5/31/2011
Sprint Source
Maier Masters NCRA Sprinters at RPM Speedway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Hays, Kansas - May 27, 2011 - The National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Smiley's Racing Products sprint car division made their first appearance since July of 2007 to RPM Speedway in Hays, Kansas on Friday night and it was a familiar face reaching victory lane as former five-time series champion Garry Lee Maier picked up his first victory on the 2011 race season.
By virtue of obtaining the most passing and finishing points out of the four heat races that were completed, Jason Martin of Liberal, Kansas started on the pole for the thirty lap feature finale and took the lead at the wave of the green flag. Fifth starting C.J. Johnson quickly took over the runner-up position from outside front row starter J.D. Johnson with Jeremy Campbell and sixth starting Maier your top five after the first lap was complete.
One lap later the red flag would appear when Johnson and Maier tangled on the backstretch causing J.D. Johnson to spin to a stop in the middle of the track. Jon Freeman, who came into the weekend runner up in the series point standings, had nowhere to go and collided with Johnson. Both drivers were uninjured but both were done for the night.
Once racing action resumed, Martin opened up a four car length lead over C.J. Johnson with Maier beginning to make his move towards the front and in the third position.
It became a three car battle for the lead on lap seven with Martin holding on to a slim two car length lead over C.J. Johnson while Maier was right on his rear bumper. The final caution flag of the night would fall later that lap when Barry Gifford came to a stop at the top of turn four.
Once racing action resumed, Maier, aboard the familiar Midwest Ag Professionals/Ruff-Bailey Cattle Company/Ochs Brothers #1X sponsored Maxim sprinter had his Don Ott power plant working flawlessly and passed C.J. Johnson for the runner up position on the restart.
Martin continued to pace the field and was five car lengths ahead of Maier as he began to approach lapped traffic on lap fourteen.
Maier tried several times to get around the leader in lapped traffic for several laps before making his move down the backstretch on lap eighteen, getting a run around the leader to take the lead.
There was no catching Maier from then on as the all-time series 360 feature winner was never challenged the final laps to take the victory, his first on the tour since June of last year.
But Maiers dominance up front didn't detour from the fact a fierce battle for the runner up position waged as C.J. Johnson, Martin and now a 12th starting Tony Bruce, Jr. all battled for the position.
It came down to the checkered flag before positions were settled with C.J. Johnson holding on by one car length over Bruce, Jr., who nipped Martin at the line for third. Defending series champion Campbell rounded out the top five.
It was a rough night for 2008 series champion Mike Peters of Wichita, Kansas. The series veteran got involved in a tangle with Jon Freeman and Brian Herbert entering turn one of the second heat race causing Peters to flip out of the track. Peters and crew made the changes just in time for him to work his way up from his 12th starting position in the "B" feature to finish in the sixth and final transfer position. Peters would then start 20th in the feature finale and came home seventh.
The four heat, eight lap heat races for the 29 car field were won by Martin, Southerland, C.J. Johnson and Maier while rookie contender Ty Williams held on to claim the fifteen lap "B" feature. However, mechanical gremlins forced Williams to the trailer early causing him to not start the feature finale.
NCRA Sprint Car Division
RPM Speedway/Hays, Kansas
29 Cars
1st Heat: 1) Jason Martin 2) J.D. Johnson 3) Jeff Stasa 4) Kris Miller 5) Taylor Velasquez 6) Miranda Arnold 7) Kirby Hagens 8) Justin Schwienn
2nd Heat 1) Forrest Southerland 2) Jeremy Campbell 3) Jon Freeman 4) Haley Arnold 5) Brandon Schure 6) Mike Peters 7) Brian Herbert
3rd Heat: 1) C.J. Johnson 2) Andy Shouse 3) Barry Gifford 4) Colt Treborn 5) Patrick Stasa 6) Zack Merritt 7) Jordan Whitehead
4th Heat: 1) Garry Lee Maier 2) Derek Drown 3) Tony Bruce, Jr. 4) Luke Cranston 5) Ty Williams 6) Preston Peebles 7) Steve Richardson
B Feature: 1) Ty Williams 2) Kris Miller 3) Taylor Velasquez 4) Luke Cranston 5) Preston Peebles 6) Mike Peters 7) Patrick Stasas 8) Jordan Whitehead 9) Miranda Arnold 10) Kirby Hagens 11) Zack Merritt 12) Justin Schwienn DNS: Brandon Schure, Brian Herbert, Steve Richardson
A Feature (30 Laps): 1) Garry Lee Maier 2) C.J. Johnson 3) Tony Bruce, Jr. 4) Jason Martin 5) Jeremy Campbell 6) Derek Drown 7) Mike Peters 8) Preston Peebles 9) Andy Shouse 10) Patrick Stasa 11) Colt Treburn 12) Forrest Southerland 13) Luke Cranston 14) Haley Arnold 15) Taylor Velasquez 16) Jeff Stasa 17) Barry Gifford 18) Kris Miller 19) Jon Freeman 20) J.D. Johnson
Lap Leaders: Martin 1-17; Maier 18-30
Article Credit: J.M. Hallas
Submitted By: Admin Account