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Fairbank dazzles in URSS victory
Published on -7/17/2010, 4:09 PM
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WaKEENEY — The 3/8-mile dirt oval named WaKeeney Speedway, dubbed one of the fastest tracks in northwest Kansas by many different drivers, never has been one of Smoky Fairbank’s favorite places to race.
But after Friday night’s 305 sprint car feature of the United Rebel Sprint Series in WaKeeney, Fairbank was starting to change his mind.
Winning will do that to a person — especially under the circumstances he overcame.
“I didn’t,” Fairbank joked about not really liking WaKeeney Speedway. “I’m not a horsepower racer. I like the dry slick tracks. It worked out good for me tonight.”
Actually, by the time Fairbank crossed the finish line to win his third URSS feature this season, it was morning — just after 1 a.m. Saturday.
That, coupled with a URSS record 42 cars in attendance — including many heavy-hitters — four other classes competing, a horrendous crash that brought out the red flag for nearly 30 minutes in the modified feature and the high temperatures, Fairbank outlasted the long night of racing and the other competitors.
Fairbank bested the field after qualifying directly for the A-main through passing points in his heat. Then it nearly was a four-hour wait until the feature.
The Ransom driver started outside the third row, with Corey Lutters and C.J. Johnson starting on the front.
Johnson, last year’s national champ who hadn’t finished a race this year after engine problems, bolted out to a large lead when the green flag dropped. He was well into lap traffic and on his way to victory by the time the first caution flag flew.
Fairbank had made his way up to second behind Johnson, followed by Keefe Hemel, Jason Martin and Ray Seemann. The caution gave Fairbank new life, and he took advantage after the restart, slipping by Johnson as Martin moved by Hemel into third.
Fairbank began to increase his lead until the second caution flew for Craig Jecka, this time allowing Johnson a chance at redemption.
On the restart, Johnson tried to ride the high line around turns one and two, setting up a drag race between he and Fairbank on the backstretch.
Fairbank stuck to the inside line as Johnson tried to squeeze in down low. Fairbank grabbed just enough moisture to pull in front.
He extended the lead while Martin focused his sights on Johnson, eventually getting by him just before the white flag.
“The last lap, when I saw the white flag, I drove it in hard and tried to keep it to the bottom,” Fairbank said.
“Knowing who finished second and beating my idol C.J., — basically I had to run to beat him and he didn’t blow an engine — that’s all you can ask for,” Fairbank said. “And Jason Martin ran World of Outlaws and is a good friend. He was the first one over there and gave me a high five.”
Martin finished second in one of his few URSS events this year, while Johnson was third, Kirby Hagans was fourth and Hemel was fifth.
“I was surprised when he passed (C.J.),” Martin said. “I saw him passing C.J., and I was like, ‘Whoa,’ But this is Smokey’s type of race track.”
It was the start of a three-day weekend of URSS races in northwest Kansas. The third annual Wheatshocker Rebel Nationals were scheduled to begin Saturday, followed by the culmination Sunday and a $2,000 payout.
• Dave Hardesty, in his first race back after suffering a broken wrist, won the modified feature, followed by David Murray Jr. and Ronnie Hill. Six cars were damaged during a wild wreck on the frontstretch, but all involved walked away — although their cars weren’t as fortunate.
• Josh Hudson pulled away to win the stock car feature, followed by Terry Cunningham and Rod Bencken.
• The Northern sport mod feature went to Blaine Walt, Brian Conness was second, and Clayton Wilson rounded out the top three.
• Michael Schamberger bested the field in the hobby stock A-main. Austin Carter was second, and Josh Latka was third.
