Jump Starting in the 2019 DCRP Title Chases
DODGE CITY, Kan. (April 26, 2018) – A handful of racers jumped out to early leads in the 2019 Dodge City Raceway Park championship chases following the track’s opening night of competition on Saturday, April 6.
Those points will shuffle on Saturday night with Round Two of chase action for all five divisions including the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Hobby Stocks.
Saturday’s action that features the $1,000-to-win Modified Stampede for IMCA Modifieds fires off at 7:30 p.m.
An early look at the 2019 DCRP championship chases is as follows:
Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars:
After Ty Williams spun from the lead while gunning for a third opening night victory in the past five years, Luke Cranston battled past Koby Walters in the closing rounds to win the April 6 opener. It was his first DCRP triumph since May 19 of last year. Defending track champion Steven Richardson opened the season with a seventh-place finish.
Feature Winners: Luke Cranston 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Luke Cranston 150, 2. Koby Walters 145, 3. Taylor Velasquez 141, 4. Brian Herbert 138, 5. Jake Martens 135, 6. Andy Shouse 132, 7. Steven Richardson 129, 8. Jeremy Huish 126, 9. Jed Werner 123, 10. Tyler Knight 120.
IMCA Modifieds:
Getting dialed in for the Modified Stampede, Penokee’s Clay Money fought off past track champion Clay Sellard and defending champ Nick Link to cash in on the April 6 opener. It was Money’s first Modified score at DCRP after several Sport Modified wins in previous years.
Feature Winners: Clay Money 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Clay Money 150, 2. Clay Sellard 145, 3. Nick Link 141, 4. Jesse Smith 138, 5. Jesse Richter 135, 6. Trent Gray 132, 7. Casey Jo Gemmill 129, 8. Jack Kirchoff 126, 9. Kale Beavers 123, 10. Kevin Tabor 120.
IMCA Sport Modifieds:
After finishing off the 2018 DCRP season in victory lane, Hays’ Dakota Sproul opened it in the same fashion on April 6. Sproul chased down Luke Stallbaumer in traffic with reigning champion Jeff Kaup in third.
Feature Winners: Dakota Sproul 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Dakota Sproul 150, 2. Luke Stallbaumer 145, 3. Jeff Kaup 141, 4. Mike Lunow 138, 5. Brian May 135, 6. Bart Baker 132, 7. Travis Burger 129, 8. Kamren Gruber 126, 9. Matthew Crowell 123, 10. Monty Nordyke 120.
IMCA Stock Cars:
Back in the title chase after a hit-and-miss schedule last year, 2017 track champion Angel Munoz of Lamar, CO, kicked off the season in fashion by outlasting Jason Rogers and Gregg Schell for opening night honors. Munoz has topped ten of the 14 Stock Car feature events that he has competed in since the beginning of the 2017 season.
Defending champion Dusty Witthuhn was an early casualty in the feature and will be in catch-up mode now.
Feature Winners: Angel Munoz 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Angel Munoz 150, 2. Jason Rogers 145, 3. Gregg Schell 141, 4. Mike Petersilie 138, 5. Chris Oliver 135, 6. Trace Ayers 132, 7. Tyler Walker 129, 8. Ondre Rexford 126, 9. Marlin Hogie 123, 10. Gerald Walker 120.
IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Matching Sproul, Tathan Burkhart tethered a 2018 season finale victory with an opening night score over Brady Becken with two-time and reigning champ Reagan Sellard in third.
Feature Winners: Tathan Burkhart 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Tathan Burkhart 150, 2. Brady Becken 145, 3. Reagan Sellard 141, 4. Cody Williams 138, 5. Duane Wahrman 135, 6. Lyle Russell 132, 7. Cody Ghumm 129, 8. Chad Kelley 126, 9. Brian Thomas 123, 10. Sheri Berger 120.
Tickets to Saturday’s Seventh Annual Modified Stampede are just $15 for adults while children 11 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Pit passes are $30.
In total, the 2019 season atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park clay oval is slated for 18 nights of action along with another eight Sunday cards atop the newly-constructed 1/7-mile Little DCRP clay oval.
The complete slate of 2019 events at DCRP is available at https://www.dodgecityraceway.com/schedule/.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dodge City located at 201 4th Avenue is the official lodging partner of Dodge City Raceway Park. Race fans staying at the Holiday Inn & Suites Dodge City will want to request the special DCRP rate for their visit when making reservations. Contact the Holiday Inn Express at 620-225-1000.
Dodge City Raceway Park is located on the south edge of Dodge City, KS, on US 283, then 0.9 miles west on US 56, then 0.1 miles south. For more information, contact the track at 620-225-3277 or check www.dodgecityraceway.com.
Sources: Lonnie Wheatley/DCRP PR