Josh Fairbank Claims 1st URSS Win at Beaver Raceway

 BEAVER, Okla. — Josh Fairbank had been knocking on the door several times this season. On Sunday night, the United Rebel Sprint Series driver finally broke down the door, winning his first URSS feature with a victory at Beaver County Raceway in Beaver, Okla.

“The battle out front between (Jason) Martin and Josh Fairbank went on and on and on the entire race once they got up there,” said URSS founder Rick Salem, who noted the race was one of the most exciting in series history. “Josh was on the bottom, and Martin was flying around the top.”

Fourteen-year-old Connor Atkinson led the field to the green flag and led the first lap, then settled into second for seven more laps. She eventually finished sixth, her best URSS finish in her young career. Mike Woodruff would then take the lead and hold it until lap thirteen when he a Martin would enter turn three side by side with both drivers sliding over the top and Woodruff would end up stopped. Martin kept his car running and returned on the race track to assume the lead on the yellow. Fairbank who had started seventh was now second and would wrestle the lead from Martin coming out of two on the restart.

“I think it was a pretty good show for the fans,” Martin said. “Josh had a pretty good show going on. He was on the bottom, and I was on the top. For about six or eight laps, we battled.” Neither driver would get much of an advantage on the other until the two entered lap traffic. That's when Martin got hung up a bit, and Fairbank distanced himself by six or seven car lengths. But Martin battled back, and on the final turn, was right there alongside the leader. Fairbank was able to get a better bite coming out of the final turn to propel himself to the win. “The last lap, Martin was beside him in three and four,” Salem said. “Josh beat him off of four to the flag.”

Barry Crane finished third, followed by Brian Herbert in fourth. Herbert had to battle his way from the back of the field after sliding off the track on the first lap.  Ray Seemann rounded out the top five. 

Heat race winners were Herbert, Fairbank and Mike Woodruff.

Martin picked up the Keizer Aluminum Racing Wheels Hard Charger award, going from ninth to second.

Feature results

1. Josh Fairbank, 2. Jason Martin, 3. Barry Crane, 4. Brian Herbert, 5. Ray Seemann, 6. Connor Atkinson, 7. Kaden Taylor, 8. Luke Cranston, 9. Richie Dewell, 10. Jordan Randles, 11. Zach Blurton, 12. Lance Davis, 13. Cody Caldwell, 14. Jerry Caldwell, 15. Judd Sheaffer, 16. Mike Woodruff.