By the URSS

OBERLIN -- For Brian Herbert, the game plan is simple: Stay ahead of Ray Seemann.

That might be easier said than done, though.

As the United Rebel Sprint Series enters the final two races of the season Friday and Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park, Herbert holds a slim two-point lead over Seemann in the national championship battle.

So this weekend's two-night battle is expected to be significant in determining who will end the 2011 URSS season with a national crown.

"Stay ahead of the 72 car," Herbert said about what he has to do this weekend. "But first we have to finish. We've gotten a little lax trying not to get into trouble, then had a motor blow up. We're going all out this weekend, though. If he's in front of us, we have to go hard. Hopefully we'll get a good race track to race on."

Herbert leads the national title hunt with 3,528 points in 30 races. Seemann is second at 3,526 points in 25 races, and Josh Fairbank is within striking distance with 3,500 points in 27 races. The top 25 finishes, along with a select number of Kansas-Colorado shows, make up a driver's final point total.

"It kind of all came together for us," Seemann said. "We're in a good position, right at 25 races. Our real low finish was a 14th at Hays and a ninth at Colby when the front end of the car got knocked out in that big wreck. It's going to come down to the end."

All three drivers still in the hunt each have one win this season, and it's one of the tightest points battles the URSS has seen in its six year existence.

"Anything can play out in the last two races," said Fairbank, who is having his best season. "We had our bad nights in the middle of the season, and Brian's had a few in there, too. Ray really hasn't had many bad nights. They'll be racing hard to win it. You never know what can happen."

The Rebels haven't competed on the 3/8th-mile dirt oval in Dodge City since July 4, 2009, a race 2009 national champ C.J. Johnson won. The race before that at DCRP, on May 30, 2009, Herbert took home the win on his hometown track.

Herbert has found considerable success at Dodge City, including winning several races in 2008 -- the year he won a national title in the URSS. If he's able to win this year's title, he'll be the first driver in the series to win more than one national crown.

"In 2008 when we won it, we won most of the races there," Herbert said. "We've probably won just as many at Dodge as we have at Jetmore. I'm comfortable with it. I always seem to get around the place pretty decent."

But Seemann is no stranger to the track as well. In fact, he's from just down the road in Jetmore.

"It's been a couple of years, though," he said. "I've heard they've changed the track a little."

Friday night's races will showcase a normal purse for the field, but Saturday night's finale will pay $1,000 to the winner.

That means drivers will be going hard for the win -- no matter what position they're in.

But all eyes will be on Herbert, Seemann and Fairbank.

"I really think Josh is right there in the hunt, too," Seemann said. "He is in striking distance, and Dodge is unpredictable. ... In all reality, the first night everyone might be a little reserved, and then on the second night go for broke."

So it might be a wild time in the Wild West town of old Dodge City.

"Being ahead two points is better than being behind two points," Herbert said. "It's going to come down to the finish. ... He's basically chasing me now. If we mess up the first night, we'll be right behind him or right with him. It's a matter of getting through traffic and getting up front. I told my brother is doesn't matter where the best part of the track is to race on, we just have to go there and do it. ... We have to go for broke."