By MIKE HUGHES

Special to The Hays Daily News

NORTON (July 12) -- Three drivers made their first appearance at Elmwood Park Speedway's victory lane Saturday evening, July 12.

The IMCA Modified main event saw several drivers swap the lead throughout the race, but when the checkers fell, Josh 'The Hammer' Hudson of Kensington picked up his second victory at Elmwood Park Speedway for 2008. Mark 'The Z Man' Zorn finished in the runner-up spot, followed by Mitch Kline, heat two victor Chad Sterling, and Gary Kline. Rick Schwab won the other heat race.

The IMCA Stock Car feature saw some close racing throughout the field. Hometown driver Bob Rutherford led the first two laps before Cory Struckhoff of Kensington made the pass for a lead he would not relinquish. Struckhoff held on for his first win of the season at Norton. Bryan Lariviere, heat two winner J.R. McCreery, Terry Cunningham, and Dustin McClurg rounded out the top five. Travis Sherfick also won a heat race.

Fifteen-year-old Mathew Crowell of Clearwater led the first 6 laps of the IMCA Hobby Stock feature before Smith Center's Rhett 'The Rocket' Kingsbury took over the top spot and led the remaining distance for his first win of the season. Troy Robinson place second, trailed by Kelly Karnopp, Crowell, and Jeromy Wagner. Heat race winners included Kingsbury and Jerry Hudson.

Jay Hachmeister of Lenora filled in for Loyd Schoen in the #08 4-cylinder Young Gun and led from green to checkered in the main event. Heat race winner Michael Smith finished second, followed by Drew Eagleburger, Art Herzog, and Andrew Soderlund.

The Good Ol' Time Racing Association (GOTRA) made their second appearance of the season at the ¬½-mile oval. Butch Lavicky won the feature event, followed by heat race winner James Sylvester and John Ferguson.

Norton Auto Supply was the evening's cash dash sponsor.

The next race at Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton will take place during the Norton County Fair on Saturday & Sunday, July 26-27. The regular four classes will compete in a regular show Saturday night at 7:00. The annual Bud Shootout will take place on Sunday with added purse money in all four divisions. Race time Sunday night is 6:30.

RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat 1: 1. Rhett Kingsbury, 2. Kelly Karnopp, 3. Michael Thummel, 4. Roger Garrison.

Heat 2: 1. Jerry Hudson, 2. Jeromy Wagner, 3. Austin Davis, 3. Mathew Crowell.

Cash Dash: Davis.

Feature: 1. Kingsbury, 2. Troy Robinson, 3. Karnopp, 4. Crowell, 5. Wagner, 6. Frank McClurg, 7. Garrison, 8. Laura Hinger, 9. Thummel, 10. Matt Christensen, 11. Davis (DNF), 12. Hudson (DNF).

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat 1: 1. Travis Sherfick, 2. Bryan Lariviere, 3. Pat Bedore, 4. Dan Lauer.

Heat 2: 1. J.R. McCreery, 2. Cory Struckhoff, 3. Terry Cunningham, 4. Bob Rutherford.

Feature: 1. Struckhoff, 2. Lariviere, 3. McCreery, 4. Cunningham, 5. Dustin McClurg, 6. Sherfick, 7. Jason Davis, 8. Michael Zajic, 9. Bedore, 10. Rutherford, 11. Brenden Eilts, 12. Dan Stoll, 13. Craig Werth, 14. Lauer, 15. Ozzy Kenney.

IMCA Modifieds

Heat 1: 1. Rick Schwab, 2. Gary Kline, 3. John Fabrizius, 4. Mitch Kline.

Heat 2: 1. Chad Sterling, 2. Josh Hudson, 3. Brett Behrends, 4. Barry Maupin.

Feature: 1. Hudson, 2. Mark Zorn, 3. M. Kline, 4. Sterling, 5. G. Kline, 6. Behrends, 7. Maupin, 8. Fabrizius, 9. Doug Shearer, 10. Schwab, 11. Heath Myers, 12. Mike Petersilie (DNS), 13. Mark Hamel (DNS).

4-cylinder Young Guns

Heat: 1. Michael Smith, 2. Jay Hachmeister, 3. Alex Loveless, 4. Jesse Dunlap.

Feature: 1. Hachmeister, 2. Smith, 3. Drew Eagleburger, 4. Art Herzog, 5. Andrew Soderlund, 6. Dunlap, 7. Dusty Eagleburger, 8. Loveless (DNF).

GOTRA

Heat: 1. James Sylvester, 2. Butch Lavicky, 3. John Ferguson.

Feature: 1. B. Lavicky, 2. Sylvester, 3. Ferguson, 4. Chris Lavicky (DNS).