By David Smith Jr.
– Midwest City, Oklahoma – November 12, 2012 – The inaugural season for the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Precise Racing Products 305 sprint car division is in the books and after a six race season it was veteran Brian Herbert of Dodge City, Kansas picking up the tour championship.
The 2012 season for the series new 305 sprint car division kicked off on May 5th at 81 Speedway in Park City where it was Raymond Seeman taking the lead on lap six when early leaders Jason Martin and Ty Williams tangled on lap five while battling for the lead. Herbert, Josh Fairbank, Tyler Knight and Zach Blurton rounded out the top five.
81 Speedway played host to the second show of the season where Luke Cranston took the lead at the start and never looked back in claiming the twenty lap feature victory. Martin, C.J. Johnson, Herbert and Blurton rounded out the top five.
From there it was on to the 56th annual Hutchinson Grand Nationals at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas where veteran Mike Peters took the lead from his outside front row starting position and never looked back in claiming the victory. Herbert, C.J. Johnson, J.D. Johnson and Blurton rounded out the top five.
Race number four on the schedule found their way to the annual 5 State Fair in Liberal, Kansas where Herbert picked up his first and only victory of the season. He took the lead at the start but was passed by Martin, who looked to be on his way to the victory. But the former WoO sprint car regular clipped an infield tire allowing Herbert to regain the top spot and eventual victory. Seeman, Blurton, Fairbank and Josh Bubak were your top five.
A trip to the Garfield County Fairgrounds and Enid Speedway in Enid, Oklahoma was the next stop on the tour where Fairbank claimed his first career victory with the series. Seeman, Taylor Velasquez, Blurton and Herbert rounded out the top five.
The final event on the inaugural season came on October 13th at 81 Speedway where Mike Peters became the only repeat winner on the tour. Seeman, Herbert, J.D. Johnson and Jeremy Campbell were the top five.
Below are a few facts and figures from the 2012 inaugural season for the NCRA 305 sprint car division:
29 different drivers from two states competed in at least one NCRA 305 sprint car event with Oklahoma and Kansas the states represented.
Three drivers competed in all six events. They were Herbert, Seeman and Blurton. Drivers who missed only one show were Fairbank, Kip Hughes and Kris Miller.
Average car count was 12 per event with the highest coming at the season opener at 81 Speedway (15) and the lowest at Enid Speedway (9).
Current NCRA 305 Sprint Car Career Feature Winners:
Mike Peters (2), Brian Herbert, Josh Fairbank, Luke Cranston, Raymond Seeman (1).
Final 2012 NCRA 305 Sprint Car Point Standings:
1) Brian Herbert 1395, Raymond Seeman 1390, 3) Zach Blurton 1335, 4) Josh Fairbank 1090, 5) Kip Hughes 920, 6) Kris Miller 830, 7) Mike Peters 685, 8) Jason Martin 600, 9) Darren Bowman 595, 10) Kasey Beckham 580
2012 NCRA 305 Sprint Car Season Completed Schedule:
May 8 Saturday 81 Speedway Park City, Kansas Raymond Seeman
June 9 Friday 81 Speedway Park City, Kansas Luke Cranston
July 13 Friday Kansas State Fairgrounds Hutchinson, Kansas Mike Peters
July 29 Sunday Seward County Fairgrounds Liberal, Kansas Brian Herbert
Sept 23 Sunday Enid Speedway Enid, Oklahoma Josh Fairbank
Oct 13 Saturday 81 Speedway Park City, Kansas Mike Peters
For more information on the 42nd anniversary season for the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas or the series 305 sprint car division, find them at their online address www.racencra.com or call the series office (316) 755-1781. Race schedules as well as additional partners and contingency sponsors are currently being obtained and will be officially released after the annual NCRA banquet on Saturday night, January 26, 2013.