unitedrebelsprintseries Archives

United Rebel Sprint Series opening weekend at RPM’s Classic Weekend

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits PR HAYS, Kansas – The 15th consecutive season for the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing kicks off in just three-short weeks as the tour will head to RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan., for a weekend doubleheader. Set for Friday and Saturday, March 27-28, the annual Mike Hughes Sunflower Classic Memorial presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions will see both night shows paying $1,000 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, E3 Spark Plugs Kansas State and series points will be awarded. A huge car count is expected with drivers from Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado indicating their intentions on competing with their Kansas counterparts. Westhold Transponders and RACEceivers are required and the track is asking all teams competing to pit in a group on the west side of the main pit area. There will be an open practice session for all cars Thursday, March 26 with pit gates opening at 2 p.m. and practice from 6-10 p.m.

New destinations abound for URSS in 2020

By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits OBERLIN, Kan. – Officials with the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing have released the 2020 race schedule that consists of events at 14 different race tracks in four different states. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car tour’s 15th consecutive season will kick off at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan., Thursday-Saturday, March 26-28, with the Thursday night set for practice night. The track will again host the series on Saturday and Sunday night, July 11-12. The tour will make its first of five appearances at Dodge City, Kan., Raceway Park on Saturday, April 4. The tour will venture into uncharted waters as a pair of West Texas events are slated. First will be Friday, April 24 at West Texas Raceway in Lubbock before making to trip north to Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo. On Friday, May 29 the tour returns to WaKeeney, Kan., Speedway before a stop at Thomas County Speedway in Colby, Kan., on Saturday, May 30. Once again, part of the annual Dodge City Raceway Park 305 Nationals highlights the middle [Read More]

Blurton collects career third Soderberg checkers

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (Sept. 14) – Zach Blurton notched his third career Jerry Soderberg Memorial win in the seventh annual 25-lap Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Car vs. United Rebel Sprint Series event Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Blurton gunned into the lead from the pole position and led throughout to finish off his URSS championship campaign. Blurton kept Luke Cranston at bay all the way. Behind the lead duo, several drivers held down the show position along the way including Ty Williams in the early going and then Taylor Velasquez briefly before Jake Martens took command of the position at the midway point and held it the rest of the way. In his first DCRP start since a grinding crash on May 4, Colorado’s Buddy Tubbs climbed from 10th to capture fourth with Jordan Knight rounding out the top five. While Blurton finished out the regular season with his first Dodge City win of the year, other Soderberg winners included Clay Sellard in the IMCA Modifieds, Blaine Walt in the IMCA [Read More]

Johnson thrills in URSS return to WaKeeney

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits WaKEENEY, Kan. (Sept. 7) – J.D. Johnson made a daring move on the final lap to claim the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing championship feature Saturday at WaKeeney Speedway. Johnson and Scott Cochran started on the front row for the 25-lap feature with Johnson taking the lead as the green flag fell. Cochran, Nate Berry, Austin McLean and Ty Williams filled out the top five with Johnson claiming lap one. Cochran took the lead on lap two with Johnson now giving chase. Berry took over the runner-up position on lap six before Johnson reclaimed that position on lap eight. Cochran approached slower cars on lap nine while Berry took back second from Johnson on lap 11. At midway it was still Cochran controlling the lead while Berry, Johnson, Williams and McLean the top five. Johnson got a run Berry to move back into the runner up position and set his sights on the leader. Johnson applied pressure on Cochran and on lap 19, got past to take the lead [Read More]

Salem Memorial is this weekend for Rebels

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits OBERLIN, Kan. – The Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing has its sights set on this coming weekend, Aug. 16-17, for the annual Eagle Travel Stop and Convenience Stores Bob Salem Memorial at Oberlin Speedway. Friday night’s opener will pay $700 to win for the nights feature finale. Saturday night will once again see a full set of heat and last chance races for the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car series with the championship finale paying $1,200 to the winner. Saturday’s Bob Salem Memorial championship was originally scheduled to pay $1,000 to win. Scott Precision Aerial added the extra $200. Both Friday and Saturday shows see gates open at 4 p.m. with race action slated for 7:30 p.m. Grandstand adult general admission will be $15 each night while ages 7-12 will be $10. Children ages 6 and under will be admitted into the grandstands for free.

Bubak sprints to top check at Wheatshocker Nationals

By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits HAYS, Kan. (July 14) – Continuing on his hot streak, Jake Bubak took the lead with eight laps left of the 30-lap feature and went on to claim the 11th annual Wheatshocker Nationals as the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing wrapped up the two-race weekend Sunday night atop the RPM Speedway oval. Bubak used a slower car to put a cushion between himself and Jed Werner in the final laps and claim his fifth series victory on the season. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car victory earned him his second career Wheatshocker Nationals victory, a $2,000 paycheck and a Pit Boss Pellett Grill, courtesy of Lance Pittman and S&W Supply. Luke Cranston and Werner had started on the front row with Cranston out front early before Werner moved to the front. Lap 11 saw Zach Blurton overtake Cranston for the runner-up position; on lap 19, Bubak passed Blurton and set his sights on the leader. The 2014 event winner pressured Werner for several laps before making what proved [Read More]

Wheatshocker Nationals this weekend for United Rebel Sprint Series

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits HAYS, Kansas – A staple on the series schedule happens as the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing heads to RPM Speedway this coming Saturday and Sunday for the 11th annual Wheatshocker Nationals. This huge two-night IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car event will be held in conjunction with the Ellis County Fair in Hays. Sunday night’s championship finale will pay $2,000 to the winner. Also, a new Custom Pit Boss Pellet Grill will be awarded to the highest point earner for the two days courtesy of Lance Pittman and S&W Supply of Hays. Pits will open at 4 p.m. Pit passes will be $30 or $10 for and kids ages 12 and under accompanying a parent or guardian. Gates open at 5 p.m. Fair general admission will be an individual fair pass for $20 (purchased prior to July 12) or a gate ticket price of $15 each night. The green flag will wave at 7 p.m. each night. There have been 10 different Wheatshocker Nationals championship feature winners [Read More]

Belleville, Mayetta events next for United Rebel Sprint Series

By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits OBERLIN, Kan. – A busy holiday weekend is just ahead as the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing kicks off Thursday night atop the Belleville High Banks Speedway in Belleville, Kan., before making lone 2019 appearance at Thunder Hill Speedway in Mayetta on Saturday night. The Independence Day special will pay $1,000 to win with $200 for all drivers making the feature finale. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with hot laps scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Racing is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start time. Adult general admission tickets are $18 with kids ages 10-17 $10. All children nine and younger will be admitted into the grandstands for free. A huge firework show follows the races on Thursday night. After taking Friday night off, the tour will then head east to Thunder Hill Speedway in Mayetta for a special “Clash on the Hill,” Saturday night edition of IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car racing. Once again, the night’s feature winner will earn $1,000. Gates open [Read More]

Conn wires field at 81 for first RaceSaver Sprint series win

By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits PARK CITY, Kan. (June 21) – Tanner Conn took the lead at the start and never looked back to claim the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing and Sprint Series of Oklahoma presented by Smiley’s Racing Products feature Friday night at 81 Speedway. Conn and Steven Shebester started on the front row for the 20-lap feature finale with Conn taking the lead as the green flag fell. Fourth starting Zach Blurton moved into the second position and pressured the young driver but could never get close enough to mount a challenge for the lead. Conn, already a two-time winner this season in IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car weekly action at Lawton Speedway, went on to claim his first-career URSS and SSO victory. Blurton settled for second while third-starting Jack Potter held on for third. Brandon Anderson took home the Keizer Wheels hard-charger award, coming from 12th starting to finish sixth. Next up for the Rebels of the Lucas Oil POWRi URSS presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing will be a [Read More]

United Rebel Sprint Series primed for Dodge City Raceway Park 305 Nationals

By David Smith, Jr./OKTidbits DODGE CITY, Kan. – It’s time for a huge three nights of racing action beginning this Thursday night for the POWRi Lucas Oil United Rebel Sprint Series as they once again partake in the third annual Lubbock Wrecker DCRP 305 Sprint Car Nationals at Dodge City Raceway Park. Set for a $3,000-to-win event that could potentially climb to as much as $4,500 with lap money included is set for this Thursday through Saturday night, June 13-15, atop the 3/8-mile clay oval in southwest Kansas. Joining the Rebels for this huge event will be the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars as well as the Sprint Series of Oklahoma presented by Smiley’s Racing Products. Sprint car veteran Kevin Ramey of Fort Worth, Texas, took home the victory in the inaugural version of the DCRP 305 Sprint Car Nationals back in 2017, while Fairview, Okla.’s Jake Martens pocketed $4,040 including lap money by fending off a last-lap slider from Jake Bubak and then beating Chad Koch to the stripe in last year’s championship feature finale. Martens has already [Read More]