliffe
23-Cody Salem
27G-Greg Thyfault
5R-Randy Bantam
82-Mark Bantam
84T-Travis Decker
29T-Tommy L Williams
C3-Reed Bernbeck
2H-Bill Hays
38-Cody Keiswetter
07-Corey Lutters
28-Tom Belsky (DNF)

IMCA Modified
Heat 1
7R-Vince Leibert
12J-Jay Steffens
7A-Steve Aitken

Heat 2
19-Chuck Stryker
94H-Don Hagan, Jr.
4Jr-David Jewett, Jr.

Heat 3
21-Wade Cross
3RW-Ronnie Wallace
4C-Charley Brown

A Feature
3RW-Ronnie Wallace
7R-Vince Leibert
4Jr-David Jewett, Jr.
29S-Mike Saathoff
12J-Jay Steffens
4C-Charley Brown
7A-Steve Aitken
21H-Brandon Hagan
19-Chuck Stryker
21-Wade Cross (DNF)
94H-Don Hagan, Jr. (DNF)
4P-Dave Pedersen (DNF)
22-Chris Avery (DNF)
9-Brian Cash (DNF)
03-Josh Lester (DNS)

IMCA Stock Car
Heat 1
24-Dan Walker
64-Shawn Alberts
4K-Kent Lower

Heat 2
7-Josh Hudson
55Z-Zach Schultz
12J-Kerry Jones

Heat 3
3-John Huffman
18-Jason Smidt
24KC-Casey Werkmeister

Heat 4
32-Cory Struckhoff
42KC-Kyle Werkmeister
69-Adam Kackmeister

A Feature
7-Josh Hudson
24KC-Casey Werkmeister
32-Cory Struckhoff
18-Jason Smidt
64-Shawn Alberts
55Z-Zach Schultz
24-Dan Walker
3-John Huffman
5S-Shane Stout
8-Travis Tilford
69-Adam Kackmeister
50-Colton Osborn
12J-Kerry Jones
42KC-Kyle Werkmeister
25KO-Brady Koch
4K-Kent Lower
27-Hanny Arram
72H-Jim Hagan (DNF)
47Jr-Russ Small, Jr (DNF)
47-Russ Small (DNF)

IMCA Hobby Stock
Heat 1
0-Kyle Bond
70KO-Aaron Koch
9A-Anthony Martin

Heat 2
17-Derek Thiem
74KO-Jason Koch
20-Hunter Cantrall

A Feature
70KO-Aaron Koch
74KO-Jason Koch
0-Kyle Bond
17-Derek Thiem
9A-Anthony Martin
0H-Bret Hagan
040-Gary Kneher
72H-Kevin Hagan
9-Robert Donaly
27H-Sean Hagan
53-Tyler Easterday
7S-Scott Gibson
20-Hunter Cantrall (DNF)