From URSS
Oberlin, KS — (May 23, 2013) — Darren Bowman couldn’t be happier about making a return trip to RPM Speedway in Hays. That’s because the last time the driver from Kinsley competed at the track, he walked away with a feature win with the United Rebel Sprint Series. On Friday, Bowman is hoping for a repeat performance as the Rebels kick off a pair of URSS-sanctioned races during the Memorial Day weekend beginning at RPM Speedway in Hays. On Sunday, the URSS will compete at WaKeeney Speedway. “I hope to start out and get going good this weekend and get some momentum carried over,” Bowman said about hopefully returning to the winner’s circle at RPM Speedway.
Friday night’s races start at 7 p.m., with the 3/8-mile dirt oval showcasing the only sprint car show in Hays this season. Sunday’s races begin at 6 p.m. at WaKeeney.
“We’ve seemed to go pretty good at Hays,” Bowman said. “I hope we can keep that going and start the weekend off on a good note. … And we always seem to go pretty good at WaKeeney, too.”
At the last Sprint Car Mania event at RPM Speedway, Bowman held off Hill City’s Jeff Radcliffe for the win in a close-knit battle.
“I ran second there last year behind Bowman,” Radcliffe said. “It was a pretty good time. I consider Hays my hometown track since I lived there for a few years when I was in college.”
Last year, Radcliffe was locked in a tight battle with Brian Herbert for the URSS national title for a large portion of the season. That made the “Hill City Hotshoe” play it safe a few nights instead of pushing for a win at some tracks.
This year, Radcliffe isn’t in the national title hunt, and he’s more than ready to mix it up for a win.
“Last year, if I was running third, I’d play it safe at times and not try to make things happen and would settle for third,” he said. “This year, I’m not in the points like last year, and I’m not holding back anything. It’s a little different than last year. I want to be first at the end.”
Bowman and Radcliffe are expected to be mixing it up again up front Friday night. Sunday night could feature more of the same.
And while Radcliffe considers RPM Speedway a hometown track, he also considers WaKeeney the same — since it’s only miles away from his Hill City stomping grounds.
“That is an extremely fast track,” Radcliffe said about WaKeeney Speedway. “I don’t really consider it a 3/8-mile track because it’s extremely fast. It’s one of my hometown tracks since it’s only about 28 miles away. I’d love to win one there.”
The two races this weekend mark a challenge for the URSS drivers and kick off the busiest few months of the season.
So far this year, five drivers have won in five URSS events, including Radcliffe, Barry Crane, Brian Herbert, Ty Williams and Luke Cranston. All are expected to compete this weekend, along with others including past national champ C.J. Johnson on Sunday night at WaKeeney.
That has series founder Rick Salem excited about the show his Rebels will put on at the two sanctioned events this weekend.
Fans are encouraged to find their way to the pits to meet the drivers, get memorabilia and get autographs following action each night.
Both races will also be broadcast live on www.racinboys.com for those who can not attend.
For more information about the United Rebel Sprint Series, visit www.unitedrebelsprintseries.
For more information about RPM Speedway, visit www.rpmspeedway.net.
For more information about WaKeeney Speedway, visit www.wakeeneyspeedway.com.