SALINA, Kan. — Last week fans got a little taste of something different at Salina Speedway, Sprint Car racing! This week things will get back to normal as the awesome weekly racing action of the BSB Manufacturing NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Models, Belleville Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds, Coors Light Street Stocks, Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stocks and Chamucos Night Club Mini Stocks will be on display this Friday night, June 6th.
So far this season there is a lot of tight competition in the 1st half of the 2014 season. Only one class, the M&H Motors IMCA Northern Sport Mods, has a leader with a double digit point lead. Austin Carter holds a 15 point advantage over the 2nd place competitor, Tyler Frye. The Sport Mods are off this week, so we will worry about them later.
In the Belleville Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds last season’s champ, Joe Cleveland, is sitting on top of the standings by a meager 4 points. Brian Knoell, who has 2 wins this season, is currently 2nd, Mike Petersilie, Danny Morrison Jr. and Corey Lagroon are all in the mix as well. This division battle could shape up to be a 10 car shootout by the time it’s all said and done.
Delbert ‘The IceMan’ Smith has jumped out to an early lead in the BSB Manufacturing NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Models by winning 2 features. It’s a position that Smith is becoming comfortable with. A repeat of the championship season of one year ago could be around the corner. Then again, if you ask Darrick Klima, Chris Krazter, Daniel Smith and a host of others they might have something to say differently about that. Needless to say, you have to knock the King off of his throne before you can take his crown!
Another class to keep a close eye on is the Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stocks. This class is competitive from top to bottom and it’s shaping up to be an awesome battle in the points. Mike Traskowksy has the early advantage in the points, but it’s only a mere 1 point advantage over Tony Slothower. A lot of drivers have the ability to end up in victory lane and that’s a positive for the fans of Salina Speedway. They know week in and week out they will get a great show out of this division. Aaron McBride, Tommy Fose and GW Fuller round out the current top 5 in the points. Look at the points next week and see if any driver has moved up or down.
Russell Roberg and Stacey Huffman have each won a feature event in the Chamucos Night Club Mini Stock class. After 2 races they are deadlocked at the top of the point standings. These two drivers could be setting themselves up for a season long duel.
One class that could have a lot of excitement up to the last race will be the Coors Light Street Stocks. Every week it looks like this class can mix it up with the best of them. Scott Miller, Geoff Jermark and Jerry Phillips all have a win in the division. After 3 races there has yet to be a repeat winner in Street Stocks. Jerry Phillips sits in the top spot at the moment but Duane Toyne, last year’s champ, is 5 points back in 2nd and 3rd, 4th and 5th are no further back than 12 points. It’s going to get fun before it’s all over.
Each week fans need to keep an eye on their favorite drivers. You don’t know when that break might come that will either decide who the champ will be or who will suffer heartache.
Track conditions, other competitors and mechanical issues will be a few things that will come into play over the few months. The question will be, what drivers will overcome adversity, race well and win their coveted points titles? The battles are underway.
Don’t miss a minute of the upcoming action at Salina Speedway.
Racing gets underway with Hot laps at 7:15 p.m. and heat races shortly after that.
Fans wanting to get the 411 on Salina Speedway just need to stay logged in to their home on the world wide web at https://www.racesalinaspeedway.com. As fans visit the site take a look at the 2014 schedule to see what classes are running, great stories and results and sign up for the Text & Email Blasts! You can also like their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/SalinaSpeedway or Follow on Twitter @SalinaSpeedway1.