The 61st Annual Hutchinson Grand Nationals

360 Sprint Car, Modified & Late Model Stock Car

On the Historic Half-Mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

Hutchinson, Kansas

 

Saturday night – July 15, 2017

 

 

Sanctioned By – National Championship Racing Association (N.C.R.A.)

Promotional Company – Speedways Inc. of Park City, Kansas

Race Director – C. Ray Hall of Bel Aire, Kansas

Publicity Director / Public Address Announcer – Warren Hardy of Wichita, Kansas

Roving Public Address Announcer – Scott Stiles of Wichita, Kansas

 

 

 

race81speedway.com

 

 

 

Modified*

B Feature Race – 15 Cars – 20 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Started

  1

0K

Kevin Kemp

Maize, Kansas

  3

  2

164

James Weve

Hutchinson, Kansas

  2

  3

29

Dustin Choate

Ponca City, Oklahoma

  4

  4

23A

Aaron Rayl

Hutchinson, Kansas

12

  5

16

Vickie Leatherman

Andover, Kansas

  6

  6

29J

Jeff Oelkers

Wichita, Kansas

  1

  7

2K

Kendall Kemp

Maize, Kansas

10

  8

020

Fred Freeman

Hutchinson, Kansas

  7

  9

29B

Briar Oelkers

Wichita, Kansas

11

10

54

Jim Roney

Udall, Kansas

14

11

70

Don Morris

Junction City, Kansas

15

12

MC2

Clint McFadden

Valley Center, Kansas

  9

13

36

Rick McReynolds

Arlington, Kansas

  8

DNF

11

Erick Chesterman

Wichita, Kansas

13

DQ

22K

Kevin Newell

Wichita, Kansas

  5

McReynolds’ car suffered a flat tire on the first lap which caused the yellow flag to be displayed.

McFadden crashed into the outside wall on the second lap at the south end of the racetrack bring out the second yellow flag of the race.

The cars driven by Don Morris and Briar Oelkers collided bring out the third yellow flag of the race.

 

 

 

Modified*

Championship Feature Race – 20 Cars – 19 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Started

  1

2K

Kendall Kemp

Maize, Kansas

16

  2

06

Andrew Wallace

Wichita, Kansas

  3

  3

211

Thomas Andsager

Hutchinson, Kansas

  4

  4

44

Braden Stoner

Wichita, Kansas

  1

  5

29

Dustin Choate

Ponca City, Oklahoma

13

  6

54

Jim Roney

Udall, Kansas

19

  7

23A

Aaron Rayl

Hutchinson, Kansas

14

  8

16

Vickie Leatherman

Andover, Kansas

15

  9

020

Fred Freeman

Hutchinson, Kansas

17

10

7N

William Nusser

Larned, Kansas

  8

11

429

Shelby Stucky

Hutchinson, Kansas

  7

12

316

Spencer Walker

Wichita, Kansas

  6

13

0K

Kevin Kemp

Maize, Kansas

11

14

78B

Blake Moler

Wichita, Kansas

10

15

84

Gary Kilbourn

Hutchinson, Kansas

  9

16

164

James Weve

Hutchinson, Kansas

12

17

29B

Briar Oelkers

Wichita, Kansas

18

18

M5

Harley Peery

Goddard, Kansas

  5

DQ

22K

Kevin Newell

Wichita, Kansas

  2

DNF

29J

Jeff Oelkers

Wichita, Kansas

DNS

  Jeff Oelkers was to start in 16th place but, since he DNS, everyone scheduled to start behind him was moved up a position before the race started.

The first yellow flag of this race came on the seventh lap due to a wreck in the fourth turn.

The yellow flag came out on the ninth lap due to debris on the racetrack.

Only ten cars were running at the completion of this race.

Newell was the first to finish this race but he was disqualified due to a violation of the rules when it was discovered, during post-race inspection, that his engine was set too far back.

 

 

  

N. C. R. A. Late Model Stock Car

Championship Feature Race 14 Cars – 25 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Started

  1

55

Chris Kratzer

Wichita, Kansas

  2

  2

92

Delbert Smith

Wichita, Kansas

  7

  3

7D

Dusty Leonard

Marysville, Kansas

  5

  4

60

Kip Hughes

Enid, Oklahoma

  4

  5

199

Brandon Givens

Hutchinson, Kansas

  6

  6

7c

Jimmy Seagraves

Wichita, Kansas

13

  7

L99

Loren Dauer

Lindsborg, Kansas

  8

  8

229

Damian Patocka

Enid, Oklahoma

  9

  9

104

Adam Popp

Haven, Kansas

10

10

B1

Dustin Bolster

Belle Plaine, Kansas

14

DNF

77

Jeremy Petty

Smolan, Kansas

11

DNF

03

Jeremy Bishop

Hutchinson, Kansas

12

DNF

D6

Rob Day

WaKeeney, Kansas

  3

DNF

92s

Dan Smith

Beloit, Kansas

  1

Dan Smith got a jump on pole sitter Kratzer at the start causing a false start.

Dan Smith then crashed into the wall in turn one.

Petty spun into a tire marking one of the corners.

Kratzer let each lap of this race.

 

 

 

N. C. R. A. Modified

C Feature Race – 13 Cars – 12 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Started

  1

91

Ross Shipman

Belle Plaine, Kansas

  1

  2

65

Tyler Davis

Hayesville, Kansas

  6

  3

11B

Bill Siemers

Mulvane, Kansas

  3

  4

M1

Cody Gearhart

Turpin, Oklahoma

  2

  5

25c

Johnny Cammon

Wichita, Kansas

  5

  6

K9

Kyler Kemp

Maize, Kansas

11

  7

23s

Heath Myers

Hoisington, Kansas

  4

  8

25x

Tommy Carter

Sedgwick, Kansas

  7

  9

23s

Heath Myers

Hoisington, Kansas

13

10

52c

Alex Cammon

Wichita, Kansas

  9

11

21B

Bryce Schniepp

Wichita, Kansas

12

12

3J

Jake Nightingale

Hutchinson, Kansas

  8

13

24

Corey Lagroon

Salina, Kansas

10

DNF

747c

Cuyler Calkin

Wichita, Kansas

DNS

DNF

134

Alan Blevins

Hutchinson, Kansas

DNS

  The cars driven by Bryce Schniepp and Jake Nightingale got together bring out the caution flag. 

 

 

  

N. C. R. A. Modified

B Feature Race 19 Cars – 20 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Started

  1

65

Tyler Davis

Haysville, Kansas

11

  2

29

Marlin Farr

Hutchinson, Kansas

  6

  3

01x

Beau Davis

Cheney, Kansas

  2

  4

1M

Cody Gearhart

Turpin, Oklahoma

13

  5

91

Ross Shipman

Belle Plaine, Kansas

10

  6

96JR

Joe Herring

Woodward, Oklahoma

  5

  7

5

Jason McGehee

Wichita, Kansas

  3

  8

69

Cecil Dymond

Goddard, Kansas

  9

  9

25c

Johnny Cammon

Wichita, Kansas

14

10

93B

Brandon Massey

Valley Center, Kansas

  8

11

52c

Alex Cammon

Wichita, Kansas

19

DNF

191

Travis Govern

Wichita, Kansas

  1

DNF

23s

Heath Myers

Hoisington, Kansas

16

DNF

25x

Tommy Carter

Sedgwick, Kansas

17

DNF

99T

T. J. Tolan

Wichita, Kansas

18

DNF

11B

Bill Siemers

Mulvane, Kansas

12

DNF

K9

Kyler Kemp

Maize, Kansas

15

DNF

0

Kyle Rohleder

WaKeeney, Kansas

  7

DNF

21c

Cody Schniepp

Wichita, Kansas

  4

DNF

5

Johnny Whitmore

Wichita, Kansas

DNS

The first yellow flag came out when Alex Cammon spun his car in turn four and Brandon Massey spun out between turns one and two.  Both cars were able to restart the race.

The second yellow flag came out for a wreck between turns three and four.

The red flag was displayed for a wreck involving Kyler Kemp and T. J. Nolan.

The third yellow flag was displayed due to a flat left front tire on Jason McGehee’s car.

Tommy Carter’s car dropped out of competition with damage to his right front suspension.

The fourth yellow flag came out when the cars of then leader, Travis Govern, and Heath Myers suffered blown engines.

The fifth yellow flag was displayed for debris on the racetrack.  Cody Gearhart also had his hood removed while the field was under this caution.

    

 

  

N. C. R. A. Modified

Championship Feature Race 21 Cars – 25 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Started

  1

02

Tanner Mullens

Wichita, Kansas

  2

  2

2

Cole Traugott

Woodward, Oklahoma

  5

  3

4A

Josh Lanterman

Derby, Kansas

  7

  4

25

Scott Green

Derby, Kansas

  9

  5

1

Kyle Schmidt

Fayetteville, Arkansas

  3

  6

52

Ryan McAninch

Hutchinson, Kansas

  4

  7

93B

Brandon Massey

Valley Center, Kansas

20

  8

91

Ross Shipman

Belle Plaine, Kansas

15

  9

96JR

Jon Herring

Woodward, Oklahoma

16

10

25c

Johnny Cammon

Wichita, Kansas

19

11

69

Cecil Dymond

Goddard, Kansas

18

12

15

Andy Wilkinson

York, Nebraska

  1

13

01x

Beau Davis

Cheney, Kansas

13

14

2KX

Darrick Klima

Belleville, Kansas

10

15

52c

Alex Cammon

Wichita, Kansas

21

16

42

Darren Moses

Valley Center, Kansas

  6

17

4

Dan Powers

Wichita, Kansas

  8

DNF

65

Tyler Davis

Haysville, Kansas

11

DNF

5

Jason McGehee

Wichita, Kansas

17

DNF

29

Marlin Farr

Hutchinson, Kansas

12

DNF

1M

Cody Gearhart

Turpin, Oklahoma

14

Schmidt’s car had the #10 on the doors but was officially scored in the races on this weekend as car #1.

The first yellow flag was displayed when Alex Cammon spun in turn two.

The red flag came out when Tyler Davis’ car caught fire in turn three.  When the race was restarted, Andy Wilkinson hit the wall between the first and second turns.

The next yellow flag came out for Dan Powers who was experiencing engine trouble, and the next yellow flag, after that, came out for Darren Moses.

 

Webmaster interview with Tanner Mullens

Webmaster:  What about the Hutchinson Nationals have made them special to you and your family?

Tanner:  Family tradition makes it what it is.

Webmaster:  What is different about the state fair racetrack from the others that you’ve raced on?

Tanner:  Everything seems to work out well there.  The soil is sandy and that seems to hurt others more than it hurts me.

Webmaster:  It appeared to me that you got out of shape in turn two on the first lap of the feature but the next two cars seemed to check up a little letting you get your car straightened out.  What happened?

Tanner:  I got hit in the left rear in the first turn and that caused me to get a little out of shape in turn two.  There were also some ruts up high in turn four that were causing me to slide around a little.

Webmaster:  I was surprised to see the other two cars checkup for you.  I don’t think they got another chance to pass you.  They might not have wanted to take a chance of spinning out in front of the field on the first lap of the feature though.

 Tanner:  Yeah.  When the green goes out, it is time to go for sure.

Webmaster:  Did the restarts bother you?

Tanner:  Restarts never really hurt me.  I didn’t want to get into lapped traffic though.

Webmaster:  Do you ever hear the word “Dynasty” at Hutchinson?

Tanner:  Dad does.

Webmaster:  Do you plan to run in other classes like your father and grandfather have?  Why or why not?

Tanner:  We raced sprints for a little while but modifieds are where we are.  I don’t plan to change anytime soon.

Webmaster:  Is the state fairgrounds, or 81 Speedway, your home racetrack?

Tanner:  I don’t have a home track.  I think you learn more racing on all sizes and shapes.

Buddy Mullens:  He is a traveler.  If there is a race, he goes to it.

 

 

 

Tanner Mullens after his Championship Feature Race victory at Hutchinson.

Darrin West photo

 

 

 

N. C. R. A. 360 Sprint Car

Championship Feature Race – 12 Cars – 25 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Started

  1

1J

Danny Jennings

Norman, Oklahoma

  1

  2

10c

Jeremy Campbell

Wichita, Kansas

  4

  3

81

Jon Freeman

Salina, Kansas

  2

  4

91

Jeff Stasa

Wichita, Kansas

  3

  5

1x

Don Droud, Jr.

Lincoln, Nebraska

  8

  6

88

Craig Dollansky

Elk River, Minnesota

13

  7

7

Michelle Decker

Guthrie, Oklahoma

10

  8

20G

Jake Greider

Haysville, Kansas

11

  9

26M

Fred Mattox

Drumright, Oklahoma

  7

10

98

J. D. Johnson

Wichita, Kansas

  6

11

85

Forrest Sutherland

Cherryvale, Kansas

  9

12

72

Ray Seeman

Jetmore, Kansas

  5

DNF

50

Randy Woodside

Wichita, Kansas

DNS

About his victory, after the race, Danny Jennings said, ““This may just be the biggest victory of my career,” said Jennings. “This has been a tough year for me and my family as my grandpa (Ernest) had a stroke back in February and hasn’t been at the track. He is my mentor, best friend and super hero who had always been with me at the track. We realized this was the 61st running of Hutch and “Pops” always run #61 and I was determined to win this for him.”

This race paid $4,000 for first place.

  

 

 

#1J Danny Jennings

Gary Corneilson photo

 

 

 

Left to right:  Shane Carson, Danny Jennings, Scott Stiles and an unidentified trophy girl after Jennings’ victory in the N.C.R.A. 360 Sprint Car feature race

Gary Corneilson photo

 

 

 

 Members of the David Grace Motorsports and Jennings Family Racing Team that have been identified so far:

Ricky Jennings at far left, David Grace wearing the orange t-shirt in the middle and Danny Jennings third from the right

Gary Corneilson photo

 

 

 

 

* Modifieds conforming to 81 Speedway’s AAA modified class, rookie modified class and I. M. C. A.’s modified class all competed as one class in these modified races.

 

 

 

 

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