Leiker Lands in Victory Lane
August 23, 2008

As summer comes to a close and temperatures cool off, the racing action is heating up at Dodge City Raceway Park. COX Communications presented Back to School Bus Races at DCRP and a full house was on hand to watch the "route runners" turn laps.

With School Buses headlining the program fans also got a taste of the fiery competitive nature of IMCA Monster Modifieds, United Wireless IMCA Stocks, NAPA Thunders, and the Hornet division. The Dodge City Harley Davidson Sprint Series was a late addition to the schedule.

With lightning cracking and fans roaring the IMCA Monster Modifieds roared onto the front straightaway for an action packed twenty-lap feature event. The racing was fast and furious as the boys with the fenders diced it up two and three wide. Mike Lunow jumped out to the early lead but hot on his heels were Randy Wilson, "The Lucky Deuce" and Matt Rucker "The Rucker Rocket". Mechanical issues would force Rucker to the infield and end a top five run for the 03. Action at the front was intense; the lead would change hands circuit by circuit with Lunow running the high line and Wilson hugging the bottom. Wilson would steal the lead midway through the Monster main event shuffling Lunow to second. Back in the pack Tim Leiker was a man on a mission, barreling his 65T into the top five. Leiker would run to second and just as it looked like Wilson would check out, Leiker would make a last lap charge for the ages. With Wilson on the top and Leiker hugging the berm, Leiker would drive to Wilson’s inside door. A drag race down the back chute would see Wilson carry the lead into turns three and four but Lieker would not be denied. With the leaders side by side off of turn four and the crowd going wild, Leiker would gain the advantage and edge Wilson by a nose at the line. "The Lucky Deuce" would settle for second, with Lunow, Butch Leiker, and "Gorgeous" George Tyler rounding out the top five.

Dodge City Harley Davidson Sprints were added to the program and thirteen teams checked into the park by way of invitation. Brian May would bring the field to the green with Tyler Knight, Brooke Boyd, Bart Boyd, and Tanner Mullens slicing for position. May would show the field the way in the early going but Brandon Fisher was on the move. "The Iceman" would grab the lead from May at the halfway point and never look back. "Flyin" Brian Herbert would crack the top five and bring John Colbert along for the ride. Despite a late push by Herbert no one could touch the "Ice man" and Fisher would earn the main event win. Herbert, Colbert, Knight, Mullens, and Bart Boyd would check the top five.

United Wireless IMCA stock cars grumbled onto the track for an action packed main event. As the field came to the green flag, last weeks feature winner Trevor Wadel picked up right where he left off grabbing the lead in the early going. Mike Wadel would slide to second with the field in tow. But luck would not run with the Wadel boys and mechanical problems would end the night for the Garden City natives. Shawn Mohler would take the point and a fierce battle for the lead began. Cole Wilson, Daniel Grund, Tony Corpening and Brian Sauser had charged into the top five and were looking to gun down the leader. But Mohler would hold off late rallies by the heavy hitters and check into victory lane for the first time this season.

The fans always get the good stuff when the NAPA Thunder division checks into DCRP. As the green flag dropped the mayhem began. The battle for the lead was tight as Robbie Perkins, Raymond Blackburn and Kevin Sprott jockeyed for position. Dalton Bauer would take advantage of a Perkins miscue and drive to victory lane for the eighth time this season despite a fierce charge by Ray Blackburn. Alan Nau and Christopher Herbert would round out the field.

The Hornets buzzed onto the track for an action packed main event. As the green flag dropped David Guinn jumped out to the early lead with Marissa Jackson, Justin Schulte, Randy Jackson, and Cody Lampe each struggling for position. The racing was fast and furious as Schulte battled his way to runner up slot. Just as Schulte, current hornet point leader, set his sights on the leader time ran out and Guinn would cruise to victory lane with Schulte, Randy Jackson, Tony DesLauries, and Miranda Kolbeck rounding out the top five.