81 Speedway Roars Back in Season Opener
Park City, Kansas - 81 Speedway roared back to life last night with the season opener that saw 108 cars competing before a packed house at the newly refurbished race venue in Park City, Kansas. F.O.E Enterprise purchased the historic ? mile racetrack in the off season, renovating much of the facility to accommodate race fans from all over the Midwest. Opening night saw five classes competing, including USRA B Mods and Alternative Pest Management / USRA A mods.
In the Alternative Pest Management / USRA A Mods, Wichita, Kansas ace Tanner Mullens took advantage of a pole position starting spot and led wire to wire to pick up the year's first win. Mullens held off Brendan Gemmill and Beau Davis in the closing laps to secure the victory. 38 USRA Modifieds were on hand to compete. Heat Race wins went to Jon Herring Jr., Woodward, Oklahoma, Ryan McAnnich, Hutchinson, Kansas, Jason Yager, El Dorado, Kansas and Mullens.
In USRA B Mods, Tyler Kidwell from Chanute, Kansas used the lightning fast high groove to his advantage in taking the A Feature race. Starting outside the pole, Kidwell grabbed the lead from Ft. Scott, Kansas veteran Randy Zimmerman and never looked back. Last race charges from Baldwin City, Kansas’ Jeremy Chamber and Colby, Kansas’ Dustin Daniels fell short in the 20 lap feature. Heat Race wins went to both Kidwell and Chambers.
Chunky Poodle Rookie Modified racing action saw Jeremy Sigler from Great Bend, Kansas hold off Dillon Moler and Andrew Wallace, both from Wichita, to pick up his initial win on the 2020 season. Sigler, starting 5th, used the bottom of the track initially and then moved to high groove to lead the final few laps in the win. Heat Race wins went to Sigler, Moler, Arkansas City’s Jason Denny and Newton’s Austin Krogmeier. Walt Brookshire picked up the B Feature win.
Belle Plaine, Kansas driver Dustin Bolster used his pole position to pick up the win in the Late Model division, outdistancing Joseph Gorby from Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Adam Popp from Haven, Kansas. Heat Race wins went to Chris Kratzer, Wichita, Kansas and Adam Schrag from Hutchinson, Kansas.
In one of the evening's closest contests, Heyglassman.com Stock Cars, Hutchinson’s Clint Smith used lap traffic to win a tight three car battle that saw multiple lead changes. Smith held off Cheney, Kansas’ Greg Schell and George Ramey from Wichita to win the 15 lap A Main race. Heat Race wins went to Schell and Smith.
Racing returns to 81 Speedway this Thursday, June 4th in the 9th Annual USMTS Park City Sunflower State Showdown presented by Murphy Equipment. Competing that evening will the
USMTS - United States Modified Touring Series / Alternative Pest Management USRA Modifieds, USRA B-Mods and the AutoTech Service Street Stocks. In addition, on Sunday June 7th the All Star Circuit of Champions sponsored by Ollie’s Bargain Outlets 410 Winged Sprint Cars will invade the famed 3/8 mile 81 Speedway. Drivers scheduled to compete include Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson. Also competing will be URSS Sprint Cars: URSS-United Rebel Sprint Series (National) along with Late Models. For more information make sure follow 81 Speedway on Facebook, Twitter and their website at www.race81speedway.com.
(Photo Credit: Gary Cornelison)