Return trips to victory lane at Norton

~By Mike Hughes

NORTON, KS (July 9)—Three drivers in their respective divisions made a return appearance in victory lane at Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton, KS, on Saturday evening, July 9.

Hometown driver Kelly Karnopp won his third IMCA Hobby Stock feature of the season at the ½-mile oval. Karnopp passed heat race winner Anthony Martin on lap 8 of the 10-lap caution free race to claim the checkers. Martin finished second and Rick Maynard third.

Randy Bantam jumped out to the lead at the drop of the green in the IMCA 305 Sprint Car feature. Bantam led through lap 6 before heat race winner Darren Berry of McCook, NE, took over the top spot and cruised to the checkers in the 15-lap race for his second win at Norton. Bantam held on for second, followed by Howard Van Dyke, Ron Hadley and Mike Madden.

Troy Attwood led the opening lap of the 15-lap IMCA Sport Mod feature before the caution flag waved on lap 2 for debris, and again on lap 3 when Ben Hobbs hit the guardrail in turn 2. Attwood led the field back to green and continued to lead past the halfway mark. Then Wakeeney’s Brian Conness got under Attwood in turn 2 on lap 11 and drove on for his second trip to the winner’s circle at Elmwood Park Speedway. Attwood was second, with Kenny Schmidt, Frank McClurg and Jason McCartney rounding out the top five. Conness and Hobbs won the two heat races.

The IMCA Stock Car division saw its third different winner in the three races held at Norton this season. Pat Bedore led the opening lap before the lone caution waved on lap 2 when Jay Hachmeister straddled the inside rail. Bedore led the next 4 laps before Dustin McClurg edged Bedore by a nose at the wire on lap 5. But Norton’s Jason Davis put his Dart Racing #76 out front on the next lap and drove away for his first win at his hometown track this season. Hachmeister charged back through the field to finish in the runner-up spot, followed by heat race winner Bob Rutherford, Bedore, and McClurg.

The next races at Elmwood Park Speedway will take place during the Norton County Fair on Saturday & Sunday, July 30-31.

RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat: 1. Anthony Martin, 2. Kelly Karnopp, 3. Rick Maynard.

Feature: 1. Karnopp, 2. Martin, 3. Maynard.

IMCA Sport Mods

Heat 1: 1. Brian Conness, 2. Jason McCartney, 3. Tanner Portenier, 4. Ted Kutsch.

Heat 2: 1. Ben Hobbs, 2. Troy Attwood, 3. Kenny Schmidt, 4. Frank McClurg.

Feature: 1. Conness, 2. Attwood, 3. Schmidt, 4. McClurg, 5. McCartney, 6. John Lashell, 7. Kutsch (DNF), 8. Hobbs (DNF), 9. Dan Lauer (DNF), 10. Portenier (DNF).

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat: 1. Bob Rutherford, 2. Pat Bedore, 3. Tyler Hahn, 4. Dustin McClurg.

Feature: 1. Jason Davis, 2. Jay Hachmeister, 3. Rutherford, 4. Bedore, 5. McClurg, 6. John Annon, 7. Hahn (DNF).

IMCA 305 Sprint Cars

Heat: 1. Darren Berry, 2. Randy Bantam, 3. Howard Van Dyke, 4. Ron Hadley.

Feature: 1. Berry, 2. Bantam, 3. Van Dyke, 4. Hadley, 5. Mike Madden, 6. Troy Edwards (DNF).