Berry, Kirchhoff and Others Topple the Tumbleweed Classic at Dodge City Raceway Park

May 18

Dodge City, Kansas 5/18/2024 (www.racedcrp.com) - Dodge City Raceway Park held the IMCA Tumbleweed Classic on Saturday night, with 63 race teams checking into the 3/8 mile facility. With temperatures reaching into the upper 80’s throughout the day, the racing surface was primed for action.

In the opening feature race, Dakota Bliss grabbed the checkered flag in a two car battle with Raymond Blackburn. The race also featured a late entry with Kyler Fetters driving the school bus for the first time at Dodge City Raceway Park. “It was something really for the fans. We wanted to surprise them a bit and try to get them excited about potential bus races at the track” said Fetters.

A Feature 1 15 Laps

1. 01-Dakota Bliss[1]; 2. AR 15-Raymond Blackburn[2]

In the Sport Compact feature, Kiowa Higdon from Hays, Kansas, grabbed his first win of the season at Dodge City Raceway Park. Higdon started the race on the front row and never looked back. Higdon would take the lead down the back stretch as the battle for second place would start between Kevin Tremblay and Kaishan Brack. Laps would whind down and as Trembly went to make a pass on the outside, Grant Logue attempted to make a three wide pass before contact would be made and Trembly would go for a spin through turn 4. With Higdon at the front, a final restart and a final shot at the win was up for grabs. Kiowa Higdon would get a good jump and leave the rest of the pack behind, picking up the win.

A Feature 1 15 Laps | 00:11:42.323

1. 17-Kiowa Higdon[2]; 2. 8B-Kaishen Brack[1]; 3. 18B-Grant Logue[4]; 4. 22-Brent Cox[5]; 5. (DNF) 77-Kevin Tremblay[3]; 6. (DNS) A0K-Cam Adams

The Hobby Stock feature showcased 19 drivers for its 20 lap race. With Skeets Salazar and Morgan Olmstead on the front row, the green flag would drop and drivers would go 4-wide for a moment heading into turn 1. Olmstead took the top line and went straight to the lead down the back stretch. Skeets Salazar would start to battle for the runner up position before losing control of his car on the front stretch. With a restart in store, Morgan Olmstead wasted no time getting back to the front. Morgan Olmstead, now a 5 time winner this season, Olmstead has now grabbed a win at all 5 western Kansas tracks this season.

A Feature 1 20 Laps | 00:21:32.221

1. 88-Morgan Olmstead[2]; 2. 187-Tyler Heath[8]; 3. 31-Dylan Bell[7]; 4. 2S-Reagan Sellard[6]; 5. 17H-Hayden Ogorzolka[13]; 6. 81-Skeets Salazar[1]; 7. 11A-Austin Rich[3]; 8. 24B-David Berger[18]; 9. 69-Danny Schulte[5]; 10. 11-Brendan Rich[12]; 11. D14-Derek Dechant[16]; 12. 17Z-Zach Esplund[15]; 13. (DNF) 104-Brian Thomas[11]; 14. (DNF) 5S-Jonathan Saliba[10]; 15. (DNF) 10-Cole Pfeifer[9]; 16. (DNF) 12S-Cole Schulte[4]; 17. (DNS) 57-Chad Kelley; 18. (DNS) 77-Cody Williams

In the Stock Car feature, it was Angel Munoz from Lamar Colorado taking the feature win. Angel Munoz started the feature in the 4th position, but didn't stay there long. Going into turn 1, Munoz took his 3M machine to the top of the track and kept the foot down. Munoz would slide into the front spot and never surrender for the remainder of the race. “ The track was tricky.” “ We had to capitalize on any little inch you could get” added Munoz.

A Feature 1 20 Laps | 00:10:19.017

1. 2M-Angel Munoz[4]; 2. 19K-Kolby Stegman[3]; 3. 3M-Eric Munoz[5]; 4. 3-Chris Oliver[1]; 5. 19-Keith Stegman[6]; 6. 01-Jesse Smith[2]; 7. (DNF) 49-Christian Gonser[7]

Jack Kirchoff picked up his first win of the season at Dodge City Raceway Park. Dalton Bell led the majority of the race, but closing in on the right time was Ryan Kirchoff from Garden City, Kansas. Kirchoff, who started third, had to wait patiently through the race. Closing in on the final laps. “He slide up over their, and if he never did that, we wouldn't be standing here.” “ There was nothing up high as far as moisture” added Kirchoff

A Feature 1 20 Laps | 00:09:54.862

1. 88J-Jack Kirchoff[3]; 2. 22B-Dalton Bell[2]; 3. 28K-Ryan Kirchoff[7]; 4. 8-Brian May[5]; 5. 17M-Brianna Maughlin[6]; 6. 23X-Steven Swarthout[9]; 7. 64-Jimmy Brozek[4]; 8. T25-Tim Stallbaumer[11]; 9. 47-Newt Lujan[12]; 10. 02-Justin Lampe[8]; 11. L26-Luke Stallbaumer[10]; 12. 01-Dustin Lampe[14]; 13. 03-Kent Lampe[18]; 14. 97-Shawn Ward[1]; 15. 11-Josh Reece[17]; 16. K7-Brian Kreger[16]; 17. (DNF) 3K-Dustin Kreger[13]; 18. (DNS) 00-Scott Burke

Possibly the best race was saved for last, as the Modifieds produced an absolute barn burner for 20 laps. Clay Sellard started on the pole and fended off Jake Nightingale lap after lap, but Nightingale started to close in on the back bumper of Sellards 85C. Nightingale got a run down the back stretch and attempted to slide to the inside of Sellard. Nightingale tagged Sellard in turn 3, causing Nightingale to get loose and scrub the time off. As the race closed to an end, Brett Berry, who sat in third, found himself in the right spot at the right time. Jake Nightingale slid to the inside of Clay Sellard, which caused both cars to slide up, leaving the bottom lane open. Berry filled the gap and made it three wide through the front stretch before the other two drivers had to yield the position. “This car has been really good. Those guys are really good and have been doing this for a long time. I'm just glad we came out on top here and thank you to all the fans and sponsors.” said Berry after the race.

A Feature 1 20 Laps | 00:06:53.819

1. 09B-Brett Berry[8]; 2. 85C-Clay Sellard[1]; 3. 3J-Jake Nightingale[6]; 4. K98-Danny Keller[4]; 5. 3C-Casey Jo Gemmill[7]; 6. 28-John Burrow[9]; 7. 9D-Dalton Murphy[11]; 8. 25-Kale Beavers[5]; 9. 91-Derrick Sprott[2]; 10. 94-Jim Graves[3]; 11. (DNF) 42-John Fabrizius[10]