Jason “The Hitman” Martin Holds On For URSS Win At Liberal

The United Rebel Sprint Series checked into Liberal for the second time in 2009 and sprint car fans witnessed Jason “The Hitman” Martin pick up his first Rebel feature win of the year in front of his hometown crowd. Charging from the fourth row, Martin was able to grab the lead midway through Sunday night’s main event, and hold on for his fifth triumph in his URSS career.

Seventeen sprint teams stepped into the ring for a twenty five lap bout with John Colbert on the pole position but when the green flag dropped it would be Barry Crane, using the high side to gain the early advantage and the first circuit. Darren Bowman, Ray Seemann, Ritchie Dewell, and Jason Martin would settle into the top five.

As Crane continued to show the way, racing was high and tight. Brian Herbert had cracked the top five by the third lap as Seemann would work Bowman advancing to the runner up slot. Bowman would continue to drop as Martin, Herbert, and Dewell would battle for position.

Lurking just outside the top five would be C.J. Johnson. Buried in the field, Johnson would begin to reel in the lead pack. Coming from his ninth-place starting slot, Johnson would bust into the top five on the sixth circuit. A back and forth battle between Johnson, Herbert, and Dewell would ensue, as the trio would slice and dice for position, not more than inches apart at times.

Back at the front, Seemann would continue to pressure Crane and on the seventh lap, Seemann would move his 72 into the top position. Martin, Herbert, Crane and Johnson check the top five and the frantic pace would continue.

The action would be halted on lap eleven with a tense moment on the front chute. As the leaders hit lapped traffic Johnson would clip a lapped car trying to follow Martin through traffic. Johnson would be able to continue but would be sent to the end of the line.

With fifteen laps remaining, Seemann would hold the top slot with Martin, Herbert, Velasquez, and Dewell rounding out the top five. Martin would put the pressure on Seemann and just two laps into the next green flag run, Martin would own the show position.

With laps continuing to wind away, the caution flag would be pulled twice more for incidents involving Ty Williams and Keefe Hemel. Martin would lead with Seemann, Herbert, and Velasquez in tow but it would be Johnson using the yellows to his advantage to blast back into the top five after the front chute incident with the marker.

Martin would bring the field back to the green and the final circuits of the main event. With heavy hitters on his tail, Martin would not waiver hitting his marks time and time again. Herbert would find his way around Seemann for second with Velasquez and Johnson battling for fourth and fifth.

But Martin would not waiver and checked out of Liberal and into victory lane for the first time in 2009 and the fifth time as a Rebel sprinter. Herbert would finish in the runner up slot with Seemann dropping to third. Velasquez and Johnson would round out the top five.

The Keizer Aluminum Wheels “Hard Charger Award” was picked up by Taylor Velasquez. Starting in the sixteenth position after front end damage in his heat race, Velasquez would make a spectacular push to the front weaving his way through the field advancing twelve positions to secure with his fourth place finish.

Heat race winners were Ray Seemann, CJ Johnson and Jason Martin

A Main: 1-Jasin Martin (36), 2-Brian Herbert (97), 3-Ray Seemann (72), 4-Taylor Velasquez (21), 5-CJ Johnson (45X), 6-Barry Crane (30C), 7-Darren Bowman (9B), 8-Richie Dewell (112), 9-John Colbert (79C), 10-Jerry Caldwell (80), 11-Keefe Hemel (11), 12-Justin Pack (8*), 13-Justin Chaffin (69), 14-Michael Williams (77W), 15-Ty Williams (1), 16-Lance Davis (9D), 17-Tobby Shield (007)