From Lonnie Wheatley
DODGE CITY, Kan. (July 29, 2016) – Taylor Velasquez maintained the hot hand in Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Car racing competition by charging to victory lane in Friday night’s 20-lap “Driver’s Appreciation Night” main event before a capacity crowd at Dodge City Raceway Park.
While Velasquez notched his second Sprint Car win in as many weeks, other Driver’s Appreciation Night winners atop the 3/8-mile clay oval among the field of 85 cars included Cole Traugott in IMCA Modifieds, Robert Elliott in IMCA Sport Modifieds, Michael Pepper in IMCA Stock Cars and Matt O’Hair in IMCA Hobby Stocks.
In the 20-lap Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Car feature that put the wraps on the night, Velasquez took advantage a lap four restart to take the lead away from Mike Peters and maintained command the rest of the way aboard the Bearcat Well Service/Fronk Oil Company No. 21x for his fourth DCRP win of the year.
While Velasquez started on the front row outside, pole starter Peters gunned into the lead on the initial start that was waved off when Jordan Randles got into the turn four wall and turned over and then jumped ahead of Velasquez again on the second start.
“He was getting some good runs on me on those original starts,” Velasquez explained.
But when the caution flew after Brandon Sprott’s turn four spin after three laps, Velasquez pounced on Peters on the restart and led the rest of the way as the final 17 laps ran off in non-stop fashion.
After entering the night one point behind Luke Cranston in the championship points chase, the Turpin, OK, racer took over the points lead. But not by much, as Cranston worked his way forward to claim runner-up honors.
Racing from fourth to eighth in the opening handful of laps, Cranston battled past Jeremy Huish for third just past the midway point and then slid past Peters for second with the white flag in sight.
Peters settled for third with Huish and Ray Seemann rounding out the top five.
Dodge City Raceway Park
Dodge City, KS
Friday July 29, 2016
Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars:
Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 33-Koby Walters, 2. 88J-Jeremy Huish, 3. 10-Jordan Knight, 4. 97-Brian Herbert, 5. 007-Jordan Randles, 6. 28-Tracey Hill, 7. 17x-Craig Jecha, 8. 31m-Eric Matthews, 9. 18-Brandon Sprott.
Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 21x-Taylor Velasquez, 2. 49x-Mike Peters, 3. 72-Ray Seemann, 4. 11-Keefe Hemel, 5. 20-Luke Cranston, 6. 6-Kaden Taylor, 7. 11k-Tyler Knight, 8. 49-Kris Moore, 9. 1x-Cody Lampe.
“A” Main (20 Laps): 1. 21x-Taylor Velasquez, 2. 20-Luke Cranston, 3. 49x-Mike Peters, 4. 88J-Jeremy Huish, 5. 72-Ray Seemann, 6. 28-Tracey Hill, 7. 97-Brian Herbert, 8. 10-Jordan Knight, 9. 11k-Tyler Knight, 10. 49-Kris Moore, 11. 33-Koby Walters, 12. 11-Keefe Hemel, 13. 17x-Craig Jecha, 14. 18-Brandon Sprott, 15. 007-Jordan Randles. DNS: 6-Kaden Taylor, 31m-Eric Matthews, 1x-Cody Lampe.