By Rick Salem
Salina, Kansas – May 23, 2020 – Two-time and defending tour champion Zach Blurton picked up right where he left off last season, taking advantage of late-race lapped traffic to claim the exciting season opener for the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing opened their 2020 race season in front of a near-capacity crowd at Salina Speedway in Salina, Kansas on Saturday night.
J.D. Johnson and Blurton started on the front row for the twenty-five-lap feature with Johnson taking the lead as the green flag fell. Fourth-starting Ty Williams quickly moved into the runner up position with Blurton, Tyler Drueke and Buddy Tubbs the top five after the first lap was complete.
Johnson kept Williams behind him for the first several laps before Blurton passed Williams for second on lap five. Ninth-starting Jason Danely worked his way up through the field and over-took Tubbs for the fifth position on lap five.
Blurton stayed glued to Johnson’s rear bumper and at the races midway point on lap thirteen it was still Johnson, Blurton, Williams, Danley and sixteenth-starting Toby Chapman the top five. The leaders approached slower cars on lap seventeen and that’s when Johnson picked the wrong line to lap Howard Van Dyke. Blurton took advantage and got around both the lapped car and Johnson to take the lead on lap seventeen.
Blurton, driving the Jeff Stefonick, J&K Trucking #11, had Johnson glued to his rear bumper before putting another slower car between himself and Johnson on lap twenty. With five laps to go Danley got past Williams for the third position while Blurton kept the pace out front.
Johnson attempted to regain the lead with soon after but it was Blurton holding on to pick up the URSS season opening victory. Johnson settled for second while Danley came home third and Williams held on for fourth.
Nebraska’s Toby Chapman earned the features Keizer Aluminum Wheels hard-charger award. Chapman started sixteenth and drove home to a fifth-place finish.
The four, eight lap heat races were won by Buddy Tubbs, Tyler Drueke, Williams and Jordan Knight while Cale Cozad topped the twelve lap “B” feature.
URSS president Rick Salem wants to thank the owners and staff from Salina Speedway for putting together this last-minute Memorial Day weekend event just four days earlier. Also, many thanks to the drivers and fans who came out and supported the series inaugural event at the three-eighths mile facility.
The second series point race is pending and Salem looks to make an official announcement early this week. To keep up-to-date on schedule additions and more visit the series facebook page: United Rebel Sprint Series (URSS) and their official website www.unitedreblsprintseries.com.
United Rebel Sprint Series
Salina Speedway
Salina, KS
Saturday May 23, 2020
Feature:
1. 11 – Zach Blurton
2. 98 – J.D. Johnson
3. 4x – Jason Danley
4. 911 – Ty Williams
5. 7 – Toby Chapman
6. 97 – Brian Herbert
7. 0 – Steven Richardson
8. 34C – Cale Cozad
9. 45X – Kyler Johnson
10. 33 – Koby Walters
11. 6 – Kaden Taylor
12. 15 – Jack Potter
13. 74V – Howard Van Dyke
14. 11K – Tyler Knight
15. 95 – Buddy Tubbs
16. 7X – Shane Sundquist
17. 88J – Jeremy Huish
18. 12 – Tyler Drueke
19. 17X – Taylor Velasquez
20. 10 – Jordan Knight