3/28/2016
Ryan Smith
Four Drivers Double Up at Sunflower Classic
One-hundred ninety race teams from 8 states converged on RPM Speedway in Hays, KS, on Friday & Saturday, March 25-26 for the 4th annual Sunflower Classic. Four drivers were able to back up their Friday night main event wins with another trip to the winner’s circle on Saturday.
The track held up well both nights with multiple grooves to make all the features very close and exciting.
On Friday night, Dominic Ursetta jumped to the early lead in the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature with Don Geist and Jeremy Frenier in tow. After a lap 13 caution, Jesse Sobbing took control on lap 14, followed by Ursetta and Jordan Grabouski of Beatrice, NE. Grabouski then took the lead on lap 22, and a late race caution set up a green-white-checkered finish. ‘Grabo’ held on for the win over a hard charging Tyler Frye. Sobbing finished third, followed by Ursetta and ‘Dynamite’ Dylan Sherfick. Anthony Roth and Chris Bragg won the 2 B-mains.
The 25-lap IMCA Stock Car feature was close the entire race. Jeff Whiting led the opening lap before Justin Bussell took the lead. But Bussell spun with 3 laps to go to bring out a caution and had to go to the tail end of the restart. That handed the lead over to Mike Nichols, who led the field the remaining distance for the victory. Casey Woken, Corey Dumpert, Angel Munoz and Jason Schoenberger rounded out a close top five. Michael Pepper won the B-feature.
Brendon Damon took the lead at the drop of the green in the 20-lap IMCA Sport Mod feature, but was passed by Colby’s Dustin Daniels after a lap 3 restart. Daniels held off the field to the checkers for the win, with Ryan Moser edging Trenton Kleweno at the line for third, with Blaine Walt and Bryan Herrick completing the top five, but Herrick failed post-race tech and Brandon Spanger was scored fifth. The B-feature winner was Dakota Sproul.
‘Bam Bam’ Cody Graham led the first 9 laps of the 20-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature before last year’s track champion ‘The Wild Child’ Garrett Hager of Hays assumed command. Hager was able to hold off Graham to the finish for the win. Andrew Burg, who started 20th in the 24-car field, drove his way to third, trailed by Tyrel Smith and Jamie Songer. Cody Williams won the B-feature.
Scott Spellmeier of Beatrice, NE, led all 15-laps in the caution filled IMCA Sport Compact feature. Billy Turner finished second, followed by David Norquest, Brooke Russell and Nick Lindblad.
On Saturday night, Grabouski took the lead from polesitter Scott Smith on lap 10 of the IMCA Modified main event. Grabouski led the field at the halfway mark of the 25-lap race, trailed closely by Tyler Frye. Frye’s night ended on lap 22 when he drove off turn 2 on a restart. Jesse Sobbing made a late charge but had to settle for second behind Grabouski, followed by Jeremy Frenier, David Murray Jr. and Dominic Ursetta. Eddie Belec and Steven Bowers Jr. were both victorious in their B-mains.
Nick Tubbs took the early lead in the 25-lap IMCA Stock Car feature, but Mike Nichols drove to the lead on lap 7. Nichols and Tubbs got caught up in lapped traffic which made for an exciting race as the two worked their way around slower cars but Nichols was first to the wire for the second night in a row. Bruce Plumisto finished third, followed by Cory Dumpert and Casey Woken. Kyle Clough was first to the checkers in the B-feature.
Trenton Kleweno led the field at the start of the 20-lap IMCA Sport Mod feature, and continued to lead at the halfway mark. Then Dustin Daniels got by Kleweno on lap 13 and led the field to the checkers. Daniel Gottschalk passed Kleweno late for the runner-up spot, with Trent Roth and Bryan Herrick rounding out the top five. Henry Henderson topped the 10-car B-main.
Cody Williams of Minneapolis was the new face in victory lane Saturday night as he passed lap one leader Duane Wahrman on lap 2 and led the remaining distance in the 20-lap IMCA Hobby Stock main event. Jacob Olmstead chased Williams the last half of the race but had to settle for second, followed by Adam Armstrong, Tommy Fose and Jamie Songer. Lyle Russell won the B-feature.
Scott Spellmeier was victorious for the second night in a row in the 15-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature. Spellmeier passed leader Richard Crow on lap 10, only to have Crow regain the lead on the following lap as the top pair got caught up in lapped traffic. Spellmeier regained the lead as they came to the white flag and held on for the victory. Nick Lindblad was third, followed by Jakob Schwein and David Dembowski.
The weekend’s race sponsors were Xtreme Motorsports and D & B Motors of Great Bend.
The regular season opener will take place on Saturday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. with IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts. The ‘Crazy’ Cruisers will also be in competition.