The United Rebel Sprint Series kicked off the 2016 racing season with a barn burner as the lightning fast Wakeeney Speedway 3/8’s mile oval provided the drivers multiple grooves to do battle Sunday night. Fifteen entries pulled through the gate and those teams did not disappoint a single fan in attendance. After two thrilling heat races the top eight drivers picked a child from the stands to do a game of musical chairs to see where each would start. When the final chair was up for grabs it was down to Steve Richardson and CJ Johnson picks for the front row. Richardson’s pick took the final round giving the Liberal Driver the pole position for the 25 lap A Feature.
At the drop of the green flag Steven Richardson jumped out to the point with fourth starter Zach Blurton taking to the bottom to grab the second spot from CJ Johnson. At the end of lap one in was Richardson, Blurton, Johnson, Craig Jecha and Cody Lampe rounding out the top five. Richardson and Blurton went into turn’s one side by side with Blurton pulling way on the bottom to take the lead down the backstretch. Jake Martens battled Lampe for the fifth spot taking the position on lap two. The yellow flag waved on lap four as Craig Jecha spun exiting turn four and backing his ride into the fence. Jecha was uninjured but finished for the night.
On the restart Blurton once again bolted to the lead with Johnson on his nerf bar, Martens used the restart to make his way past Richardson to take over the third spot. Back in the pack Luke Cranston, Jeff Radcliffe and Brian Herbert convincingly worked their way up to challenge Richardson with Cranston taking the fourth spot on lap six. Lance Davis joined the fray as he was soon on the back bumper of Richardson looking to take away the fifth position. Up front Blurton and Johnson were locked in a heated battle for the point as Martens and Cranston battled for the third spot. By lap nine Brian Herbert had made his way to Richardson’s nerf bar as the pair duked it out for the fifth spot with Herbert making the pass for position stick on lap ten.
Lap eleven saw the battle for positions seven through ten heat up Jeff Radcliffe had caught Davis with Lampe and Ken Lutters right behind them in their wheel tracks. Radcliffe missed the high side on lap twelve and slid off the top to fall back to the tenth spot. Davis was pressuring Richardson for the seventh spot with Lampe and Lutters gaining ground. Davis kept the spot as Lampe tried the top to sweep the position. Up front Blurton and Johnson were putting on a show as they raced side by side with Johnson gaining ground on the straights only to give it back in the turns.
On lap twenty one the caution would once again wave as Cody Lampe’s mount stalled to a stop coming off of turn two. This set up a four lap shootout to see who would take the win. On the restart Blurton once again jumped into the lead with Johnson, Cranston, Martens and Herbert hot on his heels. The two would battle side by side for several laps with Blurton holding the bottom and Johnson trying everything he could to make the top side work. Radcliffe used the restart to power his way up to the seventh spot behind Davis and set his sights on grabbing the sixth spot. Richardson bobbled slightly on the restart allowing Davis and Radcliffe to close the gap with the pair passing Richardson for the spot on lap twenty three. Lutters quickly closed the gap on Richardson and grabbed the eighth spot on lap twenty four.
With the white flag being displayed Johnson took to the high side for one last try to find the grip to take the lead, but Blurton powered off of turn two to open up a slight lead he would never relinquish. Blurton took his first checkered flag of the 2016 season with Johnson, Cranston, Martens and Herbert rounding out the top five.
Jeff Radcliffe picked up the Keiser Aluminum Racing Wheels “Hard Charger Award” coming from his 14th place starting position to finish in the sixth spot.
Heat race winners were Zach Blurton and CJ Johnson.
Feature:
1 Zach Blurton
2 CJ Johnson
3 Luke Cranston
4 Jake Martens
5 Brian Herbert
6 Jeff Radcliffe
7 Lance Davis
8 Ken Lutters
9 Steven Richardson
10 Nate Berry
11 Jed Werner
12 Aaron Ploussard
13 Cody Lampe DNF
14 Craig Jecha DNF
15 Jason Rakes DNS
If you can’t make it to the track you can listen to the racing action live just click the URSS link on www.RacinBoys.com with Kyler Fetters bringing the call. For all of your informational needs visit the United Rebel Sprint Series on Facebook