Mike Wilson

"The Rainman” Ray Seemann Rolls to Victory Lane

At The Great American Dirt Track

Ray Seemann nabbed his second United Rebel Sprint Series feature of the season by topping Saturday night’s 25 lap feature event atop the high banked Great American Dirt Track 3/8 oval. Seemann’s last lap heroics propelled “The Rain” man to victory lane for the second time in 2010. Seemann’s fourth career URSS career conquest marks the third time he has visited victory lane at The Great American Dirt Track under the URSS banner.

With Mother Nature flexing her muscles on a hot and windy day in southwest Kansas, a full field hit the dirt for a high flying 25 lap feature at the Great American Dirt Track. With the crowd on their feet, Ulysses native Cody Caldwell brought the field to the green flag and one of the most exciting Rebel mains of the season began to unfold.

Dodge City’s Nick King would blast out to the early advantage from his outside row one starting position with Zach Blurton, Darren Bowman, Caldwell, and Lance Davis in tow. On the third lap, King and Blurton would miss there marks in turns three and four, and “The BO-man” would take advantage on the low side, roaring to the front. With the pass safely in the score books the caution would fly for the 007 of Jordan Randels. Bowman would remain in the show position with King, Ty Williams, Tanner Mullens, and Blurton the top five.

Back under way the drivers would battle the elements and each other fighting for position around the oval. The yellow flag would fly on the fourth circuit for Keefe Hemel and Kris Moore. Both would be unable to continue.

“The BO-man” Darren Bowman would lead the field back to action and a six lap green flag run was in the works. Williams would blast around King on the restart taking over the second position. Mullens would come along for the ride rolling to third. King would drop to fourth as Barry Crane slid into the top five. Seemann would be hot on Crane’s heels and a side by side battle would develop for fifth. Back at the front the battle for the lead was heating up as Williams had zeroed in on “The BO-man. Suddenly the caution would fly for Lance Davis spinning in turn two. With the momentum halted, Bowman would hold the point with Williams, Mullens, King, and Crane the top five.

A nose to tail restart would tighten up the field but a great jump by Bowman saw the 9B rocket out of the starting gate, pressing his advantage. Williams and Mullens would give chase. Crane would slip by King and bring Seemann and Kirby Hagans along for the ride and into the top five. Seemann would then work Crane running to the fourth spot.

Just as the leaders had the tail tanks of the lappers in sight, caution would fly on lap sixteen for Jordan Randels. His second infraction would end the Sublette shoes night. With nine laps to go Bowman would lead the field to the green flag. A better restart for Williams put the Liberal driver squarely in the 9B’s wheel tracks. With a head of steam built up down the back chute, Williams pulled a slide job on the leader in turn three to grab the top spot. Mullens would hold third, with Seemann, and Crane still the top five.

The timing of the cautions would write the ending on this night, setting up an epic finish for Seemann. The yellow would wave on lap 21 as Cory Lira lost power. Williams and Bowman would hold the top two spots but Seemann would drive around Mullens on the restart advancing to third. But the “The Rainman” wasn’t done yet; Seemann would then work Bowman for the runner up spot. The field would be halted one last time for Jared Kern setting up a Wild West shoot out to the finish.

Williams led the field to the green with Seemann, Bowman, Mullens, and Hagans the top five. Seemann would drive to the top-side of one and two and use the high line to blast down the back chute. Williams would hit the low line in turn four to catch the white flag. Once more Seemann would hammer the high side of turns one and two and rocket down the back chute. Horns pointed forward, Seemann would dive bomb underneath of Williams as the two entered the corner. A slight bobble by Williams in the center of the turn put the wheelmen side by off of turn four. With the crowd on their feet, a drag race down the front chute would see “the Rainman” edge Ty at the stripe. Williams would wear the runner up slipper, with Bowman third, Mullens fourth, and Hagans checking the top five.

The Keizer Aluminum Wheels "Hard Charger Award" went to Brian Herbert who battled his way from 19th to 8th place finish!!!!

Heat Race Winners;
1-Tanner Mullens, 2-Kirby Hagans, 3-Darren Bowman, 4-Ray Seemann

A-Main:
1-Ray Seemann (72), 2-Ty Williams (1), 3-Darren Bowman (9B), 4-Tanner Mullens (02), 5-Kirby Hagans (4),
6-Jeff Radcliffe (21R), 7-Barry Crane (30C), 8-Brian Herbert (97), 9-Josh Fairbank (51), 10-Zach Blurton (2J),
11-Jerry Caldwell (80), 12-Cody Caldwell (77), 13-Lance Davis (9B), 14-Steve Dalton (12D), 15-Jared Kern, (007K), 16-Kory Lira (18), 17-Nick King (83), 18-Jordan Randels (007), 19-Kris Moore (49), 20-Keefe Hemel (11)

B- Feature:
1- Keefe Hemel (11), 2- Jeff Radcliffe (21R), 3-Steve Dalton (12D), 4- Josh Fairbank (51), 5- Kris Moore (49), 6- Jordan Randels (007), 7- Jerry Caldwell (80), 8- Kory Lira (18), 9- Brian Herbert (97), 10- Jared Kern (007K), 11- Brian May (8) 12- Donny Steiben (6). 13- Ken Lutters (79), 14- Shawn Radcliffe (3)