By Mike Hughes
NORTON, KS (August 20)—Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton, KS, wound up the regular season Saturday evening, August 20.
Hometown driver Kelly Karnopp drove by Anthony Martin on lap 2 of the 8-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature to drive away and pick up his fifth feature win and another track championship at his hometown track. Martin finished second. Karnopp also won the heat race.
The IMCA Stock Car division also wrapped up their season on the ½-mile oval which saw heat race winner Bob Rutherford lead the field the first 10 laps of the 12-lap race before Logan's Dustin McClurg took the lead and held on to the checkers for his second victory at Norton this season. Rutherford finished second, and Jason Davis' third place finish gave him the point title at his hometown track for 2011. John Annon and Chase Conaway completed the top five.
The IMCA Sport Mod feature had a wild finish. Heat race victor Ben Hobbs took the early lead and looked to have things well in hand. Then on lap 10, point leader Brian Conness of Wakeeney passed Hobbs in turn four, but contact was made, sending Conness spinning and bringing out the only caution during the four feature races. Hobbs was sent to the back for contact, and Conness led the field back to green for a green-white-checkered finish. Conness was first to the checkers for his fourth victory at Norton this season. Hobbs charged from the back on the restart to take second, followed by Dan Lauer and Jason McCartney.
Darren Berry of McCook led all 12 laps of the IMCA 305 Sprint Car feature to make his third trip to the winner's circle at Elmwood Park Speedway. Tommy Williams, Randy Bantam, Troy Edwards and Greg Reiners completed the top five. Berry also won the heat race.
The 2011 season at Elmwood Park Speedway wraps up on Saturday & Sunday, September 3-4. The URSS 305 Sprint Cars will be on hand both days. They will be joined by the IMCA Sport Mods and vintage cars. Race time is 7:00 p.m. each evening. At the conclusion of the Sunday program, track champions will be crowned in both the sprint car and sport mod classes.
RESULTS
IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat: 1. Kelly Karnopp, 2. Anthony Martin, 3. Theron Martin, 4. Dana Morgan (DNF).
Feature: 1. Karnopp, 2. A Martin, 3. T. Martin (DNF), 4. Morgan (DNS).
IMCA Sport Mods
Heat: 1. Ben Hobbs, 2. Brian Conness, 3. Jason McCartney, 4. John Lashell (DNF).
Feature: 1. Conness, 2. Hobbs, 3. Dan Lauer, 4. McCartney, 5. Frank McClurg (DNS), 6. Lashell (DNS).
IMCA Stock Cars
Heat: 1. Bob Rutherford, 2. John Annon, 3. Dustin McClurg, 4. Jason Davis.
Feature: 1. McClurg, 2. Rutherford, 3. Davis, 4. Annon, 5. Chase Conaway, 6. Corey Menagh, 7. Jay Hachmeister (DNS).
IMCA 305 Sprint Cars
Heat: 1. Darren Berry, 2. Randy Bantam, 3. Tommy Williams, 4. Troy Edwards.
Feature: 1. Berry, 2. Williams, 3. Bantam, 4. Edwards, 5. Greg Reiners, 6. Mike Madden (DNF), 7. Ron Hadley (DNS).