Thoughts on the 2023 IMCA Racesaver Sprint Car Nationals

 

This year’s IMCA Racesaver Sprint Car Nationals was a great 4-day weekend! Mother Nature didn’t rain on our parade, so that was different from a lot of the past Nationals. She did, however, give us an abundance of sun and heat; making a lot of work for the track prep crew. There weren’t a lot of serious accidents, and although numerous cars were damaged over the weekend, some very badly, none of the drivers were severely injured.

After Thursday’s practice night, we got 3 days of fantastic racing action, culminating in the $3000 to win Big Dance on Sunday evening.

Now, for my take on the weekend. It’s widely known that I love dirt track racing, no matter the class. When you were practically raised at a dirt track, attending your first race at 1 month old at the long gone Lincoln Speedway at Capitol Beach, that love goes awfully deep. I wish I were able to attend more races at more tracks around the country. Sadly, finances won’t allow for that right now. Luckily, I have my latest home track, Eagle Raceway just a few miles from my house. Also, I am allowed to do my small part for the track, drivers and fans by writing up the story of each night’s events.

I also write articles/interviews for Dirt Empire Magazine. Over the past 70 years I have had the good fortune to meet so many people that are now part of my racing family. So many great people, all of them interesting in their own right. I could spend the rest of my life writing about all of them, and I wish that was possible. I choose to dedicate myself to letting the lesser known racers and crew members’ stories be told; something I’m happy and proud to do. I just sent in an article about a local racer in fact. Now, I need to get back to working on one that I started just prior to my wife Linda’s passing nearly 2 years ago. That really took away almost all of my ambitions for anything, but I’m back in the saddle again. I have another one after that that I also started a couple of years ago and following that, I plan to do one on a visiting racer that I became friendly with at the Nationals. My plate is full, but what else is there to do? Especially now that the season is nearly at an end.

As for the Nationals, what a fantabulous event!!! Each and every year, throngs of race teams invade America’s Home Track to test their mettle against the best of the best Racesaver drivers in the world. Some of them won’t even make the Sunday A Main, but still they are awarded with the experience of trying for the championship belt and the top prize. As the saying goes, ‘In the battle, the glory’. The fans get to witness their favorite drivers battle it out on the high banks; hoping that one of them can come out on top.

Personally, I love every single, solitary moment of the 4 day extravaganza. I really enjoy the racing during the regular season, but the Nationals are just over the top!! I was thrilled at times, and at other times shocked and angry. I’ve grown to know the local racers, and am fond of them all; but seeing Tyler Drueke’s race go out the window due to no fault of his own truly got to me. I’ve become very proud of Tyler, and I admire his perseverance and overall demeanor. I stopped by his pit after the race and he was his usual calm, even keeled self. You could tell that it hurt, but only if you knew him well. I told him what great runs he had, both before and after the wreck. His reply? ‘The stats will only show that I went from fourth back to sixth’. He is currently leading both National and State points contest and has already won the track title at Eagle Raceway, so those first 2 contests were surely on his mind. All I can say is ‘This young man is what a racer should be’. What a battle it would have been between he and Huish! Sadly, that competition will have to wait for another day, another time. Our local racers ably defended their home turf. 7 of the top 10 in the Big Dance were locals with Stu Snyder second, Jason Danley fourth, Mike Boston fifth, Tyler Drueke 6^th, Jay Russell 7^th and Trevor Grossenbacher 10^th. Way to go guys!!!

Congratulations to all 87 teams and drivers who came from all over the country to participate. Hopefully, you can and will all return next year. Will we have a repeat winner, or will a first timer put their name in the record books? Only time will tell, so in the mean time get out there and support your local dirt track. Enjoy yourself and be sure to mark your calendars and make your plans to be at Eagle Raceway during Labor Day 2024.

The last 48 years

 It's been over 3 years sinced I put up blog post, and I feel terrible about that. So, here goes.

As most of you know, I lost the love of my life on November 6,2021.After being together for over 46 years, God decided that he needed another angel.I can tell you this without fear of contradiction that he could not possibly have picked a better person that her. She loved everyone she ever me, and everyone she ever met loved her.

The happiest day of my wife was when she agreed to be my wife. She may have been a little punchy at the  time because she had worked a double shift before I picked her up. I drove to Little Bo's parking lot where we always went to talk. She kept falling asleep, so I did the only thing I could think of to wave her up; I proposed!!! That did in fact wake her up, followed by a smiling, crying YES!!!

We married in June of 1975 (second best day of my life). A year and four months later came the third best day of my life when our oldest son was born.

We couldn't afford a sitter, so she stayed home with him. Raising him and teaching him while I worked. December of 1979 marked the fourth best day of my life when our youngest son came into the world. Sh\e continued to stay home with the 2 boys until they both were in school. She then went to work but all too soon she began suffering from bipolar syndriome. 

From then until her passing she ended up aquiring one new health problem after another. Finally she succumbed and flew up to be cradled in the Lord"s arms where she no longer was in pain and free of all ailments.

That was just over 21 months ago and I still have times when I can't believe she's gone. I fell apart some, retreating into my house and just holing up and shutting ouit the world. I didn't want to go anywhere, do anything, or even see anyone. I actually told Roger Hadan that I wasn't going to come back to work at Eagle Raceway. Luckily friends knew me better than I knew myself and changed my mind for me. I couldn't stand to be away from my happy place; the race track. I couldn't stand to be away from my racing family. I loved what I did at the track and always thought I was darned good at it.

Unfortunately I haven't as of yet gone back to writing magazine articles, but I believe I will if I'm still wanted there.

That's always something that bothers me; not knowing whether or not what I wrtote was any good. My stories of the night's racing at Eagle gets posted on both the track's website and Facebook page. Is it good? Is it just okay? Or is it just crap?? Never getting ny feedback makes me wonder. Everyone needs to be appreciated, right?

There are just 8 nights of racing left this season, and that saddens me. Hovever, I am going to do my darndrest to get back to being published nationally to tide me over until next season's racing season.

Eagle Raceway 6/20/20

America Strong night, presented by Duros Dent Works and the Nebraska Lottery Saturday at Eagle Raceway saw what anybody would consider a fantastic night. The temperature was great, the racing was fantastic and there is nothing more that you could ask for.


The only major incident in the preliminary events came in heat 3 for the Duros Dent Works Racesaver IMCA Sprints when Gunnar Pike made contact with another racer and went for a wild ride that ended up with him on the grass above turns 1 and 2. He was not seriously hurt, but his car was too damaged to finish the night.


Ryan Arbogast’s 2, the 44D of Derek Hall, Adam Vrbka in the 7V and Shawn Harker led the first laps of the Coors Light IMCA Sportmod A Main. Harker moved to third on lap 3. He advanced to second 2 laps later, but Bobby Draper spun the 62 in turn 1 for a caution. Hall grabbed the lead 2 laps after the restart. The next time around Hall grabbed the lead with Harker taking the second spot. Harker took the lead the lap after that with Arbogast moving to second. Vrbka again moved to fourth 2 laps later but lost the spot to Matt Andrews passed him 2 circuits later to put the 22 in fourth. Andrews advanced to third the next time around. There were 4 laps remaining when Alex Deeke looped the #35 in turns 1 & 2. Andrews moved to third on the restart as Tyler Nerud put the 5TN into fourth. The top 4 at the finish were Harker, Andrews, Arbogast and Nerud.


The first 4 on lap 1 of the A Feature for the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks were Khrysta Stransky’s 39, the 12 of Michael Wade, Charlie Bartels in the 9R and Nick Beckman’s 22. Beckman spun on the back stretch on lap 2 collecting the 3N of Neil Pella, Roy Armstrong’s 6R and the 3 of Taylor Huss. That made the top 4 Stransky, Bartels, Tim LaPointe in the 18 and the 41 of Adam Wasserman. Bartels grabbed the lead on the restart and Albert Kiihne put the 85 into fourth the next time around. Brooke Fluckiger went for a wild spin on the back stretch after another circuit and had to be towed to the pits. Kiihne jumped up to second on the restart with Jeff Ware putting the 83 into fourth. Kiihne and Ware both advanced another spot the next lap with Wasserman again moving to fourth. Ware took the lead with 11 laps left. Wasserman advanced to third 2 laps later. A debris caution with 3 to go slowed the action. There were just 3 circuits remaining when John Cain moved to fourth. He advanced to third on the final lap with Brint Lemke cracking the top four in his 26L. The top 4 were Ware, Kiihne, Cain and Lemke.


The Nebraska Lottery IMCA Modified feature’s first circuit saw Dylan Sillman’s 35D, the 8A of Dustin Andersen, Josh Blumer’s 21 and the 27 of Clint Homan the first 4 back to the flag stand. Andersen nosed past Sillman on the back stretch on lap 3 but fell back to second before completing the lap. Andersen again moved to first 2 laps later. The next circuit saw a debris caution. Justin Wulf moved to fourth on the restart. Homan again moved to fourth 3 circuits later. Sillman got ahead of Andersen 2 laps later but could not hold onto the spot as Homan moved to third. Blumer moved to third with 4 to go as Shane Hiatt put the 21H into fourth. Bob Zoubek looped the 5S in turn 2 with 1 to go. The green/white/checkered saw no changes in the top 4 with Andersen winning, Sillman second, Blumer third and Hiatt fourth.


Thomas Powell in the 18R, Josh Young in the 13J, Brayden Weller’s 14W and the 3 of Tim Horsham were the top 4 after 1 lap of the ATV Motorsports IMCA Sport Compact A Main. Drake Bohlmeyer passed Horsham on lap 3 to put the 24 into fourth. Dillon Richards passed Bohlmeyer the next time around to put the 19 into fourth and moved to third the next circuit. Richards took over the second spot with 7 to go. Debris from the 19X of Noah Boller brought out the caution the next lap. Richards took over the lead on the restart. Young moved to second the next time around with Bohlmeyer moving to third after another lap. The final top 4 were Richards, Young, Bohlmeyer and Powell.


The Duros Dent Works Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car finale saw Alex Salzman loop the 1A, collecting Jason Danley’s 4X and the 69 of Mike Moore. Moore went to the pits on the hook but Danley rejoined the race. The complete restart saw Tim Hilfiker’s 20 in the lead with Josh Riggins’ 14J, the 12K of Troy Sanford and Gene Ackland’s 14G rounding out the top 4. Ackland moved to third the next lap with Jay Russell putting the 76 into fourth. 2 circuits later Riggins snagged the lead with Tyler Drueke jumping up to third and Hilfiker falling to fourth. Mike Boston pushed his 51 past Hilfiker after another circuit for fourth. Boston advanced another spot to third 3 laps later. Trevor Grossenbacher put the 95 into fourth with 12 to go. Drueke snared the lead 2 laps later. Boston moved up to second with 6 left. Grossenbacher moved to third 2 laps later. The final change in the top 4 came with 3 to go as Joey Danley put the 14 into fourth. Drueke came home first, Boston second, Grossenbacher third and Danley fourth.


Next weekend is Junior Fan Club Salute, presented by Colby Ridge. All 5 classes will be in action including the Duros Dent Works Racesaver IMCA Sprints, the Nebraska Lottery IMCA Modifieds, Coors Light IMCA Sportmods, Valentino’s IMCA  Hobby Stocks and ATV Motorsports IMCA Sport Compacts.


Front gates open at 5:15, hot laps are at 5:30 and racing begins at 6:30.


The pit gates open at 4:00.


RESULTS:

IMCA Hobby Stock A-Feature 1. Jeff Ware Columbus, Ne. 2. Albert Kiihne Lincoln, Ne. 3. John Cain Homer, Ne. 4. Brint Lemke Lincoln, Ne. 5. Adam Wasserman Fairbury, Ne. 6. Charlie Bartels Lincoln, Ne. 7. Michael Hansen Weeping Water, Ne. 8. Roy Armstrong Beatrice, Ne. 9. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne. 10. Tim Lapointe Lincoln, Ne. 11. Don Hall Jr Lincoln, Ne. 12. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 13. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne. 14. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 15. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne. 16. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 17. Michael Wade Dorchester, Ne. 18. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 19. Brooke Fluckiger Columbus, Ne. 20. Taylor Huss Fairbury, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock B-Feature 1. Brooke Fluckiger Columbus, Ne. 2. Taylor Huss Fairbury, Ne. 3. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 4. Michael Hansen Weeping Water, Ne. 5. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 6. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 7. Cole Krichau Lincoln, Ne. 8. Hunter Wergin Milford, Ne. 9. Jeff Oehm(r) Eagle, Ne. 10. Jared Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 11. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Scott Santee Omaha, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 1 1. Brint Lemke Lincoln, Ne. 2. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 3. Jeff Ware Columbus, Ne. 4. Tim Lapointe Lincoln, Ne. 5. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 6. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 7. Jeff Oehm(r) Eagle, Ne. 8. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 9. Scott Santee Omaha, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 2 1. Charlie Bartels Lincoln, Ne. 2. Michael Wade Dorchester, Ne. 3. Don Hall Jr Lincoln, Ne. 4. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne. 5. John Cain Homer, Ne. 6. Brooke Fluckiger Columbus, Ne. 7. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 8. Taylor Huss Fairbury, Ne. 9. Cole Krichau Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 3 1. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne. 2. Roy Armstrong Beatrice, Ne. 3. Albert Kiihne Lincoln, Ne. 4. Adam Wasserman Fairbury, Ne. 5. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne. 6. Hunter Wergin Milford, Ne. 7. Jared Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 8. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 9. Michael Hansen Weeping Water, Ne.

IMCA Modified A-Feature 1. Dustin Andersen Omaha, Ne. 2. Dylan Sillman(r) Alvo, Ne. 3. Josh Blumer Marysville, Ne. 4. Shane Hiatt Rising City, Ne. 5. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 6. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. 7. Jared Hoefelman Humphrey, Ne. 8. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 9. Mike Densberger Lincoln, Ne. 10. Justin Wulf Arlington, Ne. 11. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 12. Johnny Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 13. Jaxon Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 14. Justin Gregg 15. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 16. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 17. Bob Zoubek Dorchester, Ne. 18. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 19. Austin Svoboda David City, Ne. 20. Brandon Spanjer Crete, Ne.

IMCA Modified B-Feature 1. Jaxon Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 2. Jared Hoefelman Humphrey, Ne. 3. Justin Gregg 4. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 5. Mike Lineberry Omaha, Ne. 6. Josh Kennell(r) Hickman, Ne. 7. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 8. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. 9. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne. 10. Brandon Verbeek Hickman, Ne. 11. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. 12. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Modified C-Feature 1. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 2. Brandon Verbeek Hickman, Ne. 3. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne. 4. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne. 5. Andrew Bowman Lincoln, Ne. 6. Ryan Sample(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Nick Frey(r) Fremont, Ne. 8. Kyle Owen(r) Nebraska City, Ne. 9. Travis Patterson(r) Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 1 1. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 2. Josh Blumer Marysville, Ne. 3. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 4. Bob Zoubek Dorchester, Ne. 5. Jaxon Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 6. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. 7. Andrew Bowman Lincoln, Ne. 8. Ryan Sample(r) Lincoln, Ne. 9. Kyle Owen(r) Nebraska City, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 2 1. Dustin Andersen Omaha, Ne. 2. Shane Hiatt Rising City, Ne. 3. Johnny Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 4. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 5. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 6. Josh Kennell(r) Hickman, Ne. 7. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne. 8. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 3 1. Brandon Spanjer Crete, Ne. 2. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. 3. Mike Densberger Lincoln, Ne. 4. Austin Svoboda David City, Ne. 5. Justin Gregg 6. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. 7. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 8. Travis Patterson(r) Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 4 1. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 2. Dylan Sillman(r) Alvo, Ne. 3. Justin Wulf Arlington, Ne. 4. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 5. Jared Hoefelman Humphrey, Ne. 6. Mike Lineberry Omaha, Ne. 7. Brandon Verbeek Hickman, Ne. 8. Nick Frey(r) Fremont, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact A-Feature 1. Dillon Richards Beatrice, Ne. 2. Josh Young Beatrice, Ne. 3. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 4. Thomas Powell Adams, Ne. 5. Rj Maas Wilber, Ne. 6. Tim Horsham Raymond, Ne. 7. Devin Bruce Bennet, Ne. 8. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. 9. Noah Boller Beatrice, Ne. 10. Ray Harrington Lincoln, Ne. 11. Steve Phillips(r) Lincoln, Ne. 12. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne. 13. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia. 14. Leah Penney(r) Hickman, Ne. 15. Brayden Weller Palmer, Ne. 16. Kasha Hall Lincoln, Ne. 17. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 18. Tyler Masek Raymond, Ne. DNS. Jacob Schwab Cordova, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact Heat 1 1. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 2. Tim Horsham Raymond, Ne. 3. Noah Boller Beatrice, Ne. 4. Steve Phillips(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Kasha Hall Lincoln, Ne. 6. Leah Penney(r) Hickman, Ne. DNS. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia.

IMCA Sport Compact Heat 2 1. Rj Maas Wilber, Ne. 2. Thomas Powell Adams, Ne. 3. Tyler Masek Raymond, Ne. 4. Brayden Weller Palmer, Ne. 5. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. DNS. Jacob Schwab Cordova, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact Heat 3 1. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 2. Dillon Richards Beatrice, Ne. 3. Devin Bruce Bennet, Ne. 4. Josh Young Beatrice, Ne. 5. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne. 6. Ray Harrington Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA SportMod A-Feature 1. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 2. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 3. Ryan Arbogast Goeher, Ne. 4. Tyler Nerud Dorchester, Ne. 5. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 6. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 7. Lee Horky Fairbury, Ne. 8. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 9. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 10. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne. 11. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 12. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 13. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 14. Michael Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 15. Alex Deeke Waverly, Ne. 16. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 17. Ahnna Schouten Omaha, Ne. 18. Bobby Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 19. Tracy Babcock Papillion, Ne. 20. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne.

IMCA SportMod B-Feature 1. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 2. Tyler Nerud Dorchester, Ne. 3. Ahnna Schouten Omaha, Ne. 4. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 5. Bobby Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 6. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 7. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne. 8. K.c. Mullin 9. Noah Williams(r) Ashland, Ne. 10. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 11. Daniel Morris Bellevue, Ne. 12. Melissa Latture Omaha, Ne.

IMCA SportMod C-Feature 1. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne. 2. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 3. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 4. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 5. Steffen Oaks(r) Lincoln, Ne. 6. David Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 7. Shawn Pospisil(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 9. Dana Deeke Waverly, Ne. 10. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. DNS. Shawn Hein(r) Beatrice, Ne.

IMCA SportMod D-Feature 1. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne. 2. David Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 3. McLain Reed(r) Lincoln, Ne. 4. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 5. Lane Malchow DNS. John Allensworth Sr.(r) Omaha, Ne. DNS. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 1 1. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 2. Michael Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 3. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 4. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 5. Melissa Latture Omaha, Ne. 6. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 7. Shawn Hein(r) Beatrice, Ne. 8. John Allensworth Sr.(r) Omaha, Ne. 9. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 2 1. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne. 2. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 3. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 4. Tyler Nerud Dorchester, Ne. 5. Ahnna Schouten Omaha, Ne. 6. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 7. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne. 8. Lane Malchow 9. David Sherwood Beatrice, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 3 1. Ryan Arbogast Goeher, Ne. 2. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 3. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 4. Bobby Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 5. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 6. Steffen Oaks(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Dana Deeke Waverly, Ne. 8. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 4 1. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 2. Tracy Babcock Papillion, Ne. 3. Alex Deeke Waverly, Ne. 4. Noah Williams(r) Ashland, Ne. 5. Daniel Morris Bellevue, Ne. 6. Shawn Pospisil(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 8. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 5 1. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 2. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 3. Lee Horky Fairbury, Ne. 4. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 5. K.c. Mullin 6. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 7. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 8. McLain Reed(r) Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Sprint A-Feature 1. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 2. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 3. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 4. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 5. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 6. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 8. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 9. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 10. Shayle Helget Lincoln, Ne. 11. Jay Russell Elmwood, Ks. 12. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 13. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 14. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 15. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 16. Troy Sanford(r) Lincoln, Ne. 17. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 18. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 19. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 20. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia.

IMCA Sprint B-Feature 1. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 2. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 3. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 4. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 5. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 6. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 7. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 8. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 9. Rich Cerveny(r) Omaha, Ne. 10. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. 11. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. DNS. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. DNS. Bobby Becker Denton, Ne. DNS. Gunnar Pike(r) South Bend, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 1 1. Troy Sanford(r) Lincoln, Ne. 2. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 3. Jay Russell Elmwood, Ks. 4. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 5. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 6. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 7. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 8. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 2 1. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 2. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 3. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 4. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 5. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 6. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 7. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne. 8. Bobby Becker Denton, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 3 1. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 2. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 3. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 4. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 5. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 6. Rich Cerveny(r) Omaha, Ne. 7. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. 8. Gunnar Pike(r) South Bend, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 4 1. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 2. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 3. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 4. Shayle Helget Lincoln, Ne. 5. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 6. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 7. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne.

Eagle Raceway 6/13/2020

By Greg Soukup


The ‘Red, White and Blue Bonanza’ presented by Accelerated Graphx at Eagle Raceway Saturday night saw another large car count in the pits and the maximum number of fans in the stands. It was, once again, a warm windy day; perfect for racing. With 35 races being run over the evening, everyone had a full night and nobody left disappointed.


There were no serious incidents in the preliminary events.


Derek Hall was first back to the flag stand on lap 1 of the Coors Light IMCA Sportmod Feature in his #44D with Tyler Nerud’s 5TN, the 11H of Nick Morris and Matt Andrews’ 22 rounding out the top 4. Andrews moved up to third on lap 3. Lap 6 saw Noah Williams loop the 27W in turns 1 & 2. Ahnna Schouten’s 0NA spun out 3 laps after the restart for another caution. 1 circuit after the restart Trevor Baker put the 25! Into fourth. Hall made contact with another car with 6 to go and went hard into the back stretch wall. He ended up limping back to the pits. That moved Shawn Harker’s 40 into fourth. Harker took just 2 laps to jump all the way up to second. Williams again spun out with 2 to go in turns 3 & 4, setting up a green/white/checker finish. Cole Wayman moved his #18 up to fourth  on the restart making the final four Nerud, Harker, Andrews and Wayman.


Ryan Roschewski in the 77S, Jeff Watts’ 66, the 6R of Roy Armstrong and Nick Beckman’s 22 were the top 4 after the first circuit of the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock A. Watts passed Roschewski on lap 2. Don Hall Jr. spun the 92 in turn four the next time around and the caution lights were lit. Armstrong moved up 1 spot each of the next 2 laps, grabbing the lead. Roschewski got back to second after 2 more circuits and Beckman took over third the next lap. The action slowed the next time around for a debris caution. Ryan Gilland put the 46 into fourth with 7 to go but lost the spot to Brooke Fluckiger 4 laps later. Both Fluckiger and Gilland moved up 1 spot the next lap to make the final top 4 Armstrong, Roschewski, Fluckiger and Gilland.

The Nebraska Lottery IMCA Modified A Feature’s first lap show Trey Duensing’s 3D, the 5S of Bob Zoubek, Chad Andersen’s 8C the top 3. Anthony Roth put the 60IV into fourth on lap 2.  Andersen and Roth both passed Zoubek on lap 3. 2 laps later Mike Densberger grabbed fourth in the 81. Jesse Sobbing got past Densberger the next lap, putting the 99 into fourth as Roth advanced to second. Densberger got back past Sobbing the next lap but gave up the fourth spot to Jordan Grabouski’s 30 with 10 to go. Roth took the lead for good with 3 circuits remaining. The final top 4 were Roth, Duensing, Andersen and Grabouski.


Ramsey Meyer put the 21R out front of the ATV Motorsports IMCA Sport Compact finale’s first circuit with the 19X of Noah Boller, Dan Markham’s 6 and the 16W of Bryce Walker close behind. Boller passed Meyer on lap 2 as Drake Bohlmeyer put the 24 into fourth. Jeremy Bohlen’s 10J slammed hard into the front stretch wall on lap 3 for a caution. Jacob Schwab put the 19J into fourth on the restart. RJ Maas passed Schwab  2 laps later, putting the 88K into fourth. Dillon Richards moved the #19 into fourth after 2 more circuits and advanced to third with 2 to go. Richards got up to second on the final lap making the top 4 Meyer, Richards, Bohlmeyer and Boller.


Gunnar Pike’s 25, the 03 of Shayle Helget, Josh Riggins’ 14J and Mark Vanderheiden’s 15V were the top 4 after 1 circuit of the Duros Dent Works Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car A Feature. Mike Boston got past Vanderheiden on lap 2, putting the 51 into fourth. Lap 5 saw Helget take over the lead from Pike but Jason Danley’s 4X and Vanderheiden came to a halt in turns 1 & 2 for a caution. Boston advanced to third on the restart and Helget again took the lead the next lap. Adam Gullion put the 91 into fourth with 7 laps left. The top 4 remained unchanged to the finish with Helget, Pike, Boston and Gullion out front.


Duros Dent Works and the Nebraska Lottery present America Strong next Saturday, June 20^th. Front gates open at 5:15, hot laps begin at 5:30 and racing kicks off at 6:30. All 5 classes will be competing, including Duros Dent Works Sprint Cars, Nebraska Lottery Modifieds, Coors Light SportMods, Valentino’s Hobby Stocks & ATV Motor Sports Sport Compacts.


Pit gates open at 4 P.M.


RESULTS:

IMCA Hobby Stock A-Feature 1. Roy Armstrong Beatrice, Ne. 2. Ryan Roschewski Beatrice, Ne. 3. Brooke Fluckiger Columbus, Ne. 4. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 5. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne. 6. Albert Kiihne Lincoln, Ne. 7. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 8. John Cain Homer, Ne. 9. Brett Saathoff Lincoln, Ne. 10. Jeff Ware Columbus, Ne. 11. Ryan Sutter Rock Port, Mo. 12. Michael Hansen Weeping Water, Ne. 13. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 14. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne. 15. Brint Lemke Lincoln, Ne. 16. Charlie Bartels Lincoln, Ne. 17. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 18. Don Hall Jr Lincoln, Ne. 19. Joe Copeland Jr. La Vista, Ne. 20. Jamie Bruce Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Hobby Stock B-Feature 1. Joe Copeland Jr. La Vista, Ne. 2. Charlie Bartels Lincoln, Ne. 3. Don Hall Jr Lincoln, Ne. 4. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 5. Chantel Bade Lincoln, Ne. 6. Tim Lapointe Lincoln, Ne. 7. Cole Krichau Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jared Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 9. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 10. Kyle Schamp(r) Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Neil Pella Adams, Ne.


IMCA Hobby Stock C-Feature 1. Tim Lapointe Lincoln, Ne. 2. Cole Krichau Lincoln, Ne. 3. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 4. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 5. Jeff Oehm(r) Eagle, Ne. 6. Christopher Lierz Baileyville, Ks. DNS. Kenny Roberts Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Levi Henery(r) Hoyt, Ks. DNS. Colby Kaspar Columbus, Ne.


IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 1 1. Brooke Fluckiger Columbus, Ne. 2. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 3. Brett Saathoff Lincoln, Ne. 4. Jamie Bruce Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jared Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 6. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne. 7. Kenny Roberts Lincoln, Ne. 8. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 9. Colby Kaspar Columbus, Ne.


IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 2 1. Ryan Roschewski Beatrice, Ne. 2. Michael Hansen Weeping Water, Ne. 3. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 4. Brint Lemke Lincoln, Ne. 5. Kyle Schamp(r) Lincoln, Ne. 6. Chantel Bade Lincoln, Ne. 7. Christopher Lierz Baileyville, Ks. 8. Cole Krichau Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 3 1. Roy Armstrong Beatrice, Ne. 2. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 3. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne. 4. Albert Kiihne Lincoln, Ne. 5. Joe Copeland Jr. La Vista, Ne. 6. Don Hall Jr Lincoln, Ne. 7. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 8. Jeff Oehm(r) Eagle, Ne.


IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 4 1. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne. 2. Jeff Ware Columbus, Ne. 3. Ryan Sutter Rock Port, Mo. 4. John Cain Homer, Ne. 5. Charlie Bartels Lincoln, Ne. 6. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 7. Tim Lapointe Lincoln, Ne. 8. Levi Henery(r) Hoyt, Ks.


IMCA Modified A-Feature 1. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 2. Trey Duensing(r) Byron, Ne. 3. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 4. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 5. Jesse Sobbing Malvern, Ia. 6. Mike Densberger Lincoln, Ne. 7. Shane Hiatt Rising City, Ne. 8. Jaxon Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 9. Johnny Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 10. Brandon Spanjer Crete, Ne. 11. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 12. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 13. Austin Svoboda David City, Ne. 14. Bob Zoubek Dorchester, Ne. 15. Mike Lineberry Omaha, Ne. 16. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 17. Justin Wulf Arlington, Ne. 18. Josh Kennell Hickman, Ne. 19. Jeff Schroyer(r) Elkhorn, Ne. DNS. Dustin Andersen Omaha, Ne.


IMCA Modified B-Feature 1. Austin Svoboda David City, Ne. 2. Johnny Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 3. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 4. Brandon Spanjer Crete, Ne. 5. Dylan Sillman(r) 6. Scott Smith Davenport, Ne. 7. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. 8. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 9. Andrew Bowman Lincoln, Ne. 10. Brandon Verbeek Hickman, Ne. 11. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. DNS. Kale Smith Davenport, Ne.


IMCA Modified C-Feature 1. Dylan Sillman(r) 2. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 3. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. 4. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. 5. Travis Patterson(r) Lincoln, Ne. 6. Ryan Sample(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Nick Snyder(r) Beatrice, Ne. 8. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. DNS. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Modified Heat 1 1. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 2. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 3. Jeff Schroyer(r) Elkhorn, Ne. 4. Justin Wulf Arlington, Ne. 5. Austin Svoboda David City, Ne. 6. Scott Smith Davenport, Ne. 7. Nick Snyder(r) Beatrice, Ne. 8. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 9. Ryan Sample(r) Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Modified Heat 2 1. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 2. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 3. Jaxon Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 4. Dustin Andersen Omaha, Ne. 5. Johnny Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 6. Kale Smith Davenport, Ne. 7. Travis Patterson(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. DNS. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Modified Heat 3 1. Mike Densberger Lincoln, Ne. 2. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 3. Bob Zoubek Dorchester, Ne. 4. Josh Kennell Hickman, Ne. 5. Andrew Bowman Lincoln, Ne. 6. Brandon Verbeek Hickman, Ne. 7. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. 8. Dylan Sillman(r)


IMCA Modified Heat 4 1. Trey Duensing(r) Byron, Ne. 2. Jesse Sobbing Malvern, Ia. 3. Shane Hiatt Rising City, Ne. 4. Mike Lineberry Omaha, Ne. 5. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 6. Brandon Spanjer Crete, Ne. 7. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. 8. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Sport Compact A-Feature 1. Ramsey Meyer Pierce, Ne. 2. Dillon Richards Beatrice, Ne. 3. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 4. Noah Boller Beatrice, Ne. 5. Rj Maas Wilber, Ne. 6. Nick Lindblad Beatrice, Ne. 7. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 8. Devin Bruce Bennet, Ne. 9. Jacob Schwab Cordova, Ne. 10. Brian Cronin Lincoln, Ne. 11. Josh Young Beatrice, Ne. 12. Tyler Masek Raymond, Ne. 13. Brad Gallagher Louisville, Ne. 14. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. 15. Ray Harrington Lincoln, Ne. 16. Jeff Zimmerman York, Ne. 17. Tim Horsham Raymond, Ne. 18. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne. 19. Leah Penney(r) Hickman, Ne. 20. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia.


IMCA Sport Compact B-Feature 1. Brad Gallagher Louisville, Ne. 2. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. 3. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia. 4. Josh Young Beatrice, Ne. 5. Ray Harrington Lincoln, Ne. 6. Tim Horsham Raymond, Ne. 7. Steve Phillips(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. Ayden Hager(r) York, Ne. 9. Kasha Hall Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Sport Compact Heat 1 1. Ramsey Meyer Pierce, Ne. 2. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 3. Nick Lindblad Beatrice, Ne. 4. Tyler Masek Raymond, Ne. 5. Brian Cronin Lincoln, Ne. 6. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. 7. Kasha Hall Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia.


IMCA Sport Compact Heat 2 1. Dillon Richards Beatrice, Ne. 2. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 3. Jacob Schwab Cordova, Ne. 4. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne. 5. Leah Penney(r) Hickman, Ne. 6. Josh Young Beatrice, Ne. 7. Ray Harrington Lincoln, Ne. 8. Brad Gallagher Louisville, Ne.


IMCA Sport Compact Heat 3 1. Rj Maas Wilber, Ne. 2. Devin Bruce Bennet, Ne. 3. Noah Boller Beatrice, Ne. 4. Jeff Zimmerman York, Ne. 5. Tim Horsham Raymond, Ne. 6. Steve Phillips(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Ayden Hager(r) York, Ne.


IMCA SportMod A-Feature 1. Tyler Nerud Dorchester, Ne. 2. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 3. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 4. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 5. Lee Horky Fairbury, Ne. 6. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 7. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 8. Steffen Oaks(r) Lincoln, Ne. 9. Joe Schidler Omaha, Ne. 10. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 11. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 12. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 13. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 14. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 15. Ahnna Schouten Omaha, Ne. 16. Noah Williams(r) Ashland, Ne. 17. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne. 18. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne. 19. Melissa Latture Omaha, Ne. 20. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne.


IMCA SportMod B-Feature 1. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 2. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 3. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 4. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 5. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 6. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 7. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 8. Tracy Babcock 9. McLain Reed(r) Lincoln, Ne. 10. Daniel Morris Bellevue, Ne. DNS. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne. DNS. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne.


IMCA SportMod C-Feature 1. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 2. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 3. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 4. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 5. Shawn Hein(r) Beatrice, Ne. 6. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 7. Michael Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 8. Bobby Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 9. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 10. Roger Sluka Lincoln, Ne. 11. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne. DNS. Dan Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA SportMod D-Feature 1. Roger Sluka Lincoln, Ne. 2. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne. 3. Shawn Pospisil(r) Lincoln, Ne. 4. Dane Martindale(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. David Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 6. John Allensworth(r) Omaha, Ne. 7. Lane Cornwell Newman Brave, Ne. DNS. Dylan Mueller DNS. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA SportMod Heat 1 1. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne. 2. Lee Horky Fairbury, Ne. 3. Joe Schidler Omaha, Ne. 4. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 5. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 6. Shawn Hein(r) Beatrice, Ne. 7. Dan Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. David Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 9. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne.


IMCA SportMod Heat 2 1. Ahnna Schouten Omaha, Ne. 2. Noah Williams(r) Ashland, Ne. 3. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne. 4. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 5. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 6. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 7. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 8. Lane Cornwell Newman Brave, Ne. 9. Dylan Mueller


IMCA SportMod Heat 3 1. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 2. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 3. Melissa Latture Omaha, Ne. 4. McLain Reed(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne. 6. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 7. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 8. Roger Sluka Lincoln, Ne. DQ. Dane Martindale(r) Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA SportMod Heat 4 1. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 2. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 3. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 4. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 5. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 6. Bobby Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 7. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 8. John Allensworth(r) Omaha, Ne. 9. Shawn Pospisil(r) Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA SportMod Heat 5 1. Tyler Nerud Dorchester, Ne. 2. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 3. Steffen Oaks(r) Lincoln, Ne. 4. Tracy Babcock 5. Daniel Morris Bellevue, Ne. 6. Michael Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 7. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. DNS. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Sprint A-Feature 1. Shayle Helget Lincoln, Ne. 2. Gunnar Pike(r) South Bend, Ne. 3. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 4. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 5. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 6. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 7. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 8. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 9. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 10. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 11. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 12. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 13. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 14. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 15. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 16. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 17. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 18. Jay Russell Elmwood, Ks. 19. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 20. Rich Cerveny(r) Omaha, Ne.


IMCA Sprint B-Feature 1. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 2. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 3. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 4. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 5. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 6. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 7. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 8. Troy Sanford(r) Lincoln, Ne. 9. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 10. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne. 11. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 12. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne.


IMCA Sprint C-Feature 1. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 2. Troy Sanford(r) Lincoln, Ne. 3. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 4. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 5. Richard Weers Lincoln, Ne. 6. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. DNS. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Bobby Becker Denton, Ne.


IMCA Sprint Heat 1 1. Gunnar Pike(r) South Bend, Ne. 2. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 3. Shayle Helget Lincoln, Ne. 4. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 5. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 6. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 7. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 8. Troy Sanford(r) Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Sprint Heat 2 1. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 2. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 3. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 4. Rich Cerveny(r) Omaha, Ne. 5. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne. 6. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 7. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 8. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne.


IMCA Sprint Heat 3 1. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 2. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 3. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 4. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 5. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 6. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 7. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. DNS. Bobby Becker Denton, Ne.


IMCA Sprint Heat 4 1. Jay Russell Elmwood, Ks. 2. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 3. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 4. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 5. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 6. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 7. Richard Weers Lincoln, Ne. DNF. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne.

Eagle Raceway 6/6/2020

The theme for Saturday night’s racing at Eagle Raceway was ‘FINALLY! The Season Opener’ and meant that after a too long off season made even longer by the COVID-19 pandemic, competition was once again happening on the high banks.


Due to county health restrictions the total attendance was limited, but those who were fortunate enough to obtain tickets finally got their racing fix in. Temperatures in the 90’s matched the heated action on track as a total of 180 teams towed in to compete, and they put on a whale of a show.


The only significant incident in the preliminary action came in the 2^nd heat for the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks. Jamie Bruce’s 4K made contact with another vehicle coming to the flag stand and ended up barrel rolling down the front stretch before coming to a stop atop the wall going into turn 1. He was not significantly hurt.


The first A Feature was for the Coors Light IMCA Sportmods and saw Shawn Harker jump to the lead quickly in his #40 and never look back. Though a couple of yellow flags slowed the action Harker was a man on a mission and held the top spot to the checkered flag. The top 4 were Harker, the 99RE of Arie Schouten, Adam Armstrong’s 6A and Trevor Baker in the 25!.


The Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock A Main’s first lap saw Albert Kiihne put the 85 out front followed by the 83 of Jeff Ware, Don Hall Jr.’s 92 and the 67 of Jamie Richards. The yellow flag was shown on lap 3 when the 12 of Michael Wade came to a stop. Ware used the restart to pass Kiihne for the lead. Hall slipped back on lap 6 moving Richards to third and the 94 of Mike Hansen into fourth. Hansen got past Richards with 8 to go. The top 4 remained unchanged to the finish with Ware, Kiihne, Hansen and Richards the top 4.


Mike Densberger’s 81, the 21H of Shane Hiatt, Anthony Roth’s 60IV and the 15H of Jared Hoefelman were the top 4 after lap 1 of the Nebraska Lottery A. Aaron Pella looped the 3A on lap 4 for a caution. Jordan Grabouski jumped his #30 up to second on the restart and took the lead from Densberger the next time around. Hiatt also got past Densberger the next time around for second. Densberger regained the second spot 3 laps later and Roth also passed Hiatt after 3 more circuits. 2 laps later Terry Hurt looped the 24T in turns 1 & 2. Hiatt vaulted up to second 2 laps after the restart. Jaxon Saathoff put the 96 into fourth but Roth jumped all the way to third shortly after. Bob Zoubek’s 5Z came to a stop with 3 to go. The final top 4 Grabouski, Roth, Hiatt and Densberger.


RJ Maas in the 88K led lap 1 of the ATV Motorsports IMCA Sport Compact Feature with Brad Gallagher’s 26X and the 21R of Ramsey Meyer close behind. Meyer moved to second on lap 2 with Dillon Richards taking the 19 to third. Drake Bohlmeyer took third the next time around in the 24. Meyer spun to the infield coming out of turn 4 the next lap making the top 4 Maas, Bohlmeyer, Richards and Gallagher. Richards took over the second spot from Bohlmeyer with 2 to go and grabbed the lead 2 laps later. During a caution for a car that spun Bohlmeyer was moved back 2 spots for rough driving but got back to fourth with 3 to go. Nick Lindblad took over the fourth spot with 3 to go and jumped up to second on the final lap making the top 4 Richards, Lindblad, Maas and Bohlmeyer who had gotten back to fourth.


The Duros Dent Works IMCA Racesaver Sprint Car finale saw Jason Danley lead the first circuit in his 4X with Trevor Grossenbacher’s 95, the 5 of Stu Snyder and Ryan King’s 93 close behind. Grossenbacher passed Danley on lap 2 but Danley edged him at the flag stand. Lap 3 saw Grossenbacher take the lead as Shon Pointer put the 20P into fourth. Snyder used the middle groove to advance to second with 15 to go. There were 6 laps left when Adam Gullion put his 91 into fourth. Snyder grabbed the lead the next time around and began to pull away. Gullion advanced to third in the closing laps. The top 4 remained unchanged to the finish with Snyder winning, Grossenbacher second, Gullion third and Danley fourth.


Next weekend Accelerated Graphix presents Red, White and Blue Bonanza. All 5 classes will be in action. The Coors Light ICA Sportmods, Valentino’s IMCA  Hobby Stocks, Nebraska Lottery IMCA Modifieds, ATV Motorsports IMCA Sport Compacts and Duros Dent Works IMCA Racesaver Sprints will all be there.


Front gates open at 5:15 with hot laps beginning at 5:30 and racing at 6:30. Pit gates open at 4 PM.


RESULTS:



IMCA Hobby Stock A-Feature 1. Jeff Ware Columbus, Ne. 2. Albert Kiihne Lincoln, Ne. 3. Michael Hansen Weeping Water, Ne. 4. Lee Kracht Scribner, Ne. 5. Jamie Richards(r) Rising City, Ne. 6. Brendon Stigge Fairbury, Ne. 7. Brooke Fluckiger Columbus, Ne. 8. John Cain Homer, Ne. 9. Don Hall Jr Lincoln, Ne. 10. Brint Lemke Lincoln, Ne. 11. Colby Kaspar Columbus, Ne. 12. Ryan Sutter Rock Port, Mo. 13. Adam Wasserman Fairbury, Ne. 14. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 15. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 16. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 17. Tim Lapointe Lincoln, Ne. 18. Roy Armstrong Beatrice, Ne. 19. Michael Wade Dorchester, Ne. DNS. Ryan Roschewski Beatrice, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock B-Feature 1. Roy Armstrong Beatrice, Ne. 2. John Cain Homer, Ne. 3. Adam Wasserman Fairbury, Ne. 4. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 5. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 6. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne. 7. Brian Lemke Geneva, Ne. 8. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 9. Kile Casteel Roca, Ne. 10. Charlie Bartels Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock C-Feature 1. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 2. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 3. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne. 4. Matt Beckner Lincoln, Ne. 5. Kyle Schamp(r) Lincoln, Ne. 6. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 7. Jared Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 8. Cole Krichau Lincoln, Ne. 9. Jeff Oehm(r) Eagle, Ne. 10. Chantel Bade Lincoln, Ne. 11. Jamie Bruce Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 1 1. Albert Kiihne Lincoln, Ne. 2. Jamie Richards(r) Rising City, Ne. 3. Brint Lemke Lincoln, Ne. 4. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 5. Roy Armstrong Beatrice, Ne. 6. John Cain Homer, Ne. 7. Jared Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne. 9. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 2 1. Michael Wade Dorchester, Ne. 2. Jeff Ware Columbus, Ne. 3. Lee Kracht Scribner, Ne. 4. Brooke Fluckiger Columbus, Ne. 5. Adam Wasserman Fairbury, Ne. 6. Kile Casteel Roca, Ne. 7. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 8. Jeff Oehm(r) Eagle, Ne. 9. Jamie Bruce Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 3 1. Don Hall Jr Lincoln, Ne. 2. Tim Lapointe Lincoln, Ne. 3. Ryan Roschewski Beatrice, Ne. 4. Colby Kaspar Columbus, Ne. 5. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 6. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne. 7. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 8. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 9. Cole Krichau Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Hobby Stock Heat 4 1. Brendon Stigge Fairbury, Ne. 2. Michael Hansen Weeping Water, Ne. 3. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 4. Ryan Sutter Rock Port, Mo. 5. Brian Lemke Geneva, Ne. 6. Charlie Bartels Lincoln, Ne. 7. Matt Beckner Lincoln, Ne. 8. Chantel Bade Lincoln, Ne. 9. Kyle Schamp(r) Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Modified A-Feature 1. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 2. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 3. Shane Hiatt Rising City, Ne. 4. Mike Densberger Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jaxon Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 6. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 7. Jared Hoefelman Humphrey, Ne. 8. Brandon Spanjer Crete, Ne. 9. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. 10. Johnny Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 11. Scott Smith Davenport, Ne. 12. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 13. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 14. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 15. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 16. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. 17. Bob Zoubek Dorchester, Ne. 18. Kale Smith Davenport, Ne. 19. Justin Wulf Arlington, Ne. 20. Josh Blumer Marysville, Ne.

IMCA Modified B-Feature 1. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 2. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 3. Kale Smith Davenport, Ne. 4. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. 5. Mike Lineberry Omaha, Ne. 6. Josh Kennell 7. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jeff Schroyer(r) Elkhorn, Ne. 9. Trey Duensing(r) Byron, Ne. 10. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne.

IMCA Modified C-Feature 1. Mike Lineberry Omaha, Ne. 2. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne. 3. Andrew Bowman Lincoln, Ne. 4. Brandon Verbeek Hickman, Ne. 5. Kyle Owen(r) Nebraska City, Ne. 6. Ryan Sample(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Travis Patterson(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. Nick Snyder(r) Beatrice, Ne. 9. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne. 10. Nick Frey(r) Fremont, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 1 1. Mike Densberger Lincoln, Ne. 2. Josh Blumer Marysville, Ne. 3. Jaxon Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 4. Brandon Spanjer Crete, Ne. 5. Scott Bivens Ceresco, Ne. 6. Jeff Schroyer(r) Elkhorn, Ne. 7. Mike Lineberry Omaha, Ne. 8. Brandon Verbeek Hickman, Ne. 9. Nick Frey(r) Fremont, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 2 1. Shane Hiatt Rising City, Ne. 2. Justin Wulf Arlington, Ne. 3. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 4. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 5. Kale Smith Davenport, Ne. 6. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. 7. Nick Snyder(r) Beatrice, Ne. DNS. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Kyle Owen(r) Nebraska City, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 3 1. Jared Hoefelman Humphrey, Ne. 2. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 3. Scott Smith Davenport, Ne. 4. Bob Zoubek Dorchester, Ne. 5. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 6. Trey Duensing(r) Byron, Ne. 7. Travis Patterson(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Modified Heat 4 1. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 2. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 3. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. 4. Johnny Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 5. Rik Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 6. Josh Kennell 7. Ryan Sample(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. Andrew Bowman Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact A-Feature 1. Dillon Richards Beatrice, Ne. 2. Nick Lindblad Beatrice, Ne. 3. Rj Maas Wilber, Ne. 4. Brad Gallagher Louisville, Ne. 5. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 6. Devin Bruce Bennet, Ne. 7. Jacob Schwab Cordova, Ne. 8. Tyler Masek Raymond, Ne. 9. Tim Horsham Raymond, Ne. 10. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 11. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia. 12. Noah Boller Beatrice, Ne. 13. Justin Brown Beatrice, Ne. 14. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne. 15. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. 16. Steve Phillips(r) Lincoln, Ne. 17. Josh Young Beatrice, Ne. 18. Ryan Schwab Cordova, Ne. 19. Ramsey Meyer Pierce, Ne. DNS. Thomas Powell Hickman, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact B-Feature 1. Justin Brown Beatrice, Ne. 2. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. 3. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia. 4. Ryan Schwab Cordova, Ne. 5. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne. 6. Jeff Zimmerman York, Ne. 7. Brayden Weller 8. Ray Harrington Lincoln, Ne. 9. Matthew Kempkes Omaha, Ne. 10. Kasha Hall Lincoln, Ne. 11. Devin Masek(r) Raymond, Ne. DNS. Adam Reifler Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Leah Penney(r) Hickman, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact Heat 1 1. Rj Maas Wilber, Ne. 2. Tim Horsham Raymond, Ne. 3. Jacob Schwab Cordova, Ne. 4. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 5. Steve Phillips(r) Lincoln, Ne. 6. Adam Reifler Lincoln, Ne. 7. Ryan Schwab Cordova, Ne. 8. Leah Penney(r) Hickman, Ne. 9. Brayden Weller 10. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact Heat 2 1. Brad Gallagher Louisville, Ne. 2. Devin Bruce Bennet, Ne. 3. Dillon Richards Beatrice, Ne. 4. Thomas Powell Hickman, Ne. 5. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 6. Jeff Zimmerman York, Ne. 7. Michelle Nicholson Ashland, Ne. 8. Kasha Hall Lincoln, Ne. 9. Devin Masek(r) Raymond, Ne.

IMCA Sport Compact Heat 3 1. Nick Lindblad Beatrice, Ne. 2. Ramsey Meyer Pierce, Ne. 3. Josh Young Beatrice, Ne. 4. Tyler Masek Raymond, Ne. 5. Noah Boller Beatrice, Ne. 6. Justin Brown Beatrice, Ne. 7. Matthew Kempkes Omaha, Ne. 8. Ray Harrington Lincoln, Ne. 9. Jeremy Bohlen Percival, Ia.

IMCA SportMod A-Feature 1. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 2. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 3. Adam Armstong Pickrell, Ne. 4. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne. 5. Lee Horky Fairbury, Ne. 6. Devyn Peterson Milford, Ne. 7. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 8. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 9. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 10. Joe Feyen Plattsmouth, Ne. 11. Ahnna Schouten Omaha, Ne. 12. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 13. Tyler Nerud Dorchester, Ne. 14. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 15. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 16. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 17. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne. 18. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 19. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 20. Roger Sluka Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA SportMod B-Feature 1. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 2. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 3. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne. 4. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 5. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 6. Lane Cornwell Newman Brave, Ne. 7. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 8. Michael Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 9. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 10. Cory McGann Ellis, Ks. 11. Randy Fox Lincoln, Ne. 12. Noah Williams(r) Ashland, Ne.

IMCA SportMod C-Feature 1. Randy Fox Lincoln, Ne. 2. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 3. Ryan Arbogast Goeher, Ne. 4. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 5. Mark Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 6. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne. 7. Dane Martindale(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. Bobby Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 9. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne. 10. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 11. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. DNS. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne.

IMCA SportMod D-Feature 1. Mark Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 2. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne. 3. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 4. McLain Reed(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 6. Daniel Morris Bellevue, Ne. 7. Michael Towle(r) Douglas, Ne. 8. Joe Schidler Omaha, Ne. 9. Shawn Hein(r) Beatrice, Ne. 10. Shawn Pospisil(r) Lincoln, Ne. 11. Steffen Oaks(r) Lincoln, Ne. 12. Terry Callender Lincoln, Ne. DNS. David Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. DNS. Melissa Knecht Omaha, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 1 1. Devyn Peterson Milford, Ne. 2. Lee Horky Fairbury, Ne. 3. Adam Armstong Pickrell, Ne. 4. Michael Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 5. Lane Cornwell Newman Brave, Ne. 6. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne. 7. Dane Martindale(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. David Sherwood Beatrice, Ne. 9. Daniel Morris Bellevue, Ne. 10. Joe Schidler Omaha, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 2 1. Roger Sluka Lincoln, Ne. 2. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 3. Ahnna Schouten Omaha, Ne. 4. Mary Lenz Lincoln, Ne. 5. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 6. Randy Fox Lincoln, Ne. 7. Bobby Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 8. Mark Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 9. Shawn Hein(r) Beatrice, Ne. 10. Terry Callender Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 3 1. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 2. Joe Feyen Plattsmouth, Ne. 3. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 4. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 5. Noah Williams(r) Ashland, Ne. 6. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 7. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne. 8. Shawn Pospisil(r) Lincoln, Ne. 9. Steffen Oaks(r) Lincoln, Ne. 10. McLain Reed(r) Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 4 1. Arie Schouten Omaha, Ne. 2. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 3. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 4. Hunter Weber Council Bluffs, Ne. 5. Cory McGann Ellis, Ks. 6. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 7. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 8. Michael Towle(r) Douglas, Ne. 9. Melissa Knecht Omaha, Ne. 10. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA SportMod Heat 5 1. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 2. Trevor Baker Crete, Ne. 3. Tyler Nerud Dorchester, Ne. 4. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 5. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 6. Ryan Arbogast Goeher, Ne. 7. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 8. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 9. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne.

IMCA Sprint A-Feature 1. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 2. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 3. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 4. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 5. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 6. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 7. Zach Blurton Quinter, Ks. 8. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 9. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 10. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 11. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 12. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 13. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 14. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 15. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 16. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 17. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 18. Jay Russell Elmwood, Ks. 19. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 20. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne.

IMCA Sprint B-Feature 1. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 2. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 3. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 4. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Shayle Bade Lincoln, Ne. 6. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 7. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 8. Rich Cerveny(r) Omaha, Ne. 9. Troy Sanford(r) Lincoln, Ne. 10. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne.

IMCA Sprint C-Feature 1. Shayle Bade Lincoln, Ne. 2. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 3. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 4. Gunnar Pike(r) South Bend, Ne. 5. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 6. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne. 7. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 8. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. DNS. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 1 1. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 2. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 3. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 4. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 5. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 6. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 7. Shayle Bade Lincoln, Ne. 8. Gunnar Pike(r) South Bend, Ne. 9. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 2 1. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 2. Jordan Grabouski(r) Beatrice, Ne. 3. Jay Russell Elmwood, Ks. 4. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 5. Rich Cerveny(r) Omaha, Ne. 6. Troy Sanford(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 8. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 3 1. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 2. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 3. Zach Blurton Quinter, Ks. 4. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne. 5. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 6. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 7. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne.

IMCA Sprint Heat 4 1. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 2. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 3. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 4. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 5. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 6. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 7. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 8. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne.

Darren Knudson

I wanted to share the complete article that I wrote for Dirt Monthly Magazine about a friend of mine, Darren Knudson. When I originally approached Darren he agreed to be interviewed, but he told me that he didn't think that he had anything to say that anyone would want to hear.

Well, after a little over a half hour on the phone, I wrote the article that you see below.

I truly enjoy letting people know about those in my racing family who never get the spotlight put on them. People like World of Outlaws drivers, the big name Late Model drivers, etc. all get plenty of publicity. But you never read about the low-budget racers, the people who work on the cars or the behind the scenes people in general. I try to remedy that oversight.

I hope you enjoy this latest offering of mine.


Are sprint car people born, or do they learn to love the sport as they grow up? In the case of 53-year old Darren Knudson from Lincoln Nebraska, I would have to guess that he was born to the sport. In fact, he was at the races before he was born and made his first actual appearance at a very early age.


“My parents took me to Eagle Raceway when I was just 6 days old on September 18^th, 1965. I grew up at the racetrack. My mom was a big race fan and Dad worked on lots of cars throughout the time I was growing up. We always had somebody’s race car at my house. Mom and Dad took me to all kinds of races. The way that I learned my numbers and colors was from the race cars. Somebody would ask me what somebody’s car number was, or what color it was when I was a kid. And that kind of thing was how I leaned numbers and colors. I was always around different drivers, different car owners, guys who did chassis set-ups. I learned a little bit here and a little bit there. Eventually I learned enough to start going out on my own and setting up a car at 21”.


His racing education grew quickly. “My father was working on the #23 car owned by Roger Abbott that George Odvody was driving. I believe that it was a CAE sprint car and was one of, if not the first sprint car that ran around here. At that time, they were running what they called supermodifieds, which were just Model A’s and ’32 Fords modified to race. At 79 he’s still working on the 360 car that Tadd Holliman drives. During the Racesaver IMCA Nationals he helps out Jeremy Schultz from Minnesota and off and on he works with Bill Garrow on his Racesaver sprint. In the past he’s worked on cars driven by Regan Kitchen, JJ Riggins, Lloyd Beckman, Don Maxwell. In fact, the #7 410 sprinter owned by Jim Gessford was the first car that I ever worked on with him. I started working with Dad back in ’77 or ’78 when I was 11 or 12 years old. By the time that I was old enough that they could sneak me into the pits I was all about doing that. I kind of helped out a little bit; rolling tires around and things like that”.


As you can see, Darren got his love of sprint cars naturally from his parents and has never lost it, no matter what happened. “When I was helping with the #7, we ran all over, even with the World of Outlaws. I think it was 1980 and Gessford had bought a new Stanton chassis. Mike Schaeffer was driving it at Knoxville. He got into turn 1 too high and completely destroyed the car its first night out. So, Jim bought one of the very last cars built by Don Maxwell. He put Roger Rager in the car to drive it at Peoria, Illinois on Friday night and at Knoxville on Saturday and follow that with a daytime Outlaw show at Sunset Speedway on Sunday. We got to Des Moines and it had been raining for quite a while, so we decided to stay there. The Peoria show eventually rained out. Saturday, we had mechanical issues and never got to finish a race at Knoxville. Then Sunday Don Maxwell showed up at Sunset and gave us some advice because the track was really, really dry-slick. It had rained, so they bladed off the top layer of mud. There was a 4 to 5-inch-tall cushion up top in 1 and 2 and it was super heavy up there, but the rest of the track was bone dry. We came out of the B Feature and started dead last in the A. At the drop of the green flag everybody dove for the bottom of the track and wherever you were in that line was where you were stuck. Everybody except for Rager that is, because he was CRAZY!! He was running the outside of the race track the whole way and nobody else dared to go out there. I don’t know how he did it, other than he was a great driver. He would come out of 2, and there was no wall back there; just a dirt bank. If you went over that bank it was a 20-foot drop! He was going down the back stretch with 2 tires off the track and all we could see from the infield was the top wing. He was passing cars down the back stretch like that and all the color drained out of Gessford’s face because he was thinking “My second brand new race car is going to be destroyed the second time it’s on the track!!”. Rager ended up going from last to fourth and he probably would have won that feature if he had a couple more laps. One other time there was a bounty on Doug Wolfgang up at Knoxville and we dug out an old 1969 Grant King car that had won the Nationals. Gessford called up Lloyd Beckman and asked if he would be willing to drive it. Lloyd hadn’t driven a sprinter in over a year and hadn’t been to Knoxville in quite a while, but he said “Sure! Let’s go get that bounty”. So, Jim called my Dad and I, picked us up and we ended up taking home the $500 bounty using a 10-year-old car!!”.


His first solo job working on a sprint came when Ron Towle, a local who raced at Eagle Raceway, called him and asked for help setting up his  #351 that had just a stock 351 Ford motor in it. Now, he works on several different cars; both a 360 and two Racesaver sprints. “I really enjoy working on both kinds of cars. I can’t say I like one more than the other. Right now, we’re having motor issues with the 360 that Tadd Holliman runs. We’re getting out-motored really badly! That’s just a money deal to a certain extent. But I’ve gone racing with Tadd for so many years that I always have a good time racing. I enjoy being around Terry and Dan so much. Tadd and I are buddies, and it seems like we’ve been racing together for decades, but it’s only 12 or 15 years. Whether it’s racing the 360 or going to the Chili Bowl and working on his midget; I’m a big Tadd Holliman fan and it’s just lots of fun. With the Racesavers I’m doing the set-ups and everything and just having a great time. With Jeremy Schultz, he’s not very experienced yet. It’s fun to work with him and watch him get better. Since he’s up in Minnesota I only get to actually work with him in person 3 or 4 times a year at the Racesaver IMCA Nationals. To see how he’s progressed is a great time. Working with Bill and Rick Garrow has been fun too. They own the car and Bill drives it. I went to high school with Rick actually, so I’ve known him forever. To show you what good people they are, they let us borrow their whole race car one night when the 360’s were still running weekly at Eagle Raceway. Terry Holliman was in the points battle and we had trouble with his car one week. They let Terry drive their car in the A Feature so that he could save as many points as possible. They never asked anyone for help with set-ups or anything; they were just learning as they went along. It was almost like they didn’t want to bother anybody by asking questions. So, since we weren’t running the 360 weekly, I got bored. I would watch them run and then tell them “Hey! I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or anything, but your car is doing such and such and you might want to try this. They knew that I’d been around racing a long time, and had some success in the business, even running second in the Racesaver IMCA Nationals with Tadd driving. They took some of my suggestions and kept progressing. Bill never really had a consistent race car, so even if he was supposed to start on the pole he wouldn’t because he wasn’t sure what the car would do. But now, he’s gotten used to having a good car and he’s gotten good enough that he will run up on the cushion with the best of them. I think I may have created a monster, but it’s sure been fun watching him get better. I could probably have worked on a car that was faster, but letting Bill figure out how good a driver he can be is lots more satisfying”.


When I asked what his greatest thrill was out of his entire career was, he said “There are probably two that are all really close to being the biggest. The first feature that Tadd won was the first feature that I’d won setting up the car by myself. We were leading the feature with Tadd running the bottom of the track. This was the first time that Tadd was leading that late in the race and I think he just overdrove the car in the corners 2 laps in a row on a night when you had to be patient and hug the bottom. Four cars got by us on the outside. Tadd got back to fourth and then two laps later going into turn three the top three cars crashed each other out. They had an open red flag so they could check on the drivers and clear the track. I went down and talked to Tadd a little bit, and I told him that what he had been doing was going to win the race if he kept it up. I also told him that I tightened the car up a little bit to make it drive better for him. All I really did was walk to the back of the car and stand there for a few minutes. That gave him the time to settle down and have the confidence that he was going to be fine. I went back and told him that I changed the set-up and that he was going to be good from there on. Basically, I just adjusted the nut behind the wheel instead of actually doing anything to the race car. The other best night was the first time that Tadd ran the Racesaver IMCA Nationals. Friday night was the first qualifying night and we went out and won our heat race. We led every lap of the A Feature and just annihilated the field that night. We ran several laps just off the track record and there was only one other car that ran even one lap close to that. We ended up winning by over a straightaway against the best Racesaver drivers in the country on a really heavy track! Then on Sunday we ended up running second to Jack Dover on a dry-slick track. It was so nice to show what we could do two different nights on two completely different types of tracks”.


Darren’s plans for next year are to keep doing what he enjoys so much. “I’ll be helping Tadd run his 360. Hopefully we’ve got a little motor upgrade coming so that we can be a little more competitive. I’ll be assisting Jeremy as much as possible. Most of what I do with him is over the phone until the Racesaver Nationals which is a weird way to set-up a race car. I have gone up to Minnesota to some of the tracks that he runs so I’m a little bit familiar with them. I’m familiar enough with Jeremy and what he does and doesn’t like that I can give him advice on shocks and stuff once he tells me what the track is like. Then I’ll help him out at the Nationals of course. Plus, I’ll be working with the Garrows as much as possible. Depending on what night Tadd qualifies at the Chili Bowl I might run down to Tulsa and work on his midget. I will be plenty busy but loving every minute of it!!”.