United Rebel Sprint Series signs with IMCA, RaceSaver

OBERLIN, Kan. (Jan. 7) ­– The Sprint Car series that boasts its drivers are Having More Fun Than The Law Should Allow is newly IMCA RaceSaver sanctioned.

The United Rebel Sprint Series will have approximately 30 race dates in 2016, at tracks in Kansas, western Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma.

“RaceSaver has really caught on and we want to be part of it. We want Sprint Cars to be affordable so everybody can race,” said series founder and director Rick Salem. “IMCA has been good to work with. We’re happy to work with them so our drivers can race for URSS points as well as national and state IMCA points.”

Opening night for the 11th annual series is April 10 at WaKeeney Speedway. The final points night is Sept. 24 at Dodge City Raceway Park.

More than 70 different drivers competed over the course of the series last year. The core group of URSS veterans was joined by a healthy class of eight rookies and transplants to the 305 division from neighboring 360 classes.

Fifteen drivers won at least one URSS feature event in 2015.

“I started this series to bring affordable Sprint Car racing back to Kansas. Tracks couldn’t afford it and drivers couldn’t afford it,” explained Salem. “When I started, I wanted to get everybody on the same page. I went through all the rules and ours were basically the same as RaceSaver’s.”

URSS handled its own head certification, a chore that will now be done by RaceSaver.

“RaceSaver has come up around the country and there are now several places in our area that can certify heads. They don’t have to ship them halfway across the country and possibly miss a night of racing,” said Salem. “Sanctioning with IMCA and RaceSaver also makes it easier for our racers to conform with the rules other tracks and series around us have.”

Most of the URSS shows this season will again be held at tracks that run one or more IMCA divisions during regular weekly programs.

“The United Rebel Sprint Series ranks among the premier series for the division,” noted IMCA Vice President of Operations Jim Stannard. “Their events will complement weekly shows at many of our sanctioned tracks in the four-state area.”