unitedrebelsprintseries Archives

Plemons banks $1,100 for career first URSS victory

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits CALHAN, Colo. (June 8) – Todd Plemons took the lead at the start and held off Zach Blurton to claim his first-career Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing 305-ci sprint car feature Saturday at El Paso County Raceway. Tracey Hill and Plemons started on the front row for the 20-lap IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature finale with Hill taking the lead as the initial green flag fell. The race quickly went caution when two cars got together entering turns one and two. On the complete restart, Plemons took the lead while Zach Blurton charged from his fourth starting position to take the runner-up position as Hill fell back to third. Plemons kept up the pace the rest of the distance and picked up his first career series victory and a $1,100 paycheck while two-time and defending tour champion Blurton came home second. Scott Cochran finished third while Jeremy Huish picked up the Keizer Wheels Hard Charger award coming home fourth from his ninth [Read More]

$1,100 to win special awaits United Rebel Sprint Series this Saturday

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits CALHAN, Colo. – The only trip into the state of Colorado takes place this coming Saturday night as the POWRi Lucas Oil United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing makes its annual appearance at El Paso County Speedway in Calhan. Rain has washed out three events thus far this season while Luke Cranston (two), Jake Martens and Jason Martin having taken home victories this 2019 race season. Courtesy of Kevin Schramek, Schramek Landscaping is adding $500 to the purse with the extra $100 going to positions 1-5, making this a $1,100-to-win event. Twenty-two previous events have been held at El Paso County Speedway with Brian Hardman and Adam Trimble having won here four times. Other feature winners include Jake Bubak (three), Patrick Bourke (two), Smokey Fairbank, Blake Smith, Mike Hathaway, Clint Schubert, Mike Taylor, Mark Walinder, John Jacob, Coby Pearce and Zach Blurton. Blurton won this event last year. Gates open at 3 p.m. with race action slated for a 5 p.m. start [Read More]

Sprint checkers fly for Cranston at Dodge City

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (June 1) – Luke Cranston is finding the showdowns pitting the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars versus the POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series to his liking. For the second time this year, Cranston raced to victory lane in Saturday’s IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park in southwest Kansas. In the 25-lap DCRP vs. URSS Sprint Car Clash, Cranston chased down early leader Ty Williams in traffic on the 16th round and went on take the checkered flag by nearly a half straightaway. After a pair of aborted starts, Williams and Cranston led the 24-car feature field to the green flag with the ensuing 25 laps run off in non-stop fashion. Williams gunned into the early lead and paced the field for the initial 15 circuits. Cranston closed in to challenge for the point as traffic came into play after a dozen circuits and pounced on opportunity in traffic to take command on the 16th round. Cranston slipped away in the final rounds with Williams holding on for runner-up honors. Jake Martens battled past Taylor Velasquez to snare the [Read More]

United Rebel Sprint Series heads to Dodge City for Saturday showdown

By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits DODGE CITY, Kan. – The POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing kicks back into racing action this coming Saturday night, June 1 as they make their second appearance of the season at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, Kan., in a showdown with the track’s Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Car division. This event will be a tune-up for the upcoming third annual Lubbock Wrecker Service DCRP 305 Sprint Car Nationals that are set to take place June 13-15. Brian Herbert will come into the night’s racing action as the current point leader while two-time and defending tour champion Zach Blurton is just four-points behind. Drivers making up positions three through 10 in the early season point standings include Kade Hagins, Tracey Hill, Aaron Ploussard, Dalton Webb, Martens, Andy Shouse, Steven Richardson and Brandon Anderson. Twenty-eight drivers competed in that first event back in April at Dodge City and officials expect about that many this weekend for the $700 to win feature finale. Pit gates will open at 3 [Read More]

Rain nixes holiday weekend doubleheader for Rebels

By David Smith Jr./OKTidbits OBERLIN, Kan. – The big weekend Memorial Day weekend doubleheader planned for Saturday and Sunday for the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing at Longdale Speedway in Longdale, Oklahoma and 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas has been postponed by rain. Saturated grounds and the threat for more rain through the weekend has caused series and track officials to reschedule events for the URSS and the Sprint Series of Oklahoma presented by Smiley’s Racing Products. The rescheduled events for both IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car series is now set for Friday night, June 21, at 81 Speedway and Saturday night, June 22, at Longdale Speedway.

Rebels team with Sprint Series of Oklahoma for Memorial Weekend doubleheader

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits OBERLIN, Kan. – Two of the premier IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car groups in the nation face off during the Memorial Weekend as the POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing and the Sprint Series of Oklahoma presented by Smiley’s Racing Products are geared for a weekend double-header. It all starts on Saturday night, May 25 at Longdale Speedway in Longdale, Okla., before heading to 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kan., for a special Sunday night event. Saturday will be the only 2019 appearance between the two series at Longdale, where the track has hosted two previous events. Both tours got rained out in 2018 but it was 2017 when the URSS and SSO met and it was three-time and defending SSO champion Andy Shouse of Oklahoma City getting the best of a 20-car field. In 2016, 26 cars were pit side and it was Ness City, Kan., driver Luke Cranston picking up the victory. This will be the first time the two series have come together for a doubleheader weekend with Longdale Speedway involved so a solid car count [Read More]

URSS heads to Dodge City Raceway Park this Saturday

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits DODGE CITY, Kan. – A busy stretch consisting of two weekends of racing for the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing kicks off this coming Saturday night as the tour makes its second trip of the young 2019 race season to Dodge City Raceway Park and another battle with the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprints. Three events have been completed thus far this season with Jake Martens of Fairview, Okla., picking up the season-opening victory at 81 Speedway back on April 5. The next night the tour made its first trip of the season to Dodge City where track regular Luke Cranston of Ness City picked up the victory. In the last event held back on May 4, Lincoln, Neb.’s Jason Martin claimed the checkered flag at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte. Brian Herbert will come into the night’s racing action as the point leader while two-time and defending tour champion Zach Blurton is just four-points behind. Twenty-eight drivers competed in that first event back in April at Dodge City and officials [Read More]

Rebels race Saturday at Lincoln County

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – After nearly one month hiatus, the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing gets back into race action this Saturday, May 4 as they head to Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte for the fourth annual IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car Ron Williams/Dick Snoose Myers Memorial. It will be the only appearance of the 2019 season at the speedway and will pay $1,500 to win while just starting the 20-car feature finale pays $200. Also, the driver who sets fast time during each heat race will receive an extra $50, courtesy of Herbst Towing. Tyler Knight is the defending race winner while Darren Berry (2017) and Zach Blurton (2016) have also posted victories atop the Lincoln County Raceway dirt oval during the running of this event. Pit gates will open at 5 p.m. with race action slated for a 7 p.m. start time. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults; kids ages 6-12 are $5. All pit passes are $30. The Rebels opened their 14th consecutive season on April 5 [Read More]

Martens is no. 1 in URSS lidlifter at 81

PARK CITY, Kan. (April 5) – After taking the lead on lap five, Jake Martens never looked back to capture the season opener for the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing Friday at 81 Speedway. Buddy Tubbs and Andy Shouse started on the front row for the 25-lap IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature with Tubbs taking the lead as the green flag fell. Tubbs’ lead would be short lived, however, as he would bring out the features first caution when he spun in turn two. Shouse and Adam Guillion swapped the lead back and forth as Martens pulled closer. Entering turns three and four after another early restart, Martens dived low in turns three and four to take the lead and set sail away from the field. By lap eight, Martens had opened up a half-stretch lead over Guillion and kept the distance until the features final caution flag fell on lap 14. On the final restart, there was no stopping Martens as not even encountering slower cars [Read More]

Cranston tops Dodge City Sprint season opener

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (April 6) – Luke Cranston opened the 2019 season at Dodge City Raceway Park by racing to victory lane in the 25-lap Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars vs. United Rebel Sprint Series feature event atop the 3/8-mile clay oval. Cranston gridded the feature inside the third row as Brian Herbert and Koby Walters led the way to the green flag but it was fourth-starter Ty Williams battling into the early lead. Vying for his third DCRP opening night win in the last five years, Williams paced the opening eight rounds before looping it in turn three to hand the lead over to Walters with Cranston on his tailtank. Walters kept Cranston at bay for 10 rounds before Cranston finally found the opening he was looking for in traffic and battled into the lead on the 19th circuit. Cranston led the rest of the way, taking the checkered flag ahead of Walters with two-time track champion Taylor Velasquez racing to the third-place podium finish. Herbert crossed the stripe fourth with Jake [Read More]