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Velasquez Makes it Two in a Row at DCRP

Taylor Velasquez made it back-to-back Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Car wins by racing to victory lane in Saturday night’s 20-lap feature atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park.

While Velasquez extended his DCRP Sprint Car points lead, other Saturday night winners included Clay Sellard in IMCA Modifieds, Toby Witthuhn in IMCA Sport Modifieds, Michael Pepper in IMCA Stock Cars and Reagan Sellard in IMCA Hobby Stocks.

Velasquez slipped ahead of Brian Herbert just long enough upon the completion of the ninth lap to take command and then led the rest of the way aboard the Bearcat Well Service/Fronk Oil Company No. 21x Sprint Car to secure the win.

“We were fortunate to get the lead right before that caution,” Velasquez said after the win.

After Kade Hagans got on his side in turn two on the original start, Velasquez made an opening corner bid for the lead on the ensuing restart from his fourth starting position. But, after sliding out front in the opening pair of corners, fell in behind Herbert and front row starters Zach Blurton and Jeremy Huish.

Velasquez wasted little time working forward, taking over second by the third lap and going to work on Herbert for the point.

The Turpin, OK, racer edged ahead at the completion of the ninth lap only to have Herbert surge back ahead on the low side. But, Herbert’s resurgence was negated when the caution flew for Brandon Sprott’s disabled mount in turn two and reverted scoring to the ninth lap.

Velasquez took off on the restart and kept Herbert at bay the rest of the way to collect the win. Following a final caution with eight laps to go, Luke Cranston made his way past Zach Blurton in the closing laps to snare third with Ty Williams gaining three positions in the final circuits to capture fourth as Huish slipped by Blurton at the line to round out the top five.

In IMCA Modified action, Bucklin’s Clay Sellard rebounded from a mid-race one position penalty to take his first 20-lap win of the season atop the DCRP clay oval.

With Tom Beavers setting the pace early on, he soon had 10th starter Clay Sellard and 13th starter Brendon Gemmill nipping at his heels for the lead. Sellard raced past Beavers for the lead on the top side of turn two on the ninth round just as Gemmill looped it on the low side and fell from contention.

Mike Lunow followed Sellard’s lead around Beavers and then assumed the point with eight laps to go when Sellard was put back one position for brake-checks on several restarts.

Sellard wasted little time recapturing the lead and then rode the high line to hold off Lunow the rest of the way to the line with Tracy Link dodging the carnage to capture third from the 21st starting position. Brad Keller was fourth with Beavers rounding out the top five.

The IMCA Sport Modifieds added yet another name to the list of winners with Garden City’s Toby Witthuhn gunning into the lead on the opening round and leading all 15 laps to become the sixth different winner of the year and 15th different winner in the last 17 events.

Witthuhn went from third to first on the opening lap and then kept Brian May and Jeff Kaup behind him the rest of the way with Kevin Tabor and Bart Baker rounding out the top five.

In IMCA Stock Car action, Michael Pepper battled ahead of Marlin Hogie on the sixth lap and then fought off the early leader the rest of the way in the 12-lapper for his third DCRP win of the season.

After gaining the advantage, Lakin’s Pepper had his hands full holding off Hogie over the final half of the race, ultimately taking the checkered flag with a two car-length advantage as opening lap leader Brett Copeland filled out the podium in third.

Following a calamitous 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature event, Bucklin’s Reagan Sellard was awarded his second win of the year after apparent victor David Berger was unable to successfully make it through post-race tech.

Berger led all the way in the race interrupted by a pair of multi-car incidents in the opening eight circuits that pared the field down to just five survivors. Berger held off Sellard and Duane Wahrman over the final rounds only to have the victory go to Sellard post-race with Wahrman and Bryan Habiger in second and third, respectively.

Action continues at Dodge City Raceway Park next Saturday night, June 18, with a full slate of championship chase action featuring Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Hobby Stocks.

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