6/3/2018
Salina Highbanks Speedway
Keeter, Clay, Garrison, Campbell win on Kids’ Night
photo credit: No Limit Photography by B. Dilbeck
The theme of the June 2nd program at Salina Highbanks Speedway was kids’ night and family fun, but it was strictly business on the track by the time the A-Mains rolled out. Just under eighty drivers checked in for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points racing and three drivers claimed their first wins of the season while another became a two-time winner in 2018.
The S&J Plumbing Pure Stock A-Main was another classic on the Highbanks with four lead changes in the 15-lapper. Brandon Leland led the opening lap then Carl Grauberger paced the field for a couple of circuits before JD Jackson took command on lap four. Jackson, however, lost an engine at the halfway point and surrendered the lead to Jordon Shive. Shive was left to battle it out with Nathan Campbell and the duo put on a thrilling race to the finish. Campbell picked up his second win of the season, while Shive crossed in the runner-up spot. Brett Testerman rallied from the B-Main and a 14th starting position to finish on the final step of the podium with Josh Shive and Paul Dilbeck rounding out the top five.
A strong field of Super Stocks rolled out as the second A-Main of the night. Dalton Garrison quickly assumed the top spot and led the opening six laps before being overtaken by Nick Artherton on lap seven. Things seemed to be aligning just right for Artherton to cruise to a victory until a caution on lap 13 sent the driver back two positions for jumping a restart earlier in the race. From there Garrison reclaimed the lead and drove on to his first career victory at the Highbanks. Jason Wayne finished in second, Artherton maintained a third place finish, Charlie Tuggle finished with a solid fourth place performance, and Ray Roberts completed the top five.
A lean but talented field of drivers hit the track in the Modified A-Main, which ran third in the program. From the drop of the green flag, defending track champion Mitch Keeter proved to be the quickest in the slick. Keeter led all but the opening lap to claim his first win of the season, also taking the points lead. Tate Cole was in the runner-up spot on the final trip around the speedway until he tagged some debris on exit of turn two incurring enough damage to lose the runner-up spot to John Yeoman. Jonathon Beyer and Nathan Hager finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
The AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories B-Mods headlined the program as the final Feature of the night with a full field of cars doing battle for 20 laps. Dalton Clay, who has won five of the six B-Mod events contested at Thunderbird Speedway this season, took advantage of a row two starting spot to wire the field in his second start of the 2018 season. Clay’s triumph marked his first win since the 2015 season when he scored a Modified victory that year. Clint Johnson drove from tenth to finish second, enough to end the night as the new points leader. Chris Hawkins started twelfth and finished third in his first start of the season, as Kenton Allen and Willie Gammill rounded out the top five. Two numbers were drawn for the AmeriFlex Lucky Draw with Carl Conley II and Jared Thulin collecting an additional $100 for their efforts.
Complete results for the June 2nd program can be found at:
http://www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com/profile/schedule/results.aspx?r=236055&rt=sch
Next up at the Highbanks is K&N Night at the Races on June 9th with all four NWAAS divisions and the Custom Coatings Trophy Cars.
Submitted By: Elizabeth Davis
