From URSS
Ray Seemann seemingly powered to victory on Saturday night to capture the finale for the 2013 United Rebel Sprint Series Speedweek. But after Seemann failed post race inspections it was Dodge City’s Brian Herbert declared the winner of the 3rd Annual URSS Belleville Natls. It was Herbert’s second win of the 2013 campaign and while that may not seem like a large total, it is quite a feat considering that only two other drivers have visited victory lane multiple times this season. Herbert’s win also breaks a streak of five consecutive wins for Plains driver Luke Cranston. A phenomenal stat at the historic high banked half-mile oval in Belleville.
Woodward, Oklahoma‘s Jordan Weaver would lead the field to the green for the twenty lap show down on the hammer down half mile. Weaver would charge out of the gate and move to the lead, a lead that would be short lived as Fowler, Kansas driver Richie Dewell would take the point on the second circuit.
The top five would be restless for the first half of the twenty lapper and would see the heavy hitters of the United Rebel Sprint Series carve up the speedway and battle for position. Seemann, who gridded the field in the seventh slot, would charge into the top five on the first lap bringing Dodge City’s Brian Herbert along for the ride.
Herbert and Seemann’s push to the front would be checked momentarily by Keefe Hemel. A battle would ensue, that would see the past two Rebel Champions move around Hemel, bumping the Cimarron, Kansas driver off the podium.
The twelfth round would see Seemann’s #72 blast by Dewell for the lead, but Dewell not wanting to yield the top slot would be persistent, dogging the “Rainman” in second. Herbert would continue to dig and his car would get stronger as more laps would be scored. Herbert, finding another groove, would blow by Dewell and was poised to strike.
Flying off turn four, with the checkered flag flying and the Highbanks crowd on their feet, Herbert would use the short side of the half mile to close to a car length but that would be all. Seemann would grab his apparent second win of the year and his second in Belleville. The first coming in 2010, the inagural run for the Rebels at the speedway. Herbert would settle for second and Luke Cranston would climb to third rounding out the podium. Cranston had won the previous five events at the half mile.
Due to discrepancies in post race inspection, URSS Officials elected to have Seemann bring his car to a cleaner and more controlled environment, where the car was thoroughly checked and declared not within URSS rules, giving the win to Brian Herbert and moving everyone else up one spot.
The Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard charger award went to Luke Cranston who started in 9th advancing 7 positions.
Plains Kansas shoe Luke Cranston earns the URSS speed week crown with a runner up finish in Dodge City, a seventh, a fifth, and a win during three nights at the 5 State Fair and a second place finish at the high banks.
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Richie Dewell, 2. Jake Bubak, 3. Wyatt Burks, 4. Kris Miller, 5. Steven Richardson, 6. Keefe Hemel, 7. DNS Howard VanDyke
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Ray Seemann, 2. Brian Herbert, 3.Jordan Weaver, 4. Luke Crantson, 5. Jeff Radcliffe, 6. Jon Webster, 7. Darren Bowman
Lap Leaders: Jordan Weaver (1-2), Richie Dewell (3-10), Ray Seemann (11-20)
A Feature (20 Laps): 1.Brian Herbert, 2. Luke Cranston, 3. Richie Dewell, 4. Jake Bubak, 5. Wyatt Burks, 6. Jordan Weaver, 7. Keefe Hemel, 8. Jeff Radcliffe, 9. Steven Richardson, 10. Jon Webster, 11. Howard VanDyke, 12. DNF Kris Miller, 13. DNF Darren Bowman. DQ Ray Seemann
2013 Feature Winners: CJ Johnson-2, Luke Cranston-2, Brian Herbert -2, Barry Crane-1, Jeff Radcliffe-1, Ray Seemann -1, Ty Williams-1, Darren Bowman-1, Taylor Velasquez-1, Adam Trimble-1, Mark Walinder-1, Jake Bubak-1, Pat Bourke-1, JD Johnson-1, Steven Richardson-1, Zac Taylor-1, Jared Kern-1