By MIKE HUGHES

Special to The Hays Daily News

By Mike Hughes

STOCKTON, KS (August 13)--Racing action returned to Rooks County Speedway in Stockton, KS, Thursday evening, August 13, for the second night of races during the Rooks County Free Fair. At the end of the evening, fair champions were crowned in all three divisions. The 2-night show was points races for Wakeeney (KS) Speedway.

Out of state drivers dominated the IMCA Modified feature. Cody Gearhart of Turpin, OK, took the lead at the start of the 20-lap race, followed by Tyler Hahn, Mitch Kline and John Fabrizius. The first caution waved when Wednesday night's feature winner Tim Watts stalled on the backstraight and could not make it to the pits. Gearhart led the field back to green and continued to lead to the halfway mark, trailed by Barry Maupin and Jordan Grabouski. Then on lap 15, Grabouski, of Beatrice, NE, got past Gearhart for the lead and led the remaining distance for the win. Gearhart finished second, followed by Jason Schoenberger, Maupin, and Hahn. Heat race winners were Mike Petersilie, Jerry Phillips, Maupin and Grabouski.

Cory Struckhoff of Kensington replaced a $2.00 bolt that broke Wednesday night and cost him a victory, and grabbed the lead from Pat Bedore on lap 4 to rally for his third points win at Wakeeney this year. Adam Balthazor was glued to Struckhoff's rear bumper almost the entire distance of the caution free race but could not muster enough power to make a pass and settled for second. Travis Sherfick worked his way up through the field to finish third, followed by Cole Wilson and heat two winner Bedore. Terry Cunningham won the other heat race.

B.J. Dauer, the 'Muscleman from Marquette', continued his dominance in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, winning his second feature in as many nights, and his sixth feature of the year. Dauer, the second heat race victor, grabbed the lead from Rhett 'The Rocket' Kingsbury on lap 3 of the main event and was off. Young Mathew Crowell gave chase, staying within a couple of car-lengths, but had to settle for the runner-up spot. Heat one winner Kingsbury, Jerry Hudson and Josh Latka rounded out the top five.

At the end of the evening, points were tallied for the 2 nights with the top 3 in points in their respective divisions for the 2 nights receiving bonus money, and the winners receiving trophies as well, all sponsored by Prowler Chassis of Stockton, Golden Belt Trucking and RSC Rentals, both of Hays, as well as the area 1st Stop convenience stores. Fair champions in their respective divisions were Grabouski, Balthazor and Dauer.

Racing resumes at Wakeeney Speedway this Sunday, August 16. IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts will all be in competition. Race time is 6:00 p.m.

RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat 1: 1. Rhett Kingsbury, 2. Mark Normandin, 3. Leon Pfannenstiel, 4. Jerry Hudson.

Heat 2: 1. B.J. Dauer, 2. Josh Latka, 3. Cody Williams, 4. Mathew Crowell.

Feature: 1. Dauer, 2. Crowell, 3. Kingsbury, 4. Hudson, 5. Latka, 6. Normandin, 7. G.W. Fuller, 8. Brad McCoy, 9. Jason McIntyre, 10. Laura Hinger, 11. Williams (DNF), 12. Pfannenstiel (DNF).

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat 1: 1. Terry Cunningham, 2. Travis Sherfick, 3. Jason Davis, 4. Nathan Glendening.

Heat 2: 1. Pat Bedore, 2. J.R. McCreery, 3. Cory Struckhoff, 4. Cole Wilson.

Feature: 1. Struckhoff, 2. Adam Balthazor, 3. Sherfick, 4. Wilson, 5. Bedore, 6. Glendening, 7. Davis, 8. Cunningham, 9. Dustin McClurg, 10. McCreery, 11. Bob Rutherford, 12. Travis Hahn, 13. Marty Barth, 14. Dan Lauer, 15. Michael Zajic, 16. Wayne McAfee.

IMCA Modifieds

Heat 1: 1. Mike Petersilie, 2. Jason Schoenberger, 3. Chad Sterling, 4. Jesse Richter.

Heat 2: 1. Jerry Phillips, 2. Mitch Kline, 3. Tyler Hahn, 4. Gary Kline.

Heat 3: 1. Barry Maupin, 2. John Fabrizius, 3. Corey Lagroon, 4. Dylan Sherfick.

Heat 4: 1. Jordan Grabouski, 2. Cody Gearhart, 3. John Fose, 4. Brian Calhoon.

Feature: 1. Grabouski, 2. Gearhart, 3. Schoenberger, 4. Maupin, 5. Hahn, 6. M. Kline, 7. Sterling, 8. Phillips, 9. Sherfick, 10. G. Kline, 11. Lagroon, 12. Jim Bell, 13. Brandon Blochlinger, 14. Petersilie, 15. Fabrizius, 16. Brian Smith Jr., 17. Jerry Teel, 18. Doug Shearer, 19. Jeff Walters (DNF), 20. Fose (DNF), 21. Marty Clark (DNF), 22. Calhoon (DNF), 23. Richter (DNF), 24. Tim Watts (DNF), 25. Dave Hardesty (DNF).