Gruber & Oliver New Points Leaders at DCRP!
DODGE CITY, Kan. (August 14, 2020) – Another night of racing action at Dodge City Raceway Park resulted in another pair of lead changes in the championship points chase.
Entering Saturday night’s Prelude to Mayhem that includes a full slate of IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Hobby Stocks, Kamren Gruber and Chris Oliver are now leading the way in their respective divisions.
Gruber has moved to the top of the IMCA Sport Modified charts by a single point while Oliver is the new IMCA Stock Car points leader.
Other leaders going into Saturday night include Dakota Sproul in IMCA Modifieds and Tathan Burkhart in IMCA Hobby Stocks. Luke Cranston leads the way in DCRP Sprint Car points with the Sprint Cars getting a weekend off to prep for next week’s DCRP Sprint Car Nationals.
Saturday’s racing action gets under way at 7:30 p.m.
A look at the current title chases…
Hambelton Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars:
It’s an off week for the DCRP Sprint Cars that are gearing up for next weekend’s Lubbock Wrecker Service DCRP Sprint Car Nationals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 20-22.
Jordan Knight picked off a first career Sprint Car feature win last Saturday to become the fifth different winner in as many events this season. Defending track champion Luke Cranston holds down the championship points lead with a 28-point advantage over Taylor Velasquez while Brian Herbert has cracked the top five.
Feature Winners: Brett Becker 1, Luke Cranston 1, Jordan Knight 1, Taylor Velasquez 1, Koby Walters 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Luke Cranston 710, 2. Taylor Velasquez 682, 3. Ray Seemann 669, 4. Jordan Knight 656, 5. Brian Herbert 623, 6. Tyler Knight 604, 7. Kris Moore 583, 8. Ross Essenburg 557, 9. Kyler Johnson 535, 10. Kohl Ricke 531.
IMCA Modifieds:
Making the move up from Sport Modifieds, Dakota Sproul has looked like anything but a rookie by racking up three wins in five tries including the last two in a row to build a 32-point lead after a pair of DNF’s. Leading the way in top-fives with his fourth of the season last weekend, Trent Gray has overtaken Kale Beavers for second in points.
Feature Winners: Dakota Sproul 3, Kale Beavers 1, Clay Sellard 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Dakota Sproul 691, 2. Trent Gray 659, 3. Kale Beavers 648, 4. David Solberg 632, 5. Danny Keller 616, 6. Joel Lane 519, 7. William Nusser 517, 8. Nick Link 511, 9. Jack Kirchoff 487, 10. Kevin Gray 374.
IMCA Sport Modifieds:
A tenth-place finish last week, his fifth among the top ten in as many tries, was enough to propel Kamren Gruber into the lead by a single point over Mike Lunow with Luke Stallbaumer climbing closer to the lead at just 13 points back.
The Sport Mods have offered up five different winners in as many races going into Saturday’s Prelude to Mayhem, a final tuneup for next weekend’s Seventh Annual Sport Modified Mayhem North vs. South Duel that features a $1,500 winner’s share and $150 to start the Saturday night feature.
Feature Winners: Brett Berry 1, Brandon Kenny 1, Matt Rucker 1, Kaleb Roach 1, Luke Stallbaumer 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Kamren Gruber 664, 2. Mike Lunow 663, 3. Luke Stallbaumer 651, 4. Brian May 630, 5. Jeff Kaup 619, 6. Ryan Kirchoff 607, 7. Brendyn Nordyke 605, 8. Monte Nordyke 591, 9. Mike Appel 586, 10. Jarett Lunow 490
IMCA Stock Cars:
Chris Oliver cashed in on a Troy Burkhart DNF last weekend to take the points lead by ten markers after his third runner-up finish of the year. While Burkhart tries to rebound, Jeff Kaup is just another seven points back in third. Last weekend, Gregg Schell matched Burkhart in the win column with his second score of the season.
Feature Winners: Troy Burkhart 2, Gregg Schell 2, Jeff Kaup 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Chris Oliver 699, 2. Troy Burkhart 689, 3. Jeff Kaup 682, 4. Ondre Rexford 645, 5. Jesse Smith 593, 6. Gregg Schell 559, 7. Marlin Hogie 524, 8. Michael Pepper 391, 9. Anthony Finch 384, 10. Paul Zimmerman 354.
IMCA Hobby Stocks:
Tathan Burkhart became the first repeat winner in the Hobby Stock ranks last weekend to stretch his points lead to 28 over Duane Wahrman with Manuel (or Skeets, depending on the time of day or night) Salazar fending off Dion Priddy by just two points in the battle for third.
Feature Winners: Tathan Burkhart 2, Brady Bencken 1, Trevor Schmidt 1, Duane Wahrman 1.
Current Top Ten in Points: 1. Tathan Burkhart 731, 2. Duane Wahrman 703, 3. Skeets Salazar 654, 4. Dion Priddy 652, 5. Brett Copeland 634, 6. Chad Kelley 517, 7. Keith Carr 486, 8. Cole Pfeifer 336, 9. Derrick Sprott 308, 10. Brady Bencken 295.
Tickets for Saturday’s action are just $12 for adults with children 11 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
In total, the 2020 season atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park clay oval is slated for a dozen nights of action along with another six Sunday cards atop the 1/7-mile Little DCRP clay oval.
Detailed schedule information is available at https://www.dodgecityraceway.com/schedule/.
The Comfort Suites located conveniently at 2700 West Wyatt Earp Boulevard in Dodge City is the official lodging partner of Dodge City Raceway Park. With an extensive list of classic amenities, Comfort Suites will help you feel right at home when traveling. Be sure to ask for the Dodge City Raceway Park rate when booking. For more information, check online at https://www.choicehotels.com/kansas/dodge-city/comfort-suites-hotels/ks193?brand=CI or call 620-801-4545.
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