Smokey Fairbank Claims URSS Win at I-76 Speedway

The United Rebel sprint Series rolled in the I-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan Colorado for the first of three appearances in the 2010 Season. The Rebels always put on an exciting show and the fans were not disappointed as the racing action was fast and furious on the lightning fast ¼ mile oval. It was a race between two cagey veterans and an up and coming rookie that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. When it was all said and done, Smokey Fairbank took his first URSS Feature win of the season.

A pair of rookies, Woodland Park Colorado’s Cole Wood and outside pole-sitter Zach Blurton from Jetmore Kansas lead the field to the green flag. Wood would jump out into the early lead as Blurton followed in his tire tracks with Blake Smith Jr., Smokey Fairbank and Blake Bogenhagen rounded out the top five after lap number one. Lap three saw Fairbank take the third spot from Smith as Ty Williams and Bogenhagen pressured Smith for the fourth spot.

Lap five saw the caution fly, on the restart Wood once again took the point with Blurton and Fairbank hot on his heels. Lap seven saw Fairbank take the runner up spot from Blurton as Fairbank se his sights on the leader. Back in the pack, Patrick Bourke started his charge to the front, making his way to the sixth spot by lap seven. The caution waved once again on lap eight, on the restart Wood grabbed the point once again but was soon challenged by Fairbank and Blurton. Lap eight saw Fairbank take the point with Blurton and Bourke all passing Wood as his mount ran out of fuel ending his impressive run for the night.

Back in the pack, the trio of Adam Trimble, Reed Bernbeck and Judd Sheaffer started working their way up to the top five. Bernbeck and Trimble traded positions for three laps before Trimble claimed the spot for good on lap thirteen. Up front, Fairbank, Blurton and Bourke were locked in a heated battle as the trio went three wide through turns three and four fighting for position.

The top three drivers were still battling for the lead with Fairbank holding off Blurton and Bourke.  The trio continued to battle three wide through three and four as they sliced their way through traffic. Bourke made the pass on Blurton on lap twenty-two and set his sights on Fairbank. Bourke pressured Fairbank with Blurton stalking them in the third spot as the laps dwindled. As the white flag acme out it was Fairbank holding the lead as Bourke and Blurton furiously tried to find the traction to take the point away.  

When the checkers fell it was Fairbank taking the win with Bourke, Blurton, Blake Smith Jr. and Adam Trimble rounding out the top five.

 The Keizer Aluminum Wheels “Hard Charger Award” went to Judd Sheaffer who raced his way from his eighteenth starting spot to finish in the seventh position.

A-Main:

1-Smokey Fairbank (2), 2-Patrick Bourke (27), 3-Zach Blurton (2J), 4-Blake Smith Jr. (46), 5-Adam Tremble (34), 6-Reed Bernbeck (C3), 7-Judd Sheaffer (56), 8-Michael Williams (77W), 9-Levi Wisecup (21), 10-HJ Norman (14N), 11-Ian Christie (17C), 12-Fred Holtz (1H), 13-Tara Jo Christie (23C), 14-Sam Wisecup (8B), 15-Blake Bogenhagen (27B), 16-Ty Williams (1), 17-Tim Perkins (99), 18-Cole Wood (17W), 19-Jeremy Lueck (75), Mike Parker DNS

Heat Race #1:
1- Jeremy Lueck, 2-Zach Blurton, 3-Smokey Fairbank, 4-Ian Christie, 5-Michael Williams, 6-Fred Holtz,
7-Tara Jo Christie

Heat Race #2:
1-Blake Bogenhagen, 2-Tim Perkins, 3-Blake Smith Jr., 4-Reed Bernbeck, 5-Levi Wisecup, 6-Mike Parker

Heat Race #3:
1-Ty Williams, 2-Cole Wood, 3-Patrick Bourke, 4-Adam Tremble, 5-HJ Norman, 6-Judd Sheaffer

Photo Courtesy Jeremy Nix