By Lonnie Wheatley
DODGE CITY, Kan. (July 29) – Cole Traugott, Robert Elliott, Michael Pepper and Matt O’Hair were Driver Appreciation Night feature winners at Dodge City Raceway Park.
Traugott reeled off his fourth Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified win in his last four starts atop the 3/8-mile clay oval. He played the role of spoiler by taking the lead away from Jack Kirchoff just three laps shy of the checkered flag in the 20-lapper.
The IMCA SportMods came down to the final laps as well with Elliott battling past Kale Roach just two laps from the end of the 20-lapper for his first DCRP win.
In the 15-lap IMCA Stock Car feature, Pepper took advantage of a late caution to reel off his fifth consecutive win and seventh of the year overall.
While Pepper tried to battle through the pack, it looked for much of the way that Ron Hartman would put a stop to the streak. Even when Pepper finally worked his way into second with five laps to go, Hartman’s lead seemed insurmountable.
But a caution one lap later changed the game, with Pepper racing by on the 13th lap to take the win ahead of Hartman.
The 15-lap IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature was a barnburner as well, with O’Hair fending off Brady Bencken and Duane Wahrman to capture his third win of the year.
After a pair of early melees, O’Hair raced into the lead from the sixth starting position on the second lap. Bencken and Wahrman were hot on his heels though, with the lead trio racing under a blanket over the latter half of the race.