By NICK SCHWIEN

nschwien@dailynews.net

It's nearly 500 miles for Patrick Bourke to travel.

And that's one way.

But the best part of that long trip to Hays last year was the $2,000 smile he had all the way back to Colorado after the Wheatshocker Rebel Nationals at RPM Speedway in Hays.

Bourke pocketed the largest payout in United Rebel Sprint Series history by taking home the feature on the second night of the two-day show.

He's hoping for the same return trip this year.

"It couldn't be better," Bourke said.

The third annual Wheatshocker Rebel Nationals begin at 7 p.m. Saturday and finish with a 6 p.m. start time Sunday -- when later that night the 305 sprint cars will go 30 laps for the $2,000 payout.

Bourke said the key to the weekend -- for him anyway -- is simple.

"Luck," he said. "Lots of luck, I think."

Bourke finished second to Quinter's C.J. Johnson on the first night a year ago. The top 10 drivers from the A-main Saturday once again automatically qualify for Sunday's feature.

Bourke then went on to win the large payout, while Johnson finished fourth the next night.

"I like the place," said Bourke, who was eighth at the nationals in 2008. "It's treated me well."

Series founder Rick Salem of Oberlin once again is expecting a large turnout of cars for the weekend, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a regular show at WaKeeney Speedway.

"It should make for a great show," Salem said about the nationals. "It should be the best ever with the cars we have coming in. The top 10 are making it automatically to the show Sunday, and any of those guys and the rest of the field really have a chance to win it."

So having a solid finish the first night of the two-day show is crucial.

"If you can get into the top 10 to get locked in for the Sunday deal, that's key," said Johnson, who won the inaugural event in 2008. "For me, I just need to finish races."

Johnson has competed sparingly this season in the URSS and has two blown engines in two nights of racing. He expects to compete Friday at WaKeeney and both nights at Hays.

"As long as everything holds together, it will be a fun weekend," Johnson said. "It should be a good race."

And it's shaping up once again to be one of the most competitive sprint car events the drivers will face this season.

"It's going to be the biggest 305 race in the country,"  Salem said. "Nobody is going to run that big of a show."