“Kruz Missile” Kepner Hits Target with PASS Victory at Selinsgrove

News, Results, Sprint Car

Kruz Kepner parked in Selinsgrove Speedway victory lane after scoring his second PASS win of the year at his home track on Sept. 13, extending his River Valley Builders PA Sprint Series points lead. (Photo by Bill Leonard)

By Frank Buhrman & Stephanie Dodson

SELINSGROVE, Pa. (Sept. 13, 2025) — Kruz Kepner doesn’t have much time to think about anything during the 10-minute ride from his home in Kreamer, Pa., to Selinsgrove Speedway, but he had a full week to think about being wrecked twice on the opening lap last weekend and wanting to erase the memory of that awful pair of races.

His thinking — and his driving — did the job. Kepner scored his second Selinsgrove win of the season and fourth overall in River Valley Builders PA Sprint Series competition Saturday night, extending his lead in both the season’s PASS points standings and those for the track.

Kepner started the feature in seventh and actually slipped back on the opening lap, but he quickly began to recover. He might not have gotten all the way to the front, though, had misfortune not struck veteran John Braim.

Braim, who raced and won with PASS more than a decade ago before taking an extended break, had claimed a Laurel Highlands Sprint Series victory at Bedford two weekends ago. On Saturday, he looked poised for his first PASS win since returning. Starting eighth, Braim charged into third, then second in the opening laps, and he took the lead from fellow veteran Mike Alleman on lap eight.

But three laps later, something broke on Drew Young’s car, sending the PASS points runner-up flipping violently. Running the high line, Braim came upon the accident and was sucked into the “marbles” when he lifted, causing his car to flip as well. Rookie Cody Hoover also sustained damage in the incident. All three drivers were done for the night, though thankfully uninjured.

The accident returned Alleman to the lead, but Kepner was already on the charge. Four laps after the restart, the “Kruz Missile” shot to the front and went on to pace the final five laps, winning by a 2.111-second margin.

The victory tied Kepner with Doug Dodson for the most PASS wins this season and marked the 10th PASS triumph of his career. He has also collected additional victories in RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car competition outside of PASS.

Ken Duke Jr., who trails Kepner in Selinsgrove track points, finished second ahead of Alleman, with Dustin Young and Dylan Smith completing the top five.

A strong field of 29 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars signed in for the event.

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