By the URSS

OBERLIN — After a week off, the United Rebel Sprint Series returns to action Saturday night at the Great American Dirt Track at Jetmore Motorplex. Racing action is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.On Sunday night, the Rebels head to Beaver County Raceway in Beaver, Okla., for a 7 p.m. battle.

Saturday's race in Jetmore will be the fourth time this season the Rebels have competed on the 3/8th-mile dirt oval. Those four races have resulted in four different winners, including Jason Martin, Zach Blurton, Patrick Bourke and Ray Seemann.The track has seen some changes this season, with a wider racing surface from top to bottom. But the wider track also makes the bottom line the quickest way around the track.“They widened the heck out of it,” said Keefe Hemel, who finished seventh at the June 25th race in Jetmore. “Other than the last time there, the people who tried the outside line weren't very fast. It takes so much longer to get around there.”

The URSS has seen great car counts this year in Jetmore, and series founder Rick Salem is expecting another good turnout this weekend.

“We should be good on cars,” he said. “Everybody was off all week, and hopefully they'll be ready. I think there's even a couple Colorado guys coming out for the weekend.”

This year's races at Jetmore have produced side-by-side action for many of the 25 laps in each feature. And many of those battles have taken place throughout the field, not just up front.With such intense action, getting through the heat races and a quality starting spot for the A-main has proven crucial.

“You just want to get into the A,” Hemel said. “You don't want to have to run the B if you don't have to.”Hemel has had an up-and-down history at Jetmore. It's the track where he got his first victory, but it's also a place he has struggled at times recently.“It's kind of a love-hate track for me,” he said.But he also admits a stronger run June 25 might have helped him figure a few things out, including driving harder into the corners.“I told (Steve) Hilker once I took the skirt off, I was better,” he joked. “ … I was tippy-toeing it and not driving it hard in every time.”

Beaver has produced two different winners in two races this year, including Luke Cranston and Martin. It is only the third race in Beaver in URSS history.Most the drivers really like that track and we look forward to a great race this Sunday, said Salem. The promoter has learned a lot about prepping the race track since we were there last and I think it is going to make for the best racing we have had in Beaver.

Brian Herbert leads the national points race with 1,804 points in 13 races. Blurton is second with 1,588 points in 12 races, followed by Mike Woodruff (1,570 in 12) and Kaden Taylor (1,498 in 12).Seemann leads the Kansas Region with 1,294 points in 10 races. Herbert is second with 1,286 points in 12 races, while Josh Fairbank is third with 1,262 points in 10 races.

For more information about the United Rebel Sprint Series, contact Rick Salem at (785) 475-7010 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the URSS online at www.unitedrebelsprintseries.com.