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Salina Speedway Race Recap 

Saturday June 6 2026

  Hello race fans, I am Robert Bennett, and I will be covering the racing action at Salina Speedway for Kansas Racing News. My first night on the job, and it was an exciting one! Two big purse A features, and a lot more great dirt track racing action.

  I’ll begin with the Central Siding Crown Vic class. This is the first year that Salina has had the Crown Vic class, and it is quickly becoming a crowd favorite. They had two six lap heat races, and a twelve lap A feature.Twelve cars were checked in for this.

  Heat race 1 was won by Anthony Self of Wichita Kansas in his number 91 machine. 26B of Austin Mortimer finished second, 49 Trent Peltier third, 37 Jimmy Lawson fourth, 44 Lane Manners fifth, 90 Matt Ramsey finished sixth.

  Crown Vic heat race 2 was won by Matthew Schmitz in his blue and white Dinoco King themed car. 72 Paco Montague was second, 55M Alex Manwaring third, 42K Chris Phillips fourth, 94S of Sami Walker fifth, and the 321 of Jeremy Richmond did not start. 

  The 12 lap A Feature, which went green to checkers for the third time in this class, was won by the 44 of Lane Manners from Parsons Kansas. 72 Paco Montague, 49 Trent Peltier, 321 Jeremy Richmond, 55M Alex Manwaring were your top five. 

  The second class I’ll cover is the Bird Contracting Sport Compacts. This also had two six lap heat races, and a twelve lap A feature. There was a total of seventeen cars entered in this class. 

  Heat race one was won by Austin Bird of Brookeville Kansas, who led all six laps in his black and yellow 24 car. 26X Dan Kruse second, 8B Kaishen Brack third, 77 Branston Ardner Jr was fourth, 1TK Trinket Kinderknecht fifth, A0K Cam Adams sixth, 55 Michael Hart seventh, 48B Braison Rigsby eighth, K29 Trenton Thompson ninth.

  Heat Race two  was won by the 14 car of Ashlyn May from Salina Kansas. 72X Xander Montague second, 11K Corey Kindlesparger third, 9M Brandie Poe fourth, 2 Jayden Johnson fifth, 03K Kyle Mortensen sixth, 45M Ariel Halpain seventh, and 28K Kaleb Horn did not start. 

  The A feature had a red flag stoppage when 9M Brandie Poe and 28K Kaleb Horn were involved in a very nasty wreck in the middle of turns three and four. When racing resumed, 24 Austin Bird took a commanding lead and claimed the checkered flag. 26X Dan Kruse second, 8B Kaishen Brack third, 77 Branston Ardner Jr. fourth, 72X Xander Montague fifth, 11K Corey Kindlesparger sixth, A0K Cam Adams seventh, 55 Michael Hart eighth, 48B Braison Rigsby ninth, K29 Trenton Thompson tenth, 14 Ashlyn May eleventh, 45M Ariel Halpain twelfth, 9M Brandie Poe thirteenth, 28K Kaleb Horn fourteenth. 1TK Trinket Kinderknecht, 2 Jayden Johnson, and 03K Kyle Mortensen did not start.  

   Moving on to the Busch Light hobby stocks, we had three heat races of six laps,and the A feature which was scheduled to go twenty laps. Twenty three drivers came out for this class. 

  Heat race one was won by visiting driver 2M Trent Matson of McCook Nebraska. 55C Garrit Caswell second, 7N Nicholas Ronnebaum third, 3F Dylan Feik fourth, 26L Dylan Ludden fifth, Trace Lobdell sixth, 70 Billy McBride seventh, 55N Noah Marshall eighth.

  Heat race two went to the 23T of Trey Collins. 28 Chase Davis second, 22 Dennis Berry third, 24W Wade Kolbo fourth, 10 Dane Headrick fifth, 8Z Kasen Zorn sixth, 82 Quentin Baxter seventh, 80 Travis Lobdell eighth. 

  Heat race three victor was 3H Gauge Hubbard. 77F Mitchell Fischer second, 58B Brent Beaumont third, 22A Jarrett Arasmith fourth, 007 Brandon Wise fifth, 29C Lane Crowder sixth, 94 Austen Huehl did not start.

  The A feature was scheduled for twenty laps, but with multiple cautions the race was shortened to twelve laps. 7N Nicholas Ronnebaum took the checkered flag in this shortened A feature. 23T Trey Collins second, 22A Jarrett Arasmith third, 3H Guage Hubbard fourth, 26L Dylan Ludden fifth, 2M Trent Matson sixth, 70 Billy McBride seventh, 24W Wade Kolbo eighth, 22 Dennis Berry ninth, 29C Lane Crowder tenth, 3F Dylan Feik eleventh, 007 Brandon Wise twelfth, 58B Brent Beaumont thirteenth, 5 Trace Lobdell fourteenth, 80 Travis Lobdell fifteenth, 82 Quentin Baxter sixteenth, 10 Dane Headrick seventeenth, 28 Chase Davis eighteenth, 8Z Kasen Zorn nineteenth, 55C Garrit Caswell twentieth,  77F Mitchell Fischer twenty first, 94 Austen Huehl twenty second, 55N Noah Marshall twenty third.

  Moving on we had the Mel Hambelton Ford Racing Modifieds. Sixteen cars were entered to run in this class. They had two eight lap heat races and the A feature of twenty laps. 

  Heat race one went to 25P Mike Petersilie of Hoisington Kansas. 94 Dustin Huehl second, 24C Cale Lagroon third, 17 Casey Brown fourth, 395 Brad Carlson fifth, 77 Jason Haug sixth, 5W Lance Ward seventh, 70 Brad Morris eighth. 

  Heat race two was won by 24 Corey Lagroon. 76 K.C. Mullin second, 22B Dalton Bell third, 15E Elliot May fourth, 09B Brett Berry fifth, 23 Dalton Heiter sixth, 7M Daniel Miller seventh, 7B Curtis Barnes eighth. 

  Normally the modifieds A feature is reserved as the grand finale at Salina Speedway, but this week it was third from last, giving two big purse features the spotlight. 24 Corey Lagroon took the win. 25P Mike Petersilie was runner up. 76 K.C. Mullins was third, 7B Curtis Barnes fourth, 24C Cale Lagroon fifth, 22B Dalton Bell sixth, 17 Casey Brown seventh, 395 Brad Carlson eighth, 23 Dalton Heiter ninth, 5W Lance Ward tenth, 15E Elliot May eleventh, 7M Daniel Miller twelfth, 09B Brett Berry thirteenth, 77 Jason Haug fourteenth, 94 Dustin Huehl fifteenth, 70 Brad Morris sixteenth. 

  The first of our two big purse races was the Big Corner Creative Sport Modifieds. A $750 winners purse, with increased payouts throughout the field, donated graciously by anonymous track supporter known only as Dirt Track Junkie.  Four heat races of six laps, a B feature of ten laps, and twenty lap A feature. There were twenty five Sport mods checked in for the night. 

  Heat race one went to the 11 Trevin Frye. 10J Alex Loveless second, 32 Todd Wichman third, T12 Trenton Brooks fourth, 42J Brian Judy fifth, D29 Ernie Drown sixth, 41G Joe Buser seventh. 

  Heat race two was won by 17D Dalton Chambers. 77W Tyler Watts was second, 63C Austin Carter third, 2W Jake Welsh fourth, 21G Jeff Goodaker fifth, 23H Hayden Howard sixth. 

  Heat race three went to 77 Cody Williams. 74N Jason Nelssen second, 18 Kyle Weins third, 5S Sterling Judy fourth, 43 Josh Buser fifth, 1 Conner Fuller sixth. 

  Heat race four had 1M Cody Gearheart taking the win. 7C Connor Barnes second, 21T Tyson Tipsword third, 112 Koby Rigsby fourth, 58C Nathan Chaput fifth, 6 Stan Huiting sixth. 

  The ten lap B feature was won by 21G Jeff Goodaker of Glasco Kansas. 23H Hayden Howard second, 42J Brian Judy third, 6 Stan Huiting fourth, 43 Josh Buser fifth, 41G Joe Buser sixth, 1 Conner Fuller seventh, 58C Nathan Chaput eighth. 

  The twenty lap A feature was full of excitement as 7C Connor Barnes was able to secure the victory. 1M Cody Gearhart was second, 63C Austin Carter third, 112 Koby Rigsby fourth, 11 Tevin Frye fifth, 17D Dalton Chambers sixth, 10J Alex Loveless seventh, 2W Jake Welsh eighth, 42J Brian Judy ninth, 23H Hayden Howard tenth, 74N Jason Nelssen eleventh, 21T Tyson Tipsword twelfth, T12 Trenton Brooks thirteenth, 32 Todd Wichman fourteenth, 6 Stan Huiting fifteenth, 21G Jeff Goodaker sixteenth, 77W Tyler Watts seventeenth, 77 Cody Williams eighteenth, 18 Kyle Weins nineteenth, 5S Sterling Judy twentieth. 

  A Huge thank you to Dirt track Junkie for his contribution and making this a very exciting night for the Big Corner Creative Northern Sport Modifieds. Whoever you are, you are appreciated. 

  With $1000 to win and an increased purse throughout the class, The Coors Light Stock Cars were sure to draw a crowd and that’s exactly what they did! With 31 stock cars checked in for the four six lap heat races, ten lap B feature, leading up to the grand finale of the night, the twenty lap A feature. 

  Heat race one went to the 55J Josh Marshall of Topeka Kansas. M1 Scott Miller second, 775 Jayce Reimer third, 6AM Aaron Mallory fourth, 32S Kip Shupe fifth, 55 Blake Holmes sixth, 31B Shad Blackwell seventh, 7 Bobby Eubanks eighth. 

  Heat race two victory went to the 10 Eric Cross. 37 Jeffery Abbey second, 555 Tyler Frye third, 91 Brad Labonte fourth, 3T Tanner Thiel fifth, 19 Ryan “Bam Bam’ Ayers sixth, 00 Brice Sasser seventh, 55P A’Den Peterson eighth. 

  Heat race three checkers was collected by 11W Tim Watts. 3 Chris Oliver second, 16Z Jeremy Zorn third, 9X Cleo Adams fourth, 11 Jason Dove fifth, 11B Blake Spear sixth, 64C Joey Crowder seventh, 63M Kylee Radcliffe did not start. 

  Heat Race four had 6 Justin Kinderknecht winning. 42 Brandon Gritz second, 194 Scott Phillips third, 88 Tyler Heath fourth, 20G Kaide Gropp fifth, 55X Mike Burian sixth, 19D Dylan Chambers sixth. 

  The ten lap B feature had drivers racing hard for their spot in the big purse A feature. 3T Tanner Thiel took the win. 11 Jason Dove second, 32S Kipp Shupe third, 20G Kaide Gropp fourth, 7 Bobhby Eubanks fifth, 31B Shad Blackwell sixth, 19D Dylan Chambers seventh, 19 Ryan Ayers eighth, 55 Blake Holmes ninth, 55X Mike Burian tenth, 55P A’Den Peterson eleventh, 11B Blake Spears twelfth, 00 Brice Sasser thirteenth, 64C Joey Crowder fourteenth, 63M Kylee Radcliffe did not start. 

   While fireworks are typically reserved for the Fourth of July; on this, the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day Invasion, we were treated to some on the track fireworks, and some great racing. Local favorite 10 Eric Cross and 37 Jeffery Abbey of Rhome Texas battled hard for the win, culminating in two last lap lead changes. 37 Jeffery Abbey won. 10 Eric Cross was a close second. 775 Jayce Reimer third, 11W Tim Watts fourth, 9X Cleo Adams fifth, 555 Tyler Frye sixth, M1 Scott Miller seventh, 3T Tanner Thiel eighth, 11 Jason Dove ninth, 20G Kaide Gropp tenth, 91 Brad Labonte eleventh, 3 Chris Oliver twelfth, 32S Kipp Shupe thirteenth, 6AM Aaron Mallory fourteenth, 42 Brandon Gritz fifteenth, 88 Tyler Heath sixteenth, 194 Scott Phillips seventeenth, 16Z Jeremy Zorn eighteenth, 55J Josh Marshall nineteenth, 6 Justin Kinderknecht twentieth. 

  There were 22 cautions, and two red flag stops. There was a total of 124 cars checked in for the night with drivers from across Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. 

  Salina Speedway has a scheduled week off next week so that drivers, fans, and their families can enjoy the Smoky Hill River Festival that will be happening in Salina Kansas. Racing will return Saturday June 20th. 

•   Racing photos courtesy of Carl ‘Red’ Larson.