Jon Johnson Takes URSS Win at Dawson County Speedway

The United Rebel Sprint Series made its final appearance Sunday night at the Dawson County Fairgrounds for the 2008 Season and the action was fast and furious as the Rebels put on a show for the capacity crowd on hand. The racing action was three wide as drivers made their way to the front and positions were still up for grabs as the racers crossed the finish line.  When it was all said and done, veteran racer Jon Johnson took the win much to the delight of the crowd.

Hill City Kansas’s Jeff Radcliffe led the field to the green, but it was Ransom Kansas’s Ken Lutters who grabbed the lead with Radcliffe, Willie Wynn, Randy Washburn and Darren Berry rounding out the top ten. Washburn took the third spot from Wynn on lap three, but Garrett Park had spun in turn two to bring out the caution and as the leaders came through the turn Washburn collided with Park’s car ending both their nights. On the ensuing restart, Lutters again took the lead as the field took the green bit it was short lived as the red flag flew for an incident involving Shawn Radcliffe who tagged the front stretch wall and was collected by Craig Jecha. Jecha ended up on top of Radcliffe’s battered racecar, Jecha’s car remarkably came out of the scuffle with minimal damage as he restarted the race.

On the restart, Lutters once again took the point with Jeff Radcliffe, Willie Wynn, Johnson and Berry in tow. Johnson passed Wynn for the third spot on lap five and set his sights on Radcliffe.  Johnson made quick work of Radcliffe and took off after Lutters. The pair put on a show as the veterans sliced and diced their way through the corners, Lutters maintaining the lead on Johnson as Kirby Hagans and Daren Berry joined the fight for the runner up position. Hagans used the low line, as Berry was rim riding on the high side as the three battled lap after lap.

Hagans made several attempts to pass Johnson using the low line but could never keep the momentum to pass Johnson as they exited the corners. Berry using the high line pressured both Johnson and Hagans as he tried to make the cushion work to his advantage only to have Johnson retain the position. The trio raced side by side until lap sixteen when Johnson finally caught up with Lutters and made the pass for the lead. Lutters then joined Hagans and Berry as they fought for the second, third and fourth positions.

That battle heated up as the trio fought side by side closely behind Johnson. Hagans continued to hold the runner spot by the slightest of margins each time the trio passed the flag stand.  Always within reach of the leader, they jockeyed for position as the fans rose to their feet for the final laps. Johnson held the slim lead, as Hagans, Berry and Lutters were all hot on his heels as they battled three wide behind him. As the white flag flew, Hagans, Berry and Lutters made their final moves. With Johnson holding a slight advantage, the trio seemingly were under a blanket as they entered turn three and as they came off of the fourth corner it was a drag race to the line as Hagans nipped Berry for the runner up spot with Berry edging Lutters for the third position and Jeff Radcliffe rounding out the top five.

The Weld Racing Wheels “Hard Charger Award” went to Jon Johnson who took win coming from his tenth starting spot.

Heat Race Winners were Jon Johnson, Randy Washburn and Smokey Fairbank.

A-Main: 1-Jon Johnson (86), 2-Kirby Hagans (4), 3-Darren Berry (12), 4-Ken Lutters (79), 5-Jeff Radcliffe (21R), 6-Smokey Fairbank (2), 7-Willie Wynn (36W), 8-Reed Bernbeck (C3), 9-Tim Perkins (99), 10-Bill Hays (2H), 11-Randy Bantam (5R), 12-Michael Williams (77W), 13-Justin Schwien (76J), 14-Craig Jecha (17X), 15-Tom Belsky (28), 16-Shawn Radcliffe (3R), 17-Randy Washburn (0T), 18-Garrett Park (10)