Eagle Raceway 6-30-07:Boston, Deterding, Munson and Rhiley Win Freedom Fest

by Greg Soukup

Eagle Raceway, America’s Home Track’s Fan Fest 2007, presented by the Army National Guard saw fireworks on the track in addition to the spectacular display after racing concluded. It seemed as though most of them occurred in the final laps of the Sport Compact and Hobby Stock A Features.

In the Stereo West Auto Toys IMCA Sport Compact Feature Barry Kinnersley returned to the track after a week off following a hard crash. Barry’s father, Maynard Kinnersley, presented him with an early birthday present; a new race car. He took the #00 to the front when the green flag flew, followed by the #33 of Jeremy Noonan. By the 4th lap Dan Rhiley had moved into 3rd position, and just 2 laps later had gotten into 1st. With just 2 laps left Kyle Schamp got around Noonan to take over the 3rd spot. He then advanced to 2nd when Kinnersley lost the right front tire from his racer on the white flag lap.

In the Valentino’s Pizza IMCA Hobby Stock A Main Troy Mencke jumped out in 1st in the #4 with the #93 of Thorn Marsh in 2nd and last week’s feature winner Ron Novak driving the #14 in 3rd. It took only 3 laps for Marsh to wrestle the lead from Mencke, and only 2 more circuits for Rick Munson in the M70 to get around Novak and Mencke for 3rd. 1 more lap saw Munson grab 2nd place, and just 2 laps later Shane Hiatt advanced to 3rd. With just 2 laps left Munson moved under Marsh in turn 4 when Marsh bobbled, and on the white flag lap Hiatt also got around Marsh to finish 2nd.

Rick has raced both years since Eagle Raceway brought back the Hobby Stock class, winning his first A Feature last year and his second tonight. He has been racing “off and on” since 1978. “I raced from 1978 to about 1985, then took some time off before returning in the late 90’s” Munson said. “I really like the Hobby Stocks because it’s just great fun and not very expensive. I need to thank my dad, Rich, because he does all the work on the car; I just drive it” he added. Rick’s sponsors include Ultimate Racing Products, 2nd Lap Performance, Wayne Larson Racing, Trail Performance Coatings and Eckley Racing.

The Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds then took center stage. Nathan Landauer drove his #11N into the lead, followed by Dan Wayman’s #5ST and the #10K of Don McCown. It took past track champion Doug Deterding only 2 laps to advance all the way to 4th, and just 2 more to take over 3rd place. Shortly after that there was a large melee when a multi-car tangle happened at the 1st turn end of the front stretch. Among those involved were Chris Anderson in the #82, Tom Spanel in the #3T, the #7 of Bob Ruisinger and defending track champion Chris Alcorn’s #3.

All 4 of those racers were unable to continue, having suffered damage. This unfortunately meant that the long anticipated “Challenge Race” between Alcorn and the highest finisher in the feature event, with a $300 prize to the winner after 3 laps. The challenge race has been rescheduled for next weekend. The restart saw Landauer still at the point with Wayman and Deterding hot on his heels. 2 laps later Deterding moved into the 2nd position and just 2 more circuits were required for Deterding to pass Landauer to take over 1st. On the very next lap Landauer dropped out, moving Wayman into 2nd with the B9 of Sean Burkland taking the third spot. With just 4 laps remaining Rik Gropp got around Burkland for 3rd. At the checkered flag it was Deterding, Wayman and Gropp.

Deterding said “I’ve been racing for 30 years, but it sure seemed like this was a long time coming.” Deterding’s last feature win was in 2003. Despite having been track champion in both 1987 and 1994, Deterding has been having a hard time getting to the winner’s circle. “I’ve run second way too many times it seems like. We finished the A Main on just 6 cylinders the last 2 weeks. Just little things like that” he added. “I wish Chris hadn’t had to go off, so I could have beat him” he stated. “I want to thank the track prep crew for a great high line tonight” he finished. Doug’s sponsors include Shades of Painting, Trade Center Automotive, Krein Real Estate, PW Foundations, Chuck’s Truck Service, Mirror Image, Super Wash, D & K Auto, Green2Checkered.com, Dagwood’s Paper Company and the “KU Bird Crew”.

In the last A Main, the Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints saw Tige Jensen take advantage of his pole position in the #71 sprinter to grab the lead, but Jensen got loose in turn four causing the cars behind him to jam up. This resulted in 4 cars coming to a rest at the bottom of the corner. Trevor Grossenbacher’s #35, Ken Klabunde’s #28 and the #84 of Toby Chapman were able to restart, but Gage Dorr’s #17 went to the pits behind the wrecker.

A complete restart saw Jensen again take the lead with the #19J of Jay Jordan, the #51 of reigning track champion Mike Boston and Brad Krutz’s #91 close behind. On the 2nd lap Boston moved into second position followed by Krutz. 3 laps later Boston got around Jensen for the lead. That made the running order Boston, Jensen, Krutz and the #96KX of Adam Gullion. They held their positions until with 12 laps left in the contest Tadd Holliman in the #23R came into contact with Jay Russell’s #76. This caused Holliman to go into a series of end-over-end rolls, coming to a halt at the turn 1 end of the front stretch. On the 2nd lap after restarting Gullion got around Krutz to take the 3rd spot. Another yellow flag flew when the 14G of Gene Acklund spun in turns 1 & 2. After a green-white-checkered finish it was Boston, Jensen, Gullion and Krutz.

“I want to thank all of my sponsors, because they got this win for me” Boston said. Mike’s sponsors include E & K Drywall, Lincoln Drywall Service, Eckley Racing Engines, One-Eyed Dog Saloon, Subway, Vision Sports, Trade Center Automotive, Crete C-Mart, Johnson Farms, Moock Trucking, Maxim Racing and Bob Payne Lawn Service & Landscaping.

An Eagle Raceway official was injured when a car exited the speedway striking him. His condition is known at this time to be stable with many weeks of therapy in store. Eagle Raceway will release more information as it becomes available with permission from the official’s family. We would like to thank everyone for their concern for our Eagle family member and will try to keep you informed of Mike's condition.

Next week’s racing will again showcase the 360 Wingless Sprints as well as the Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds, Valentino’s Pizza IMCA Hobby Stocks and the Stereo West Auto Toys IMCA Sport Compacts.

Colby Ridge will be sponsoring “Christmas in July” night at America’s Home Track, with $5 off of an adult admission with the donation of a toy going to Toys for Tots.

Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints:
A Feature-

1) 51 Mike Boston
2) 71 Tige Jensen
3) 96KX Adam Gullion
4) 91 Brad Krutz
5) 44X Don Droud Jr.
6) 82 Jason Danley
7) 23 Terry Holliman
8) 13F Larry Pinegar II
9) 3 Jeff Griffis
10) 84 Toby Chapman
11) 76 Jay Russell
12) 19J Jay Jordan
13) 32 Chris Roseland
14) 77 John Klabunde
15) 14G Gene Acklund
16) 28 Ken Klabunde
17) 35 Trevor Grossenbacher
18) 8B Bobby Becker
19) 23R Tadd Holliman
20) 17 Gage Dorr

B Feature-

1) 44X Don Droud Jr.
2) 23R Tadd Holliman
3) 77 John Klabunde
4) 32 Chris Roseland
5) 13F Larry Pinegar II
6) 21 Ryan Kitchen
7) 7X Kevin Danley
8) 3G Bill Garrow
9) 9T Trish Dover
10) 17B Jason Becker
11) 9J Mark Schmidt

Monster IMCA Modifieds:

A Feature-
1) 13 Doug Deterding
2) 5ST Dan Wayman
3) V45 Rik Gropp
4) 3A Aaron Pella
5) B9 Sean Burkland
6) 95R Lucas Robinson
7) 52 Sean Manning
8) 19 Scott Anderson
9) 00 Tim Pickens
10) 27M Brian Murphy
11) 95 Dylan Smith
12) 11N Nathan Landauer
13) 10J Josh Hessheimer
14) 75J Jesse Robinson
15) 3 Chris Alcorn
16) 12X George Haney
17) 3T Tom Spanel
18) 10K Don McCown
19) 7 Bob Ruisinger
20) 82 Chris Anderson

B Feature-
1) 95 Dylan Smith
2) 95R Lucas Robinson
3) 7 Bob Ruisinger
4) 3A Aaron Pella
5) 8C Chad Anderson
6) 42K Jan Korth
7) 1Z Norm Ziegenbein
8) 4D Pat Donovan
9) 29 Jeff Mazza
10) 51 Cliff Turner
11) 57 Brian Cuddly
12) 44 Tom Lenz
13) 28N Daniel Neeman
14) 95B Nic Bonney
15) 11AA Ed Raines
16) 22 Brian Schmidt
17) 73 James Oaks
18) 22J Justin Jurgens
19) 8A Dusty Anderson
20) 48B Don Chilen

Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks:

A Feature-
1) M70 Rick Munson
2) 21H Shane Hiatt
3) 93 Thorn Marsh
4) 1R RJ Macku
5) 14 Ron Novak
6) 94 Mike Hansen
7) 3K Jerry Keaton
8) 38C Casey Moyer
9) 28B Rick Bradley
10) 10K Lee Kracht
11) 11X Rich Small
12) 42 Rob Brown
13) 4A Aaron Pearson
14) 4 Troy Mencke
15) 11 Gary Novak
16) 22 Nick Beckman
17) 86 Justin Wulf
18) 92 Don Hall Jr.
19) 12 Dan Noonan
20) 53 Don Kros

Stereo West Auto Toys IMCA Sport Compacts:

A Feature-
1) 2 Dan Rhiley
2) 2K Kyle Schamp
3) 33 Jeremey Noonan
4) 99 Jason Tadlock
5) 24 Mike Rice
6) 44 Jack Prall III
7) 28 Richard Meyers III
8) 0 Rich White
9) 20T Steve Shepard
10) 18R Ron Frank
11) 45 Jack Prall IV
12) 51 Amanda Rhiley
13) 3N Neil Pella
14) 18 Maynard Kinnersley
15) 21 Jake Sells
16) 19 Mitchell Tibbitts
17) 31 Chris LaChappelle
18) 00 Barry Kinnersley
19) 62 Justin Busboom
20) 22 Elliot Halvorsen