By the URSS

OBERLIN -- Blake Smith Jr. Is ready to get back to having fun. After locking himself into the Sunday night feature of the fourth annual Wheatshocker Rebel Nationals at RPM Speedway in Hays last weekend, the pressure was off for Sunday's big finale.

But after Starting strong in Sunday's feature, Smith broke a fuel line and came to a halt in turn four as his car caught fire. That ended the night sourly after a long haul from Colorado. Now, Smith and the rest of the Colorado drivers in the United Rebel Sprint Series are back on their home turf for Saturday's 5 p.m. Mountain time race at El Paso County Speedway in Calhan, Colo.

Smith finished fifth in Calhan earlier this season, but this time it will be a nonwing show at the quarter-mile track. "It's kind of a f un little track," Smith said. "I'm not sure what to think of the nonwing show. That will change some things up for sure. It will be new to me, but Calhan is a nice little track, hard to pass on at times."

Patrick Bourke won the first race this season at the track as 18 cars checked in for the night. Adam Trimble was second that night. He's won two of the four races there in URSS history.

"I'm not sure what to expect," Smith said. "It should be somewhat similar, but without the wings, it might not be as fast." Smith hopes to improve his standing this weekend, if everything goes as planned. "First of all, you have to finish with a clean car," Smith said. "That's always the first thing. And you have to be able to keep the car on the bottom and not make mistakes. When you make that small of a mistake, the mistake can be costly. There's usually somebody there to take advantage of it."

Smith is counting on his S&S Trucking sponsored and USA Performance Engines powered ride to have a good run Saturday --hopefully good enough to get him into victory lane.

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For more information about the United Rebel Sprint Series, contact Rick Salem at (785) 475-7010 or email rksalem@eaglecom.net, or visit the URSS online at www.unitedrebelsprintseries.com.