9.2.12 URSS Sprints Results
Mike Wilson – Norton, Kansas (September 3, 2012) The final night of a three day swing for the United Rebel Sprint Series saw 14 teams check into Elmwood Park Speedway Sunday evening in Norton, Kansas. As mother nature cranked up the heat, the Rebels turned up the action as they blasted onto the half mile speedway. When the checkers flew it would be Hill City, Kansas driver Jeff Radcliffe driving to victory lane for the second time in as many days with the URSS.
Oberlin driver, Chad Salem would lead the field to green for 25 laps of rolling thunder with Howard VanDyke along side on row one. VanDyke would jump to the early lead using the momentum from his outside row one starting position. Mike Spear would move to second with Judd Shaeffer in third. The back row bandits would not waste time as Radcliffe would drive to fourth from his eighth place starting position and Brian Herbert would crack the top five on lap number one from tenth on the grid.
VanDyke would continue to pace the field. Action would heat up on the leaders tail tank as Radcliffe would move to second on lap seven. Using the low line in turns one and two on lap nine, the Hill City driver would pull one of his patented sliders to steal the lead from VanDyke. The move would show the way for Herbert who would use the bottom to take over second on lap twelve.
Before Radcliffe could push his advantage the yellow would fly on lap sixteen for Spear in turn two. With Herbert and Jake Bubak breathing down Radcliffe’s neck, the race would get back underway. It would make no difference, as Radcliffe would check out into another zip code and cruise to victory lane for the second time in as many days with the URSS.
“We left the set up alone from last night,” Radcliffe explained in victory lane. “I needed the car up on the wall for the feature and it worked out well. These guys are real good drivers, it’s tough racing these guys week in and week out. I feel fortunate we could beat them tonight.”
Herbert locked up the runner up spot, advancing eight positions from tenth. Arvada, Colorado driver, Jake Bubak would earn the show position coming from seventh to third. Judd Shaeffer took advantage of Spear’s miscue to finish fourth. Darren Berry would round out the top five.
Car Count: 14
Lap Leaders: Howard VanDyke (1-7), Jeff Radcliffe (8-25)
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard Charger Award: Brian Herbert +8
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Jake Bubak, 2. Howard VanDyke, 3. Mike Spear, 4. Greg Reiners, 5. Chad Salem, 6. DNF Shawn Radcliffe, 7. DNF Darren Berry
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Judd Sheaffer, 2. Brian Herbert, 3. Darren Bowman, 4. Jeff Radcliffe, 5. Tom Belsky, 6. Ron Hadley, 7. Randy Bantam
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. Jeff Radcliffe, 2. Brian Herbert, 3. Jake Bubak, 4. Judd Shaeffer, 5. Darren Berry, 6. Howard VanDyke, 7. Greg Reiners, 8. Randy Bantom, 9. Ron Hadley, 10. Chad Salem, 11. DNF Mike Spear, 12. DNF Darren Bowman, 13. DNF Shawn Radcliffe, 14. DNF Tom Belsky
2012 Feature Winners: Luke Cranston-5, Pat Bourke-4, Jeff Radcliffe-4, Jason Martin-3, Ty Williams-3, Jake Bubak-3, Brian Hardman-3, Brian Herbert-2, Zach Blurton-1, Bob Schaeffer-1, Mike Peters-1, Darren Bowman-1