Traugott stampedes again at Dodge City

Feature

Cole Traugott raced from the fourth row in repeating as the winner of Dodge City Raceway Park’s IMCA Modified Stampede special. (Photo by Lonnie Wheatley)

By Lonnie Wheatley

DODGE CITY, Kan. (May 6) – Cole Traugott continues to hold the hot hand in IMCA Modifieds at Dodge City Raceway Park, rallying from the fourth row to take the $1,200 winner’s share in Satur­day night’s fifth annual Modified Stampede.

Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Traugott notched his second Modified Stam­pede win in a row and his eighth win in his last eight visits to Dodge City.

In the 30-lap main event, Traugott took advantage of a pair of cautions in the opening half of the race to maneuver into the lead for keeps.

“If it weren’t for the cautions, I’m not sure if I would have found it,” Traugott said in victory lane.  “That middle lane cleaned up some and I guess I was the first one to find it.  This car was working perfect.”

While Traugott managed to climb from eight to fourth in the opening handful of laps, the chances of continuing his Dodge City domination seemed slim as he trailed the lead duo of Randy Wilson and Clay Sellard by a full straightaway and third-runner Austin Walker by a half-straight.

But when the first caution flew after 11 laps for a turn two spin, Traugott pounced on Walker for third and gave chase to the lead duo.

A second and final caution flew four rounds later, with Traugott once again taking advantage by battling past Sellard on the high side on the 16th round and then working his way around Wilson for the lead on the 17th lap.

Traugott stretched it out over the ensuing rounds, with Sellard working his way past Wilson for second by the 22nd round.  Traugott was too far gone though, taking the checkered flag nearly a half straightaway ahead of Sellard with Wilson settling for third.

Austin Walker took fourth with David Murray working his way up from tenth to round out the top five.

Other feature winners were Angel Munoz in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Duane Wahrman in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Dakota Sproul in the IMCA SportMods;

Feature results – 1. Cole Traugott; 2. Clay Sellard; 3. Randy Wilson; 4. Tanner Black; 5. David Murray Jr.; 6. Nick Link; 7. Chris Bragg; 8. Ryan Heger; 9. Dale Wanger; 10. Kevin Gray; 11. Jer­emy Chambers; 12. Trent Gray; 13. Mike Lunow; 14. Tom Beavers; 15. Jack Kirchoff; 16. Kale Beavers; 17. Jessie Hoskins; 18. Chris Dawson; 19. David Solberg.