Month: May 2016

Rookie William Byron wins truck race at Kansas Speedway

In just his fifth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, 18-year-old William Byron claimed his first career victory with a win in the Toyota Tundra 250 Friday night at Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.

Byron won the race when the No. 1 and No. 2 leaders, Johnny Sauter and Ben Rhodes, made contact on the final lap, allowing Byron to advance to the No. 1 spot.

“It was crazy the last couple restarts,” Byron said. “I had the lead on the green flag run and I was praying for no cautions. But you have to earn it.”

Byron, who graduates high school in Charlotte, N.C., on May 27, claimed his second top-10 finish of 2016.

“This is a dream come true. I was 6 years old watching truck races and I didn’t start racing until I was 14,” Byron said. “To be in a Toyota Tundra [and win] like this is amazing.”
Team owner Kyle Busch was happy to see Byron get his first win.

“It’s pretty special to have William Byron win this early in his career,” Busch said.

Kansas City, Kan., driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary of NASCAR driving this year, finished 24th in the truck race.

Matt Crafton, who is a two-time Truck Series winner at Kansas Speedway (2013, 2015), posted his eighth top-10 finish in his 16 career races at Kansas Speedway.

Timothy Peters, who finished eighth in tonight’s Toyota Tundra 250, leads the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series by eight points over Daniel Hemric. Hemric finished third in the Toyota Tundra 250 while posting his second career top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway. Byron is in seventh place, trailing Peters by 16 points.

Emporia, Kan.-native Clint Bowyer finished fifth in the Toyota Tundra 250, his first Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway since 2011, which he won.

In NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, Martin Truex Jr. captured the pole for Saturday’s Go Bowling 400, his eighth career pole and first since April 2012 at Texas.

Tickets for Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 are available at the Kansas Speedway ticket office from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday and then at Kansas Speedway’s Gate B starting at noon.

Parking is free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.

Fans can follow Kansas Speedway on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/kansasspeedway or follow on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@kansasspeedway).

Kansas City, Kan., driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary of NASCAR driving this year, waved to fans. (Fan photo)
Kansas City, Kan., driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary of NASCAR driving this year, waved to fans. (Fan photo)

Scenes from Friday night's NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)
Scenes from Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)

Scenes from Friday night's NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)
Scenes from Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)

Scenes from Friday night's NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)
Scenes from Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)

Scenes from Friday night's NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)
Scenes from Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)

Scenes from Friday night's NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)
Scenes from Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (Fan photo)

Jennifer Jo Cobb, a race car driver from Kansas City, Kan., in pre-race activities Friday night at Kansas Speedway. (Fan photo)
Jennifer Jo Cobb, a race car driver from Kansas City, Kan., in pre-race activities Friday night at Kansas Speedway. (Fan photo)

Saturday events

Shepherd’s Center to hold biscuits and gravy fundraiser May 7
The Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City, Kan., will hold a biscuits and gravy fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at the Kansas City Kansas Community College Conference Center near the duck pond, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The cost of breakfast will be $8 and includes two biscuits with gravy, hash browns, sausage, and choice of juice or coffee. For more information, see www.downtownkck.org/event/shepherds-center-biscuits-gravy-fundraiser/.

Polski Day parade, celebration planned
Polski Day, a benefit for All Saints parish, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7. The event includes a parade beginning at 11 a.m. at 14th and Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kan. A Polka Mass will be held at 4 p.m. May 7 at All Saints Catholic Church, 8th and Vermont, Kansas City, Kan. At the festival, there will be polka dancing and Polish food. More details are at www.polskiday.com and at https://wyandotteonline.com/preparations-underway-for-32nd-annual-polski-day-may-7-in-kck/.

Marble Day, Tractor Cruise planned in Bonner Springs
The annual event starts with a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Victory Assembly of God, 121 Allcutt, Bonner Springs. Then the Tractor Cruise gets underway, starting at 8:45 a.m. at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, 126th and State. The Wacky Parade then starts at 9:30 a.m. at the top of Oak Street in Bonner Springs and the tractors will join in. After the parade, opening ceremonies will be held at 10:15 a.m. at Centennial Park in Bonner Springs. Many of the day’s activities will be at Centennial Park. From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be marble activities and old-fashioned games at the Centennial Park. A marble tournament begins at the park at 10:30 a.m. at a permanent marble ring located there. At 10:30 a.m., a bike rodeo will be held at Centennial Park. From 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. will be a puppet show at Oak and 2nd. From 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. will be ventriloquism and magic show. The Running of the Pinkys will take place at noon. At 12:30 p.m. will be an egg toss extravaganza on Oak Street. At 12:45 p.m., winners will be announced. At 1 p.m., a cakewalk is scheduled, but this year, the prizes may be muffins instead of cake. A repeat of the puppet show will be from 1 to 1:45 p.m., and the ventriloquism and magic show will be repeated from 1:15 to 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/marble-day-tractor-cruise-planned-saturday-in-bonner-springs/.

Piper craft show planned
A craft show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Piper High School, 4400 N. 107th St., Kansas City, Kan., to benefit the robotics team. Crafts from throughout the region will be on display. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chili and desserts will be for sale. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/Pipercraftshow.


Go Bowling 400 race to be tonight at Kansas Speedway
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will be tonight at the Kansas Speedway near I-70 and I-435 in Kansas City, Kan. Martin Truex Jr. captured the pole for the Go Bowling 400, his eighth career pole and first since April 2012 at Texas. The race begins around 6:47 p.m. A pre-race concert by Eddie Money will be about 5 p.m. Tickets for Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 are available at the Kansas Speedway ticket office from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday and then at Kansas Speedway’s Gate B starting at noon.