by Dusty Wiegert
A packed grandstand and pit area signaled the start of the race season at the Salina Speedway on April 20. By the end of the night six drivers celebrated victories at the fast 3/8 mile.
Smokin’ Joe Cleveland of Delphos was the man to beat in the Belleville Motorsports IMCA Modified division. After starting ninth Cleveland made quick work of the field and, despite a green white checkered finish, was able to hold off a pack of hard chargers. Corey Lagroon finished second, followed by Danny Morrison Jr. third, Brandon Blochlinger fourth, and Barry Maupin fifth. AJ Scott of Roxbury was the Hard Charger after starting twenty-second and finishing eighth. Morrison, Blochlinger, Troy Johnson, and Larry Sutton won the heat races.
Making their first appearance in a long time as a weekly class, the Friesen Chevrolet Late Models presented by M&H Motors and Cave Diver’s Liquor put on an excellent race for the win. Joe Gorby had a decisive lead but was slowly chipped away by Delbert Smith. Smith would then challenge Gorby and briefly take the lead before a slide job on the last lap put Gorby in front and into Victory Lane. Smith finished second, followed by Tyler Bradshaw, Kelly Dunn, and Justin Kinderknecht. Gary Gorby and Earl Kinderknecht won the heat races.
After coming so close to victory last season Austin Carter put his #63C Coors Light IMCA Stock Car in Victory Lane after a great duel with Justin Murdock. Murdock pulled alongside Carter repeatedly but couldn’t get around him, giving Carter his first win with Murdock second, Scot Graznella third, Cory Struckhoff fourth, and Shelby Steenson fifth. Murdock was the race’s Hard Charger after starting fourth. Murdock also won the heat race.
Belleville’s Tyler Frye returned to Victory Lane in the Xtreme Motorsports IMCA Northern SportMod division. He did so by taking advantage of a front-row starting spot and then outlasting last year’s National Champion Bryan Lariviere. Lariviere finished second, Jesse Levin third, Matthew Crowell fourth, and Fred Traskowsky fifth. William Cammarn was the Hard Charger after starting twentieth and finishing tenth. Frye, Josh Rice, and Fred Traskowsky won the heat races.
After making a long tow from Belvidere, Nebraska, Robby Marsh picked up his first feature win in the Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stock division. Marsh easily outpaced the field for the win, followed by Rick Slothower, Pete Beaumont, Brian Stich, and Tony Slothower. Stich was also the Hard Charger after starting sixteenth. Marsh and both Slothowers were heat race winners.
Also making a weekly return to the speedway was the T&R Dirt Construction Mini Stock division. Galva’s Eric Unruh picked up his first victory in the division, piloting a front wheel drive car. Brendon Thiessen come home second in a rear wheel drive truck with Dallas Dunn, Paco Montague, and Randy Rice rounding out the top five. Wade Heller and Montague won the heat races. Doug Champion Jr. was the Hard Charger after starting sixteenth and finishing sixth.
Late Models – A Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 9 Joseph Gorby Bartlesville , Ok 38.00
2 6 92 Delbert Smith Wichita , Ks 37.00
3 5 45B Tyler Bradshaw Salina , Ks 36.00
4 1 31 Kelly Dunn Salina , Ks 35.00
5 8 1JR Justin Kinderknecht Salina , Ks 34.00
6 2 12G Ryan Grit Salina , Ks 33.00
7 4 T1T Earl Kinderknecht Salina , Ks 32.00 DNF
8 7 7C Gary Gorby Caney , Ks 31.00 DNS
Modifieds – A Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 9 2 Joe Cleveland Delphos , Ks 40.00
2 10 24 Corey Lagroon Salina , Ks 39.00
3 7 14M Danny Morrison Jr. Bennington , Ks 38.00
4 8 9 Brandon Blochlinger Concordia , Ks 37.00
5 3 47 Barry Maupin Lucas , Ks 36.00
6 15 12 Rodger Peck Minneapolis , Ks 35.00
7 5 53T Larry Sutton Beloit , Ks 34.00
8 22 23 Aj Scott Roxbury , Ks 33.00
9 14 25P Mike Petersilie Hoisington , Ks 32.00
10 12 66 Jerry Phillips Galva , Ks 31.00
11 20 50 Brandon Payne Minneapolis , Ks 30.00
12 19 819 Shannon Johnson Salina , Ks 29.00
13 21 2G George Goracke Salina , Ks 28.00
14 1 59W Jeff Welsh Abilene , Ks 27.00 DNF
15 18 A2 Randy Wilson Wichita , Ks 26.00 DNF
16 23 28 Seth Beard Wichita , Ks 25.00 DNF
17 4 8R Jesse Richter Great Bend, Ks 24.00 DNF
18 11 88J Troy Johnson Concordia , Ks 23.00 DNF
19 13 11W Tim Watts Beloit , Ks 22.00 DNF
20 16 20 Warren Huffman Salina , Ks 21.00 DNF
21 6 B6 Brian Knoell Falun , Ks 20.00 DNF
22 2 7L Nate Moore Great Bend, Ks 19.00 DNF
23 17 71 Jason Caldwell Salina , Ks 18.00 DNS
Sport Mods – A Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 4 55 Tyler Frye Belleville , Ks 40.00
2 10 2 Bryan Lariviere Wichita , Ks 39.00
3 5 11J Jesse Levin Salina , Ks 38.00
4 6 2C Matthew Crowell Clearwater , Ks 37.00
5 3 23 Fred Traskowsky Woodbine , Ks 36.00
6 14 73G Eric Ingram Beloit , Ks 35.00
7 7 4M Matt Miller Concordia , Ks 34.00
8 17 D73 Terry Blessing Manhattan , Ks 33.00
9 15 51 Brandon Belvill Concordia , Ks 32.00
10 20 25C William Cammarn Chapman , Ks 31.00
11 19 5 Rob Throop Beloit , Ks 30.00
12 13 36 Chad Markley Abilene , Ks 29.00
13 1 15 Seth Schroer Strong City, Ks 28.00 DNF
14 16 77W Tyler Watts Beloit , Ks 27.00 DNF
15 9 57JR Eric Cross Salina , Ks 26.00 DNF
16 11 12F Brian Fink Beloit , Ks 25.00 DNF
17 18 3K Kurtis Pihl Lindsborg , Ks 24.00 DNF
18 12 8J Josh Rice Minneapolis , Ks 23.00 DNF
19 2 J1 Jacob Schmutz Junction City, Ks 22.00 DNF
20 8 26X Shane Meeks Abilene , Ks 21.00 DNF
21 21 1 Chris Heim Hoxie , Ks 20.00 DNS
Stock Cars – A Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 63C Austin Carter New Cambria, Ks 37.00
2 4 24M Justin Murdock Concordia , Ks 36.00
3 1 91E Scot Granzella Salina , Ks 35.00
4 6 59S Cory Struckhoff Kensington , Ks 34.00
5 5 59 Shelby Steenson Mentor , Ks 33.00 DNF
6 3 R99 Brian Ryff Abilene , Ks 32.00 DNF
7 7 3F Robbie Ferris Abilene , Ks 31.00 DNS
Hobby Stocks – A Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 6 11 Robby Marsh Belvidere , Ne 40.00
2 2 13 Rick Slothower Gypsum , Ks 39.00
3 4 88B Pete Beaumont Concordia , Ks 38.00
4 16 21 Brian Stich Topeka , Ks 37.00
5 8 06 Tony Slothower Salina , Ks 36.00
6 1 22 Dennis Berry Salina , Ks 35.00
7 11 23 Mike Traskowsky Woodbine , Ks 34.00
8 3 82 Mark Normandin Salina , Ks 33.00
9 18 1X Gw Fuller Tescott , Ks 32.00
10 5 3C Jacob Crowell Clearwater , Ks 31.00
11 13 39 Jake Hedlund Mcpherson , Ks 30.00
12 7 31M Aaron Mcbride Barnard , Ks 29.00
13 12 27 Tommy Fose Sedgwick , Ks 28.00
14 10 18 John Steele Salina , Ks 27.00
15 20 77M Larry Jantz Enterprise , Ks 26.00
16 14 31 Robert Emmons Russell , Ks 25.00
17 15 83 Tommy Shomaker Salina , Ks 24.00
18 17 5K Kelly Pihl Lindsborg , Ks 23.00
19 9 17J Wayne Juenemann Salina , Ks 22.00 DNF
20 19 15M Randy Murphy Ellis , Ks 21.00 DNF
Mini Stocks – A Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 50C Eric Unruh Galva , Ks 40.00
2 5 21 Brendon Thiessen Concordia , Ks 39.00
3 4 31DD Dallas Dunn Salina , Ks 38.00
4 6 72 Tracy Montague Salina , Ks 37.00
5 7 8R Randy Rice Miltonvale , Ks 36.00
6 16 143X Doug Champion Jr Salina , Ks 35.00
7 12 4B Amber Bird Brookville , Ks 34.00
8 9 11 Josh Howard Salina , Ks 33.00
9 14 X187 Pat Wright Junction City, Ks 32.00
10 11 15E Elliott May Lyons , Ks 31.00
11 10 187 Wade Heller Manhattan , Ks 30.00 DNF
12 1 23J Matt Juenemann Salina , Ks 29.00 DNF
13 3 02 Chris Walker Salina , Ks 28.00 DNF
14 15 2X Anthony Engling Salina , Ks 27.00 DNS
15 13 1 Stacey Fuller Salina , Ks 26.00 DNS
16 8 14M John Mcnabb Salina , Ks 0.00 DQ