Eagle NE Cup Night Two Photos

I'm way behind on pics.

Here's some pics from the final night of the NE Cup on 9-30-06

Eagle NE Cup 9-30-06

Eagle Enduro Results

Top 20 listed

Race time: 1:20:06.772
Place-car-driver-laps-margin

1 - 1 - Mike Kelley - 200 - ---
2 - 52 - Sean Manning - 200 - 43.387
3 - 12 - Dan Noonan - 194 - 6 Laps
4 - 2X - Cory Madden - 193 - 7 Laps
5 - 85 - Eric Wagner - 190 - 10 Laps
6 - 5 - Jeff Joldersma - 188 - 12 Laps
7 - 0 - Rich White - 184 - 16 Laps
8 - 66X - Brian Castilla - 179 - 21 Laps
9 - 13 - James Hayes - 176 - 24 Laps
10 - 2 - Dan Rhiley - 175 - 25 Laps
11 - 13J - Jared Deterding - 162 - 38 Laps
12 - 32B - Brian Haller - 159 - 41 Laps
13 - 23 - Ole Olsen - 158 - 42 Laps
14 - 77 - Jason Miller - 156 - 44 Laps
15 - 2T - Josh True - 155 - 45 Laps
16 - 60 - Tom Lithke - 126 - 74 Laps
17 - 62 - Justin Busboom - 111 - 89 Laps
18 - 7 - Scott Lee - 94 - 106 Laps
19 - 53 - Larry Robinson Sr. - 86 - 114 Laps
20 - 99X - Jason Tadlock - 84 - 116 Laps

Eagle Raceway Spook-tacular Enduro

The Forecast for Sunday is SUNNY and 75...

Sunday, October 29th

CD105.9 presents the Enduro Spook-tacular at Eagle Raceway
Kids...trick or treating, haunted maze, games and costume contest($50 to winner)

Wingless Sprint Exhibition at 2:00 pm

Enduro race starts approx. 2:30 pm (2 hours or 200 laps according to car count)
Watch CD105.9's Stephen King try to win the big Enduro prize!

Front Gates open at 1:30 pm.
Front Gate Admission: Adults $10, Youth (6-13) $5 and Children (5 & under) Free

Come join us in for some good old fashioned family fun!
At Eagle Raceway..."America's Home Track"

Sprint Car world remembers WoO Founder Ted Johnson

From Chris Dolack, VP of Public Relations - Dirt Motorsports

Ted Johnson and the World of Outlaws. It’s pretty hard to say one without at least thinking of the other. That’s as much a tribute to the man as it is the racing series he created.Johnson dedicated his life to sprint car racing, taking the sport to heights not previously imagined. He assembled the greatest collection of sprint car drivers in the world and helped them enjoy careers entertaining fans across the United States and around the world. Through the World of Outlaws, Johnson has impacted thousands of sprint car racers and created national heroes out of the best of the best during the past 30 years.On Friday night in Texas, Johnson, 72, finally lost his hard-fought battle with cancer.

Born on Feb. 5, 1934, in Beloit, Wis., Johnson developed a passion for motor sports early in his childhood as he watched his father race motorcycles.Johnson, who briefly drove a midget before settling into a career as a china salesman, never could shake the racing bug and in 1978 he unveiled the World of Outlaws, a collection of the biggest names in sprint car racing that traveled around the country trying to swipe purses from local competitors. The series drew huge crowds, attracted national television audiences and major sponsorship all while competing nearly 100 times a year with Johnson calling the shots every step of the way.

He continued to operate the series until selling it in 2004 to DIRT MotorSports. Even then Johnson found himself involved with the World of Outlaws as an advisor and confidant to those now making decisions."Ted Johnson gave all he had to make the World of Outlaws the premier dirt racing series in the world," DIRT MotorSports President and CEO Tom Deery said. "It’s up to us as fans and competitors to continue to carry on his legacy. It’s not something we take lightly, which is why on Sunday at the World of Outlaws banquet in Las Vegas we will introduce the Ted Johnson Award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to sprint car racing."

Click here for whole article, including words from current and former WoO figures

Is Less More? - Or: How I learned to stop racing and love the off-season

There was a rumor flying about at the Nebraska Cup and likely is about to become reality as there are plans to run a non-wing sprint show at Eagle on Fridays next season.

Sprint driver Jeff Lowery posted on dirtdrivers.com an announcement for an open practice session for anyone who would like to try out the "non wing" experience in 2007 at the October Enduro event on the 29th.

Lowery made valid points about the current state of the technology and its impact on the costs of racing; the large wings wear out tires, are hard on motors and ruin racetracks, creating one-groove racing.

But what concerns me here is that promoters do not address the true cost of racing, the one that is most easily controlled: the NUMBER of races run.

Aw, man. Here comes Jason ruining our fun again.

This will sound obvious to some, but it's oblivious to most promoters. For a racer, the single greatest cost of racing (the sport) is RACING (the action). Once you build the car, your expenses are pretty much done. It's when you get the car on the track that costs go up - fuel, tires, wear on parts, and this assumes you don't wreck. The more you race, the more the costs increase. Since a racing team's purpose is to race and not just have the car sit there, it's safe to say that these races ARE part of the fixed costs.

One response would be, "well if they can't afford it, don't race." And that's absolutely true. In fact, that's also the argument I use when racers demand purse increases because their costs have gone up.

But, do racers always have a choice? In the purest sense, yes - it's always their decision to race or not. As my High School English teacher said, the only two things you have to do in life are die and make decisions.

In the practical world, the choice may not always belong to the racer. Sponsor commitments may dictate attending a certain number of races - usually by CALENDAR YEAR, and not number of races unless it's not humanly possible (such as driver injury). For the vast majority of racers, at any level, some sponsorship is required.

So, by scheduling these snowstorm-to-snowstorm seasons, promoters have effectively increased the fixed costs to the racers as they have to run these shows.

For most racers, what is the most difficult part of racing? Is it the elusive dry-slick setup? Is it finding the right combination between horsepower and durability?

No, unless they are wealthy, choose to run up their credit cards, or live check to check, the hardest part is going out to get sponsors. And, with the increased demands on the racer's budget to be competitive and offer the sponsor something for their money, it gets harder to either 1. get more money from the sponsor or 2. find more sponsors to make up for the shortfall in cash.

So, what's my answer to this problem of reducing fixed costs?

Simple. Run fewer races.

THERE HE GOES CRAPPING ON OUR FUN AGAIN!!!

Think about it: fewer races would reduce costs for the racers and it would reduce costs for the promoter.

Take a cue from someone we KNOW makes money - oil companies. If they are losing money because of reduced demand (like after the summer travel season), what do they do? Decrease supply! It's the simplest form of supply and demand economics, folks.

Do you think the Daytona 500 would draw the throngs of fans if they ran it every week? Would the Chili Bowl be the same if they ran it every week in January? If the Rolling Stones played the Qwest Center each week would they sell the joint out every night? I doubt it. Even the most die hard 'Stones fan would not be able to shell out concert ticket money each week.

But I bet the 'Stones would charge the same amount to the concert's promoters regardless! See what I mean about fixed costs? You want that level you have to pay whether it be band fees or a class purse.

So why not increase your demand by reducing supply? It's a win-win deal. For a promoter it increases the likelihood of good crowds since they know they have limited time to see the shows. Look at a Fan Appreciation night. Yes, the fan goes because of the low price, but they also fill the joint on less-than-ideal nights because there are only so many nights you get that show for reduced admission.

For the promoter it helps because they're reducing their fixed costs and for the race fan since the number of shows is limited it reduces the chance of promoters calling a show on the first raindrop since their opportunities to make money are limited.

With reduced costs, you have more tracks able to run and that healthy competition gives fans choices, and makes promoters and racer deliver better products, which helps them out in the end.

Promoters can now work with each other to schedule specials instead of stepping on weekly shows. Racers who CHOOSE to travel now can pick and choose. I'm talking about GROWING the base and the sport, not sucking the blood out of it like we're doing now.

My problem is that promoters have this warped idea that the more shows they run, the more money they make. Really? This panoramic from Friday night's Neb. Cup show at 6:52 PM says different. Go ahead, and click on the photo. I'll be here waiting...

If the mentality that the more my doors are open the more I'll make is true in all cases, then every department store would be open 24 hours, every TV station would show their prime-time lineup all night, and we'd have snowplows at racetracks.

What is open 24 hours? Wal-Marts and convenience stores. What are TV stations running? Programs that people pay them to put on, unlike network programming, which the stations pay for.

If these long racing seasons were necessary then we wouldn't have discussions on why there are problems getting crowds at races during the IDEAL times of the year. It would be like Wal-Mart thinking that they have to open up a new store because they have trouble getting people to shop on Saturday afternoons. Unless their customers are night owls or live 100 miles from the store, that's not the answer.

Promoters seem to think it is. They have the mentality that the way to prosperity is through "making it up in volume." But the last time I checked, unlike razor blades, giving away races to sell beer is not the formula for success. The problem with this kind of business mentality in racing is you're not dealing with suppliers who are making money every time they provide you with the product you're selling. Unlike razor manufacturers, racers don't make money every time they deliver product (racecars) to your store (racetrack).

In 2006, concessions don't cover the costs, they're gravy; it's the front gate first and foremost. Any promoter who wants to make money, to improve facilities, and build new clientele HAS to be getting more people in the front gate for EACH show - not making money at the back gate, and not milking the limited crowd for all the money you can at the concession stand. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE FRONT GATE!

My feeling is the time to add shows is when you are selling out the shows you already have. Until then, all you're doing is throwing money down a hole and placing burdens on racers and fans who support you each week because they want to do their part to keep things running.

If the answer to why all these shows in the cold of winter and fall are run is not about the mentality that the more my doors are open, the more I make, then what is it? Ego? Competition? Megalomania? I don't recall seeing these in business textbooks.

I'm not so naive to think that business doesn't have intangibles like competition and sometimes you have to do things that may not make money, but that is part of "investment" and "marketing," and needs to be thought of as such. If you're "investments" aren't panning out or your "marketing" isn't bringing in more people then once again, you're throwing money away.

Once again, these are all BUSINESS issues, otherwise you have issues that are best addressed by therapy and not accounting.

So what does this have to do with non-wing sprinters at Eagle? First, I have nothing against the idea of running 360 wingless sprints at Eagle, per se. But, these races are going to increase costs for promoters and where is the demand for non-wing shows? If they made money for Eagle, they'd still be there. The crowds for the two shows I saw at I-80 were weak, so I don't see a demand. Therefore, unless something else is done for the fans, this show becomes a back-gate moneymaker at BEST. And again, what track has survived, much less grown, off the back gate? Yes, you can be a back-gate promoter, but unless you just have a hole in the dirt, the price to build or buy today's tracks is far to great to hope to make it up with meager back gate profit.

The number of sprint cars is limited. The number of people who can afford a sprinter, wing or non-wing is also limited. So, unless you're creating a new pool of racers - these racers are being asked by the promoter to increase their fixed costs on behalf of whom???

And, again if you're drawing from a limited pool what happens when the money starts running out at the end of the season? When there's a Friday night title on the line for a car who sits in 20th place on Saturday, where are their priorities when it comes to limited funds? I'll bet that car isn't there the next night... If you don't believe me then why didn't you see Eagle's top two at the Brodix Tournament of Champions in 2005?

So, unless you're making money on Fridays, you're hurting your money maker or at least your best opportunity to make money by reducing your Saturday car counts.

The optimistic will call the Friday night show an investment. Most investments usually have a promise of return at the end. There's been no sign a non-wing show is a money maker, so I'll choose to call it a gamble. Either way if it pays off, then great! But, unlike an investment, gambles usually have a harder fall at the end, and in most cases it's not just the person who loses the gamble that suffers.

Instead of trying to run a weekly show on a night that hasn't worked for anyone in the past 10-15 years, why not run a limited schedule of specials or support events with the wingless cars and grow from there?

Have you noticed that every single new product release is started with marketing first, then product second? How much pent up demand is there for the Play Station 3? We’ve read plenty, we’ve seen what it will do, yet there isn’t one single console in the general public yet. But, places like Game Stop have already reached a limit in pre-orders!

Promoters need to realize they are providing a product and you need to build demand first and release product second in order to succeed.

-Jason

Eagle Raceway

Eagle Raceway: "The Enduro Spook-tacular scheduled for October 29th has been talked about by many drivers wanting to get that LAST chance to compete in the 2006 race season. A huge $2000 to win along with a pay back to 10th place has been offered. There is only minimal registrations as of right now and we are needing 50 to 75 cars to make a real last showing of this race season for the fans. Anyone that will be running this Enduro will need to contact the office 402-238-2595 or Roger 402-238-3766 by October 19th so that we can determine if this will be an event that will hold up to the standards that the Eagle Raceway fan has come to expect.

Eagle Raceway...'America's Home Track'"

Scribner race track damaged by fire

Scribner race track damaged by fire
By Lee Enterprises

Two buildings at the closed Nebraska Motorplex in Scribner burned down
Monday under what authorities consider suspicious circumstances.

Two investigators from the Nebraska Fire Marshal's office were
investigating it as possible arson.

Scribner Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ken Thomas said firefighters
were called to the Motorplex at about 12:45 a.m. after a neighbor
reported a large fire.

Owner Greg Sanford closed the raceway after the 2005 season.

When firefighters arrived, the raceway tower was two-thirds involved
in flames, Thomas said. A concessions and bathroom building 400 to 500
yards away was completely engulfed in flames, he said.

"That alone (the distance between the two fires) was suspicious enough
for me to call out the fire marshal," Thomas said.

Both buildings were destroyed and initial estimates put the loss at
about $150,000.

Sanford said he is trying to figure out who would do such a thing.

"We went up there Saturday and somebody had broken in," he said.
"There was a license plate left on the ground."

He had no further comment.

Dodge County Sheriff Dan Weddle said his office had not been called to
investigate a break-in.

Sanford closed the Motorplex after he couldn't get funding for a paved
road to the drag strip.

Sanford has proposed building a drag strip north of Lincoln along U.S.
77. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission held a hearing on
the application Wednesday but did not vote on it.

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame inducts six new members

By Randy Lawrence, Media Director

LINCOLN, Neb. (Oct. 15, 2006) -- The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony on Friday, Oct. 13, at the Lincoln Firefighter's Reception Hall. A packed house was on hand as the class of 2006 was honored for their contribution to the sport of auto racing in Nebraska and throughout the United States.

The four living inductees -- Jack Beck, Gene Kidder, Charlie Martin and Kent Tucker -- were on hand for the event, each with a large entourage of family members and friends. Abe Slusky's son, Jerry, accepted the award for his late father and Hall of Fame board member Ray Valasek accepted for Clyde Baker.

The Gordie Shuck Memorial Sportsmanship Award was presented to Valasek for his tireless efforts to promote and preserve the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Guest speaker Tom Sneva regaled the audience with tales of his racing and broadcasting careers. The 1983 Indianapolis 500 winner also spoke of the dedication and the attention to detail required to be successful in auto racing.

After the induction ceremony and bench racing had concluded, many of those in attendance were treated to a walk-through tour of the amazing Smith Collection Museum of American Speed.

The purpose of the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame is to perpetuate the memory of these individuals who have brought lasting fame to the State of Nebraska through their efforts in auto racing. Nominees to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame must have been a resident of the State of Nebraska for at least two years and must be retired from the discipline they are being honored for four years. Active participants in the sport will be considered if they are 55 years of age and have been with the sport for at least 30 years. All candidates must have made positive contributions to the sport of auto racing on a local and regional level, with some national prominence. Anyone wishing to nominate a person to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame can do so by submitting the person's name, with a list of their accomplishments to:

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
5527 S. 20th St.
Lincoln, NE 68512

Prospective nominees can also submitted by emailing jorth@narhof.com or by calling 402-421-2266.

The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame is online at www.narhof.com.


The 2006 Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame Inductees: (L to R) Gene Kidder, Jerry Slusky accepting for
Abe Slusky, Ray Valasek accepting for Clyde Baker, Charlie Martin, Jack Beck and Kent Tucker.
(Photo by Randy Lawrence)

Midwest Motorsports Promoting Pledges Support for Nebraska Motorplex

Lincoln, NE (Oct. 14, 2006) - Midwest Motorsports Promoting, the
organizing committee for Midwest Racers Autograph Day has just announced
their support of Gregg Sanford, owner of Nebraska Motorplex in his quest
to establish a dragstrip just off of Highway 77 between Branched Oak and
Davey Roads.

Mr. Sanford has encountered opposition from some of the neighbors in the
area citing noise and disturbance.

“I have discussed these concerns with Mr. Sanford and after conferring
with the rest of our committee, we have concluded the gains far outweigh
the losses for racing and our community as a whole.” said Gary
Dominguez, President and Founder of Midwest Motorsports Promoting.
Autograph Day is a pre-season event that puts as many as 100+ racing
machines of all classes on display to the public every first Saturday in
April. This event began in 2001, and has become an annual festivity. The
2006 event was held in the Uncle Ron’s Complex at 340 West Cornhusker
Highway which attracted over 3,000 spectators, potential race fans, and
sponsors.

“It does not matter what class you run, racing is racing, and we as
committee that promotes motorsports would be totally remiss in our
duties if we let this fall through the cracks without a show of support”
said Dominguez.” It will be our policy to endorse and support Mr.
Sanford in his objective to establish a Motorsports Facility”.

Coming up

Here's what I've got coming up soon
(not in any order)

-NE Cup night 2 pics (probably first)
-Random Thoughts Parts III, IV, etc...
-I-80 Cornhusker Classic pics from Saturday
-Eagle Season Finale (9-16) pics
-Eagle 9-15 WoO Pics

Large crowd expected for drag strip hearing

BY MATT OLBERDING / Lincoln Journal Star

Opponents and supporters of a proposed drag strip in northern Lancaster
County are gearing up for a battle at Wednesday’s Lincoln-Lancaster County
Planning Commission meeting.

Both sides are expected to appear in force for a public hearing on the
proposal, which is scheduled for the end of the meeting that starts at 1
p.m.

Even though the hearing room holds about 150 people, the Planning Department
has made arrangements to have an adjacent conference room open to handle any
overflow.

Greg Sanford, owner of Nebraska Motorplex, wants to put a drag strip on
about 160 acres of land on the east side of U.S. 77 between Branched Oak and
Davey roads.

In addition to the track, Sanford’s plans include bleachers, starting and
observation towers, various buildings, 602 parking spaces and initial
seating for up to 5,000 people.

According to information filed with the Planning Department, racing would
occur virtually every weekend from March to November, with some events
starting as early as 8 a.m. and lasting until midnight.

Sanford has said he hopes to host regional and national events.

Those details have neighbors of the proposed track up in arms.

Click here for remainder of article

Lincoln's Alley Takes Knoxville Championship

By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, Iowa - (October 7) It took over a month to settle the issue, but
Billy Alley of Lincoln, Nebraska was crowned the 2006 points champion at
Knoxville Raceway Saturday night. The long wait was brought about by a rain
postponement on September 2 of the 410 feature event of that night and was
then run in conjunction with a World of Outlaws program which was also
rained out and rescheduled on this same October night.

Nothing is simple on a night when the full moon is shining upon it. That
being said, Alley came into the make-up race with only a 45 points advantage
over Brian Brown. With a hefty check at the annual raceway banquet and the
prestige of being Knoxville Raceway track champion, both men had a chance of
winning it all.

Pole sitter Dusty Zomer took the early advantage and Brown settled in right
behind him. With a track which had become hard and dry early, most of the
front runners headed to the top for the fastest way around this big half
mile oval. At lap five Zomer led Brown by five car lengths as Alley
languished in the sixth spot.

One lap later the leaders hit lap traffic and it was really just a matter of
when that would impede Zomer enough for Brown to challenge him. Heavy lap
traffic on the eighth go around saw Brown with his chance but he did not
make good on it till lap ten when he pulled a slider in turns one and two
and took the lead as he shot down the backstretch.

Lap eleven saw the red flag fly for a violent crash on the backstretch as
Dennis Moore, Jr. and Brent Antill tagged each other. The contact sent
Antill flying through a series of wild flips as he finally came to a rest at
the entrance of turn three. Both cars retired from the race placing Alley in
the fifth spot for the restart.

When the race was flagged green, Alley made a bid on fourth running Lynton
Jeffrey but came up empty handed as Jeffrey fended off his moves. Three laps
later the red was displayed for second running Zomer who flipped hard at the
entrance of turn two. Neither Zomer nor Antill required medical assistance.

The lap 14 restart saw Alley running in fourth, just one spot shy of where
he needed to be in order to capture the points title. He jousted with
Jeffrey but could make no headway for a pass.

It wasn't until lap 19 that the deciding factor in the race happened. That
is when third running Jeffrey popped a right-rear tire and coasted to a halt
in turn four. This incident allowed Alley to move to third, a spot which
would give him the points he would need in order to capture the track title.

On the restart, Brown began to pull away from second running Calvin Landis.
Lap after lap Brown did what he needed to do to insure himself of the best
points finish possible. With Alley running third, there was nothing more he
could do.

The moonlit night had created some surreal situations in this race and one
more was about to happen. Lap 22 saw smoke beginning to flow from the Alley
machine. Was this a sign of a terminal problem with the Alley power plant?
There were only three laps to go and both Brown and Alley were on missions
to the end.

Although the smoke did become greater, Alley managed to keep his sprinter
together and to get it across the finish line in third place and a five
points advantage in the season's points race. The big check for the night
belonged to Brown in the Doogs Racing Maxim, as he became $4,000 richer but
certainly found disappointment in the outcome. It had boiled down to the
closest points finish in the history of Knoxville Raceway.

Though most eyes were on Brown and Alley, Landis had a great run and
finished in the runner-up position. Fourth went to Randy Anderson and Kaley
Gharst took fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Matt Moro, Bronson
Maeschen, Chris Walraven, Mike More and Clint Garner.

A non-points slate of events was also held for the 360 sprint division.
Capturing the feature was Jeff Mitrisin who led flag to flag in doing so. It
was the second of the season for Mitrisin in the Steve Wares-owned sprinter.
Randy Martin, Jon Corbin, Tony Bruce, Jr. and Rager Phillips completed the
top five finishers.

410 RESULTS
A Feature, 25 laps, No Time: 1. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO; 2. Calvin
Landis, Knoxville, IA; 3. Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE; 4. Randy Anderson,
Clarion, IA; 5. Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL; 6. Matt Moro, Des Moines, IA; 7.
Bronson Maeschen, Knoxville, IA; 8. Chris Walraven, Knoxville, IA; 9. Mike
Moore, Des Moines, IA; 10. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD; 11. Lynton
Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, AUST/Prairie City, IA; 12. Skip Jackson, Knoxville,
IA; 13. Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD; 14. Dennis Moore, Jr., Grinnell, IA;
15. Tony Shilling, Knoxville, IA; 16. Brent Antill, Ankeny, IA; 17. Tim St.
Arnold, Des Moines, IA; 18. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls, SD. Lap Leaders: Zomer
1-9; Brown 10-25

Simpson, Saathoff, Steinbach, Swanson Cornhusker Classic Winners

Jim Brennan

(Greenwood, Ne., 10/08/06) – After a 2 week rain delay the Cornhusker
Classic for 2006 was completed with Chris Simpson completing a Simpson sweep
in the WDRL/Polydome Super Late Models while Johnny Saathoff, Marty
Steinbach and Jeremy Swanson won the support class features.

The WDRL 50 lap feature saw Dave Eckrich take the early lead only to lose it
on the back straight to Kelly Boen. Joe Kosiski was 3rd and Chris Simpson
was 4th in the early going. Simpson passed Kosiski on lap 4 for 3rd. There
was a yellow flag on lap 12 for John Nicholson, who stopped on the track
with a flat tire. On the restart Simpson took 2nd. On lap 34 Simpson passed
Boen for the lead and went on to record his first career WDRL feature win.
His brother Chad had won the opening night WDRL feature on September 22nd.
Boen held on for second ahead of Dave and Denny Exkrich, Delbert Smith,
Steve Kosiski, John Anderson Alonzo Grosse, Joe Kosiski and Eddie Moore.
Brian Harris, 2nd in WDRL points, blew a motor in the last laps of his
qualifier and had to use a backup car in the feature putting him in the 24th
starting position. He had moved into the top 10 when a flat tire stopped him
and he ended up in 15th.

After an opening lap mishap, Saathoff started on the outside front row and
charged into the lead on the opening lap and blew away the rest of the field
to take the win by almost a quarter of a lap over Mike Meyer. J. C. Wyman
came home 3rd over Grant Junghans, Dan Mueller and Jeremiah Sillman. Kevin
Larkins came fro a 14th place start to finish 7th.

The Pro-am 20 lap feature seemed tp have the closest racing as Nick Steier,
Rick Negrete, Shawn Bulin and Joe Feyen battled for the early lead with
Negrete taking command on lap 2. Steinbach, who started 12th after winning
the 1nd B-Feature, was up to second by lap 3 and charged into the lead on
lap 9.He battled for a couple of laps with Steier back and forth with
Steinbach in the lead for good on lap 11. Steinbach went on to win over
Negrete, Feyen, Bulin, Jason Cieslik and Steier.

Jeremy Auten took the early lead in the Hobby Stock A-Feature followed by
Max Harder. Harder took the lead on lap 2. Jesse Sobbing took the lead on
lap 4.
Sobbing held on to the lead until lap 12 when Swanson passed him. Kyle
Vanover and Jesse Van Laningham came on to take 2nd and 3rd at the checkered
flag. Sobbing finished 4th.

NRP/I-80 Speedway is located between Omaha and Lincoln just north of I-80
exit 420 and runs the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series on Saturday and Sunday
nights during their regular season; one of only two tracks in the USA to
hold two NASCAR Dodge Weekly Sanctions. For more information, contact the
NRP General Offices at 402-342-3453 during normal business hours or visit
the web site at www.neracewaypark.com. On race days after 4pm, the track
info line is 402-944-2233.

Nebraska Raceway Park I-80 Speedway Results for 10/08/06

Cornhusker Classic

WDRL Late Models

A-Feature: 1) 32 Chris Simpson, 2) 07 Jelly Boen, 3) 58 Dave Eckrich, 4) 50
Denny Eckrich, 5) 92 Delbert Smith, 6) 52 Steve Kosiski, 7) 1k John
Anderson,
8) 44zo Alonzo Grosse, 9) 53 Joe Kosiski, 10) 17m Eddie Moore, 11) u2 Scott
Daly,
12) Craig Preble, 13) Davey Nall, 14) Kyle Berck, 15) Brian Harris, 16)
Chris
Spieker, 17) Chad Simpson, 18) Bill Leighton Jr., 19) Dave Jorgensen, 20)
John
Nicholson, 21) Todd Bell, 22) Jason Utter, 23) Jerry Warner, 24) Alan
Vaughn,
25) Bill Koons, 26) Trent Follmer

1st B-Feature: 1) Leighton, 2) Spieker, 3) Daly, 4) Kenny Edwards

2nd B-Feature: 1)Bell, 2 Grosse, 3) Vaughn, 4) Clint Benson

Pole Dash: 1) Dave Eckrich, 2) Boen, 3) Joe Kosiski, 4) Chris Simpson,
5) Chad Simpson, 6) Denny Eckrich, 7) Steve Kosiski

Modifieds

A-Feature: 1) 96j Johnny Saathoff, 2) 2M Mike Meyer, 3) 4 J. C. Wyman,
4) 2 Grant Junghans, 5) 43x Dan Mueller, 6) 52s Jeremiah Sillman,
7) 4x Kevin Larkins, 8) 19j Jeff Jones, 9) 74 Justin Clark, 10) 1S Scott
Carlson,
11) Randy Foote, 12) Scott Bivens, 13) Ricky Stephan, 14) Justin Cooper,
15) Mike Lineberry, 16) Chris Alcorn, 17) Brian Foote, 18) Larry Goertz,
19) Jon Thompson, 20) Scott Styskal, 21) Larry Foote, 22) Shane Stutzman

1st B-Feature: 1) Jones, 2) Mueller, 3) Alcorn, 4) Stutzman, 5) Cooper,
6) Mike Johnson, 7) L. Foote, 8) B. Foote

2nd B-Feature: 1) Sillman, 2) R. Foote, 3) Goertz, 4) Larkins, 5) Carlson,
6) Stephan, 7) Lineberry, 8 Robert Brinkman

Pro-Ams

A-Feature: 1) 5 Marty Steinbach, 2) 72 Rick Negrete, 3) 25x Joe Feyen,
4) 36 Shawn Bulin, 5) 16j Jason Cieslik, 6) 8 Nick Steier, 7) 88 Scotty
Hartman, 8) 49x Chad Sanders, 9) 30j Kevin Jobe, 10) 24 Don Mohr,
11) Thad Thomson, 12) Mike Brown, 13) Denny Berghahn, 14) Terry
Cleveland, 15) Andy Thompsen, 16) Denny Berghahn Jr., 17) Rich
Steier, 18) Shane Bales, 19) Jeff Atkins, 20) Nick Hermsen, 21) Ray
Dessel, 22) Jeremy Longmeyer, 23) Steve Peoples, 24) Jeff Joldersma

1st B-Feature: 1) Peoples, 2) Hartman, 3) Sanders, 4) Cleveland,
5) Berghahn, 6) Joldersma, 7) Hermsen

2nd B-Feature: 1) Steinbach, 2) Cieslik, 3) Brown, 4) Dessel,
5) Berghahn Jr., 6) Atkins

Hobby Stocks

A-Feature: 1) 68 Jeremy Swanson, 2) 19 Kyle Vanover, 3) 72 Jesse
Van Laningham, 4) 99 Jesse Sobbing, 5) Z34 Max Harder, 6) 7 Tom
Myers, 7) 15 Chris Vannausdale, 8) 1 Justin Leach, 9) 20 Chad
Borgman, 10) 3k Jerry Keaton, 11) Bob Kracher, 12) Josh Sink,
13) Terry Shearer, 14) Jeremy Auten, 15) Rick Munson, 16) Scott
Robinson, 17) Jesse McNeal, 18) Derek Fralin, 19) Mike Barton,
20) Nate Thompson, 21) Josh True, 22) Roger Timperley

1st B-Feature: 1) True, 2) Robinson, 3) VanLaningham, 4) Barton,
5) Borgman, 6) Keaton, 7) Ashley Darnold, 8) Travis Alley

2nd B-Feature: 1) Munson, 2) Timperley, 3) Leach, 4) Sink, 5) Fralin,
6) Thompson

Carlson and Schween Headline Cornhusker Natls. - Hobscheidt and Zeitner LM Winners

By Joey Sparano

(GREENWOOD NEB., 10/08/06) Scott Carlson, Justin Schween, Nate Christensen,
and Austin Kurtzer would all pick up feature wins as the first annual
Cornhusker Nationals came to a close at Nebraska Raceway Park. Jason
Hobscheidt and Al Zeitner would also visit victory lane during the make up
portion of the Cornhusker Classic as All State Insurance presented the
races.

The 20 lap B-Mod "A" main event would see Scott Carlson take the checkered
flags in his first start of the season. Carlson would take the lead a few
laps into the race and never look back as he would stretch his lead to 15
car lengths at one point. The race for second was closer as Daryl Weilage,
Kyle Harpster, Floyd Richards, Larry Robinson Sr., and Lacey Tuttle battled
for the position. Tuttle would loose hope for a good finish as she would go
into the spin cycle making the pass for second. Richards night would end
when he cut down a left rear tire. As Carlson took the checkers, he would be
followed by Weilage, Harpster, Robinson, and Mike Christiansen.

The 20 lap 305 Sprint car "A" feature had pole sitter Ray Seaman jump to an
early lead. Seaman would hold the top spot until the halfway point when the
#76J of Justin Schween made the pass. The lap ten pass would end up being
the final pass for the lead as Schween held on for the win. Seaman would
finish second. The 96.1 of Michael Oliver would finish third after spinning
out on the first lap. Mike Brown would take his #2Y to a fourth place
finishing spot after showing up late, just minutes before his heat race.
Fifth would go to Smokey Fairbank. Season points winner Trish Dover would
finish 8th after experiencing an engine problem during the night.

Nate Christensen would take the victory in the Single Cam Hornet "A" feature
event. The remaining top five finishers would be Joe Baker, Darrin Hoegren,
Thomas Liechti, and Bryan Hull.

The Dual Cam Hornet "A" main would see the #57 of Austin Kurtzer drive to
victory lane. Kurtzer would take a close victory over Kevin Stanzel, Lindsey
Yost, Joe McConnell, and Steve England.

The 25 lap Grand National "A" main event would see the #99 of Al Humphrey
jump to an early lead. Humphrey would maintain the lead during the early
stages of the race, but as the leaders caught up to lap traffic it was Jason
Hobsheidt who would get around Humphrey. Hobsheidt would pull away and go on
to win the caution free event. Humphrey finished second. Points Champion
Dave Doll finished third. NASCAR Busch Grand National and ARCA Re/Max Series
driver Josh Krug came home fourth. Billy Leighton Jr. finished fifth.

Al Zeitner would lead every lap of the IMCA/CNCTA Latemodel "A" main event.
Al Humphrey would once again bring his #99 home to a second place finish.
Eddie Moore would come home third. Sunday night Super Latemodel regulars
Barry Sorensen and Scott Koskovich rounded out the top five.

Complete results will be on the NRP website later this week.
www.neracewaypark.com

Nebraska Raceway Park is located off I-80 at exit 420 between Omaha and
Lincoln and is home to I-80 Speedway, the Little Sunset Speedway go-kart
track and Soaring Edge Motocross Park. The Speedway hosts events weekly from
April through September. For race day track information call (402) 944-2233
or check out the official I-80 Speedway website at www.neracewaypark.com.
The Omaha General Office can be contacted during normal business hours at
402-342-3453

Saathoff, Borgman, Husted and Trauernicht Pick Up Octoberfest Wins at Beatrice Speedway

By Scott Wisdom

Johnny Saathoff of Beatrice in his Tru-Coil Springs, Pinnacle Bank, Toobies
Lumber, JR Motorsports, Chase Wraps, Jet Racing Sponsored Jet Mod put on a
dominating performance to pick up his 5th Octoberfest IMCA Modified Win of
his Career. He took the lead early in the Main Event and went on to charge
away from the field. Greg Metz, Jordan Grabouski, Kevin Larkins and David
Trauernicht followed him across the line.

Lance Borgman of Beatrice in his Fletcher's Decorating, Classic Auto Sales,
Borgman Crate and Pallet, R.L. Tieman Construction sponsored Intimidator
Chassis continued his amazing season picking up the Octoberfest IMCA Stock
Championship. He held off a hard charging Josh Carpenter to take home the
win. Carpenter, Gene Stigall, Bryan Lariviere and Eric Rempel chased him
across the line.

Kent Husted Sioux City, Ia in his Auto Sound Solutions sponsored Sniper
Chassis took home the win in the Octoberfest IMCA Hobby Stock Championship.
He dominated the field from the drop of the green flag. BJ Dauer, Jim Buss,
Eric Chab and Austin Davis rounded out the first 5.

David Trauernicht of Beatrice in his Macke Liquor and Deli, Holtmeier Farms,
Fat Guys BBQ Sauce, Seneca Sanitation and Yancy's Automotive sponsored Larry
Shaw Race Car took home the $300 win in the Octoberfest Race of Champions.
He led the whole ten lap affair. Chris Alcorn, Johnny Saathoff, Kevin
Larkins and Greg Metz followed him across the line.
Results
IMCA Modifeds
1) 96j Johnny Saathoff
2) 29 Greg Metz
3) 30 Jordan Grabouski
4) 4x Kevin Larkins
5) 45 David Trauernicht
6) 94 Dan Nelson
7) 4 Lonnie Shriner
8) 3 Chris Alcorn
9) 4j Jordy Nelson
10) 35 Tim Echevarria
11) 2 Joe Cleveland
12) 71m Eric McMillan
13) 24 Dan Bohlmeyer
14) 96 Gary Saathoff
15) 99 Shawn Strand
16) s56 Scott Bivens
17) 21h Brandon Hagan
18) 5s Bob Zoubek
19) 50 Scott Smith
20) 8j Justin Bell
21) 7b Chris Burk
22) b6 Brian Knoell
23) z34 Brent Schlake
24) 27 Clint Homan
25) 44x Tom Petracek
26) 77 Dean Wray
IMCA Stock Cars
1) 76 Lance Borgman
2) 3 Josh Carpenter
3) 20st Gene Stigall
4) 2 Bryan Lariviere
5) 31 Eric Rempel
6) 6 Tyler Phelps
7) 21f Terry Franz
8) 25j Josh Daniels
9) 15 Andy Wilkinson
10) 27 Gary Bass
11) 55 Cory Bushnell
12) 21 Jay Holle
13) m30 David Murk
14) 5 Jim Stolzenburg
15) 55z Zach Schultz
16) 8t Travis Tilford
17) 1sw Todd Mabbitt
18) 6x Ernie Reiss
19) y2j Jeremy Bell
20) 66 Jeff Joldersma
IMCA Hobby Stocks
1) 01 Kent Husted
2) 33 BJ Dauer
3) 12j Jim Buss
4) 11 Eric Chab
5) 22d Austin Davis
6) 72 Jesse Vanlaningham
7) 7 Matt Fralin
8) 21 Aron DeWalt
9) 34 Max Harder
10) 19 Kyle Vanover
11) 12s Brady Schoen
12) 6a Adam Armstrong
13) 6r Roy Armstrong
14) 6 Mike Shriver
15) 33s Travis Runcie
16) 22 Justin Mohler
17) 2 Ryan Roschewski
18) 20 Chad Borgman
19) 1xs Brent Schoen
20) 6s Tony Spunaugle

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony October 13

by Randy Lawrence, Media Director

LINCOLN, Neb. (October 7, 2006) - The 2006 Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Banquet will be held on Friday, Oct. 13, at the Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall at 241 Victory Lane near the Speedway Motors complex in Lincoln, Neb. The members of the class of 2006 include: Clyde Baker, Ord; Jack Beck, Omaha; Gene Kidder, Omaha; Charlie Martin, Lincoln; Abe Slusky, Omaha; and Kent Tucker, Aurora.

1983 Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva will be the guest speaker at the Induction Ceremony on Oct. 13. Nicknamed "The Gasman," Sneva won the pole position for the Indianapolis 500-mile race three times (1977-78, 1984). In 1977 he became the first driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 at over 200 mph, and in 1984 was the first driver to qualify at over 210 mph.

Clyde Baker was the race superintendent for the Valley County Fair from 1929-1951 and was instrumental in making the Ord, Neb., track a venue where many of the sports greatest drivers raced. The track he helped create was a challenging high-banked half-mile with long chutes resulting in high speeds. Baker’s forte’ was his rapport with the racing community. He always treated the racers fairly and honestly, creating an atmosphere where the sport’s best wanted to race. It was through his tireless effort that men such as Johnny Gerber, Lloyd Axel, Joie Chitwood, Gus Schrader and Bobby Grim in the Big Cars (now known as Sprint Cars), plus Harry McQuinn, Lloyd Ruby, Jud Larson and Bobby Parker in the Midgets began their careers. Many more traveled our country’s roads to race at Ord. Baker always made the racers feel welcome in the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s.

Jack Beck was born in Loup City, Neb., and grew up near Litchfield. Beck started his racing career in 1966 and his personal driving accomplishments include twenty Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Midwest Division national points championships -- three with the Neokla Region and the last seventeen with the Nebraska Region. In addition, Beck finished on the podium five times at the SCCA National Runoffs. Beck also received numerous other awards from various levels of the SCCA, including being selected six times as the Nebraska Region National Competition Driver of the Year. In addition to his driving skills, Beck is a nationally-known engine builder and founded Orion Motor Sports in 1986. Located in northwest Omaha, Orion maintains, fabricates, restores, does engine development and provides restoration for cars that compete in vintage, SCCA and IMSA events. His engine development laurels includes various models of Alfa, Nissan, BMC and Ford Cosworth Engines.

Gene Kidder, a native of Omaha, Neb., now a resident of Mammoth Cave, Ky., began drag racing in Omaha in 1952. As a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Advisor in Division 5, he was instrumental in getting racers off the streets and onto a track at the old Flightland Airstrip in Omaha. He raced Mopars for years and set a National Record in 1966 at Denver, Colo. In 1968, Kidder left Omaha with his nitro-burning Funny Car, and in 1972 rolled the car seven times at 140 mph during a run at Miami (Fla.) Dragway. That experience encouraged him to return to his banking career, and he became president of Central Bank in West Palm Beach, Fla. In 1980, he returned to the business side of racing, working for aftermarket automotive firms such as Moroso Performance, Firepower Ignition and Holley Carburetor. Kidder is currently employed as a Certified Track Technician in Division 3 of the NHRA at the Beech Bend Park & Raceway in Bowling Green, Ky. At 73 years of age he is still active in the sport and loving it.

Charlie Martin was born in Seneca, Kan., in 1930 and moved to Lincoln where he went to work for Bob Carroll Farm Machinery in 1949. Martin started attending races in 1950 at Grandview Theatre Speedway in Omaha on Sunday afternoons and at Capital Beach in Lincoln. During the late 1950s through the early ‘60s he built and wrenched on race cars for Louie Quattrocchi. In 1965 Martin hooked up with Joe Saldana and they raced a Super Modified at Midwest Speedway in Lincoln and Eagle (Neb.) Raceway. From 1967-69, Martin was crew chief on Saldana’s “Mechanical Rabbit” roadster designed by Don Brown, finishing second in Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway points all three years. Martin and Saldana traveled throughout Midwest racing the roadster with great success. In 1971, Martin was crew chief for Lloyd Beckman in Bill Smith’s famous No. 4x compiling 19 feature wins. In 1972, Martin wrenched for R.D. “Biz” Bisping of Norfolk with Gerald Bruggeman at the wheel. From 1973-75, several drivers drove for Bisping and Martin, including Don Maxwell, Beckman and Russ Brahmer. Martin was an unassuming man with a passion for building, preparing and maintaining race cars throughout his racing career.

Abe Slusky found the land just across the river from downtown Omaha in 1947 which became known as Playland Park. He built a large wooden roller coaster, many other rides and converted the closed dog track into a track for auto racing. Playland Speedway was thus born featuring midget auto racing. Midget racing turned into stock cars in the ‘50s and Playland Speedway was the hotbed of racing in the Midwest. Among the drivers that raced at Playland Speedway were Tiny Lund, Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductees Bud and Bob Burdick along with Bob Kosiski. Playland Park closed down from 1964-1967 due to Interstate 480 construction. Slusky spent 18 years stamping his style of leadership on the local, regional and national racing scene. Slusky died from a heart condition in 1970, but over the next six years Playland Speedway enjoyed huge success until 1977 when it finally closed.

Kent Tucker was eastern and central Nebraska's dominant driver throughout much of the 1970s. The popular farmer from Aurora scored back-to-back Late Model Nationals wins in 1974 and 1975 after a near-miss runner-up finish in the inaugural event in 1973 at the Mid-Nebraska Speedway (then called Mid-Continent Raceways). In addition to numerous track championships at several of Nebraska’s dirt ovals and hundreds of feature wins throughout the Cornhusker State, Tucker was also a threat on any dirt track in any state he visited. When his familiar blue No. 57 pulled through the gate, all bets were off. Among his national driving accomplishments, he claimed the Alta Race Days championship in 1976. Battling some of the best dirt track pilots throughout the Midwest, Tucker claimed the I.M.C.A. Late Model National Championship in 1977.

To order tickets for this year's extravaganza, please contact one of the following board members:

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
c/o George Roseland
18 Westlake Village
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: (712) 366-2605
Email: groseland@narhof.com

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
c/o Ray Valasek
821 Driftwood Dr.
Lincoln, NE 68510
Phone: (402) 489-5171

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
c/o Chris Johnson
3017 West Stolley Park Rd. #99
Grand Island, NE 68801
Phone: (402) 610-5510
Email: cjohnson@narhof.com

The purpose of the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame is to perpetuate the memory of these individuals who have brought lasting fame to the state of Nebraska through their efforts in auto racing.

Nominees to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame must have been a resident of the state for at least two years and must be retired from the discipline they are being honored for four years. Active participants in the sport will be considered if they are 55 years of age and have been with the sport for at least 30 years.

All candidates must have made positive contributions to the sport of auto racing on a local, regional and some national prominence.

Anyone wishing to nominate a person to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame can do so by submitting the person's name, with a list of their accomplishments to: The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Inc., 5527 S. 20th St., Lincoln, NE 68512. Or you can call 402-421-2266, or e-mail your nomination to jorth@narhof.com

For more information about the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame please visit www.narhof.com

Trauernicht, Rempel and Husted win opening night pole dashes at Octoberfest

By Scott Wisdom

Beatrice Speedway's Octoberfest 2006 got under way with 119 cars
checking into the pits for the first night.

David Trauernicht of Beatrice took his Holtmeier Farms, Seneca
Sanitation, Tank It Food and Fuel, Reedy Machine and Fab,Yancy's
Automotive, Fat Guy's BBQ Sauce sponsored Larry Shaw race car home to
the pole for tommorows $3000 to win Octoberfest IMCA Modifieds. He and
Johnny Saathoff put on an exciting show for the fan with a 3 lap shoot
out to end the pole dash with Trauernicht hold him off. Saathoff, Kevin
Larkins, Dan Nelson, Chris Alcorn, Daniel Bohlmeyer, Jordy Nelson, Brian
Knoell and Clint Homan completed the first night qualifiers.

Eric Rempel in his Redline Race Graphics sponsored Littleman Chassis
took home the pole dash win in the $1250 to win IMCA Stock Cars. Lance
Borgman, Todd Mabbitt, Jeremy Bell, Tyler Phelps, Andy Wilkinson, Josh
Daniels and David Murk completed the first night qualifiers.

Kent Husted took the top honors in pole dash for the $1000 to win IMCA
Hobby Socks. He was chased across the line by Roy Armstrong, Eric Chab,
Ryan Roschewski, Max Harder, Aron DeWalt and Brady Schoen to round out
the first night qualifiers.

Results
IMCA Modifieds
1) 45 David Trauernicht
2) 96j Johnny Saathoff
3) 4x Kevin Larkins
4) 94 Dan Nelson
5) 3 Chris Alcorn
6) 24 Daniel Bohlmeyer
7) 4j Jordy Nelson
8) b6 Brian Knoell
9) 27 Clint Homan
10) 5s Bob Zoubek
11) s56 Scott Bivens
12) 30 Jordan Grabouski
13) 35 Tim Echevarria
14) 99 Shawn Strand
15) 29c Drew Christiansen
16) 3z Mike Albertson
17) 50 Scott Smith
18) 95 Dylan Smith
19) 94h Don Hagan
20) 3a Aaron Pella
21) 45m Brandon Johnson
22) 8j Justin Bell
23) 64 Dusty Blake
24) 29 Greg Metz
25) 69 Justin Gregg

IMCA Stock Cars
1) 31 Eric Rempel
2) 76 Lance Borgman
3) 1sw Todd Mabbitt
4) y2j Jeremy Bell
5) 6 Tyler Phelps
6) 15 Andy Wilkinson
7) 25j Josh Daniels
8) m30 David Murk
9) 55 Cory Bushnell
10) 2 Bryan Lariviere
11) 22 Hugh Carmichael
12) 27 Gary Bass
13) 5 Jim Stolzenburg
14) 8t Travis Tilford
15) 20s Gene Stigall
16) 21f Terry Franz
17) 66 Jeff Joldersma
18) 21 Jay Holle
19) 45 Michael Dancer
20) 3 Josh Carpenter
21) 55z Zack Schultz
22) 6x Ernie Reiss

IMCA Hobby Stocks
1) 01 Kent Husted
2) 6r Roy Armstrong
3) 11 Eric Chab
4) 2 Ryan Roschewski
5) 34 Max Harder
6) 21 Aron DeWalt
7) 12s Brady Schoen
8) 19 Kyle Vanover
9) d64 Greg Post
10) 6a Adam Armstrong
11) 72 Jesse Vanlaningham
12) 22x Brian Schmidt
13) 32m Michael Brunswig
14) 4t Lisa Wagner
15) 20 Chad Borgman
16) 33 BJ Dauer
17) 6s Tony Spunaugle
18) 12j Jim Buss
19) 7 Matt Fralin
20) 8 Murray Haugen II

Nebraska Cup Fri. Night Pics

Here's pics from Friday night. Saturday's pics will be up soon.

Friday NE Cup pics

Random Thoughts for 2006 - Pt. I & II

Since I’ve never been at a loss for words, and it’s my site, here are my feelings on two nagging issues of 2006 as the season winds down.

The season isn’t over yet, but this past Friday and Saturday, was my final event of the year at Eagle Raceway, the Nebraska Cup. There’s been grumbling about the name choice since, for its history, the Nebraska Cup has always featured the 360 Sprint cars. It was started in the 1990’s as a showcase of Eagle’s two premier classes, Saturday’s sprinters and Friday’s late models. Over the years, the co-class (NOT support) has changed, of late the other weekly class - IMCA Modifieds have been on the card.

But this year, despite the initial schedule, Sprint cars were not on the bill for the night. According to my Eagle Raceway pocket schedule, the original Sept. 2 Nebraska Cup date was to feature all four of Eagle’s weekly classes as a non point show. Later, this was changed to the “final” point show. After objections from the sprint drivers that the yearly special shouldn’t be a point show, it was dropped from the schedule. However, the Hobby and Hornet Nationals originally scheduled for this weekend were changed, with the addition of modifieds, and a renaming of the show – the “Nebraska Cup.”

At this point, some of the vocal elements of the sprint car contingent (not everyone), who already voiced concern over a stock-car guy’s commitment to the open wheelers and the season’s purse cut, cried that the sky had fallen, the other shoe had dropped and Roger Hadan’s true sprint-car-killing agenda was now revealed.

I agree with several of the people on the message boards that finally stood up and took issue with people’s opinions that the Nebraska Cup has been relegated to trailer park status. As Hobby Stock and Tuner drivers and fans said, it’s the Hadan’s track, don’t blame them for being invited, and just because they don’t spend the big budgets on racing, they are racers and competitors.

I’ve talked to Roger many times and he’s never once said his plans included getting rid of the sprint cars. Indeed – did everyone forget the Sprint-only Jim Eckley Memorial Backrow Challenge? In addition to help from Jay Eckley, Roger stuck his own neck out for a show that is still in its infancy. Also, it seems that everyone forgot that he was willing to do what hadn’t been done before, bring an ASCS sanctioned race to the track as well.

Yet, while everyone talks about how much sprints carry the track, the ASCS crowd wasn’t any better than a weekly show crowd and the Eckley Memorial crowd was no blockbuster – well under an average weekly crowd. The aforementioned Nebraska Cup was an attendance dud - a reported 300 people each night.

I’m sorry but for all this talk I’ve heard about being “slapped in the face,” where was all that support at a time when it would have meant a lot?

I’m not trying to make a judgment on a class or individual people but I’m saying that all this rhetoric, all these opinions being presented as a fact, all this hearsay doesn’t seem to deliver the goods when it’s time to put the money where the mouth is.

All the stories I hear about how if someone just ran certain classes, it’s a guaranteed blockbuster are lacking facts. Just to show I’m not picking on Eagle, I looked at the crowd from JMS’ ASCS/Midget show. I’ve got a picture of the driver introduction before the race. I counted 396 people. Tell me that will carry ANY track.

“But the weather…ticket prices…distance…format…schedule…!!!”

Exactly. Take off the blinders and realize that there are a lot of factors going into the successful promotion of today’s shows. Heck, back in the day the World of Outlaws shows were a guaranteed big score for a promoter. Now having a WoO show is like signing Terrell Owens…you may get something spectacular, or you may end up with a lot of trouble and little money.

Now, I’m not saying that this means that Sprints don’t bring in the majority of the weekly die-hard contingent to Eagle. What I am saying is that once you get past the die-hards, racing is just racing to a lot of the people, if they're interested in the racing at all. The fan base grows from those who may have no allegiance to one class or the other. They’re there for the loud cars, cold beer, girls, guys and maybe a few spills. It’s from THAT base that the hardcore are built. The new fans don’t know what those “plates” are on top of the sprints, or what actually got “modified”, or why the stock cars don’t look like “NASCARs”, or that you could even race sub-compacts. But, they do know that if it’s fun, they’ll be back and over time they’ll choose a favorite.

Save the anecdotes and opinions. I have yet to see a “huge” crowd this year at most special events whose only claim to fame is the series’ name.

“If only they ran the (fill in the letters of the sanctioning body here) – they would pack the joint!”

When that happens it will be the first time in the past 5 years.

These “four-letter fanatics,” “dictionary diehards” and “sanctioning body sycophants” are missing the marketing staple of the past 20 years, brand marketing. Where’s ANY evidence that any of these sanctioning bodies brings people on its own? Prove it, real numbers. Don't give me any more sanctioning body cocktails for promoters to try. Show me that that name of the group or show alone brings people and I’ll show pictures of crowds that say otherwise.

For all the WD-AS-SP-IM-PK-LTMPRQUEPVNA…, sanctioning bodies out there let me give you the only letters that matter: N-A-S-C-A-R-N-E-X-T-E-L-C-U-P. Why? Because they are the ONLY group that markets its product as a whole: drivers, races, cars, the whole deal, and they immerse their fans in the experience. They have created something so much more than just the 200 laps on Sunday.

They KNOW brand marketing. They produce an identifiable product. NO DIRT TRACK SANCTIONING BODY CREATES A PRODUCT OF ITS OWN SHOW. PERIOD. And that includes NASCAR’s weekly short track series. I’ve used this analogy several times, but the fact that promoters have to take the time to take a series and try to not only educate the people but sell the program and its higher-priced tickets is like the circus coming to town and making the mayor provide the elephants.

The dirt series or weekly track that makes it will be the one who markets its product as unique, good value for the entertainment dollar and the benchmark of the group.

I’ve seen the crowds at the Greatest Show on Dirt, I’ve seen the “way of the future” sanctioning body, I’ve seen the fastest modifieds, the “way racing ought to be-without wings,” I’ve seen a one-two open wheel double header. None of those crowds beat the old standbys, cheap admission, giveaways, and big promotions in the background.

Eagle’s largest crowd ever was on a Fan Appreciation Night. Not the Outlaws, not USAC, not the _____. It was a simple night, with a makeup July 4 fireworks session. It was a lot of work and not a little luck.

Tracks need something that brings the rank-and-file public to the stands. NOT race fans, not “race connoisseurs.” Look at I-80 and their NASCAR guests. Look at Eagle, one week after Fan Appreciation night, the final night of August – usually one of the worst days of the season had instead perhaps the biggest regular admission crowd. And what was the promoted attraction? Bus races. When I walked upstairs after the races, I saw exactly THREE people leaving. The rest were on their feet.

Cry about the “circus” all you want, I only wish we had done that before. I’ve seen more hits than misses and there have been some. But if that’s what it takes to fill the seats, then that’s what keeps the program running. Deal with it.

Part II

Speaking of circuses….

Journey back, if you will to August 26 and the first lap of the Sprint A feature. A multi-car melee leaves upended cars and bent metal on the backstretch. Too many cars for the wreckers would leave some to wait. We can talk about the decision making process and the order of removal to the work area, but the ridiculous chest-beating that took place with threats of kicking the other guy’s ass were just pathetic. Soon, you had pit crews, officials, support staff, and a few others of mixed allegiance all in a verbal and occasionally physical Battle Royal.

It was the first time in my life that I thought of getting up and leaving a track. Only because I had committed to work for Roger did I stick around, but I put the camera away and found my way upstairs. I didn't know whether to be disgusted or confused.

Fast forward two weeks to the rescheduled (why?) Season Finale. Eleven laps into the Hobby Stock A feature and one driver decides that after sitting eight laps in the pits, he’s going to get even with the guy he thought took him out. How do I know this? He had the audacity (that’s being kind) to tell the official as he sped out of the pits.

Of course, the officials weren’t going to allow that and brought out the black flag. But a rag on a stick wasn’t going to stop this guy from settling this petty squabble. Never mind the fact that rain was fast approaching, other drivers were burning fuel and nobody wanted to make up two stinking A features waiting in the pits.

Not even a direct confrontation with the driver on the front stretch would deter this man from getting the last word. And damn the other drivers who may get innocently caught up in this decisive battle for honor!

RAIN’S COMING!!!

This guy had to go! So, here comes another track official who takes command of that black flag, stands in front of the rogue driver and delivers another ultimatum.

NO! The rogue cried. And in a show of brotherly solidarity, the scofflaw’s brother, also a driver makes it known how he feels by giving the universal sign of hatred to the backstretch official from the safety of his red chariot.

Out with him as well!

But the original perpetrator lets common sense take over and pulls off the track. The brother won’t let this die as he also refuses the order to leave.

RAIN’S COMING!!!!

But after cajoling by assorted red-clad, flag waving, knights of the speedway, peace is restored at the expense of a rapidly-shrinking supply of time.

And, due to the brouhaha, the next yellow flag cut the race short. The modified feature laid down all of its 20 laps, but the sprint feature got screwed out of 10 minutes, possibly enough to settle a 25 lap contest which was shortened to the conventional, past-halfway 14 laps after the rain came.

All right, I’m being stupid here for a reason. Both of these incidents were some of the silliest things I’ve seen all year.

Maybe the circus has come to town…

As I've always preached - for all this complaining I will present my ideas for helping...

JMS "Cool McCool 100" Oct. 14 & 15

From Wayne Dake

Junction Motor Speedway will end its 2006 racing season and third full year
of auto racing with a two-day special. On Saturday-October 14th, qualifying
for Modifieds, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks will take place starting at 5 PM.
Cruisers will also compete on Saturday. The next day, Sunday October 15th,
finals of the McCool 100 will start at 3 PM, featuring Modifieds, Stock
Cars, Hobby Stocks and Four Cylinder, front drive Compact Cars. Each of four
Main Events on Sunday will consist of 25 laps, thus the McCool 100. Because
of the possibility of cooler climates this time of year, one may wish to
dress properly for the ‘Cool McCool 100’!

Car Entry Fees:
Cruisers-None Cruisers compete Saturday only
4 cylinder FD: None 4 cylinders compete on Sunday only
Hobby Stocks: $40.00
Stock Cars: $75.00
Modifieds: $100.00

Rules:
Cruisers: Run what you bring
4 cylinder cars: Run what you bring
Hobby Stocks: These rules are posted on the JMS website. Rules for JMS Hobby
Stocks and IMCA type Hobby Stocks are identical. No Claims.
Stock Cars: Rules for Stock Cars will follow the rules for IMCA type cars.
Engine rules for IMCA type cars will be enforced. 350 carb only with
appropriate intake. No claims. (see JMS website for detailed McCool 100
Stock Car rules)
Modifieds: McCool 100 Modified Rules are posted on the JMS website.

Saturday nights 'A' Main Qualifiers will transfer a 'minimum' of 4 cars to
Sundays 'A' Main events in the Hobby Stock, Stock Car and Modified classes.

Sundays Payout for the Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars and Modified classes are
listed on the Entry Forms which are available for printing at the JMS
website. Cruisers and 4 cylinder classes will pay $100.00 to win.

Saturday-October 14th
Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks & Cruisers
Pit gate opens at 1:00 PM
Grandstand gate open at 3:00 PM
Racing at 5:00 PM
Adults: $10.00 Ages 6-12 $4.00 ages 5 & under FREE

Sunday-October 15th
Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, 4 cylinders AND Pinewood Racers
Pit gate opens at 12:30 PM
Grandstand open gate opens at 1:30 PM
Racing at 3:00 PM
Adults: $12.00 Ages 6-12 $4.00 Ages 5 & under FREE

Junction Motor Speedway is located by McCool Junction, only 4 & ½ miles
south of the I-80/York exit on Highway 81. For more information about
Nebraska’s ‘Dirt Center of Speed’ visit the JMS website at;
www.junctionmotorspeedway.com
or you may call the JMS office at 402-773-5538 ext. 9.

October Fest special set at Beatrice Speedway Oct. 6-7

BEATRICE, Neb. (Oct. 1) – Beatrice Speedway’s annual October Fest
special for IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks will be
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6-7.

Modifieds chase a first place prize of $3,000, with a minimum of $150
paid to qualifiers for the 24-car main event. The purse is based on a
minimum of 80 entries and the winner also qualifies for the 2007 Fast
Shafts All-Star Invita­tional ballot.

Stock Cars race for $1,250 to win and $125 to start a 22-car main and
the Hobby Stocks race for $1,000 to win and $100 to start in their 20-
car feature.

Modified non-qualifiers racing both days receive $100 tow money, with
$75 paid to Stock Car drivers and $50 to Hobby Stock drivers who race
Friday and Saturday but don’t make the feature.

All IMCA rules will be enforced. Minimum weight rules for both
Modifieds and Stock Cars will be in effect.

More information about October Fest is available from promoter Tim
Fralin at 402 223-3158 or the track hotline at 402 228-2264, and at
the www.beatricespeedway.com website.

Rain date is Sunday, Oct. 8.