Wakeeney Speedway opens 2010 season

By Mike Hughes
WAKEENEY, KS (April 18)—Over 80 race cars in four divisions checked into the pits at Wakeeney (KS) Speedway Sunday evening, April 18, under the guidance of the new Wakeeney Racing Association.

In the IMCA Modified main event, Dylan Sherfick led the first 3 laps of the 20-lap race before Salina’s Corey Lagroon took a lead he would not relinquish. Three cautions gave the field a chance, but the defending track champion was able to pull away, then hold off a late race challenge from runner-up Jeremy Zorn for the win. Sherfick held on for third, followed by Rodger Peck and Mark Zorn. Heat race winners were Lagroon, Barry Maupin, Peck, and Sherfick, while ‘Sweet’ Wheat Lippelmann was first to the wire in the B-feature.

Josh Hudson took the lead at the drop of the green of the IMCA Stock Car feature, followed by Tim Leiker and Rod Wadel. The first caution flag waved on lap 4 for a spinner, then on the restart, Oakley’s Rod Bencken took command and led the remaining distance to find his way to victory lane. Adam Balthazor finished second, followed by Terry Cunningham, Wheat Lippelmann, and Bruce Plumisto. Hudson’s shot at a win went up in smoke on the final lap. Bencken and Hudson won the two heat races.

A four car tangle on the opening lap of the IMCA Northern Sport Mod main event eliminated 2 cars, but when the green flag waved once again, Matt Miller took the lead. But the caution flag waved one lap later, and hometown driver Brian Conness took advantage on the restart to take the lead from Miller. Conness would fend off all challengers the remainder of the 15-lap event to score the win. Cory McGann had to settle for second, trailed by Blaine Walt, Clayton Wilson, and Trenton Kleweno. Heat race victories went to Chris Heim, Conness, and McGann.

The IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap feature had an exciting finish. Mark Normandin led the first lap, but Kelly Karnopp took control on lap 2. Normandin spun on lap 5, ending his threat, but Karnopp was hounded by Josh Latka and Casey Gilmore. Latka’s car stalled though on lap 10, bringing out a caution and putting him at the back of the line. Gilmore then moved to second, and on lap 14, the Chapman driver got around Karnopp for the lead and a trip to the winner’s circle. Karnopp, Kirk Karst, Daniel Irwin, and Luke Pfannenstiel rounded out the top five. Gilmore and Normandin were victorious in the two heat races. Dalton Dolan rolled his car on the final lap of the feature race but was not hurt.
The evening’s race sponsor was Sporer Land Development of Oakley.

Racing returns to Wakeeney Speedway next Sunday night, April 25, with the same four classes in competition. Race time is 6:00 p.m.

RESULTS
IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1: 1. Casey Gilmore, 2. Kelly Karnopp, 3. Josh Latka, 4. Luke Pfannenstiel.
Heat 2: 1. Mark Normandin, 2. Austin Carter, 3. Cody Graham, 4. Cody Ghumm.
Feature: 1. Gilmore, 2. Karnopp, 3. Kirk Karst, 4. Daniel Irwin, 5. Pfannenstiel, 6. Ghumm, 7. Graham, 8. Normandin, 9. Michael Shamberger, 10. Al Emmons, 11. Rick Maynard, 12. Dalton Dolan (DNF), 13. Aaron Honas (DNF), 14. Jason Blackhart (DNF), 15. Carter (DNF), 16. Cody Williams (DNS), DQ – Latka.
IMCA Northern Sport Mods
Heat 1: 1. Chris Heim, 2. Trenton Kleweno, 3. Jeremy Blackwill, 4. Blaine Walt.
Heat 2: 1. Brian Conness, 2. Josh Rice, 3. Matt Miller, 4. Brenden Damon.
Heat 3: 1. Cory McGann, 2. Troy Attwood, 3. Bret Conness, 4. Kenny Schmidt.
Feature: 1. Brian Conness, 2. McGann, 3. Walt, 4. Clayton Wilson, 5. Kleweno, 6. Miller, 7. Tanner Portenier, 8. Rice, 9. Schmidt, 10. Bret Conness, 11. Damon, 12. Jeffrey Kerns (DNF), 13. Troy Robinson (DNF), 14. Mathew Crowell (DNF), 15. Attwood (DNF), 16. Blackwill (DNF), 17. Heim (DNF).
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1: 1. Rod Bencken, 2. Pat Bedore, 3. Adam Balthazor, 4. Jason Davis.
Heat 2: 1. Josh Hudson, 2. Wheat Lippelmann, 3. Tim Leiker, 4. Rod Wadel.
Feature: 1. Bencken, 2. Balthazor, 3. Terry Cunningham, 4. Lippelmann, 5. Bruce Plumisto, 6. Bedore, 7. Dan Lauer, 8. Hudson, 9. Chase Conaway, 10. Wadel, 11. Brandon Fisher, 12. Cody Evans, 13. Adam Stenzl, 14. Davis (DNF), 15. Leiker (DNF), 16. Jay Hachmeister (DNF).
IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1: 1. Corey Lagroon, 2. Jesse Richter, 3. Nate Moore, 4. Kyle Rohleder.
Heat 2: 1. 1. Barry Maupin, 2. Mark Zorn, 3. Jeremy Zorn, 4. Dave Hardesty.
Heat 3: 1. Rodger Peck, 2. Jerry Phillips, 3. John Fose, 4. Jason Schoenberger.
Heat 4: 1. Dylan Sherfick, 2. Perry Misner, 3. Marty Clark, 4. Cory Simoneau.
B-Feature (top 4 advance): 1. Wheat Lippelmann, 2. Travis Sherfick, 3. George Tyler, 4. Mike Petersilie, 5. Chadd Brown, 6. Danny Keller, 7. Jerry Teel, 8. Matt Fabrizius, 9. Milo Lippelmann, 10. Ronnie Hill, 11. Joshua Appel, 12. Allen Kurth (DNF), 13. Scott Brown (DNF), 14. Rob Day (DNF), 15. David Murray (DNF).
A-Feature: 1. Lagroon, 2. J. Zorn, 3. D. Sherfick, 4. Peck, 5. M. Zorn, 6. Schoenberger, 7. Clark, 8. T. Sherfick, 9. Fose, 10. Richter, 11. Moore, 12. W. Lippelmann, 13. Phillips, 14. Misner, 15. Rohleder, 16. Petersilie, 17. Tyler, 18. Hardesty (DNF), 19. Simoneau (DNF), 20. Maupin (DNS).