Kansas Racing News: Tubbs Doubles Down with Stock Car Wins

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SALINA, Kan. -- After rains washed away most of last week's races an entusiastic crowd of people and drivers gathered at the Salina Speedway on May 18 for the make-up event with five scheduled classes set to battle.

For Colby's Nick Tubbs, that battle was won not once but twice in the Coors Light IMCA Stock Car division as he worked his way to the front and to the win in the make-up feature at the start of the night, and the regularly scheduled feature later in the night. Not only did Tubbs take the win in both races but he was also the Hard Charger for both, coming from the back of the pack both times.

In the first feature Tubbs wreslted with Scot Granzella for the lead, as the two drove side by side for the last half of the race. Coming out of turn four on the last lap Tubbs had just enough to squeak by and take the win by inches in a photo finish. Granzella settled for second with Justin Murdock, Austin Carter, and Eric Rempel in the top five. In the nightcap Tubbs easily maneuvered to the front and beat out Rempel, Bob Arnold, Murdock, and Tim Talkington. Tubbs and Carter won the heat races earlier in the night.

It's been a long time since a #66 Belleville Motorsports IMCA Modified sat in victory lane. That drought ended on Friday night as long time veteran Jerry Phillips piloted himself to Victory Lane after starting from the pole and pulling away after working past Brian Knoell. Danny Morrison Jr. started to reel in Phillips late but ran out of time as the twentry lap feature went caution free. Morrison was second, Troy Johnson third, Corey Lagroon fourth, and Jesse Richter fifth. Morrison was the Hard Charger after starting eighth. Joe Cleveland, Johnson, Morrison, and Knoell were the heat race winners. Geoff Jermark won the B Feature.

Another driver making a charge from the front to the back was Darrick Klima, who took the win in the Friesen Chevrolet Late Models presented by M&H Motors and Cave Diver's Liquor. Klima passed Earl Kinderknecht for the lead and eventual win in only his second Late Model start in years. Delbert Smith got past Kinderknecht late for second, with Kinderknecht third, Justin Kinderknecht fourth, and Tyler Bradshaw fifth. Klima was also the Hard Charger after starting next to last. Klima and Smith won the heat races.

Adding another year to his resume of racing is Salina's Bud Lee, who not only will add another year of racing but also another mark in the win column as he beat out eighteen other younger drivers to take the win in the Auto House Mod Lites. Corbin Pickerill pressured Lee numerous times, and had the lead before a quick caution but eventually settled for second. Brian Davidson finished third, Chris Unruh fourth, and Earl Kinderknecht fifth. Unruh was the Hard Charger after starting eighteenth. Pickerill, Kale Beavers, and Davidson won the heat races.

Past champion Tony Slothower picked up a big win in front of the hometown crowd as well on Friday night in the Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stock division. Slothower got out front before a wild multi-car race evolved from second thru nearly tenth. Mark Normandin would finish second with GW Fuller third, Mike Traskowsky fourth, and Jacob Crowell fifth. For the first time this year there was a new Hard Charger this time, as GW Fuller started last to pick up the title this week. Normandin, Tommy Fose, and Slothower won the heat races.

The T&R Dirt Construction Mini Stocks and Xtreme Motorsports IMCA Northern SportMods had the night off.

Racing continues on Friday May 25 to open up Memorial Day weekend. The Belleville Motorsports IMCA Modifieds, Coors Light IMCA Stock Cars, Xtreme Motorsports IMCA Northern SportMods, Auto House Mod Lites, and T&R Dirt Construction Mini Stocks will be in action. It will also be Racing for Down Syndrome Awareness Night.

[johnwilson45]

He won Saturdays A feature in Goodland also.