By David Smith Jr.
Belleville, Kansas – September 5, 2010 – Chad Humston of Giltner, Nebraska took the lead at the start and never looked back in winning his second O’Reilly/NCRA sprint car series victory of the season Sunday night before a capacity crowd at the Belleville High Banks Speedway in Belleville, Kansas.
Humston and five-time and defending series champion Garry Lee Maier started on the front row for the twenty lap feature finale with Maier taking the apparent lead as the green flag fell. But the start was quickly waved off when Dan Stoutner spun coming out of turn two. At that same point, Jon Freeman came to a stop in the middle of the back stretch with no brakes, ending his night early.
The complete restart saw Humston get off to a better start as he beat Maier to the top of the big half mile dirt oval and quickly set the pace over the rest of the field. Humston, aboard the Mark Burch Motorsports/Engler Machine and Tool #1m Wolfweld sponsored sprinter, quickly opened a sizeable half stretch lead over Maier before the second and final caution of the feature fell on lap seven when Bryan Gossel slowed in turns three and four. At this same point, Wichita, Kansas driver A.J. Selenke, who was running third, gave up his position as he entered the pits with a flat left rear tire.
On the final restart there was no catching Humston as he throttled from the rest of the field and went the rest of the way unchallenged to pick up his second career series victory and his first in two chances at the famed half mile. “Garry Lee (Maier) kinda got me there on the start and got where I wanted to be,” said an elated Humston. “That restart gave us another chance and we just happened to get up there before he did. The car was 100%, couldn’t have asked for it to drive any better.”
Maier, aboard the famed Ochs Brothers #1x sprinter finished ten car lengths behind to settle for the runner up position. Current series points leader Jeremy Campbell of Wichita started the Danny King owned, #E85 ICM/Ethanol sponsored sprinter seventh and out dueled a spirited battle with Lincoln, Nebraska veteran Don Droud, Jr. for the third position with Droud bringing the Gary Swenson owned #24 machine home fourth. J.D. Johnson of Goddard, Kansas rounded out the top five.
The eight lap heat races for the sixteen car field were won by Maier and Selenke.
It was a tough night for former series sprint car champion Mike Peters. The Wichita veteran, who came into the night fourth in the series point standings, had his motor expire during hot laps and was done for the evening.
The series would like to thank the following for their partnership with the O’Reilly/NCRA sprint car series for the 2010 race season.
2010 NCRA sprint car sponsors: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Race Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels
2010 NCRA sprint car contingency partners: Arizona Sports Shirts, Airflow Racing Products, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Hooker Harness, Keizer Racing Wheels, Pro Shocks, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Super Shox, Taylor Cable Products, The Joie of Seating, Ultra-Shield Race Products, Vertex Magnetos and Winters Performance Parts.
Contingencies:
ARP Hard Luck: Not given
Saldana Racing Products 2nd Place: Maier
The Joie of Seating 2nd Place= Maier
Rod End Supply 3rd Place= Campbell
Super Shox 5th Place= Johnson
1st Heat: 1) Garry Lee Maier 2) Tyler Drueke 3) Don Droud, Jr. 4) Bryan Gossel 5) Ryan Kitchen 6) Zack Merritt 7) Dan Stoutner DNS: Mike Peters
2nd Heat: 1) A.J. Selenke 2) Chad Humston 3) J.D. Johnson 4) Luke Cranston 5) Jeremy Campbell 6) Taylor Velasquez 7) Jon Freeman 8) Kris Miller
A Feature: 1) Chad Humston 2) Garry Lee Maier 3) Jeremy Campbell 4) Don Droud, Jr. 5) J.D. Johnson 6) Taylor Velasquez 7) Luke Cranston 8) Tyler Drueke 9) Ryan Kitchen 10) Kris Miller 11) A.J. Selenke 12) Bryan Gossel 13) Dan Stoutner 14) Jon Freeman DNS: Zack Merritt, Mike Peters