Stories

Salina Speedway preview: Merchan't night

By DUSTY WIEGERT

Special to The Hays Daily News

SALINA, Kan. -- With three weeks into the season the action has gotten better with time as five divisions return to the Salina Speedway tonight, Friday May 11, 2012 for another round of exciting racing action!

It's Merchant's Night, meaning a lot of lucky race fans found free tickets for tonight's event at community businesses. Over 1,500 tickets were given out leading up to this week's race and a packed grandstand is expected.

The Belleville Motorsports IMCA Modifieds will headline tonight's show. Smokin' Joe Cleveland charged to the front and won last week's race with a last lap pass on Troy Johnson, who won the week before. With two wins already Cleveland leads the point standings, but only by one over Corey Lagroon. Brandon Blochlinger sits third twelve points back from Cleveland, with Danny Morrison Jr. fourth thirteen points back, and Johnson in fifth, fifteen points back.

The Coors Light IMCA Stock Car division has belonged to New Cambria's Austin Carter who was won both features so far. Scot Granzella, last year's Champion, sits in second three points back with Cory Struckhoff in third five points back, Justin Murdock in fourth and nine points back, and Keith Riley in fifth, forty points back.

Tyler Frye knocked the monkey off his back to win his first Xtreme Motorsports IMCA Northern SportMod feature of 2012 last week. The win propels him into a tie for the points lead with Matthew Crowell. Jesse Levin sits third only three points back, Seth Schroer holds down fourth and four points back, and a tie for fifth eight points back between Eric Ingram and Bryan Lariviere.

The Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stocks return this week also. Rick Slothower holds down the early season lead with the top five drivers all separated by only three points. Those drivers include Mark Normandin, Mike Traskowsky, Brian Stich, and GW Fuller.

After two events in the T&R Dirt Construction Mini Stock division Concordia's Brendon Thiessen holds the early points lead with his rear wheel drive truck, despite both features being won by front wheel drive cars. Less than ten points separate the top six early, which includes Paco Montague, Rooster Rice, Dallas Dunn, Doug Champion Jr., and week one winner Eric Unruh.

The Friesen Chevrolet Late Models presented by M&H Motors and Cave Diver's Liquor have the night off, along with the Auto House Mod Lites. Both will return next Friday night.

Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $5 for High School students with ID, and Kids 12 & Under are FREE. A $2 discount is available for those showing military IDs, as well as for those over the age of 55. Pit passes are $25.

Pit gates open at 4:30, grandstands open at 5:30, Hot Laps are set for 7:00 with racing at 8:00PM.

For more information on America's Fast Track to Fun, please visit www.racesalinaspeedway.com