BELLEVILLE, Kansas (July 5, 2021) – The Drive to Zero POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series took to action atop the famed ½-mile of Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kansas on Independence Day. Twenty-two cars were in attendance for Sunday’s event, but it was Lincoln, Nebraska’s Jason Martin taking home the $1,000 pay day. [Read More]
by John Rittenoure – TULSA, Okla. (June 7, 2021) – Late model stock cars will converge on the famed Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kansas on Saturday for the Kansas-Sooner Klash.
It will be the first visit to the 23-degree banked Belleville half-mile for the Complete Well Testing Sooner Late Model Series……
The High Banks Hall of Fame & National Midget Auto Racing Museum is proud to announce our 2021 class that will be inducted on Thursday, August 5th, 2021.
Joining this prestigious group will also be the 2020 High Banks HOF Class whose original ceremony was postponed from last year due to health concerns with Covid 19.
The 2021 Class of 5 will include midget racing greats Keith Rauch….[Read More]
Lonnie Wheatley, BELLEVILLE, Kan. (August 2, 2020) – Adam Trimble cashed in to the tune of $7,000 by winning Sunday afternoon’s Third Annual Belleville 305 Sprint Car Nationals 20-lap finale atop the ½-mile Belleville High Banks clay oval.
Lonnie Wheatley, BELLEVILLE, Kan. (August 1, 2020) – Heavy rain forced the postponement of Saturday’s scheduled Third Annual Belleville High Banks 305 Sprint Car Nationals finale to Sunday afternoon.
The $7,000-to-win tilt will not take place on Sunday, August 2, with hot laps at 1:00 p.m. and then racing to follow at 2:00 p.m.
Rain first hit the track on Saturday prior to hot laps. Track crews worked tirelessly over the next three hours to get the surface back into racing condition only to have one more system hit the speedway as the second of five hot lap groups was taking to the track soon after 9:00 p.m.
Zach Blurton bested a field of 45 in Friday night’s preliminary event with J.D. Johnson and Stu Snyder joining him on the podium.
Sunday’s card will include a full slate of heat races, qualifying races and feature events.
Lonnie Wheatley, BELLEVILLE, Kan. (July 31, 2020) – Zach Blurton kicked off the Third Annual Belleville 305 Sprint Car Nationals by wiring the field in Friday night’s 20-lap preliminary feature to take the $2,500 winner’s share atop the ½-mile Belleville High Banks clay oval.
Blurton gunned into the lead from the third starting position in the opening pair of corners and then paced the field throughout aboard the J&K Trucking No. 11 Maxim Sprint Car.
RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE by Ray Cunningham (Belleville, KS) –The Republic County Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas, will once again become the epicenter of 305 Winged Sprint Car Racing this Friday July 31st, and this Saturday, August 1st, at the historic High Banks Half-Mile located in North Central Kansas.
The Brinks Truck will arrive with $65,000 dollars in prize money upfront for both nights total. And another possible two grand dished out if Colorado’s Jake Bubak, the 2018-19 Champ can be defeated both nights for the win.
That means, boys and girls, the winner on Friday could take $3,500, with the $1,000 bonus if they beat Jake “Big Stakes” Bubak on Friday, and $8,000 Saturday night by defeating the Arvada racer and winning the title of Belleville 305 Nationals Champ for 2020.
But, that might be easier said than done as Bubak driving the Coyote Candle Maxim #74B has won all four races the first two years of the Nationals.
Included in those totals were two prelim wins that paid $2,500 each and two 305 National wins collecting $7,000 each time for a payout of $19,000 the last two years total at Belleville for the Colorado Gasman.
For the 3rd Annual 305 Nationals, the local Fair Board and Supporters as well as URSS Headman Rick Salem and Dodge City Racing Director Tommie Estes Jr. will all be on board to make this racing weekend one to remember once again while rolling out the Red Carpet for the best drivers in 305 Winged Sprint Cars in 2020.
In 2018, the first annual 305 Nationals took place after the Belleville Midget Nationals were concluded the previous year after a 40 season run. Everyone wondered at that time what was in store for this historic half-mile that had seen the likes of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson, among others grace and race at this historic speed plant during the midgets reign, while bringing big crowds, big fields, and big money to this sleepy little Kansas town.
Well, all of that has continued and more since the changeover in 2018. Racing with the United Rebel Series, ran by Salem, and with the IMCA RACEsaver 305 Rules, the car counts are bigger, the purse is the richest in 305 Sprint Car Racing, and the crowds have been phenomenal.
In 2020, expect more of the same as around 60 305 Winged Sprint Cars have already entered this prestigious event, with many top drivers on that entry list, and a few others that have also committed to running to make this year’s event on paper the best one yet.
Besides Bubak, there are many contenders to his throne that will be in attendance. Among those are URSS point leader Ty Williams, who will be teaming up at Belleville with 360 Winged Sprint Car Star Matt Covington. 2nd in points Goddard hot shoe J.D. Johnson, a favorite and multiple time winner at Belleville. And, third place in URSS points Kyler Johnson of Quinter, whose father C.J., and grandfather Jon Johnson, all starred at Belleville over the years in open wheel racing hailing from Western Kansas.
Another trio of Stars to battle at Belleville includes Tyler Drueke of Eagle, NE, Zach Blurton of Quinter, KS and Stu Snyder of Lincoln, NE. All have been hot in 305 action in 2020 and have won multiple features while running in the top three in IMCA RACEsaver National points. Last year, Drueke finished second at Belleville to Bubak as well in his #12 Winged Sprint Car.
One of the greatest rivalries over the last few years in 305 racing has been between Bubak and Jason Martin, and that will continue once again at the High Banks. The Kansan, now residing in Nebraska, finished second to Bubak in 2018 and third in 2019 at the Belleville 305 Nationals. A month later, Martin would beat his longtime Nemesis Bubak by winning the 305 Nationals at Eagle, Nebraska, Jason’s biggest win in 2019 and another epic storyline to this rivalry.
But. as the saying goes, “Wait, There’s More”. Top stars entering for the first time at the 305 Nationals include John Carney, racing the Lubbers Wreckers 11x, and Nebraska’s Jack Dover, two of the most decorated drivers in winged sprint car racing over the last several years.
And Luke Cranston, the winningest driver In 305 competition at Belleville over the years, as well as stalwarts that include Adam Gullion, Trevor Grossenbacher, Jeff Stasa, Mike Woodruff, Ray Seemann, Cody Ledger, Jake Martens, Todd Plemons, Brett Becker, Shayle Bade, Jordan and Tyler Knight, Chad Salem, Tyler Velasquez, and fresh off a win last week at the Bull Ring Nationals, Steven Richardson of Hutchinson, among others.
Come to Belleville, Kansas this Friday and Saturday for the 3rd Annual 305 Nationals, a signature event on the Kansas Prairie not to be missed.
Photo Credit: Darrin McKim
