By MIKE HUGHES

Special to The Hays Daily News

NORTON, KS (July 10)--All five feature winners made a return appearance in victory lane at Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton, KS, Saturday evening, July 10.

Jerry Hudson took the early lead in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature, followed by Rhett 'The Rocket' Kingsbury and Cody Graham. The first caution flag waved on lap 4 when Jason McIntyre spun. Hudson led the field back to green, but point leader Kelly Karnopp of Norton took over the lead on the following lap. Karnopp would lead the remaining distance for his third win of the season at his hometown track. Kingsbury finished second, while Cody Graham edged heat race winner Jerry Hudson for third. Rick Maynard rounded out the top five.

In the IMCA Northern Sport Mod main event, Troy Attwood took the lead at the drop of the green, and led the field to the only caution on lap 4 when Tyler Watts spun. After the green replaced the yellow, heat race winner and point leader Brian Conness of Wakeeney then took a lead he would not relinquish and drove on for his fourth win of the season at Norton. Wade Wagenblast was second, followed by Attwood and Kaid Calhoon.

Chase Conaway led the first 2 laps of the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature before heat two winner Jason Davis of Norton took the top spot. Davis pulled away to a comfortable lead until the red flag waved on lap 11 when Dan Lauer's car went up in flames. Lauer was okay but done for the night. Davis led the charge back to green with Dustin McClurg and Jay Hachmeister close behind. Davis held off the field for his second win of the season and tied runner-up McClurg for the point lead. Heat one winner Bob Rutherford, Pat Bedore and Conaway rounded out the top five.

Tim Watts of Beloit and hometown driver Rick Schwab were tied for the point lead in the IMCA Modified division and the two shared the lead during the 12-lap feature. Watts led the first 3 laps before Schwab took the lead on lap 4. Watts stayed close and finally made the pass for the win coming to the white flag and held on for his second win at Norton. Schwab finished second, followed by heat race victor Brian Calhoon, Jerry Teel and Jamey Kennicutt.

Darren Berry of McCook, NE, won his second 305 Sprint Car feature in a row at Elmwood Park. Berry took the lead away from point leader Randy Bantam on lap 6 of the 12-lap event and drove away to the checkers. Michael Williams, Bantam, Howard Van Dyke and Michael Spear completed the top five. Berry also won the heat race.

Racing action returns to the ½-mile oval during the Norton County Fair on Saturday & Sunday, July 31 & August 1. IMCA-sanctioned Stock Cars, Northern Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks will take to the track on Saturday night, along with the 305 Sprint Cars. The same four classes return Sunday night, along with the IMCA Modifieds. Race time each night is 7:00 p.m.

RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat: 1. Jerry Hudson, 2. Rhett Kingsbury, 3. Kelly Karnopp, 4. Jason McIntyre.

Feature: 1. Karnopp, 2. Kingsbury, 3. Cody Graham, 4. Hudson, 5. Rick Maynard, 6. McIntyre (DNF), 7. Jason Stephens (DNF).

IMCA Northern Sport Mods

Heat: 1. Brian Conness, 2. Wade Wagenblast, 3. Troy Attwood, 4. Tyler Watts.

Feature: 1. Conness, 2. Wagenblast, 3. Attwood, 4. Kaid Calhoon, 5. Watts (DNF).

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat 1: 1. Bob Rutherford, 2. Dustin McClurg, 3. Pat Bedore, 4. Michael Zajic.

Heat 2: 1. Jason Davis, 2. Chase Conaway, 3. Dan Lauer.

Feature: 1. Davis, 2. McClurg, 3. Rutherford, 4. Bedore, 5. Conaway, 6. Zajic, 7. Jay Hachmeister (DNF), 8. Lauer (DNF).

IMCA Modifieds

Heat: 1. Brian Calhoon, 2. Tim Watts, 3. Rick Schwab, 4. Jamey Kennicutt.

Feature: 1. Watts, 2. Schwab, 3. Calhoon, 4. Jerry Teel, 5. Kennicutt.

305 Sprint Cars

Heat: 1. Darren Berry, 2. Randy Bantam, 3. Howard Van Dyke, 4. Michael Williams.

Feature: 1. Berry, 2. Williams, 3. Bantam, 4. Van Dyke, 5. Michael Spear, 6. Bill Hays (DNS).