Jon Johnson Battles To URSS Win At Lexington

On Sunday night the United Rebel Sprint Series wrapped up a three day run at Lexington Nebraska with fourteen teams making the trek north. Mother Nature had put a damper on the Rebel’s debut in the cornhusker state and with storm clouds threatening once again; it would be a “Kansas Tornado” stirring up the dust at Dawson County Raceway.

Blake Bogenhagen, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado would lead the field to the green for a caution free twenty lap feature. As the green flag dropped, it would be Randy Bantam using his outside row one starting position to grab the lead on the backside. Bantam would bring Reed Bernbeck along for the ride with Bogenhagen, Ken Lutters, and Jeff Radcliffe settling into the top five

The second circuit would see the top two of Bantam and Bernbeck stretch their advantage. Lutters would drive by Bogenhagen for third as Radcliffe, Smokey Fairbank, and Jon Johnson would battle for position.

With five laps in the books, Ken Lutters would head pit side ending his evening and a top five run for the Ransom native. Fairbank would jump to third taking advantage of Lutter’s misfortune. Jon Johnson would bust into the top five blowing by Radcliffe to for the fourth spot.

Bantam would hold serve for the next five circuits but hot in his wheel tracks was Bernbeck. Bernbeck had reeled in Bantam and at the halfway mark the C3 would swipe the lead, shuffling Bantam to second. The frantic pace continued, as Jon Johnson would work Fairbank for third as Hill City native, Jeff Radcliffe, rounded out the top five.

Bernbeck would continue to hold the point but the action mid pack was ferocious as C.J. Johnson battled Willie Wynn for the sixth slot. The back and forth battle would see side by side racing with Johnson finally securing the position at the halfway mark. Bernbeck would continue to show the field the way with Bantam, Jon Johnson, Fairbank, and Radcliffe the top five. With seven laps to go Jon Johnson would slide into second moving Bantam to third.

Still under the green, Jon Johnson’s charge to the front would not be denied. With four laps remaining the leaders would hit lapped traffic. Bernbeck would hug the low groove and the “Kansas Tornado” would hammer the high line and ride the cushion around the markers to steal the lead. Radcliffe would move to third and a late charge by C.J. Johnson would put the 45X in the fourth slot. Bantam and Fairbank would follow but any hope of a late lap rally was dashed as time ran out and Jon Johnson would check into victory lane for the second time in 2009, his third career URSS feature win at Lexington. Bernbeck, Jeff Radcliffe, C.J. Johnson, and Bantam would round out the top five.

The Keizer Aluminum Wheels “Hard Charger Award” went to Jon Johnson who raced his way from his ninth starting position to pick up the win. 

A-Main: 1-Jon Johnson (86), 2-Reed Bernbeck (C3), 3-Jeff Radcliffe (21R), 4-CJ Johnson (45X), 5-Randy Bantam (5R), 6-Smokey Fairbank (2), 7-Willie Wynn (36W), 8-Blake Bogenhagen (27B), 9-Shawn Radcliffe (3), 10-Bill Hays (2H), 11-Ken Lutters (79), Johns Colbert (79C) DNS

Heat #1: 1-CJ Johnson, 2-Jon Johnson, 3-Ken Lutters, 4-Randy Bantam, 5-Blake Bogenhagen, 6-John Colbert DNF

Heat #2: 1-Jeff Radcliffe, 2-Willie Wynn, 3-Smokey Fairbank, 4-Reed Bernbeck, 5-Shawn Radcliffe, 6-Bill Hays DNF, Chad Salem DNS, Darren Berry DNS