By Sheldon Wickwar
HAYS, Kan. (Aug. 9, 2025) — The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature at RPM Speedway had a little extra on the line besides a trip to victory lane — household bragging rights. Polesitter Brianna Maughlin jumped out front from the get-go and quickly had company from her boyfriend, Kamren Gruber, who shot into second.
The two traded close-quarters laps with Gruber peeking low a few times but unable to get alongside. A mid-race caution for spins by Jack Kirchoff and Justin Meserve bunched the field, but Maughlin stayed poised and powered away on the restart. She scored her second win of the season and third of her career, with Gruber settling for second and Chad Dolan in third.
Schwien Outduels Compact Field for Sixth Win
The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main event saw Jacob Kappel and Kyle Mortensen lead the early charge, but the heavy hitters soon arrived. Connor Schwien, Gage Porter, and Kiowa Higdon muscled their way into contention, swapping positions in a fierce three-way fight.
Contact and close calls were plentiful, with Jake Schwien finding the frontstretch wall to bring out a caution. On the restart, Connor Schwien took command and held off Porter and Higdon to notch his sixth win of the season and third at RPM. Porter finished second, with Higdon third.
Olmstead Adds to Win Streak in Hobby Stocks
In Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock action, Blake Holmes and Tyler Heath brought the field to green, but early slick conditions kept everyone on their toes. Once the race settled in, Heath, Taylor Croisant, and Hayden Ogorzolka battled up front while Zach Olmstead made his march forward, bringing rookie standout Nick Sherfick along.
Sherfick challenged hard, showing plenty of speed, but Olmstead’s experience paid off as he held on for his 22nd win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region — just two days after collecting win number 21 in Stockton. Sherfick finished a strong second, with Brett Conness third.
Tathan Burkhart Steals Stock Car Spotlight
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature had Michael Pepper and Troy Burkhart leading the way early, with Pepper setting a strong pace. But in the final lap, young gun Tathan “2Fiddy” Burkhart found the opening he needed, slipping past to claim a dramatic victory.
It was Burkhart’s sixth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the year and his third at RPM. Pepper finished second, with Troy Burkhart taking third.
Sproul Completes Three-Race Sweep in Modifieds
The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds capped the night, with Dylan Sherfick leading the early circuits before Dakota Sproul and Clay Money stormed forward. Sproul wasted no time taking the top spot and building a comfortable lead.
A late caution erased his advantage, but Sproul didn’t flinch, keeping Money in his mirrors to secure his third straight win in as many nights. The run completed a sweep of Thursday and Friday’s races at Stockton and Saturday’s victory at RPM, giving him 10 wins on the season — nine in the Jet Racing Central Region and four at RPM. Money finished second, with Sherfick third.
