Hot Weather and Hotter Racing Salina Race Recap 18 July 2026

The weather Saturday in Kansas was a typical July Kansas day. A lot of sun, and hot temperatures. But it was more than the weather that was hot in Salina Kansas. With the track points chase tightening up, all of the drivers knew it was time to start digging deep and finding every last ounce of gumption to get the best finish possible. Chuck and his crew had prepared an amazing track, and it just got better as the night went on. And despite the dry, dusty conditions at the end of the night, the track was really fast and afterwards, all of the drivers that I spoke to had nothing but praise for this week's racing surface. With 106 cars checked in, across 5 IMCA classes and the Crown Vic Nation, the night temp might've been cooling off, but the action on the track was sure to get heated up.

The first feature on the track was the Bird Contracting IMCA sport compacts. 21 cars were entered for three 6 lap heats that set up the 12 lap A feature. Heat 1 went to the 45K of Colton Halpain, Belleville Kansas. Heat 2 was won by the 03K of Kyle Mortensen, Hays, Kansas. Heat 3 went to 8B Kaishen Brack, Ellis Kansas. With the feature line up set, the Sport Compacts took the track for the first feature of the night. On the opening lap, turn one, there was a multi car pile up when the 1 of Brandon Amack got sideways, and as cars were working to get by him, the 117 Kevin Tremblay, 9 Brandie Poe, 48B Braison Rigsby, 45K Colten Halpain, and A0K Cam Adams ended up wadded up together. With the wreckage cleared off the track, and the cars lined up again, it was time to restart the race. 26X Dan Kruse jumped out to an early lead, and held off all challengers for the next ten laps, until the caution flag waved due to the 11C Colt Laaker, Deshler Nebraska spun out and stalled in turn two. The caution became a 45 minute red flag stop when the 24 Austin Bird, Brookeville Kansas, parked at the entrance to turn three, and medics were summoned over to check him out for breathing troubles. Bird was transferred to a second ambulance where he was transported to the hospital. Please keep this young man in your thoughts and prayers as he recuperates. With medics back to the infield, and cars lined back up it was a two lap G-W-C shootout. The 26X would not be denied, and Dan Kruse took the checkered flag, his second victory of the weekend. Friday he won the Sport Compacts feature at Rooks County Speedway, Stockton Kansas. Hard charger went to the 77 Branston Arnder Jr., Salina Kansas, gaining 11 spots.

Results: 1st 26X Dan Kruse, 2nd 04 Alison Jeske, 3rd 2 Jayden Johnson, 4th 8B Kaishen Brack, 5th 72X Xander Montague, 6th 14 Ashlyn May, 7th 03K Kyle Mortensen, 8th 1 Brandon Amack, 9th 1TK Trinket Kinderknecht, 10th 77 Branston Arnder Jr., 11th 60K Charles Mendenhall, 12th 24 Austin Bird, 13th 11C Colt Laaker, 14th K29 Trenton Crowder, 15th 48B Braison Rigsby, 16th A0K cam Adams, 17th 9 Brandie Poe, 18th 117 Kevin Tremblay, 19th 45K Colten Halpain.

The second class to take to the track was the Central Siding Crown Vic Nation, with 16 drivers, two 6 lap heat races, and a 12 lap A feature. Heat 1 was won by 91 Anthony Self, Wichita Kansas. Heat 2 went to the 26B Austin Mortimer, New Cambria Kansas. The night's second feature saw Mortimer grab an early lead, although he didn't get the commanding lead that's his norm. 37 Jimmy Lawson and 72 Paco Montague were both close behind chasing the leader. On lap 4 the red flag came out for the second time of the night when the 55M Alex Manwawaring, Salina Kansas rolled coming out of turn 4. Driver was ok, and with the car put back on it's wheels and removed from the racing surface racing resumed. Unfortunately, the 37 pulled off the track due to a blown tire. 26B of Mortimer continued to lead, but the 72, and the 49 Trent Peltier, Aurora Kansas. were both close behind and racing hard trying to get by the leader. When the checkered flag flew, it was 26B Austin Mortimer getting the victory. Hard charger was 321 Jeremy Richmond, Wichita Kansas, moving up 12 spots.

Results: 1st 26B Austin Mortimer, 2nd 49 Trent Peltier, 3rd 72 Paco Montague, 4th 321 Jeremy Richmond, 5th 44 Lane Manners, 6th 91 Anthony Self, 7th S13 Squirt Betzner, 8th 42K Chris Phillips, 9th 32 John Bender, 10th 37 Jimmy Lawson, 11th 55M Alex Manwaring, 12th 94S Sami Walker.

Saturday night's third feature class was the Busch Light IMCA Hobby Stocks. 17 entrants in two 6 lap heats and the 15 lap A feature. Heat 1 was won by 55C Garrit Caswell, Salina Kansas. Heat 2 went to the 10 Dane Headrick, Concordia Kansas. 72D Duane McAnarney, Salina Kansas, took the lead early from the front row when the green flag waved, where he stayed for the first three laps until the 3H Gauge Hubbard, Salina Kansas took over the front spot. Lap 3 also brought out the yellow flag when the 72D and 55C of Caswell got together along the front stretch, that ended the evening for Caswell. Back under green flag racing and it was heating up until lap 9 when the 10 of Headrick got together with the lapped 80 car of Travis Lobdell, Minneapolis Kansas, on the front stretch. The 3H of Hubbard took the green and was followed closely by the 7N of Nicholas Ronnebaum, Onaga, Kansas. Lap 12 the 3H got high, and the 7N was able to get the pass for the lead, followed by the 58B Breant Beaumont, Concordia Kansas, and 5K Mike Traskowsky. On lap 14, the 55N Noah Marshall, Topeka Kanss spun on the front stretch coming out of turn 4 bringing out the caution flag and setting up another G-W-C finish. 7N Nicholas Ronnebaum was able to maintain the front spot and get the victory. Ronnebaum was also the hard charger moving up 9 spots to get the win.

results: 1st 7N Nicholas Ronnebaum, 2nd 58B Brent Beaumont, 3rd 5K Mike Traskowsky, 4th 3H Gauge Hubbard, 5th 10 Dane Headrick, 6th 23T Trey Collins, 7th 106 Charlie Slothower, 8th 72D Duane McAnarney, 9th 5 Trace Lobdell, 10th 55N Noah Marshall, 11th 45TH Russ Cossel, 12th 7D Chase Davis, 13th 22A Jarrett Arasmith, 14th 80 Travis Lobdell, 15th 55C Garrit Caswell, 16th 22 Dennis Berry, 17th 6 Drew Barry.

The Big Corner Creative IMCA Northern Sport Modiefieds was the fourth class to take the track. 22 Drivers competed in three 6 lap heat races to get the line up set for their 20 lap A feature. Heat 1 winner was 77 Cody Williams, Minneapolis Kansas. Heat 2 winner was 7C Connor Barnes, Lindsborg Kansas. Heat three went to the 77W Tyler Watts, Beloit Kansas. When the Sport mods took the track for their feature race, it had already been a very exciting night of racing, but it was still heating up. The 77W of Watts took the lead early on, but a lap 2 caution got the cars stacked back up after the T12 Trenton Brooks, Manhattan Kansas, and the 42J Brian Judy, Baldwin City Kansas both spun coming out of turn 2. Going back green and Watts continued to lead the field around the track until a cation on lap 7 when the 21G Jeff Goodaker, Glasco Kansas, went around coming out of turn 2. Without getting a full lap in, the caution once again came out for the 41G Joe Buser, Concordia Kansas and the 18D Dallas Chambers getting spun around coming out of turn 4. Back to green flag racing was short lived, when the caution came out yet again when the T12 of Brooks once again went for a spin, this time coming out of turn 4, thus ending his evening. Once again the cars are lined up and take the green flag. And once again the caution flag flew when the 5S of Sterling Judy, Belleville Kansas, took a spin coming out of turn 4. With this caution, officials made the call to shorten the race by 5 laps, from 20 to 15. Green flag racing resumed, and the 77w was still leading the pack around the track, until lap 14 when the last car on the lead lap 55H Blaine Hickel, Claflin Kansas spun off 4 with the leaders coming up fast. This caution also ended the race, giving the 77W the victory, and he led every lap. Hard charger was 88K Gunner Kuker, Dodge City Kansas moving up 9 spots to finish 6th.

Results: 1st 77W Tyler Watts, 2nd 77 Cody Williams, 3rd 7C Connor Barnes, 4th 17D Dalton Chambers, 5th 112 Koby Rigsby, 6th 88K Gunner Kuker, 7th 74 Jeremy Mauro, 8th 64 Dylan Brozek, 9th 2W Jake Welsh, 10th 18D Dallas Chambers, 11th 5S Sterling Judy, 12th 23H Hayden Howard, 13th 21G Jeff Goodaker, 14th 42J Brian Judy, 15th 6 Stan Huiting, 16th 41G Joe Buser, 17th 55H Blaine Hickel, 18th 63C Austin Carter, 19th 1 Conner Fuller, 20th T12 Trenton Brooks, 21st 70 Jeremie Meyers, 22nd 43 Josh Buser.

The Coors Light IMCA Stock Cars took were the fifth class to get on the track for their feature, with 18 entries racing three 6 lap heat races and a 15 lap A feature. Heat race 1 went to M1 Scott Miller, Hutchinson Kansas. Heat race 2 winner was 194 Scott Phillips, Salina Kansas. Heat race 3 victory went to the 55J of Josh Marshall, Topeka Kansas. The A feature line up was set, and when the cars came out to race, it was the 194 of Phillips taking the lead, with the 11W of Tim Watts, Beloit Kansas, and 12G of Ryan Grit, Assaria Kansas, racing door to door for the second place spot. The racing had fans on the edge of their seats until in lap 3 the 33 of BJ Dauer, Marquette Kansas lost his drive shaft going to turn one and ended up hitting the wall. When racing resumed, it was more of the same exciting racing for 4 laps until the 11B Blake Spear got turned around coming out of turn 2. Restacked the cars again took the green with 194 leading the way. The 11w and 12G kepth their door to door battle for second going through the next two laps, and the 3T Tanner Thiel, Hutchinson Kansas joined them. Racing got 3 wide, and for a moment the 12G was actually able to get into the front spot, but it was short lived as the caution came out after the 3T and 11W ended spinning on the front stretch. Both cars were able to drive off the track, but their night was done. But the great racing continued when the green flag came out again, with the M1 Scott Miller, Hutchinson Kansas charging up near the front, bringing the 20G Kaide Gropp, Concordia Kansas with him. But the 194 was able to keep the lead spot and took the checkered flag. Hard charger was 27X Dylan Bell, St. John Kansas, gaining 10 spots for a fourth place finish.

Results: 1st 194 Scott Phillips, 2nd M1 Scott Mitchell, 3rd 20G Kaide Gropp, 4th 27X Dylan Bell, 5th 88 Tyler Heath. 6th 12G Ryan Grit, 7th 55J Josh Marshall, 8th 75 Zane Hansen, 9th 15E Elliot May, 10th 11 Jason Dove, 11th 11B Blake Spear, 12th 48M Tommy Miller, 13th 55P A'Den Peterson, 14th 19D Dylan Bell, 15th 11W Tim Watts, 16th 3T Tanner Thiel, 17th 33 BJ Dauer.

The final feature of the night was the Mel Hambelton Ford IMCA Modifieds, with 12 entries racing in two 8 lap heat races, and a 20 lap A feature. Heat race 1 went to 70 Brad Morris, Junction City Kansas. Heat 2 winner was 24C Cale Lagroon, Salina Kansas. The 20 lap feature was set, and everyone was ready for another exciting race; and these drivers did not disappoint. When the green flag flew the 70 of Morris charged ahead for the early lead. The track was fast and slick and it didn't take long for the caution flag to come out when on lap 3 the 23 Dalton Heiter, Hutchinson Kansas and 33 Jason Ward, Great Bend Kansas, spun around going through turns 1-2. When racing resumed, it was more of the fast paced excitement that the Mods are known for. 24C made his way up to the second place spot, and was challenging for the lead. Lap 7 saw another caution flag when the 17 Casey Brown, Salina Kansas and the 23 of Heiter spun going through laps 1-2. Green flag racing resumed, and it didn't take long for the 24C to get the first place spot. The battle for second saw the 09 Paxton Dody, Claflin Kansas, and the 7B Curtis Barnes, Lindsborg Kansas race around the 70 machine of Morris. While the 24C had set sail, the real excitement came watching the 09 and 7B racing hard for the runner up position. When the checkered flag came out, 24C Cale Lagroon won, with a 3.7 second lead over second place 09 of Doty. Hard charger was 24C up 7 spots to get the win.

Results: 1st 24C Cale Lagroon, 2nd 09 Paxton Dody, 3rd 7B Curtis Barnes, 4th 24 Corey Lagroon, 5th 70 Brad Morris, 6th 211 Tim Eaton, 7th 29C Cooper Weis, 8th 5W Lance Ward, 9th 17 Casey Brown, 10th 10 Ryan Richmeier, 11th 23 Dalton Heiter, 12th 33 Jason Ward.

After the dust settled, the victory lane photos were finished, and race cars were being loaded up, I made my way to the pits. Talking with drivers I knew, they were all very impressed with the night's track conditions, saying this was possibly the best it's been all year. The racing definitely showed it, too. Salina Speedway will be off next week but returns Saturday August 1st with a $750.00 to win Hobby Stock feature.

Photos credit: Carl "Red" Larson, Photos by Red.