One Last Dance at Salina Speedway

Friday afternoon, October 2, a decision was made; one more last race at Salina Speedway, the very next night! After the remnants of hurricane Polo soaked most of Kansas with four days of rain, the scheduled Thunder on the Plains fireworks show was cancelled because the crew wasn't able to get in and get set up in time. Track owner and promoter, Chuck Fairchild, went out to the track to see what the conditions were like, and by early Friday afternoon, texts were flying back and forth, and before you know it, a last minute decision was made to hold a race Saturday night. A non points, run what you brung night. One last hurrah after it had seemed to many that Mother Nature had taken the victory away from the season's end. Chuck explained it as a race for closure of the season; for both the drivers and fans that had been so supportive over the year.

The first class on the track for their feature was the Central Siding and Windows Crown Vic Nation, with 8 entries. One 6 lap heat races,and a 12 lap A feature. The heat races winner was 32E Parker Eck. The feature had all of the zany antics of a Crown Vic race, and managed to go green to checkers without a caution. The race was won by 33 Austin Ferguson. Hard Charger was 19 Paco Montague, moving up four spots to take home second.

Results: 1st 33 Austin Ferguson, 2nd 19 Paco Montague, 3rd 57S Shaun Woods, 4th 25A Corey Davis, 5th 28 Weston Labonte, 6th 32E Parker Eck, 7th 2 Shawn Jennings, 8th 55M Alex Manwaring.

The second class to race a feature was the Bird Contracting IMCA Sport Compacts. There were 15 entries, 2 heat races, and a 12 lap A feature. Heat race 1 winner was 72X Xander Montague. Heat race 2 winner was 8K Kaytee DeVries, of Spencer Iowa. The feature only had one caution period, when on lap 4 the 1TK of Trinket Kinderknecht spun in the middle of turns 3 and 4. Track visitor 8K Kaytee DeVries took the lead on lap 4 and for most of the race she held the top spot, until a last lap pass by 8B Kaishen Brack, who was your race winner. Hard Charger was the X of Cam Adams moving up 6 spots for a 6th place finish.

Results: 1st Kaishen Brack, 2nd 8K Kaytee DVries, 3rd 77 Branston Ardner Jr., 4th 72X Xander Montague, 5th 26X Dan Kruse, 6th X Cam Adams, 7th 88C Zach Montague, 8th 1TK Trinket Kinderknecht, 9th 60K Charles Mendenhall, 10th 04 Alison Jeske, 11th 55 Michael Hart, 12th 14 Ashlyn May, 13th 66 Audrianna Stephenson,

The Busch Light IMCA Hobby Stocks were the third feature class of the night. 14 entries, competing in 2 6 lap heat races and a 15 lap A feature. Heat race 1 went to the 22A Jarrett Arasmith. Heat 2 was won by 55C Garrit Caswell. The feature was running great, there was some hard racing for position, but it stayed clean and green until lap 9, when the 45TH of Russ Cossell lost the driveshaft on the front stretch bringing out the yellow. When the green came back out, it was more great racing for a handful of laps until lap 12, when 55C Garrit Caswell spun going through turns 1-2, bringing out the second caution of the feature. Racing resumed with a three lap shootout, and it was the 23T Trey Collins taking the victory. Hard Charger was D68 Dion Priddy, moving forward 6 spots for a 6th place finish.

Results: 1st 23T Trey Collins, 2nd 58B Brent Beaumont, 3rd 3H Gauge Hubbard, 4th 22A Jarrett Arasmith, 5th 26L Dylan Ludden, 6th D68 Dion Priddy, 7th 55N Noah Marshall, 8th 7D Chase Davis, 9th 80 Travis Lobdell, 10th 55C Garrit Caswell, 11th 45TH Russ Cossell, 12th 82 Quinten Baxter, 13th 22 Dennis Berry,

On the track for the night's fourth feature were the Big Corner Creative IMCA Northern Sport Mods. 14 entries with two 6 lap heat races and a 15 lap A feature. Heat race 1 went to the 112 Koby Rigsby. Heat race 2 winner was 1 Conner Fuller. When the green flag dropped for the feature, it was instant chaos as several cars came together off turn 4, sending the D29 Ernie Drown into the front stretch infield wall. Hard enough that he moved one of the blocks that makes up the wall! Ernie was able to continue racing after that, and had a top ten finish. The cars were restacked, and the race was started over, this time with less carnage. The yellow came out on lap 4 when the 18D Dallas Chambers spun around on the front stretch com ing off turn 4. On the ensuing restart it was the 1M Cody Gearhart, 83C Cameron Hammett, and T12 Trenton Brooks getting together in turns 3-4 that brought out the caution. Once the track was cleared racing resumed until lap 9 when the 55H Blaine Hickel spun on the front stretch hitting the infield wall. When the green came back out it was hard racing, without another yellow flag. 21S Cody Williams took the victory. 31 Jim Bell was the hard charger gaming 10 spots for a 4th place finish.

Results: 1st 21S Cody Williams, 2nd 17D Dylan Chambers, 3rd 112 Koby Rigsby, 4th 31 Jim Bell, 5th 1 Conner Fuller, 6th 64 Dylan Brozek, 7th 18D Dallas Chambers, 8th 23H Hayden Howard, 9th D29 Ernie Drown, 10th 43 Josh Buser, 11th 55H Blaine Hickel, 12th T12 Trenton Brooks, 13th 83C Cameron Hammett, 14th 1M Cody Gearhart.

The Coors Light IMCA Stock cars were next on the track. With 29 entries, there were four 6 lap heat races and a 10 lap B feature to decide who was going to fill the field for the 15 lap A feature. Heat race 1 went to 42 Brandon Gritz, Edmond Oklahoma. Heat race 2 winner was 09B Kaleb Dale. Heat race 3 was won by 27 Shaylon Holloway. Heat race 4 went to 15E Elliot May. The B feature winner was the 12G Ryan Grit. The A Feature was packed with the excitement and drama you'd expect when there are this many quality drivers competing for the victory. The first caution came out on lap 1 when the 55X Mike Burian went around going through turns 3-4. On lap 6 the 75 of Tyler Heath did a 180 degree spin on the front stretch coming off turn 4; and the 12G of Ryan Grit went off the track at the top of 3-4, requiring wrecker assistance to get his car out of the mud. Going back green, it was a great show up front between the 42 of Brandon Gritz and 27 of Shaylon Holloway. Two talented and competitive drivers running first and second. Lap 7 brought out nther caution when the 43 of Brian Calhoon spun around on the front stretch. Lap 10 was riddled with the yellow flag flying. The 32S Kipp Shupe spun in turns 1-2, bring ing out the first caution. Then on the restart, it was the 55J Josh Marshall and 11B Blake Spear that spun on the front stretch bringing out the second caution flag of the lap. And on the third try it was the 27 of Holloway who sent it just a little too hard through turns 3-4 and ended up spinning around. Lap 11 saw the 55X of Burian and the 91 of Brad Labonte getting together and spinning in turns 1-2. On lap 14 the 43 of Calhoon spinning off turn 2. On the last lap it was the 19D of Dylan Chambers, the 91 of Labonte, and the 55J of Marshall getting ta ngled up in turn 1, which brought out the yellow/ checkered finish. 42 Brandon Gritz went to Victory lane. 31 Dylan Bell was the hard charger gaining 11 spots to finish in the runner up position.

Results: 1st 42 Brandon Gritz, 2nd 31 Dylan Bell, 3rd 194 Scott Phillips, 4th M1 Scott Miller, 5th 15E Elliot May, 6th 09B Kaleb Dale, 7th 75 Tyler Heath, 8th 32S Kipp Shupe, 9th 30 Gary Bradford, 10th 55 Blake Holmes, 11th 42J Alec Jeske, 12th 95 Easton LaRiviere, 13th 27 Shaylon Holloway, 14th 11B Blake Spear, 15th 19D Dylan Chambers, 16th 55J Josh Marshall, 17th 91 Brad Labonte, 18th 43 Brian Calhoon, 19th 55X Mike Burian, 20th 12G Ryan Grit.

The grand finale of the night, and of the 2026 Salina Speedway season was the Mel Hambelton Ford IMCA Modifieds. 13 entries raced in two 8 lap heat races and a 20 lap A feature. The first heat race went to the 24BF of Bobby Eubanks. The second heat race winner was the 09B of Brett Berry. The feature had the 24C Cale Lagroon jumping out to an early lead that he held for half of the feature. On lap 9, the 28C Austin Caruthers spun around in the middle of turns 3-4 bringing out the caution. On the restart the 09B of Brett Berry was able to get past the 24C of Lagroon and take over the lead spot. Lap 11 saw the yellow fly when the 29C Cooper Weis spun coming out of turn 4. The restart saw these machines and drivers putting on one amazing show, with drivers navigating their way forward. The 09B and 24 of Corey Lagroon were in a heated contest for the lead when the checkered flag flew. 09B Brett Berry was the winner. 24 Corey Lagroon was the hard charger gaining 6 spots for a second place finish.

results: 1st 09B Brett Berry, 2nd 24 Corey Lagroon, 3rd 22B Dalton Bell, 4th 24C Cale Lagroon, 5th 24BF Bobby Eubanks, 6th 94 Dustin Huehl, 7th 7R Mike Petersilie, 8th 09 Paxton Dody, 9th 12A Ayden Steffens, 10th 29C Cooper Weis, 11th 17 Casey Brown, 12th 28C Austin Caruthers, 13th 395 Brad Carlson,

There were 93 cars total entered for this last minute race, which is really awesome. Yes, the track had some character to it, but given the limited amount of prep time, it held up really well, and allowed the drivers and fans to get some closure on the 2026 season. October 10-11th is the Crashtoberfest Demolition derby, and October 16-17th is the Dunn Truck Fest.

As I write this final race report, I think back on how the season went, and the growth shown by some drivers, and the way others have maintained their strong racing skills. I am also grateful for Sheldon Wickwar for bringing me on to the team as the Salina Speedway Correspondent for Kansas Racing News. It's been a pleasure covering the races this year, and I am looking forward to next season already. While not happening at Salina Speedway there are still several chances to catch local dirt track racing: Octoberfest at Beatrice Speedway October 8-10th: Battle for the Belt at Wakeeny October 15-17th, and the Last Call races at Rush County Speedway October 23-24th.