Saturday night for a sickie!

Well, this upper respiratory infection that I've had since last year just won't let up. I missed all of last week from work because of it, and now.....tonight I had to miss the Eagle Raceway banquet!!! Yes, the second of those happenings upsets me greatly, and YES; the first does also, as hard as that may be to believe.

So, I thought I'd take this time to write my first blog in a couple of years.

I really, REALLY wish I was at that banquet tonight!! It's been 4 months since the last race at Eagle, and I haven't seen any of my racing family since. The first night at Eagle is exactly 3 months away!! Did I mention that I miss my racing family? We are in the dark times for racing around here in the Midwest, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems extremely far away right now.

As for the banquet, I love going each and every year. It's a time to get back together with your friends, give them a hard time and just bask in each other's company. You get to eat a big dinner, have a few drinks (adult or non-alcoholic in our cases), then see the smiles on the faces of all of the drivers as they go to collect their trophies for wherever they finished in the points. At the end of each class you get to watch as the points champion goes up onto the stage for their final moment of glory as they give their acceptance speech. These proceedings are handled by the incomparable Stan Cisar and his sidekick Tom Grasso.

Then, it's on to the other awards. Hard charger, most popular, best appearing car, Slick Chick, Most Improved, and a whole lot more. Plus, a huge amount of contingency prizes that go with the awards.

Of course, we have Roger Hadan's yearly state of the track speech; which is always highly entertaining. It is usually not exactly politically correct, but then again; if you know Roger, you wouldn't expect that from him. That is one of the things that I enjoy most about Roger. He'll tell you like it is!

I remember the first couple of times that I saw Roger. He promoted a couple of shows at Eagle Raceway when Craig Cormack still owned the track. I was in the Pit Shack, and honestly, my first impression of Roger was "What a dweeb!!!". What do they say about judging a book by it's cover? Was I ever wrong!!! Well, kind of anyway.

Roger may be a dweeb (I've heard him called a whole lot worse, and I'm sure he has also), but as far as being a business man, track promoter, etc. I'd say he is one of the best!! That is just my opinion of course, and we all know about opinions. But, since I've been around this dirt track racing thing for 62 years now, and rapidly approaching 63, I would say that he definitely has the respect of almost all of the people he deals with.

Then you have Michelle, who keeps Roger in line; or tries her hardest to anyway. Roger is the "Idea Man" and Michelle is the one who minds the facts and figures. Between them and Racine who handles most of the day-to-day things, they have things down to a T!! Are there glitches from time to time? Of course there are; but when you deal with human beings, and rely on them, that will happen.

Thanks go out to the 3 of them from the bottom of my heart. Roger most of all, because he saved Eagle Raceway when it was up for sale. Then another thanks to Roger for keeping me on in the pit shack and then allowing me to write up the stories of the racing every week for the website. Thanks to Michelle for all that she does; most of which nobody ever sees, and definitely no one ever thanks her for. And a big thank you to Racine for running the place and keeping all of us employees in line!!

My wife Linda and I can't thank you three enough for allowing us to work at Eagle Raceway all of these years. You have become more than just employers to us, you've become friends!

Speaking of next year at the track, here is the tentative schedule for 2016 at "America's Home Track":

“Keep Calm, Race On” 2016 Eagle Raceway Tentative Schedule

Sat Apr 9  Open House Practice -All Classes Welcome

Fri Apr 15   Ice Breaker Challenge* -Mod Mania & twICE is nICE Challenge -M,B,H, T
Sat Apr 16  Ice Breaker Challenge* -Mod Mania & twICE is nICE Challenge  -M,SSN Sprints,B, Stock Cars

Sat Apr 23  RACE ON! -Season Opener -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat April 30  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat  May 7  Keep Calm, it’s a Mother’s Day Tribute  -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat May 14  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sun May 15  Kenny Wallace Racing Experience*

Sat May 21  Keep Calm, it’s Armed Forces Night… Military Salute! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat May 28  Keep Calm it’s a Memorial Day Extravaganza! -Driver Appreciation Night  -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jun 4  Eagle Nationals* –ASCS National Sprints,M,T

Sat Jun 11  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat  Jun 18  Keep Calm it’s a Father’s Day Tribute  -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Fri Jun 24  Rumble in the Bullring* –USAC 410 Wingless Sprints, SSN Sprints

Sat Jun 25  RACE ON! -Kid’s Color Run –Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 2  Keep Calm, It’s Freedom Fest* -Fireworks Extravaganza –Weekly Racing     -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 9  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 16  Keep Calm, It’s Fan Appreciation Night -$5 admission -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 23  Keep Calm, It’s Kid’s Night -Bike Giveaway -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 30  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 6  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 13  RACE ON! -Kid’s Car Rides -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 20  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 27  RACE ON! -Season Finale -Weekly Racing -Banner Contest -S,M,B,H,T

Precise Racing Products presents RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals Weekend
Thu Sep 1  Open House Practice & Tech -All Classes Welcome
Fri Sep 2  RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals* -S, Lightning Sprints
Sat Sep 3  RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals* –S,B, Lightning Sprints
Sun Sep 4  RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals* –S,H,T (Rain Date: Monday, Sep 5th)

Fri Sep 9  Nebraska Cup* –SLMR Late Models, SSN Sprints, NE 360 Sprints

Sun Sep 11  Kenny Wallace Racing Experience* 
*Special Events Schedule is tentative and subject to change S-RaceSaver IMCA Sprints, M– IMCA Modifieds, B- IMCA Sport Modifieds,  H- IMCA Hobby Stocks, T- IMCA Sport Compacts

The first night is April 9th, which is an Open House Practice for all classes. The first actual racing will be April 15th and 16th when the Ice Breaker Challenge is on the slate.

The biggest nights will be the Ice Breaker Challenge, then the Eagle Nationals on June 4th when the ASCS National 360 Sprints come to run against our local area racers.

Friday June 24 is the Rumble in the Bullring, featuring the wingless 410 sprinters of the USAC National Tour.

Next the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Nationals Weekend is September 1st through the 4th. Will this be the year that the entry list tops 110?? Come out and see Racesaver teams from all over the country and even outside of the US!!

The final event will be the Nebraska Cup on September 9th, featuring the SLMR Late Models, Sprint Series of Nebraska Racesaver Sprints and the Nebraska 360 Sprint Series.

The Kenny Wallace Racing Experience will be on site twice this year for those who would like to actually experience racing around the high banks in a real race car!!

If you've never had the pleasure of visiting Eagle Raceway, do yourself a favor and put it on your racing calendar as soon as you can!! You won't be disappointed. And, if you make it out, stop by the Pit Shack and say hello; let me know what you think.

I will try to do better about keeping this blog updated regularly. I apologize again for being so lax in my duties, but lately it seems that real life has had other plans.

Keep checking back!!