Recap by Mike Wilson

Brian Herbert Scores URSS Boothill 1000 Win

The United Rebel Sprint Series jump started a big two day run through the Wild West Saturday night at Dodge City Raceway Park. The Boothill 1000 has a tradition of combining high octane racing with a big payoff. Saturday was no different, as some of the biggest names in sprint car racing checked into DCRP. When the dust settled, Brian Herbert out dueled Ray Seemann and Mother Nature to earn his first feature win of the season and the eighth win as a Rebel Sprinter.

With lightning crackling on the horizon, Dodge City native Keefe Hemel led a nineteen car field to the green flag for a twenty five lap main event. Using the bottom groove in turns one and two, Hemel, would gain the early advantage down the back straightaway. Craig Jecha, Smokey Fairbank, Ray Seemann, and Barry Crane would round out the top five.

Hemel would push his lead to a straightaway but his advantage would be short lived as the caution would fly on lap two for a spinning Taylor Milton. Hemel would lead the field back to green flag racing with Fairbank, Herbert, Jecha, and Seemann in tow. Herbert would slide to second moving Fairbank to third. Jecha would be shuffled from the top five as Ritchie Dewell and Barry Crane began a back and forth battle for fifth and six.

Hemel would continue to set the pace and at the halfway mark Herbert, Seemann, Fairbank, and Crane would hit lapped traffic. Herbert would use the lapped traffic and the high line to swipe the lead from Hemel with ten laps remaining. A good run down the front straightaway found the 97 on the cushion heading into turns one and two and Herbert would hammer the high side and take the lead bringing Seemann with him. Hemel would drop to the fourth slot as Crane drove to third. Tyler Knight would crack the top five as Fairbank continued to fade.

The battle for sixth would see C.J. Johnson making a push from his outside row four starting position to tangle with Fairbank. C.J. would make the pass hold with four laps to go but the battle to watch was up front.

With time running out Seemann was on the move. Hot on Herb’s heels, Seemann would close the gap to a car length. As the white flag flew Seemann would have one last shot on the back chute but it would be Herbert cashing in and adding his name to the long list of distinguished drivers to win the Boothill 1000. Seemann would settle for second with Crane, Hemel, and Knight rounding out the top five.

The Keizer Aluminum Wheels “Hard Charger Award” went to Taylor Milton who came from his eighteenth starting spot to race his way to an eighth place finish.

A-Main:
1-Brian Herbert (97), 2-Ray Seemann (72), 3-Barry Crane (30C), 4-Keefe Hemel (11), 5-Tyler Knight (11K), 6-CJ Johnson (45X), 7-Tanner Mullens (02), 8-Taylor Milton (91X), 9-Smokey Fairbank (2), 10-Richie Dewell (112),  11-Taylor Velasquez (21), 12-Ty Williams (1), 13-Cody Caldwell (77), 14-Craig Jecha (17X), 15-Justin Chaffin (69), 16-John Colbert (79C), 17-Ken Lutters (79), 18-Steve Dalton (12D) DNF, 19-Van Kuhn (K3) DNF, Lance Davis (9D) DNS

Heat Race Winners
#1 - Ty Williams
#2 - Brian Herbert
#3 - CJ Johnson

Photo Courtesy Wayne Morgan - CreatvDigitl Photography