By the URSS

OBERLIN -- This weekend, Lance Davis hopes everything turns around -- most importantly, his luck. The driver in the United Rebel Sprint Series will get a chance to wash away all the bad luck he's experienced this season at the 7:30 p.m. Saturday races at the Great American Dirt Track at Jetmore Motorplex.

"I'm really struggling at Jetmore this year since they changed the track," Davis said. "I've struggled on dry-slick set-ups. I don't know what it is." Guess what Davis is expecting to see this weekend in Jetmore? That's right, a dry-slick track, thanks to the unrelenting heat and wind Mother Nature has provided for several days straight. But after suffering engine trouble at the fourth annual Wheatshocker Rebel Nationals during the weekend, Davis hopes the second half of the season is a shot in the arm. "There's been a lot of frustration this year," he said. "It's the first year I've tried to make all the races. I'm still looking forward to doing it, through."

The Rebels have competed at Jetmore five times this year, and only Jason Martin has been able to capture more than one win on the fast 3/8-mile oval. Other winners have been Zach Blurton, Patrick Bourke and Ray Seemann. The previous races there this season have provided exciting action that left fans on the edges of their seats. Davis hopes they'll be on the edge of their seats watching him shake off the bad luck. "I hope so," he said. "We're about halfway through the season, and it would be a stroke of luck to get things back going good again."

Barry Crane also is looking forward to a return trip to Jetmore to help his points total. "Everybody is chasing points and figuring their programs out," he said. "Everyone wants to win one, and everyone is capable of doing it. Just like Kasey (Beckham) did last week (at the Wheatshocker nationals). He picked a good time for the first one." Crane said he's struggled on dry-slick tracks this year as well. He knows he'll have to get that figured out this weekend if he wants to have a solid run. "I've struggled on the dry-slick stuff," he said. "I've ran good in the heats and B features, but when it slicks off in the A, I've struggled some then."

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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.