Rooks County Speedway Reopening

   There’s a new home for dirt track racing in north central Kansas, and it is Rooks County Speedway in Stockton Kansas. The newly configured ⅓ mile track hosts five IMCA classes and a Crown Vic class. The work done by Chad Sterling and his crew is phenomenal.  And your Friday nights just got a lot more exciting. 

   The excitement started well before the first green flag of the night. I arrived a little after four p.m. and already the pits were occupied with drivers and crews. By the time I had gotten done getting my pit pass there was a long line of trucks bringing in more race cars and drivers. A total of 91 cars checked in for the inaugural event. 

  While they are competitors on the track, in the pits it was like watching a huge family reunion. Discussing previous races, what set ups to use on the new track, and some good natured ribbing at one another. There was a lot of smiles and laughter, some serious questions and answers, and just that really great vibe that you won’t find anywhere else. 

  Outside of the pits, the fans were just as excited for the return of racing in Stockton. The grandstands filled quickly, with many sharing memories of coming to watch races here in the past. Without my normal clan of race fans to sit with, I found my seat near the top and quickly made new friends. The racing community; whether it’s drivers, crew, or fans, is a very welcoming bunch. 

  First on the track was the Sport Compact class with two six lap heat races.The first heat race was won by 69G Gage Porter of Hays Kansas. The second winner was 26X Dan Kruse of Lyons Kansas. Their A feature was twelve laps, won by 17 Kiowa Higdon in a photo finish over 8B Kaishen Brack. 69G  Gage Porter third, 6% Mitch Conner fourth, 16C Connor Schwein fifth, 03K Kyle Mortensen sixth, 3B Gage Barton seventh, 26X Dan Kruse eighth, 16L Grant Logue ninth, 15B Brock Leibhart tenth, 1N Nathan Volbracht eleventh, 6M Madison Reed twelfth, 7M Zack McLaughlin thirteenth, 12S Dustin Gitchel fourteenth. 

  Second class of the night was the Sport Modifieds, with two eight lap heat races and a twenty lap A feature. The first heat race went to 7C Connor Barnes, of Lindsborg Kansas. The second heat race winner was 88J Jacob Olmstead of Overton Nebraska. The Sport Mod A Feature winner was 7C Connor Barnes. 14W Blaine Walt was second, 21C Brian Conness third, 77W Tyler Watts fourth, 83 Tracy Holloway fifth, 88J Jacob Olmstead sixth, 21 Brandon Bradford seventh, 4M Matthew Miller eighth, 10 Jimmy Sindelar ninth, 11J Josiah Lopez tenth, 58C Nathan Chaput eleventh, 7M Sam McCune twelfth, 87D Chad Dolan thirteenth, 77 Cody Williams fourteenth, 21G Jeff Goodaker did not start, 5S Sterling Judy did not start, 74N Jason Nelssen did not start. 

  In the third position was the Hobby Stock class. They had three eight lap heat races and the twenty-five lap A feature. Heat race one was won by 66N Nicholas Sherfick, Wakeeny Kansas. Heat race two went to 98Z Zach Olmstead, Overton Nebraska. And the third heat race was won by 2M Trent Matson, McCook Nebraska. The A feature winner was 98Z Zach Olmstead. 78B Andrew Burg second, 2M Trent matson third, 66N Nicholas Sherfick fourth, 10 Dane Headrick fifth, 55J James Love sixth, 77F Mitchell Fischer seventh, 29 Jeromy Wagner eighth, 12S Cole Schute ninth, 17H Hayden Ogorzalka tenth, 22A Jeff Arasmith eleventh, T21 Ted trumbo twelfth, 8Z Kasen Zorn thirteenth, 007 Brandon Wise fourteenth, 80 Travis Lobdell fifteenth, M69 Anna Minks sixteenth, 99 Justin Meserve seventeenth, 5 Trace Lobdell eighteenth, 55R Dustin Riley nineteenth, 24W Wade Kolbo twentieth, 8K Hayden Kelly twentyfirst, 45R Brian Riley twentysecond, 4C Colton Boxum did not start, 58 Bret Conness did not start. 

  Fourth on the program was the Crown Vic class. With one eight lap heat race and one twelve lap A feature. The heat race was won by 26B Austin Mortimer New Cambria Kansas. The A Feature winner was 49 Trent Peltier. 26B Austin Mortimer second, 90 Matt Ramsey third, 8T Cory Jones fourth, 27C Matthew Mortimer fifth. 

   Stock Cars was the fifth class of the night. They had two eight lap heat races and a twenty lap A feature. The first heat race winner was 16Z Jeremy Zorn Russell Kansas. The Second heat race was won by 250 Tathan Burkhart Hays Kansas. The A feature went to 250 Tathan Burkhart. 3 Chris Oliver second. 11W Tim Watts third, 16Z Jeremy Zorn fourth, 2X Trevor Schmidt fifth, 25X Troy Burkhart sixth, 1C Cody Ghumm seventh, 11B Blake Spear eighth, 10 Eric Cross ninth, 82 Chad Wulf tenth, 97M David Murray Jr. eleventh, L7 Jason McCartney twelfth, 54P Kyle Pfeifer thirteenth, 34H Doug Holzmeister fourteenth, 68 Garrett Hager fifteenth, 37J John Foley sixteenth, 

   Last, but certainly not least was the Modifieds class. With two eight lap heat races, and a 20 lap A feature. The first heat race winner was 44T Tanner Black Otis Kansas. The second heat race winner was 3D Baniel Gottschalk Ellis Kansas. The A Feature winner was 66D Dylan Sherfick. 08 Dakota Sproul second, 24C Cale Lagroon third, 3D Daniel Gottschalk fourth, 44T Tanner Black fifth, 12A Ayden Steffens sixth, 44K Kelsie Black seventh, 9D Dalton Murph eighth, 21 Tracy Harr ninth, 21T Tyler Harr tenth, 33 Jason Ward eleventh, 0 Kyle Rohleder twelfth, 09 Paxton Dody thirteenth, 38 Shaylon Holloway did not start, 10 Ryan Richmeier did not start. 

  Overall, I would say that the grand reopening of Rooks County Speedway was a resounding success! Chad and his crew did an awesome job, not just with the races tonight; but with transforming the track into a place where we will be able to watch or drive races for many years to come. It’s a great day when we can talk about tracks opening up instead of more heart breaking news of another track closing the gates forever.