rpmspeedway Archives

A race fan forever, Sutton takes over as new promoter at RPM Speedway

HAYS, Kan. – A race fan forever, Chris Sutton takes a new job at a long-time IMCA Kansas race track this season. The veteran tech inspector and jack of all trades at tracks across the state steps up as promoter at RPM Speedway. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts all return to Saturday shows at Hays. “I want to see this track continue to be a success. It’s a very big piece of the IMCA racing puzzle in the state and consistently has had one of the biggest car counts in Kansas,” said Sutton. “There’s not a lot of maintenance that needs to be done before opening night. The biggest change is that we had to forego the Sunflower Classic this spring but that will be back on the 2022 schedule.” The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season runs from April 3 to Sept. 19. The final checkers fly during the Oct. 1-2 Fall Nationals. Sutton’s race career was brief before becoming [Read More]

Bowers is at his best for biggest IMCA win

HAYS, Kan. (Oct. 2-3) – Already a regular visitor to victory lane at RPM Speedway, Steven Bowers Jr. parked there again Saturday night after the biggest win of his IMCA Modified career. Bowers caught and passed long-time race leader Tom Berry for the $5,000 Fall Nationals feature win, adding another exclamation point to what has already been an amazing season. “This was pretty exciting, after the season we’ve had. I’m almost speechless,” Bowers said. “Running with Tom Berry, who is my closest friend, and battling with him for $5,000 was an honor.” While Tripp Gaylord and Bowers started on the front row, Berry – who’d drawn for the tardy Bowers – quickly charged from the fourth row to take control. After an early caution, the 40-lapper ran green to the finish. Bowers caught] up with and chased Berry into traffic, the two touched briefly and then Bowers edged ahead. “I reeled him in with five to go and passed him with three to go,” said Bowers, who pilots a homebuilt SB Chassis. “I had to [Read More]

RPM Fall Nationals features $5,000 to win IMCA Modified main event

HAYS, Kan. – RPM Speedway puts the wraps on 2020 with its rich Fall Nationals presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions special Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3, topped by the $5,000 to win main event for IMCA Modifieds. The Saturday feature is a 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier and pays $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third and $1,000 for fourth with a minimum of $400 paid to start. Also on the card for the 14th annual Fall Nationals are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars racing for $3,000 to win and $250 to start; Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $2,000 to win and $175 to start, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $1,500 to win and $175 to start, and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $400 to win and $50 to start. Qualifying events for all five divisions are on Friday; last-chance qualifying and features are on Saturday. Entry fee and non-qualifier pay are $150 for Modifieds, $100 for Stocks, $80 for SportMods, $75 for Hobby Stocks and $25 for Sport Compacts. Adult grandstand admission is $15 [Read More]

RPM Stock Car Shootout checkers to Zevenbergen

HAYS, Kan. (Aug. 11) – A season that’s already seen its share of career-type highlights saw Elijah Zevenbergen in victory lane again Tuesday night. Zevenbergen held off challenges from Dallon Murty before taking the $5,000 checkers at RPM Speedway’s 1st Class Chassis Shootout for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Murty ran in the top three all 40 laps and stayed alongside or right behind Zevenbergen until taken out of contention by a flat tire on the final circuit. “We wanted to bide our time, conserve our tires and be patient, and it all worked out for us,” said Zevenbergen. “The car was phenomenal.” Abe Huls led the first 24 laps and ended the night in second. Angel Munoz, Jeff Tubbs and Jason Rogers rounded out the top five. The front three of Huls, Murty and Zevenbergen had started putting distance on the rest of the field following a lap five restart as Jesse Sobbing and then Kyle Pfeifer ran in fourth. Zevenbergen finally corralled Huls for the point on lap 25, then swapped the lead with Murty [Read More]

IMCA Stock Car special Aug. 10-11 at RPM pays $5,000 to win

HAYS, Kan. – IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars are in the running for another first-class $5,000 payday at RPM Speedway’s Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 10-11 1st Class Chassis Stock Car Shootout. Heat races and qualifying features are on the opening night card, with last-chance features and the minimum $300 to start main event on night two at Hays. Complete shows for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods are on both programs. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points, but no track points will be awarded each night. Pits open at 4 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. both days. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults and free for kids 12 and under when accompanying a parent or guardian; pit passes are $30 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under accompanying a parent or guardian. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. for the Sunday, Aug. 9 test and tune session, which starts [Read More]

Martin returns to RPM to top Wheatshocker finale

HAYS, Kansas (July 12) – After running second on opening night, Jason Martin was first to the checkers on night two of the Wheatshocker Nationals at RPM Speedway. Martin’s POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series Presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing Sunday payday was $2,000. The 30-lap feature event saw Shane Sundquist and Taylor Velasquez setting the pace. Velasquez took off with the early lead with Sundquist and Martin following. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 12. Martin was able to use that to his advantage and hammer around Sundquist. On lap 20, Martin pedaled around Velasquez to claim the top spot. Martin, Velasquez and Sundquist made up the top three finishers. Jeremy Huish was fourth and Saturday winner Ty Williams rounded out the top five. Up next for the Mel Hambelton Ford Racing POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series is the Hutchinson Nationals in Hutchinson, Kan., on Friday, July 17. Feature results – 1. Jason Martin; 2. Taylor Velasquez; 3. Shane Sundquist; 4. Jeremy Huish; 5. Ty Williams; 6. Koby Walters; 7. J.D. Johnson; 8. Jed Werner; 9. Zach [Read More]

Williams wins night one at Wheatshocker Nationals

HAYS, Kan. (July 11) – The United Rebel Sprint Series Presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing took on night one of the Wheatshocker Nationals at RPM Speedway Saturday night. A stacked 20-car field was in attendance and Ty Williams was the front-runner. Shane Sundquist and J.D. Johnson lined up on the front row of the 25-lap IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature. Shane Sundquist took off with the early lead, but not without Koby Walters eager to grab the top position. Walters took the top spot and Ty Williams was next to challenge Sundquist for second place. A rim-riding Williams and Walters battled for the lead until lap 15 when Williams claimed the top spot. Walters hung on to the second position until the last lap when hard-charger Jason Martin nipped him at the line to take the runner-up position with Walters settling for third. Feature results – 1. Ty Williams; 2. Jason Martin; 3. Koby Walters; 4. Shane Sundquist; 5. Jeremy Huish; 6. Taylor Velasquez; 7. Todd Plemons; 8. Nate Berry; 9. Zach Blurton; 10. [Read More]

United Rebel Sprint Series on Wheatshocker Nationals card at RPM

HAYS, Kan. – The Mel Hambelton Ford Racing POWRi United Rebel Series will gear up for the 12th annual Wheatshocker Nationals at RPMS in Hays on July 11 and 12. This race has been a staple on the URSS schedule since 2008. The Sunday portion of the event will pay $2,000 to win and a minimum of $200 to start. Gates will open at 4 p.m. each day with hot laps slated to begin shortly after 6 p.m. and green flag action at 7 p.m.

Werner, Walters are URSS winners at RPM

HAYS, Kan. (June 13-14) – Jed Werner and Koby Walters ran the string of Mel Hambelton Ford Racing POWERi United Rebel Sprint Series winners to four in as many events, when the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car series joined the Mike Hughes Memorial Sunflower Classic slate at RPM Speedway. Werner got a run on race-long leader Shane Sundquist down the backstretch with just three laps to go to claim the opening night event on Saturday. Walters took the lead just before midway and never looked back to claim Sunday honors. Only two car lengths separated the front pair with five laps to go on Saturday. Lap 23 saw Werner get a run on the top side coming out of turn two and storm past Sundquist down the back stretch to take the lead. He would go untouched the rest of the way to claim his first series victory since June 12 of 2016. Jeremy Huish got past Sundquist on the last lap for second. On Sunday, Walters made his move for the lead on lap 11 when he [Read More]

URSS set to invade RPM Speedway for Sunflower Classic

HAYS, Kan. – The Mel Hambelton Ford Racing POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series will invade RPM Speedway this Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14 for the Mike Hughes Memorial Sunflower Classic in Hays, Kan. This race, originally scheduled for late March, is expected to draw a great field of cars as racing has opened back up in the state of Kansas. With this being the first two day show for the traveling IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car series and paying $1,000 to win both days, cars from Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas are expected to attend. After two previous outings in Salina and Wichita, the point battle is heating up and this year promises to be extremely competitive. Defending champion Zach Blurton took the opening round in Salina with 2019 tour rookie of the year Kyler Johnson picking up his first career feature victory in Wichita last weekend. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, series and Kansas State points will be awarded. IMCA Modifieds also race for $1,000 to win, plus Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berths both nights. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, [Read More]