Memorial Scholarship Project Mustang at Eagle on Sunday

From Tommy Bender:

Hi all - just thought I'd let everyone know we'll be bringing the Josh
Grimes Memorial Scholarship Mustang out to Eagle on Sunday; sounds like just
inside the gate. It's a bit of a long story, but in a nutshell, we're
raffling off the car to create a scholarship in the name of a student of
mine that passed away at 15 of cancer in 2006. We were in the Omaha World
Herald a few weeks ago - here's the link:

http://marketplace.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=10001&u_mod=news&u_id=10629

We've got a ways to go before we sell enough tickets to fully endow the
scholarship, and the drawing is only a few weeks away (September 14th) - so
needless to say, we could use your help. Some of you might remember me from
running mini-sprints at Waverly; otherwise, my only claim to fame in sprints
is flipping Devine's car over the wall in hotlaps at Beatrice :) So stop by,
say hi, and help us out if you can. Thanks for taking a look!

Four Star-Studded Shows Await O'Reilly USMTS Fans Labor Day Weekend

ALLISON, Iowa (Aug. 25) - The O'Reilly USMTS National
Tour swings back into action this week with four races in
Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota. This week's
quadrupleheader will serve as the seventh, eighth, ninth
and tenth events of the Casey's General Stores Hunt for
the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship.

The season-ending title chase format is in it's third
year, and the points battle has never been closer. Six
different drivers from five different States emerged
victorious in the first six events, which featured just
about every style, size and shape of dirt oval racetrack
possible.

WHERE THEY'VE BEEN...

The Casey's General Stores Hunt for the O'Reilly USMTS
National Championship kicked off on Friday, Aug. 8 at
Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., where Jon Tesch of
Watertown, S.D. captured the opening event of 'The Hunt'
for the third straight year.

After rain-outs at the Springfield (Mo.) Raceway on
Saturday and Monett (Mo.) Speedway on Sunday, the rugged
O'Reilly USMTS road warriors returned to the Belleville
(Kan.) High Banks after a six-year hiatus. John Allen of
nearby Chanute, Kan., picked up the win at the "World's
Fastest Half-Mile Dirt Track" on Monday to complete a
four-for-four sweep of Modified events there in 2008.

U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., was the venue on Tuesday
as Tim Donlinger of Rochester, Minn., put himself back in
the mix for the title with a win on the high-banked
1/3-mile oval. After rain forced the postponement of
Wednesday's show at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah,
Iowa, a jam-packed grandstand of fans at the Steele County
Speedway in Owatonna, Minn., witnessed Woodward, Okla.'s
Tommy Weder Jr. hold off Donlinger for the win.

On Friday, Aug. 15, the teams made their second stop of
the season at the unique and exciting Tri-Oval Speedway in
Fountain City, Wis. Al Hejna of Clear Lake, Iowa took the
win and solidified his position as a threat to win the
crown in 2008. Back in Decorah on Saturday, Zack
VanderBeek out-maneuvered Kelly Shryock on the
quarter-mile bullring and strengthened his grip on the
points lead.

VanderBeek leads Tesch by 27 points (585 to 558) while
Shryock is just five more back in third. Fourth is
Donlinger with 546 and Hejna is a mere five behind
Donlinger in fifth. The rest of the top-10 include Allen
(494), Dereck Ramirez of Woodward, Okla. (492), Weder
(464), Alan Mondus of Lakeville, Minn. (438) and current
Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Rookie of the Year points
leader Brandon Kenny of Woodward, Okla. (416).

WHERE THEY'RE GOING...

Although Shryock is winless in 'The Hunt' so far, a
betting man would be a wiser betting man if he put his
money on the eight-time O'Reilly USMTS National Champion
to make some noise at the next four tracks where he has
logged 15 of his 100+ career wins with the O'Reilly USMTS
National Tour.

Three of those wins have come at the Highway 3 Raceway in
Allison, Iowa during the month of August, and that's where
race fans will find the titans of the O'Reilly USMTS
National Tour this Thursday, Aug. 28 for the 4th Annual
Hawkeye Summer Classic. This will be the 13th
USMTS-sanctioned event since 1999 at the 1/2-mile oval at
the Butler County Fairgrounds.

Pits open at 4 p.m., grandstand gates open at 5, hot laps
are at 6:30 and racing starts at 7. Also running Thursday
evening will be the USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA
Hobby Stocks racing for national points in the Casey's
General Stores Weekly Racing Series.

The Highway 3 Raceway is located 0.3 miles north of SR 3
on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). For
more information, check out the track's website at
www.highway3raceway.com.

On Friday, it's off to the Chateau Raceway in Lansing,
Minn. for another wheel-to-wheel battle in the 3rd Annual
Cedar River Races. This will be the fifth time the
O'Reilly USMTS National Tour has visited the 1/3-mile
semi-banked clay oval. Five different drivers have tasted
victory, including Mike Chasteen (2001), Kelly Shyrock
(2001), Jon Tesch (2006), Tommy Myer (2007) and Jason
Krohn (2008).

Also on the race card will be Midwest Modified, Street
Stock and Pure Stocks. Grandstand gates open at 5:30 p.m.
and the first green flag waves at 7:30. The Chateau
Raceway is located 5.0 miles north of Austin on US 218 to
the Lansing Exit, then 1.3 miles east on CR 2, then 0.4
mile south on CR 25, then 0.3 mile east. For more
information, call the track hotline at (507) 433-4578 or
log on to www.chateauraceway.net.

Saturday will find the Modified Monsters at the Deer Creek
Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 5th Annual Labor
Day Dual, and the final tune-up race before the 10th
Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree, Sept. 17-20. A huge
field of cars is expected, along with a jam-packed
grandstand as the WDRL Late Model Series will also make an
appearance.

Pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and the grandstands will
begin filling up at 3, with hot laps slated for 5 and
racing at 5:30. The 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval is
located off of I-90 at Exit 209, then 11.3 miles south on
US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16). Day-of-race info is
available by calling (507) 346-2342 or check out
www.deercreekspeedway.com online.

The four-race weekend wraps up on Sunday, Aug. 31 at the
Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn. for the 7th Annual
Kasson Klash-the 22nd USMTS event staged at the 1/3-mile
semi-banked clay oval. Gates open at 3 p.m. and the mud
starts flying at 5 p.m. Late Models, Super Stocks, Midwest
Mods and Street Stocks will also be featured.

The Dodge County Speedway (formerly Kasson Speedway) is
located 1.1 miles north of US 14 on SR 57 (at the Dodge
County Fairgrounds). For more information, call Track:
(507) 634-4281 or check out www.dodgecountyspeedway.com.

Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons at several
Casey's General Stores locations throughout the weekend.
On Thursday, you can get 'em in Allison, Applington and
Clarksville, Iowa for the show at Highway 3 Raceway. On
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, coupons will be available at
all Casey's General Stores locations in Austin, Owatonna,
Rochester and Stewartville, Minn.

Kelly Shryock will be on hand at area Casey's stores all
four days. On Thursday, fans can find him at the Casey's
General Store located at 100 Cherry St. in Allison from
12-2 p.m. On Friday, the eight-time O'Reilly USMTS
National Champion will be on hand to meet and greet fans
in Austin, Minn. at the Casey's store at 1702 12th St. SW
from 12-2 p.m. Saturday will find the Skyrocket pilot at
605 S. Main St. in Stewartville from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
and on Sunday Shryock fans can meet Shryock at the Casey's
General Store location at 4500 18th Ave. NW in Rochester
from 12-2 p.m.

All four events will pay $2,000 to the winner of the
O'Reilly USMTS main event.

POINTS AS OF AUG. 25, 2008:

1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA . 585 points (1
win)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD . 558 (1 win)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA . 553
4. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN . 546 (1 win)
5. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA . 541 (1 win)
6. 98 - John Allen -- Chanute, KS . 494 (1 win)
7. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK . 492
8. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK . 464 (1 win)
9. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN . 438
10. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK . 416
11. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA . 411
12. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE . 406
13. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA . 405
14. 18 - Justin Boney -- Leavenworth, KS . 387
15. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS . 376
16. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK . 301
17. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN . 298
18. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK . 296
19. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rollingstone, MN . 282
20. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX . 172
21. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA . 148
22. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR . 103
23. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN . 86
24. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA . 73
25. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA . 56
26. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR . 54
27. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX . 50
28. 5w - John O Whittington -- Vidor, TX . 12
29. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX . 11
30. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL . 10
31. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA . 8
32. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX . 5
32. 13 - David Mitchell -- Ashdown, AR . 5
32. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA . 5
32. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX . 5
32. 38r - Jeremy Ross -- Locust Grove, OK . 5
32. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX . 5
32. 98 - Josh Reisch -- Luverne, MN . 5
39. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA . 4

Eagle Raceway closes season with Nebraska Cup

Come join us at America’s Home Track on September 7th as “The Eagle 92.9” presents The Nebraska Cup featuring the ASCS 360 Sprint Cars, Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds, Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks and Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts!!!!

America’s Home Track, Eagle Raceway wants to invite one and all to come out to the season finale on Sunday the 7th of September. There will be racing action aplenty on the high banks of the fastest 1/3 mile track in the country. You won’t want to miss this one as drivers from the Northern, Midwestern and Kansas ASCS series do battle.

Drivers expected to be competing in the sprint class are current ASCS Midwest Region points leader Jack “The Gas Man” Dover, current ASCS Northern Plains Region points leader Lee Grosz, Brian “Blackjack” Brown and Billy Alley in addition to Eagle Raceway regulars Mike Boston, Bobby Becker and Jason Danley.

There will be giveaways throughout the night, including special 2009 Season Packages.

Racers will be vying for purse moneys as follows:

ASCS/360 Sprints

$1500 to win
$ 250 to start the A Feature
$ 500 to win the pole dash. A total $1600 purse for the
Pole Dash

Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds

$1000 to win
$ 150 to start the A Feature

Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks

$600 to win
$ 80 to start the A Feature

Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts

$200 to win
$ 60 to start the A Feature

Adult Admission $15
Youths age 6-13 $5
Children 5 and under are free

Pit Gate opens at 3:00 Pit passes are $25, but there is no entry fee

Front Gate opens at 4:30
Hot laps start at 5:00 with racing at 6:00

In the event of a rain-out, the races will be rescheduled for Sunday September 14th.

Attention All Drivers: This is an ASCS event. The top 5 finishers in the A Feature must meet ASCS specifications.

200-plus already pre-entered for 26th annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 25) – More than 200 drivers from coast to coast and
border to border are already pre-entered for the Sept. 1-6 IMCA
Speedway Motors Super Nationals at Boone Speedway.

Early entries in the Modified division topped 100 late last week and
are in hand from Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ontario, Texas, Wisconsin and
Wyoming.

Again touted as ‘America’s Racin’ Vacation,’ Super Nationals opens on
Labor Day with a complete Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA J & J
Steel Late Models program, along with qualifying for IMCA Sunoco
Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks.

IMCA KSE Racing Products Sprint Cars wind up their Jackpot Junction
Tour on Tuesday. Qualifying continues for the Stocks and Hobbies,
while the field of 10 is set for the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of
Champions for the Stocks.

Wednesday sees the final night of qualifying for the Stock Cars while
Modifieds from all across the nation converge at Boone for the
opportunity to start in the inside row in Saturday’s main event.

The front eight in the middle row of the Modified main will be
determined during the Thursday program, which also boasts Harris Auto
Racing Ron Efkamp Memorial Race of Champions qualifying and the first
action of the week for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods.

Friday features the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and qualifying
for the outside row of eight in the Modified feature and last-chance
events for the Northern SportMods.

Saturday’s finale boasts last-chance races to complete the Modified
field of 33, the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champi ons, Harris Auto
Racing Ron Efkamp Memorial Race of Champions, and SportMod, Hobby
Stock, Stock Car and Modified features.

A dozen of the drivers who have won previous Efkamp races have
accepted invitations from IMCA to start the final Memorial, along
with another 12 drivers who make the field on Thursday.

The race will be 20 laps, divided into two 10-lap segments. After the
first 10 laps are completed, the race will be stopped and a number
between one and 10 drawn to determine how many of the 10 front-
running cars are inverted.

The winner earns $1,000, with the $100 paid for each lap led putting
their potential share of the purse at $3,000.

Winner of the Modified feature earns $2,008 while first in the Late
Model main pays $2,000. First in the Stock, Sprint and Fast Shafts
All-Star Invita tional features all pay $1,000. Northern SportMod and
Hobby Stock winners each earn $600 while the Sunoco Race of Champions
winner nets $500.

Every Modified driver who races Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights is guaran teed $300 against their winnings, while
every Stock Car driver who races Monday, Tuesday and Wednes day is
guaranteed $200.

Race programs start at 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday, and at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

The 2007 Super Nationals saw 782 cars compete in the six divisions,
for shares of a $275,000 total purse and more than $60,000 in
contingency awards.

Boston, Smith, Keaton and Simpson Ruled the Jr. Fan Club Night!

By Greg Soukup

EAGLE, Neb (August 23, 2008) - Cool temperatures, a very fast track and some hot racing action were the rule tonight as “America’s Home Track” Eagle Raceway hosted Junior Fan Club Night, presented by McDonalds. The track conditions had some of the classes running within 2 ½ tenths of the track record in the heats and into the B Features, and provided 3 and 4 wide racing throughout the event.

At intermission there was a $1000 money grab for all of the kids on the front stretch and after the racing was concluded DJ’s from The Brew and The Kat ran a mini-van obstacle course race.

The first A Feature was for the Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts, and saw Mike Simpson grab the lead in his #63 with the 95C of Bob Cigelman, the #16T of Tyler Saathoff and Matt Moyer’s 29. After the leaders passed the flag stand on the first lap there was a multi-car melee in turn 2. Among the casualties was Cigelman who lost and bumper and went to the pits. On the restart Simpson held his lead with Moyer in second, the 21 of Jake Sells in third and the 21T of Brandon Thornton in fourth. Three and sometimes four-wide racing was the norm throughout the race with numerous passes back and forth between the competitors. At the finish it was Simpson, Moyer, Sells and Thornton.

“After losing by maybe 3 inches to Jeremy Noonan at Butler County last night I can’t even tell you how good this win feels. It was GREAT!! I’m so happy that we came through with a win tonight” Simpson said. “The track was a little rough tonight, but good and tacky. I just worked the car and worked the corners and brought it home” he continued. “I was to say thanks to my wife Krista and my daughters Krissy & Shelby for working on the car with me. They’re my pit crew. And I don’t want to forget Rusty, Kim and Kyle Schamp” he concluded. Simpson’s sponsors include Hawkeye Foods and The Look Hair Salon.

The Valentino’s IMCAA Hobby Stocks were next out on the high banks. The early lead went to the B4 of Ben Becher with the 71K of Josh Kennell in second, Dan Jackson’s 98 in third, Dan Noonan’s 12 in fourth and “Chevy Jerry” Keaton in fifth in the #3K. Keaton wasted little time, moving up to fourth on lap #2. Lap 3 saw Noonan get very loose coming through turn 4 and dropping several positions. That same lap saw Kennell move past Becher for the lead, Keaton advancing to third and Lee Kracht’s 10K coming up to fifth. With 8 laps left Keaton moved up to second. 2 laps later Shane Hiatt cracked the top four in his #21H. The very next lap Jackson and Kracht got together on the front stretch, bringing out the yellow flag. At that time the running order was Kennell, Keaton, Becher and Hiatt. Hiatt took advantage of the restart moving up to third with the 86 of Justin Wulf grabbing fourth. Kennell dropped out with just four laps remaining after suffering a flat right rear tire. At that time it was Keaton, Hiatt, Wulf and Becher. On the restart Kevin Anderson moved up to the fourth position in his #22K. At the checkers it was Keaton, Hiatt, Wulf and Becher. Hiatt was disqualified after failing to pass the IMCA tech inspection when it was found that his engine had ported heads.

“Even though the track was rough, it was super raceable. I hit my setup tonight and the car handled perfectly” Keaton stated. “I’ll be honest; I was really nervous about finishing in the top four and then making tech, with all of the talk about claims and all. But, I said the heck with it and just drove” he continued. “I want to send out special thanks to several people. First, to Ed for helping me pull my intake manifold in the tech area, to Dylan Smith’s wife for escorting me down to pick up my check and most of all to Justin Wulf for all of his help. I also want to thank my friends Lee Kracht and “Nacho Libre” and of course all of my sponsors who help me out” he finished. Jerry’s sponsors include Jack’s Automotive Machine, Big Daddy Chassis, Team G Spot, Ron & Sons, Scribner & Lyons and Jay’s Tire & Complete Auto Care out of North Bend.

The A Main for the Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds was a testament to how fast and racy the track really was tonight. The early lead was held by Ryan Fuchser in the #49. Close behind him was the 4T of Jerry Trejo, the 5ST of Dan Wayman and Doug Deterding’s 13. Deterding remained in fourth only until lap 2 when he passed Wayman for third. The next lap Aaron Pella moved his 3A past Wayman also to snare fourth. Lap #4 saw Pella advance to third around Trejo and Deterding leap-frogging both Fuchser and Trejo for the lead. But, the two fastest cars on the track were the #95 of Dylan Smith who jumped all the way up to second on lap #5 and Chris Alcorn who was also rapidly advancing through the pack. With 6 laps down Smith moved past Deterding and took over the lead. The next lap saw Alcorn jump all the way up to the third spot. Alcorn wasn’t through however, as he took over second with 10 laps to go. Four laps later a caution flag was displayed for debris on the track. That allowed Alcorn to move right up to Smith’s rear bumper. Try as he might, he couldn’t quite get the better of Smith however. At the finish it was Smith by less than a car length, Alcorn, Deterding and Pella.

“I got through the pack so fast in the beginning that I was afraid I had too many laps to lead and too many chances to make a mistake. I’m ALWAYS nervous about leading to be honest. You never know how fast you need to go into and through the corners, or who’s coming up behind you. I nearly spun out with 3 laps left, so I started easing through the corners. The whole time until the finish I was worried about Chris because I knew he was right behind me and a lot of times beside me. Luckily I edged him out” Smith said. “I want to thank Grandma and Grandpa, my mom and dad, Mike & Lisa Goecke my car owners, and Damion Joni and the girls” he added. Smith’s sponsors include Active Life Family Chiropractic, Marquardt Plumbing, Jet Racing, Star-Lite Machine. Vrbka Ag Solutions, Augustin Electric and Team Heavy.

The final A Feature of the night turned out to be a marathon. Lasting nearly an hour the race saw numerous spins, flips and other stoppages. Trevor Grossenbacher’s 35 was the initial leader, followed by the 27 of Brad Wright, the 9J of Mark Schmidt and Bobby Becker’s 8B. The first red flag flew shortly after the leaders passed the flag stand on the initial lap. Austin McCarl got his #17A over another racers tire, launching him high into the air and causing several end-over-end flips. Luckily, McCarl was uninjured. Terry Holliman moved his #23 past Becker on the restart for fourth. The next lap the yellow flag came out when Jeff Lowery spun his #45 in turn two. Holliman again used the restart to advance into third as he passed Schmidt. The same lap Becker made contact with another racer, resulting in numerous flips in turn 3 for the 8B. The running order for the restart showed Grossenbacher in the lead with Wright, Holliman and the 17 of Gage Dorr. After another lap was in the books Jay Russell’s 76 and the 51 of Mike Boston moved up to fourth and fifth. Boston got around Russell on the next lap and then sling-shotted all the way to second on the next circuit. Boston grabbed the lead for good on lap #8, with Russell moving to third on lap #9. Three laps later the yellow flag again was waved as Frank Galusha brought the 24B to a halt on the front stretch. On the restart Russell spun in turn #4, having had his nose wing flip over several laps before. The same lap saw Dorr spin in turn 3. Jeff Griffis moved into the third spot as the race resumed. The race was red flagged on lap 14 when Russell flipped in turns 3 & 4. The running order was Boston, Grossenbacher, Griffis and Wright. Griffis did pass Grossenbacher, only to have his pass negated by an inadvertent yellow. Griffis was a man on a mission, but unfortunately jumped the cushion in turn 2 and struck the wall. This moved the 14 of Josh Riggins into fourth. From there to the finish Boston, Grossenbacher, Wright and Riggins maintained their positions.

“The car was absolutely awesome tonight. It was definitely one of the best I’ve ever had out here” Boston said. “I can’t thank my car owners, the Bowers, enough for the great equipment that they give me week in and week out. They are the greatest” he finished.

You won’t want to miss next SUNDAY’s racing as Eagle’s Points Championships are decided on the final night of racing. Jack Daniels and The Brew will be presenting the Season Finale and Man Cave Night and the racing will be fast and furious. During intermission, the Re-start raffle pace car giveaway will take place. Who will be the lucky winner? Also after the features will be the first Tennessee Shuffle race. It only happens here at Eagle Raceway…America’s Home Track!

Also we want to be sure that everyone comes to Eagle Raceway’s Finest on SUNDAY, September 7th. The Nebraska Cup event will feature the ASCS 360 Sprint Cars, the Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds, the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks and the Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts. The front gate opens at 4:30 with hot laps at 5 and racing at 6. Pit gates will open at 3.

Eagle Raceway Results for 8-23-08:

Budweiser 360 Sprints:
A Feature-
1) 51 Mike Boston
2) 35 Trevor Grossenbacher
3) 27 Brad Wright
4) 14 Josh Riggins
5) 28 Ken Klabunde
6) 45 Jeff Lowery
7) 82 Jason Danley
8) 23 Terry Holliman
9) 77 John Klabunde
10) 3 Jeff Griffis
11) 23r Tadd Holliman
12) 24j Jeff Reiman
13) 6 Nick Bryan
14) 76 Jay Russell
15) 17 Gage Dorr
16) 24b Frank Galusha
17) 9j Mark Schmidt
18) 8b Bobby Becker
19) 71 Tige Jensen
20) 17a Austin McCarl

B Feature-
1) 71 Tige Jensen
2) 28 Ken Klabunde
3) 45 Jeff Lowery
4) 24j Jeff Reiman
5) 6 Nick Bryan
6) x29 Roger Sluka
7) 17b Jason Becker
8) 14g Gene Ackland
9) 57 Jayson Bogue
10) 20d Dan Nekolite
11) 96kx Adam Gullion

Monster IMCA Modifieds:
A Feature-
1) 95 Dylan Smith
2) 3 Chris Alcorn
3) 13 Doug Deterding
4) 3a Aaron Pella
5) 5st Dan Wayman
6) 3w Stacey Wilhelm
7) b9 Sean Burkland
8) v45 Rik Gropp
9) 12x George Haney
10) 42k Jan Korth
11) 21j Jeremy Leiting
12) 49 Ryan Fuchser
13) 8c Chad Andersen
14) 57 Brian Cudly
15) 00 Tim Pickens
16) 4t Jerry Trejo
17) 1m Mannix Winningham
18) 19 Scott Anderson
19) 44 Tom Lenz
20) 4 Chevy Hadan

B Feature-
1) 3w Stacey Wilhelm
2) 57 Brian Cudly
3) 00 Tim Pickens
4) 1m Mannix Winningham
5) 44 Tom Lenz
6) 8r Nick Kepler
7) 11aa Ed Raines
8) 29 Jeff Mazza
9) 41 Clint Hummer
10) 7 Bob Ruisinger
11) 11x Steve Devitt
12) 2k Kyle Schamp (DNS)

Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks:
A Feature-
1) 3k Jerry Keaton
2) 86 Justin Wulf
3) 22k Kevin Anderson
4) b4 Ben Becher
5) 38c Casey Moyer
6) 12 Dan Noonan
7) 92 Don Hall Jr
8) 14 Ron Novak
9) 94 Mike Hansen
10) 93 Thom Marsh
11) 53 Don Kros
12) 32 Jim Ryan
13) 32h Harold Silvey
14) 22 Nick Beckman
15) 71k Josh Kennell
16) 10k Lee Kracht
17) 28b Rick Bradley
18) 99 Jason Tadlock
19) 20t Steve Shepard
20) 98 Dan Jackson
21) 1j Jason Edwards
22) 13 James Oliver Jr (DNS)
23) 21h Shane Hiatt (DQ)

Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts:
A Feature-
1) 63 Mike Simpson
2) 29 Matt Moyer
3) 21 Jake Sells
4) 21t Brandon Thorton
5) 22 Elliott Halvorsen
6) 00 Barry Kinnersley
7) 45 Jack Prall IV
8) 55 Garrett Rech
9) 62 Justin Busboom
10) 18r Ron Frank
11) 5 Larry Cronin
12) 33 Jeremy Noonan
13) 24 Mike Rice
14) 32M Ray Harrington
15) 95c Bob Cigelman
16) 15 Jake Schneider
17) 10st Kevin Staack
18) 88m Meloney McVicker
19) 16t Tyler Saathoff
20) 16 Hailey Jackson

B Feature-
1) 33 Jeremy Noonan
2) 55 Garrett Rech
3) 10st Kevin Staack
4) 16 Hailey Jackson
5) 88 Everett Watkins
6) 31 Chris LaChapelle (DNS)
7) 77 Jason Miller (DNS)
8) 28h Jeremy Conkel (DNS)
9) 14 Joey Danley (DNS)
10) 18 Maynard Kinnersley (DNS)
11) 2 Dan Rhiley (DNS)
12) 72 Ben Simpson (DNS)
13) 44 Jack Prall III (DNS)
14) b32 Brian Haller (DNS)
15) 29g Todd Smiley (DNS)

BCM Season Finale

From Butler County Motorplex

RISING CITY, Neb. (August 22, 2008) - The sun came out at Butler County Motorplex for the last night of the regular season. Bob Zoubek grabbed the lead in the first of three IMCA Modified heat races. Zoubek continued for the win as he turned in the best average lap speed of the night at 80.78 miles per hour during the heat race. Tom Svoboda was second, Chris Alcorn third and Michael Densberger fourth. Chevy Hadan won the second heat race with Terry Richards, Scott Bivens and Adrian Hein Jr. rounding out the top four. Stacy Wilhelm led the first lap of the third heat before Dylan Smith took control and went on to victory. Ryan Fjell was second, Jeremy Leiting third and Tom Lenz was fourth. The winners of each heat in all classes won free registration for next year at the Motorplex.

Garrett Rech grabbed the early lead in the IMCA Sport Compact heat race. Dan Rhiley moved into the front position on lap two and continued for the win. Rech was second followed by Jeremy Noonan and Mike Simpson.

Shane Hiatt controlled the first heat in the IMCA Hobby Stock division with the win. Dusty Poessnecker was second, Kyle Hein third and Quinten Spragg fourth. Duane Schroeder led the entire distance in heat number two. Nick Beckman managed to finish second with Jerry Keaton third and Tiffany Bittner was fourth.

Rod Bronson led from green to checkered flag in the first of two IMCA Sport Mod heat races. Max Harder finished second even though he had fast time in the race with a best lap average speed of 76.121 miles per hour. Steve Swarthout was third and Kevin Kloke fourth. Kyle Pacena led the distance in heat number two with a best of 76.574 miles per hour average lap speed. Mike Brown finished second with Ron Allen third and Brandon Jessen fourth.

The IMCA Sport Compact feature found Garret Rech taking the early lead in the race. Mike Simpson took the lead on lap three and continued his lead until the final lap as Jeremy Noonan took the front position and got the win. Noonan had the fastest lap in the race at 68.254 miles per hour. Mike Simpson held on for second with Dan Rhiley third and Jason Miller fourth.

Chevy Hadan jumped into the lead of the IMCA Modified feature. Chris Alcorn took the lead on lap three and continued his lead for the win as he worked his way through lap traffic. Chey Hadan held on for second as Bob Zoubek moved up to take third and Tom Svoboda was fourth.

Quinten Spragg took the early lead in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature race. Spragg continued his lead until lap thirteen as Shane Hiatt took the front position. Spragg finished with the win as Hiatt dropped to tenth place when tire problems developed on the final laps. Nick Topil was second, Dusty Poessnecker third and Jerry Keaton edged out Dan Kresha for fourth.

A special “Exhibition Race” was held after all A features were finished. The top six IMCA Sport Mods and the top six IMCA Modifieds had a ten lap race. The Sport Mods started in the front three rows and the IMCA Mods in the next tree rows. Sport Mod driver Max Harder grabbed the lead as the race began. Bob Zoubek moved into second place on lap number five but had a lot of distance to make up in order to catch Harder who had stretched his lead. Zoubek manged to take the lead during the final lap for the win. Each driver in the race received equal pay to help offset their cost of fuel for being cooperative and participating in this fun race.

The final races of the night were mechanics races for each division. Jerry Keaton drove the Sport Mod of Ron Allen in the Modified mechanics race and won. A mystery driver won in the Sport Mod mechanics race driving the number 2 of Mike Brown. The Sport Compact mechanics race was won by Todd Sanford driving the 33 of Jeremy Noonan. Dan Kresha demonstrated how to race as he drove son Brandon’s Hobby Stock to victory lane.

Special thanks to all fans and drivers who supported Jacy and Paula Todd for the racing season this year. They hope you will join them on September 5th for the ASCS 360 Sprint Car races. The program will include the GOTRA’s and Vintage Lites as a part of the total program for the night.

IMA Sport Compact Results
Heat : 2 Dan Rhiley, 55 Garrett Rech, 33 Jeremy Noonan, 63 Mike Simpson

A Feature: 33 Jeremy Noonan, 63 Mike Simpson, 2 Dan Rhiley, 77 Jason Miller, 11 Nic Hitz, 33L Trevor Noonan, 55 Garrett Rech, 72 Ben Simpson

IMCA Hobby Stock Results
Heat 1: 21H Shane Hiatt, 22Jr. Dusty Poessnecker, 3H Kyle Hein, 79s Quinten Spragg
Heat 2: 22s Duane Schroeder, 22 Nick Beckman, 3K Jerry Keaton, 95B Tiffany Bittner

A Feature: 79s Quinten Spragg, 7T Nick Topil, 22Jr. Dusty Poessnecker, 3K Jerry Keaton, 21 Brandon Kresha, 11x Rich Small, 2 Ryan Roschewski, 68 Damon Richards, 22 Nick Beckman, 21H Shane Hiatt, 9J Jerrid Becker, 25 Brady Fernau, 95B Tiffany Bittner, 22s Duane Schroeder, 3H Kyle Hein

IMCA Sport Mod Results
Heat 1: 54R Rod Bronson, 34 Max Harder, 23 Steve Swarthout, 35 Kevin Kloke
Heat 2: 54K Kyle Pacena, 2 Mike Brown, 26x Ron Allen, 07 Brandon Jessen

A Feature: 2 Mike Brown, 34 Max Harder, 23 Steve Swarthout, 6 Denny Berghahn Jr., 48 Kyle Harpster, 54R Rod Bronson, 07 Brandon Jessen, 35 Kevin Kloke, 15 Nathan Kobus, 27 Kyle Becker, 52P Brandon Poessnecker, 54K Kyle Pecena, 26x Ron Allen, 33 Jim Hendricks

IMCA Modified Results
Heat 1: 5s Bob Zoubek, 16 Tom Svoboda, 3 Chris Alcorn, 81 Michael Densberger
Heat 2: 4 Chevy Hadan, 18 Terry Richards, 56s Scott Bivens, 25H Adrian Hein Jr.
Heat 3: 95 Dylan Smith, 13 Ryan Fjell, 21J Jeremy Leithing, 44 Tom Lenz

A Feature: 3 Chris Alcorn, 4 Chevy Hadan, 5s Bob Zoubek, 16 Tom Svoboda, 3w Stacey Wilhelm, 2x Mike Stearns, 26 Scott Styskal, 81 Mike Densberger, 13 Ryan Fjell, 57 Brian Cudly, 21J Jeremy Leiting, 95 Dylan Smith, 18 Terry Richards, 07 Jenny Sylvester, 25H Adrian Hein Jr., 56s Scott Bivens, 5 Dana Dankert, 5G Harry Nixon

Sport Mod vs IMCA Mod Exhitition Race: 5s Bob Zoubek, 34 Max Harder, 3 Chris Alcorn, 2x Mike Stearns, 35 Kevin Kloke, 16 Tom Svoboda, 26 Scott Styskal, 6 Denny Berghahn Jr., 54R Rod Bronson, 81 Michael Densberger, 15 Nathan Kobus, 27 Kyle Becker

Mechanics Race Winners: IMCA Sport Compact 33 Todd Sanford, IMCA Hobby Stock 21 Dan Kresha, IMCA Sport Mod 2 Mystery Driver, IMCA Mod Jerry Keaton

The Pace Lap - August 20, 2008

Well, I have a wedding to go to this weekend so I'll miss the potential "Battle Regal of Eagle" if the threatened claim goes down in the Hobby Stocks.

For the record I hate the claim rule and think it has not accomplished its original intent; to control the cost of racing.

Of course claiming's in the rules but the problem with the claim is that it didn't count on human nature (see this example if the first link wasn't enough).

If not accompanied by threats of knuckle-based orthodontics, threats of hard feelings between guys they race side by side with keep others from claiming, which usually results in a loose Gentlemen's Agreement that says, "I won't claim your several-thousand dollar motor if you don't claim mine." Pretty soon that limit goes unchecked save for a few that cherry pick some mechanical gold, only to be replenished by the original owner next week.

The nasty side of the claim is that despite the claimer's new prize, they usually they come out the next week not making much more progress since they couldn't claim the driver's talent...

Proof that the claim doesn't work is summed up in one word: SportMod.

But I waxed on about that in the last editorial.

Let's say something good for once. Forgive me as I bounce from track to track here.

First of all, it's nice to see that Butler County Motorplex promoter Jacy Todd has announced that the Friday show is returning in 2009, with IMCA sanction in all the classes.

This week I watched two good shows, the Tour 'n' Topless Husker Nationals (AKA "the wingless show at I-80") and Eagle's Weekly program. Both had different but equally good tracks. Eagle's track was great, racy-dry with a cushion near the wall that harkened back to the days when Gerloff and Lipsey or Divis and Lowery banked off the turn two rail to make a bee-line down the backstretch.

The I-80 surface Tuesday was fast, tacky and a perfect complement to the wingless sprinter's signature four-wheel, rooster-tail broadslide style.

Oh yeah, I didn't know that was the way the Mods worked, too! I could swear Matt Richards was mimicking Dave Darland each lap out there. The SLMR Late Model feature was also a sight.

Kyle Berck was perfect in his Modified run, Clint Homan made one bobble. That's all it took as the two put on an epic battle in the last half of the 15-lap IMCA Modified contest.

Berck then hopped into a Late Model and snatched that feature as well. Dude can drive. But you'd have to be under a rock for the past 15 years not to know that.

I've begun to REALLY like modified racing - yes, the class has been a heavier weight on the checkbook but these modifieds aren't the modifieds that made their Nebraska debut at Eagle Raceway in 1985. The class has matured significantly and they're damn fun to watch anymore.

Chris Alcorn is the point leader at Eagle, but right now Dylan Smith is the guy to beat. Dylan's won three of the last four A features at Eagle and pulled to within five points of the two-time and defending champion after Alcorn pulled in early during Saturday night's A.

Maybe Dylan's prowess has become too common; what amazed everyone Saturday was not Dylan's driving, but his official magnetic, stick-to-anything-with-a-full-can coozies. A request made over the PA by Eagle officials to deliver a supply of the goods was met promptly when Dylan wheeled up to the pit garage.

Jack Dover picked up his fourth sprint win in a row Saturday, prompting a question of whether or not that's been done before at Eagle. Well, myself and others pointed out that it has, with John Gerloff going five and six-for during his dominance in the late 80's and 90's. Of course what we all missed that the last time anyone won four sprint features in a row was when? 2008 when Mike Boston did it - in fact his four-race streak was broken when Jack started his. Jay Russell and Bobby Becker are the only other two regular season A feature winners this year.

Melvin Densberger deserves a radio call in show. People making quick work of Roger's beer at the post race pit party know why.

It was nice to hear the I-80 announcers work the crowd up. I'm glad some tracks "get it" and go past some littany of stats and efforts to show the crowd how much they know about whatever. Information is important but some announcers just rattle...or worse...just let the people sit with "dead air."

Ok, I can't get by without being a little sour....

Unfortunately, Tuesday's show was marred by an injury when a damaged sprint car lost control and struck the Kenkel 33x late model in the pits. Three were injured, fortunately the injuries weren't nearly as bad as once feared.

My dad, who used to be locked to the racing scene but rarely makes it out anymore and I were talking about the pit injuries and he pointed out something that's and unfortunate yet obvious; all we can do is react - the pits are a dangerous place.

Sometimes people don't see that. I see too many people wandering around pits anymore who have no business being there. They don't work on a car, maybe they're buddies with someone who drives, whatever. They don't have that pit awareness that is not only key to safety, but takes time and conscious effort to develop.

Pit crews, drivers, officials, even long-time pit denizens get it. They know when a truck comes up behind a sprint car, that combination is a one-way missile ready to launch. They know that yellow flags often mean someone's coming up to the pits and often damaged and unable to steer/brake/etc. They know that A feature time usually means some hot cars with intense drivers are rolling in. And, they know at the checkered flag, a parade of vehicles, sometimes mixed in with a mess of cars staged up for the next event means things get dicey.

You can make up all the rules, all the technological changes you want. It doesn't take away from the fact that the pits are probably the MOST dangerous part of any race track.

Five yellow flags in the first 9 laps deserves a time limit on any show - especially on a weeknight. The SLMR race at I-80 should've been thinned down but I understand that it's also a series this year and probably not the easiest thing to do out of hand.

I would add that the rest of the race was pretty smooth.

How Bill Leighton walked away from that Late Model heat race crash amazed me. I haven't seen a car look so...limp...on the track. It's as if someone just knocked it out cold.

The low-20s wingless sprint car count was a bit of a disappointment but the field was thick with talent.

But any issues I had were minor, and were FAR overshadowed by two great shows. All in all this was a fantastic week for me, suffering a drought after not making it to Knoxville for the annual Iowa Speed Week.

Eagle 8-16-08 Photos

Here's photos from last Saturday at Eagle. Enjoy.

Eagle 8-16-08 Photos

Thayer County Season Championship This Weekend

From Tom Denton

Friday night will be the Season Championships at the Thayer Co. Speedway.
Track Champions will be crowned in all classes.

Classes running will be the Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Pepsi IMCA Hobby
Stocks, JnJ Fab Sport Compacts and Bigg Johnson Chassis IMCA Stock Cars.

The point races are very close in the Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. The Sport
Compact title has been won by the 10t of Troy Hoffman. Jeff Joldersma has a
good lead in the Stock Cars. Gates open at 5:00 Hot Laps are at 6:30 with
racing at 7:30. Adults $7 Kids 6-13 $3 and Kids 5 and under are free.

Eagle: Dover, Smith, Hiatt and Noonan Win Sizzlin' August Nights

By Greg Soukup

EAGLE, Neb. (August 16, 2008) - Sizzlin' August Nights at "America's Home
Track" Eagle Raceway didn't live up to its billing. A nice afternoon with
highs in the low 80's and an evening that turned cool by feature time was a
perfect setting for exciting racing action.

The first A Feature was for the Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts. At the
end of the first lap Matt Moyer's #29 was in the lead followed by the 33 of
Jeremy Noonan, Jake Sells' #21, the 45 of Jack Prall IV and Chris
LaChapelle's 31. On the second lap Joey Danley lost the right rear tire off
of his #14, bringing out the yellow flag. Noonan took advantage of the
restart to move around Moyer for first. On the next lap LaChapelle got
around Prall IV to take the fourth spot. It took LaChapelle just 1 more
circuit to advance into third past Sells. On lap #8 current points leader
Justin Busboom moved into fourth position in his #62. The next lap saw Moyer
hit the turn 1 wall very hard, sending him to the pits behind the wrecker.
At that time the running order was Noonan, LaChapelle, Sells and Busboom.
With 5 laps left Busboom got past Sells for third. With 2 laps left in the
race Mice Rice's #24 and Barry Kinnersley's 00 got together in turn 4,
brining out another caution. While the cars were being lined up for the
restart Sells took his racer to the pits with unknown problems. On the very
last lap, Ole Olsen brought his #23 into fourth position after having
started at the tail end of the field, having transferred from the B Feature.
At the finish it was Noonan, LaChapelle, Busboom and Olsen.

"The track was really fast tonight, and so was my car for only the second
time this year. I knew it was fast coming into tonight because we won the
feature last night at Rising City" Noonan said. "I want to thank my
girlfriend Taylor, my parents and my pit crew. But special thanks need to go
to my dad, my brother, Tom and also Todd Sanford" he finished. Jeremy's
sponsors include Suds 'N Scissors, Brodd's Small Engine Repair, Longoria's
MMA Academies, Richard J. Mazour DDS, Tracy's Collision Center, Ron Fox &
Sons Service and Advanced Auto Glass.

Next on the track was the Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stock A Main. Don Kros
crossed the start finish line with the lead in his #53 with Mike Hansen's
94, Jerry Keaton's 3K and the 28B of Rick Bradley in hot pursuit. Shane
Hiatt took advantage of a fast low groove on lap #2 shooting up to 4th, and
followed it the next lap by overtaking Keaton for third then passing Hansen
for second on lap 4. That same lap RJ Macku brought his 1R up to the fourth
spot past Keaton. The next time around saw Hiatt with the lead, sending Kros
to second, Hansen to third and Macku still in fourth. The order stayed the
same until with 7 laps left Hansen and Macku both passed Kros. Three laps
later Justin Wulf's #86 and the 22 of Nick Beckman got together in turn 4
bringing out a caution. On the restart, Macku got very loose dropping all
the way back to the 6th position. That allowed current point leader Kevin
Anderson to take over fourth, only to give it up 2 laps later as Keaton got
past him for the position. At the checkers it was Hiatt, Hansen, Kros and
Keaton.

"The track was really awesome tonight. I knew that if we could stick it down
low and keep it there we could get to the front really fast" Hiatt stated.
"I need to thank everyone who helps me come out here every week. Mom and
Dad, Shawn, Ryan, Jerry Keaton who's been so much help with the motors,
Scott Bivens and Harms" he said. Hiatt's sponsors include Knuth Farms, Spark
Electric, Scribs House Moving, Hildy Construction, Benes Service, Kneaded
Pampering, Seward Electronics, Wieseman Diesel Repair, Spyder Race Cars,
D-Sign Shop, S & H Electric and Marquis Body Shop.

The Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modified Feature saw Jan Korth's #42K in the
lead, but his lead was negated when "Chevy" Hadan's #4 and the 95R of Lucas
Robinson tangled at the flag stand bringing about a complete restart.
Robinson was unable to continue as was the #3 of two-time defending track
champion and current points leader Chris Alcorn who pulled into the infield
with rear drive train problems. This time Ryan Fuchser's #49 was first back
to the start/finish line with Dan Wayman's 5ST in second, the 81 of Mike
Densberger in third and the 12X of George Haney in fourth. On the second lap
Wayman got around Fuchser for the lead and on the next lap the order was
shuffled again when Ed "Doc" Raines pulled his 11AA into the third spot and
the 5P of Bob Phillips also advancing to fourth. Two laps later Phillips
lost the fourth spot to Dylan Smith's #95. Two more laps were in the record
books when Smith got around both Raines and Fuchser to take the second
position away. With 9 laps remaining Smith passed Wayman for the lead and on
the next lap Raines moved up to third. At the finish Smith held on for the
win despite heavy smoke coming from his racer with Wayman, Raines and Haney
behind him.

"I really hated seeing that first caution come out, because I'd jumped from
my 12th starting spot all the way up to 6th. I was really upset to say the
least. But, after the restart I just started picking off cars one at a time
and moving to the front. I was really worried at the end there, because my
fan belt broke with 3 laps left. And by the time the race was over, my
temperature gauge had passed the peg at 280 degrees and was still climbing.
I started half-throttling and did that to the end" Smith said. He finished
the interview by saying "I want to be sure to thank my Mom & Dad, Grandpa
and Grandma, Mike and Lisa Goecke, Damion, Joni and the girls". Smith's
sponsors include Active Life Family Chiropractic, Marquardt Plumbing,
Augustin Electric, Vrbka Ag Solutions, Star-Lite Machine, Cappys Bar & Grill
and Hot Rods by Todd.

The Budweiser Championship 360 Sprint A Feature was the last of the evening.
Once again the original start was called back, but this time not for a
caution. Original pole sitter Nick Clifford had been too quick on the
accelerator of his #99C and was moved back 1 row, moving Tadd Holliman's 23R
to the front. Trevor Grossenbacher retired to the pits during the
realignment process due to the left rear brake caliper bolts having broken.
He was unable to return. At the end of the first lap Clifford had again
taken the lead with Holliman, the #3 of Jeff Griffis and the 17 of Gage Dorr
behind him. On the second lap Bobby Becker's 8B was sent into a series of
end-over-end rolls, coming to a stop in turn 1. Thankfully, Becker was
unhurt. Griffis took advantage of the restart, moving around Holliman for
second. Jay Russell came up to fourth on the ensuing lap, and then into
third on lap 4. Jack Dover moved up to the top four on lap 6, and then into
third on lap 7. It took Dover 2 more laps before he could take second, but
that same lap Mark Schmidt came to a stop in turns 1 & 2, bringing out the
caution flag and moving Dover back to third. The running order at that time
was Clifford, Griffis, Dover and Josh Riggins' #14. Dover regained second on
the restart, moving under and past Griffis. Two-time defending track
Champion Mike Boston moved past Riggins on the same lap and then around
Griffis on the next circuit. Riggins regained the fourth spot the next time
around. Dover finally managed to pass Clifford with 12 laps left and Boston
followed suit by getting around Clifford on the ensuing circuit to take
second. Boston and Dover battled from there to the checkers, moving to the
top and bottom of the racetrack as the lapped traffic dictated. The only
change in the top four came with 10 laps left as Jason Danley advanced his
#82 to fourth. At the completion of the race it was Dover, Boston, Clifford
and Danley.

"I really didn't like the track when we ran our heat, but by the time the
feature rolled around it was really racy. I told my crew before we went out
that I'd pull a few slide jobs, and that's exactly what I did. The surface
was perfect for it, so I decided to go for it. My car was pretty fast, but a
little loose. My dad and I were arguing before the A about the setup, so we
used ½ of his suggestions and ½ of mine, and it worked really great" Dover
said. Dover's sponsors include 3 D Auto Transport Inc., RMS, Trail
Performance Powder Coating, Thorpes Auto Body, Eckley Racing Engines, Eagle
Chassis, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, ATV Motorsports, Speedway Motors, Bell
Racing, Butler Built Professional Seating Systems, Design 500 Racewear, FK
Rod Ends, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, CMET Excavating, NOS Energy
Drink and BA Photos.

Be sure to come out next weekend when McDonalds and the KAT present Junior
Fan Club Night with Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sports Compacts, Valentino's IMCA
Hobby Stocks, Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds and the Budweiser
Championship 360 Sprint Cars. Kid's $1000 money grab at intermission and
meet 'n greet with Ronald McDonald. As a special added attraction, there
will be a DJ Challenge Mini-van Pole Race for the fans' enjoyment following
the features between the KAT and the BREW.

Race Results for August 16th, 2008:

Budweiser 360 Sprints:
A Feature-
1) 53 Jack Dover
2) 51 Mike Boston
3) 99c Nick Clifford
4) 82 Jason Danley
5) 14 Josh Riggins
6) 76 Jay Russell
7) 14g Gene Ackland
8) 3 Jeff Griffis
9) 96kx Adam Gullion
10) 23r Tadd Holliman
11) 71 Tige Jensen
12) 24b Frank Galusha
13) 23 Terry Holliman
14) 45 Jeff Lowery
15) 27 Brad Wright
16) 77 John Klabunde
17) 17 Gage Dorr
18) 9j Mark Schmidt
19) 8b Bobby Becker
20) 35 Trevor Grossenbacher

B Feature-
1) 24b Frank Galusha
2) 77 John Klabunde
3) 45 Jeff Lowery
4) 27 Brad Wright
5) 9j Mark Schmidt
6) 17b Jason Becker
7) 95 Dan Satriano
8) 57 Jayson Bogue
9) x29 Roger Sluka
10) 6 Nick Bryan
11) 33 Terry Cadwallader (DNS)
12) 13 Kathy Minter (DNS)

Monster IMCA Modifieds:
A Feature-
1) 95 Dylan Smith
2) 5st Dan Wayman
3) 11aa Ed Raines
4) 12x George Haney
5) 5p Bob Philipps
6) 3a Aaron Pella
7) 81 Mike Densberger
8) 4 Chevy Hadan
9) v45 Rik Gropp
10) 24t Terry Hurt
11) 11n Nathan Landauer
12) 8c Chad Andersen
13) 7 Bob Ruisinger
14) 13 Doug Deterding
15) 49 Ryan Fuchser
16) 42k Jan Korth
17) 00 Tim Pickens
18) 4t Jerry Trejo
19) 95r Lucas Robinson
20) 3 Chris Alcorn

B Feature-
1) 4 Chevy Hadan
2) 95r Lucas Robinson
3) 00 Tim Pickens
4) 4t Jerry Trejo
5) 8c Chad Andersen
6) 21j Jeremy Leiting
7) 0 Jim Krupicka
8) 41 Clint Hummer
9) 2k Kyle Schamp
10) 57 Brian Cudly
11) 29 Jeff Mazza
12) 11x Steve Devitt
13) 51 Cliff Turner
14) 8r Nick Kepler
15) 10t Brad Tuttle
16) 73 James Oaks (DNS)

Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks:
A Feature-
1) 21h Shane Hiatt
2) 94 Mike Hansen
3) 53 Don Kros
4) 3k Jerry Keaton
5) 1r RJ Macku
6) 22k Kevin Anderson
7) 10k Lee Kracht
8) 28b Rick Bradley
9) 12 Dan Noonan
10) 93 Thom Marsh
11) 38c Casey Moyer
12) m70 Rick Munson
13) 33 Eric Hanson
14) 86 Justin Wulf
15) d1 Derek Anderson
16) 98 Dan Jackson
17) 71k Josh Kennell
18) b4 Ben Becher
19) 92 Don Hall Jr
20) 22 Nick Beckman

B Feature-
1) 12 Dan Noonan
2) m70 Rick Munson
3) 33 Eric Hanson
4) 98 Dan Jackson
5) d1 Derek Anderson
6) 77 Keith Dragoo
7) 1j Jason Edwards
8) 20t Steve Shepard
9) 15 Anthony Melcher
10) 99 Jason Tadlock
11) 91 Chris Brenning (DNS)
12) 32h Harold Silvey (DNS)
13) 52 Roger Timperley (DNS)

Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts:
A Feature-
1) 33 Jeremy Noonan
2) 31 Chris LaChapelle
3) 62 Justin Busboom
4) 23 Ole Olsen
5) 18r Ron Frank
6) 22 Elliott Halvorsen
7) 63 Mike Simpson
8) 18 Maynard Kinnersley
9) 44 Jack Prall III
10) 55 Garrett Rech
11) 21 Jake Sells
12) 24 Mike Rice
13) 00 Barry Kinnersley
14) 11 Nic Hitz
15) 45 Jack Prall IV
16) 29 Matt Moyer
17) 21t Brandon Thorton
18) 77 Jason Miller
19) 33s Andrew smith
20) 14 Joey Danley

B Feature-
1) 23 Ole Olsen
2) 00 Barry Kinnersley
3) 21t Brandon Thorton
4) 11 Nic Hitz
5) 26t Tyler Drueke
6) 33c Mary Lenz
7) 16 Hailey Jackson
8) 24k Carla Keaton
9) 26 Derek Dreamer
10) 5 Larry Cronin
11) 16t Tyler Saathoff
12) 2 Dan Rhiley (DNS)
13) 72 Ben Simpson (DNS)
14) 95c Bob Cigelman (DNS)
15) 10st Kevin Staack (DNS)

I-80 Wingless, SLMR and IMCA Modified pics

Here's some pics from Tuesday's T 'n T Wingless show with SLMR late models and IMCA modifieds at I-80. Enjoy.

I-80 Aug 12 Pics

I-80 Free Admission this weekend with coupon

This Sunday August 17th is Dodge Fan Appreciation Night stop by your area Dodge Dealer (see list below)to pick up a FREE Admission Coupon.

Armbruster Motor Co. Falls City NE
Baxter Dodge Omaha NE
Black Motor Co. Holdrege NE
Deveny Motors McCook NE
Erdkamp Motors Exeter NE
Farmers Garage Dodge NE
Faws Garage Arapahoe NE
Forrester's Dodge City Arnold NE
Gene Steffy C-D-J Fremont NE
Great Plains C-D Hastings NE
Herpolsheimer's Seward NE
Jonny DCJ Neligh NE
Kobza Motors David City NE
Larson Motors Nebraska City NE
Lithia CJD of Omaha, INC Omaha NE
Matteson Motors, Inc. Phillipsburg KS
Meyer-Earp Auto Center Auburn NE
Midway C-D-J Kearney NE
Performance C-J-D La Vista NE
Performance Dodge Lincoln NE
Phil Spady C-D-J Columbus NE
Platte Valley Auto Mart Lexington NE
Rhoden Dodge Council Bluffs IA
Roy's Grand Dodge-C-J Grand Island NE
Russwood South, Inc. Crete NE
Subway Motors Co. Milford NE
Tincher Chry-Dodge-Jeep Plattsmouth NE
Twin Rivers CDJ Beatrice NE
West Point Auto Plaza West Point NE
Woodhouse C-D-J Blair NE

Beecher, Inc. Shenandoah, IA
Coleman Motors Denison, IA
Deter Motor Co. Atlantic, IA
Harlan Auto Mart Harlan, IA
Red Oak Chrysler, Inc. Red Oak, IA
Shore Motor Co. Clarindra, IA

Editorial: Four is Enough

At what point are there enough classes? Kenny Danley, who’s crossed over from Compacts to Modifieds on occasion asked on Dirtdrivers.com what people’s opinions were on adding the SportMod class - (even more) limited IMCA mods – to Eagle’s lineup. Kenny said he wants to compete at Eagle, having "grown up there."

Any track should be honored that people want to race there just because it's that track.

But I don't want to see that class and the regular modifieds on the same card, anywhere.

Let me hit this several ways. One, I agree with Ron Meyer of http://www.therestofthedirt.com/ that four classes is enough. I personally think four is too much, regardless of the mix. That aside, one of the things mentioned in the thread that makes Eagle unique is that there is a distinctive difference between each class. You have sprint cars, you have modifieds, a stock car class and the compact class. There’s no visual similarities between the two other than the four wheels. For that reason, while I have nothing against SportMods, 305's, etc. by themselves, I’m not a fan them when there's a similar class in the show.

So I’m not big on 305’s when 360 or 410 sprints run (yes, even during the Outlaws), nor do I want Sport or B-mods with a regular “A-Mod” class, etc. Most fans can’t tell the difference, the average guy really doesn’t know why there’s two classes. All they see are something that looks like the other and thought they just saw it race. Since I always feel that any track that wants to succeed has to build a fan base of "average guys," why confuse them?

Here's the extension of that – adding those classes waters down the program. Where you may have 30 “A” modifieds, now you see those on the fringe move down so you have a thin field of two classes.

And I hate thin fields.

If you can’t pay out a full A feature, you’re field is thin and your program is not “thriving.” And a thin field looks bad to the fan and in my experience is rarely competitive.

Now, I’ll be countered with the argument that some classes are getting too expensive.

Quite true. How do you fix that?

Well, instead of sanctioning bodies or tracks trying to curb costs, they take the easy way out and add a sub class for fear of losing cars and losing that licensing fee/sanction fee/back gate money. The problem is it doesn't address the original issue of the class being too expensive!

I believe an imperfect, but acceptable fix comes from an unlikely source: patience.

We’ve developed into a win-now, and entitled to win culture. The mentality of “everybody wins” from youth sports, or political correctness seems to stun those who enter the world of only the best win and only the victor gets the spoils. So the answer is to set the bar lower: if you can’t afford “A,” well now you can be a winner in “B!”

Whatever happened to earning your stripes? I remember seeing people start with little, and over time, sell this used part to buy a newer part, and get a little faster, earn some money and get a newer, faster part and eventually they had the gear AND the experience.

Perhaps seeing the youth succeed with top notch equipment bought on their parent’s dime and desire build the next Jeff Gordon instills the idea that winning is only a checkbook away. Of course money often buys speed, but talent usually guarantees it.

There are many teams who practice patience – I would argue MOST teams. What happens though is the humble nature that allows these teams to be content with the long time it takes to win also means they usually don’t make a lot of noise, or have the ear of the people in charge.

Simply put, there’s too much of a knee-jerk reaction between sanctions, promoters, and racers for a problem that given time, can take care of itself for the most part. Yes, there will be lingering and important issues, but they will be much easier to solve without worrying about new classes and starting over and usually revisiting those issues that you thought creating a new class solved the first time!

Not all tracks can be everything to everybody but some think they have to be. There will always be the haves and have-nots, it’s natural. Changing nature is difficult and success is nearly impossible.

Now, before I get the hate mail from 305 and SportMod fans, I’m not saying to abolish these classes or that I dislike them at all. They may fit in perfectly well at other venues as their own unique classes. What’s wrong with a Sport Mod, Factory Stock and Crate Late Model show?

If you don’t believe me regarding the elitism, let me bring the example of this using Knoxville – the 360 sprints are still treated as the “lower” class, where at Eagle some fans think the 360's own the place. It’s all relative. But why not let each winner be the king of the car type at that track, and not second to the “faster” class?

Is it really necessary to run endless classes for survival of the track? From what I’ve seen, many of these tracks are watching fan counts dwindle. And when you have an off economy, and recreation budgets slip and the racers get hurt first. As a back gate promoter, lose that and you lost everything. But I’ve seen the front gate promoters produce a distinct variety, a more entertained fan base and one that’s not impervious to, but better insulated against an economic slump.

I again want to say I'm not ragging any class and really not any track - I think every track in this area is fighting and doing things it may not want to do. It's a tough world but I think the solutions need to be long term, not stop-gap.

Man, two boys recovering from infield crash

BY MAGGIE O'BRIEN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

An adult and two 13-year-old boys were recovering Wednesday after they were
injured during an infield crash at Nebraska Raceway Park.

Spencer Kenkel, his cousin Alex Kenkel and 38-year-old Steve Kanne were
treated and released at the Nebraska Medical Center, said Brian Kenkel of
Elkhorn, Spencer's dad. All three suffered minor injuries, though Spencer
may have a break or a fracture in his right foot, Kenkel said.

The group was standing near Kenkel's late model racer, which was parked for
repairs, about 9 p.m. on Tuesday when sprint car driver R.J. Johnson lost
control of his car after part of his steering mechanism broke while driving
through the pits. Johnson struck the teens and Kanne, who lives in Gretna
and works with Kenkel.

Kenkel said his son, nephew and friend were resting Wednesday and would
likely be fine.

Darland Collects Fist Full of Sprint Bandits TNT Dollars in Husker Nationals

Lonnie Wheatley, GREENWOOD, Neb. (August 12, 2008) – For the second year in a row, Indiana's Dave Darland left Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway with a fist full of two-dollar bills.


Two thousand of them to be exact, as he collected the $4,000 winner's share by topping the second round of the Fourth Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing in Tuesday night's 30-lap Husker Nationals main event.


Darland fought off Brady Bacon much of the way, then survived a late restart to take the checkered flag in front of Damion Gardner, Robert Ballou, 13th-starter Darren Hagen and Charles Davis, Jr.


Darland did more than "survive" the final caution that set up a three-lap dash to the checkered flag, as he checked out to take the checkered flag aboard Scott Benic's Gaerte-powered RWB No. 2b Maxim with a 0.852-second advantage to claim Husker Nationals honors for the second year in a row, delivering car owner Benic his sixth career TNT feature win in the process.


"That was a lot of fun," Darland exclaimed after his fifth overall victory in the past eight nights. "In one and two the top was the way to go, and in turns three and four the bottom was the quickest. I kept seeing a nose under me from time to time so I knew I had to keep hustling."


Darland earned the front row outside starting position for the main event, but it was Oklahoma's Brady Bacon outdueling Darland for the point on the opening round from the pole position in Mike and Megan Eubanks' Tel-Star Communications No. 99 Triple-X.


Bacon's lead was short-lived however, as Darland slid in front to take command upon the completion of the third lap. Darland was unable to shake Bacon though, with the young shoe keeping the pressure on as Gardner and Ballou battled for position close behind with Jesse Hockett next in the chase as the top five separated themselves from the field.


Working through heavy traffic, Darland cleared a group of cars on the 20th lap to break away from his chasers. And when the race's first caution flew on the 24th lap, Darland had already lapped up to ninth place and had a cushion of three lapped cars between himself and Bacon with another pair of lapped machines between Bacon and the battling duo of Ballou and Gardner.


As Darland took off on the restart, Bacon's mount stumbled and he pulled pitside moments later with fuel pickup problems.


On the move was Gardner, who blasted past Ballou and then cleared the five lapped cars before the red flag flew after 27 laps for Mike Leslie's turn four tumble. Leslie walked away uninjured.


While Gardner restarted on Darland's tailtank, he was no match this time as Darland breezed to victory lane. Gardner settled for runner-up honors in the Pace Lighting/Team ASE No. 71 Beast, with Ballou taking show honors in the MPHG Promotions No. 81 Maxim.


Darren Hagen raced from 13th to snare fourth in the Trucker's 24-Hour Road Service No. 10 DRC, with Charles Davis, Jr., climbing a handful of positions to round out the top five in Mark Swanson's No. 21s.


Casey Shuman crossed the stripe sixth, with Hockett, Cory Kruseman and Chris Windom the final cars on the lead lap. Gary Taylor climbed from 21st to complete the top ten.


Bret Mellenberndt, Darland and Shuman topped heat race action with Gardner, Ballou and Darland victorious in the qualifying races.


The Fourth Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing moves on to Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway on Wednesday night, with ensuing stops at Creek County Speedway near Tulsa (Thursday) and then Kansas City's Lakeside Speedway (Friday and Saturday).


O’Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless I-80 Speedway Husker Nationals Results:


Heat Races:


First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 2. 10T-Thomas Meseraull, 3. 75-Jesse Hockett, 4. 17-Chris Windom, 5. 76-Mike Leslie, 6. 14-Coleman Gulick, 7. 71x-Robert Bell, 8. 83-Tim Kaeding.


Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 2b-Dave Darland, 2. 99-Brady Bacon, 3. 71-Damion Gardner, 4. 81-Robert Ballou, 5. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 6. 71k-Alex Schutte, 7. 77-John Klabunde.


Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. 32-Casey Shuman, 2. 15-R.J. Johnson, 3. 1-Levi Jones, 4. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 5. 10-Darren Hagen, 6. 5*-Gary Taylor, 7. 41k-Henry Clarke.


Qualifying Races:


First Qualifier (8 Laps): 1. 71-Damion Gardner, 2. 99-Brady Bacon, 3. 10-Darren Hagen, 4. 10T-Thomas Meseraull, 5. 15-R.J. Johnson, 6. 83-Tim Kaeding, 7. 76-Mike Leslie, 8. 71x-Robert Bell.


Second Qualifier (8 Laps): 1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 75-Jesse Hockett, 3. 1-Levi Jones, 4. 71k-Alex Schutte, 5. 32-Casey Shuman, 6. 14-Coleman Gulick, 7. 77-John Klabunde.


Third Qualifier (8 Laps): 1. 2b-Dave Darland, 2. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 17-Chris Windom, 4. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 5. 41k-Henry Clarke, 6. 97-Bret Mellenberndt. DNS: 5*-Gary Taylor.


O'Reilly Sprint Bandits I-80 Speedway Husker Nationals "A" Main


“A” Main (30 Laps): 1. 2b-Dave Darland, 2. 71-Damion Gardner, 3. 81-Robert Ballou, 4. 10-Darren Hagen, 5. 21-Charles Davis, Jr., 6. 32-Casey Shuman, 7. 75-Jesse Hockett, 8. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 9. 17-Chris Windom, 10. 5*-Gary Taylor, 11. 15-R.J. Johnson, 12. 10T-Thomas Meseraull, 13. 1-Levi Jones, 14. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 15. 71k-Alex Schutte, 16. 14-Coleman Gulick, 17. 41k-Henry Clarke, 18. 71x-Robert Bell, 19. 83-Tim Kaeding, 20. 76-Mike Leslie, 21. 99-Brady Bacon, 22. 77-John Klabunde.


Lap Leaders: Brady Bacon 1-2, Dave Darland 3-30.


O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing Points (Top 15): 1. Dave Darland 296, 2. Robert Ballou 294, 3. Casey Shuman 282, 4. Darren Hagen 280, 5. Gary Taylor 270, 6. (tie) Damion Gardner, Levi Jones and Jesse Hockett 266, 9. Thomas Meseraull 260, 10. Cory Kruseman 256, 11. R.J. Johnson 252, 12. Coleman Gulick 246, 13. Tim Kaeding 238, 14. Bret Mellenberndt 234, 15. Henry Clarke 232.

Eagle Photos-Kid's Night, Midgets, All-Stars

Got some photos up from the last three nights at Eagle...finally.

Eagle All-Stars 8-2-08

Eagle Kornhusker Midget Klassic & Motorcycles 7-27-08

Eagle 7-26-08 - Kid's Night

2008 ASCS Northern Plains / Midwest Regional Updates

The final (3) big races of the year for each region!!!
_____________________________________________________________________

¬ Wednesday August 13th – Hartford, SD
ASCS Northern Plains Regional Points Race
Gates Open @ 5:00PM – Racing @ 8:00PM
ASCS Spec RR Tire – Open LR Tires – Mufflers Not Required
_____________________________________________________________________

Saturday August 30th – Brainerd, MN
ASCS Northern Plains Regional Points Race – Mighty Axe Nationals
Gates Open 12:00 Noon - Racing @ 4:00PM
ASCS Spec RR Tire Mandatory - Open LR Tires - Mufflers Not Required
_________________________________________________________

Sunday August 31st – Brainerd, MN
ASCS Northern Plains Regional Points Race – Mighty Axe Nationals
Gates Open 12:00 Noon - Racing @ 4:00PM
ASCS Spec RR Tire Mandatory - Open LR Tires - Mufflers Not Required

_________________________________________________________

ASCS Midwest Regional Triple Header!
Friday September 5th – Rising City, NE
Saturday September 6th – Minneapolis, KS
Sunday September 7th – Eagle, NE
(More info coming shortly)

Speedway Motors display and Wolfgang 30th anniversary celebration at Knoxville Nationals

Speedway Motors would like to invite sprint car competitors and race fans to
come see us August 6-9 at the 48nd Annual Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville,
Iowa. The Speedway Motors trailer and display will be prominently located
near the pit area. Speedway Motors representatives Greg Nicol and Greg Lanc
will be handing out coolers of ice-cold water to all competing teams and
will have a full complement of Speedway Motors race and street rod catalogs
available. In addition to showing off the latest available products,
Speedway Motors will be commemorating the 30th anniversary of Doug
Wolfgang's Knoxville win in the Speedway-sponsored 4x sprint car. See you
there!
 
Speedway Motors is America's Oldest Speed Shop® and has made racing and
rodding safe, fun and affordable for more than 56 years. Call today toll
free at 1.800.979.0122 or visit us online at www.speedwaymotors.com.

Just had enough

This weekend I did something I haven't done in a long time, if ever. Certainly not in the 3 seasons I've been managing this site. Definitely not in the past eight years I worked for Eagle. And, in the 14 years I worked on a car, I can't think of any time I've done it.

But this Saturday at the All-Stars show at Eagle Raceway, I did it.

I walked out of a race before any of the features. Pretty much right in the middle.

I had nowhere to go - my wife was with her sisters, I had nowhere to be the next day. The camera was working fine. I drove myself there. I certainly didn't do anything that would get me thrown out....

No, Saturday night I picked up my stuff, talked to two drivers for a minute, got in the car and drove home. Didn't look back.

Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the second night I've attended a show that got started over an hour late and still languished with unnecessary delays. Maybe it was the background bleating of a guest set of ratchet-jawed announcers spewing narrow interest facts to the crowd. Maybe it was the audacity to run a full-length intermission at 10 PM.

Whatever it was, I had enough. Big time. I stood in 30-degree wind chill to watch a USMTS show in March, I've sat through the chills at the Icebreaker and I've borne the heat of the "Dog Days." But this time the die-hard in me couldn't overcome the urge.

I went home, downloaded a good set of photos (with eight hot lap sessions and time trials, I was bound to get a few) took a shower, cracked open one of the beers I had planned for after the races and watched The Soup on E!, then Bobby Flay making ribs on the Food Network and went to bed. Sometime the next morning I checked to see who won.

I don't know what to think, or who to blame. I see two common denominators between this Saturday's show and last Sunday's Kornhusker Midget Klassic
Klunker. One, was the track conditions. Far too dry last Sunday, far too wet last Saturday each delaying the show over an hour. Two, the sanctioning bodies who seem to think delay after delay is somehow a good thing.

Last Sunday, the midget group tells Roger to stop watering the parched track, then asks to water it a few minutes prior to the scheduled start of hot laps (I was standing there). Then - they have the chutzpah to "apologize" for Hadan's alleged transgressions one day's time and an hour's drive away at Butler County.

Did they apologize for the 35 minute intermission, the inability to do their own starting lineups and the fact that the Eagle track officials had to run THEIR show, while the series race director had no communication with those officials. Did they apologize to the crowd in the low hundreds who baked for over four hours in the hottest part of the day to watch 6 red flags and more yellows?

This Saturday, I have to respectfully disagree with 'Eagle Pit Shack Guy' Greg Soukup, but the track crew did not come through with flying colors...the over watered track continued to get churned up and not become raceworthy until finally the sprints rolled the rest of it in, an hour late. What was left was fast and smooth, so I give partial credit. But to complicate things the All Stars demanded a second, full set of hot laps. Can someone tell me what the Hell was with a delay to run the dash, a meaningless post-race interview with the winner, another lengthy delay prior to the B, then a full intermission after the 7:00 show didn't see its first race till 8:30?

For as brutal as I'm being I can't lay all the blame, in fact not even the majority of blame on the track. Roger continued the tradition set by Eagle's previous management of keeping the show rolling along. Indeed - give credit in that FOUR classes are often run in the same time span as the two classes prior to 2006. When Eagle's in charge (and I'll add several other tracks as well), things tend to move along at the proper pace.

So what was it that lit me up? Let's start with the process of elimination.

I can't blame the motorcycles. Last Sunday I recall one red flag, and what, two (?) restarts? There were times they had to shut down because they had been sitting in staging for so long. They were ready when asked.

The track conditions? Partially. But I've seen delays when the track needed to be reworked/run-in and I've seen the show still get over at a respectable time for what was being run.

I think it's the lack of respect for the fan's time by these all-important sanctions. Some of them get it. ASCS, USMTS and the World of Outlaws come to mind. If there's a delay, they pick up their own pace.

The problem is I think a lot of groups bring an ego to the track. Their show is the marquis event and you should be fortunate for having them come.

Nevermind that the track is paying THEM. Without the track, the promoter and the fans feeding the promoter, they don't have a show. Maybe NASCAR can pull this attitude off, and I'm not sure they can do it 100% of the time anymore.

When a track has to put a proverbial gun to its locals to get them to fill SOMEONE ELSE'S show, the sanctioning body's leverage is minimal. And for any series just getting off the ground, one look into the stands should say that if they want to come back and command the price they do, in these economic times, they need to bring more to the table.

Otherwise, people won't leave - they just won't go. And I think that strange as it may seem, upon review, the lack of respect for the show is what pushed me out the gate. If my time wasn't important to them, then they aren't worth my time either. Maybe I'm the only one who cared, but the old marketing belief is that the vast majority of lost customers never tell you why they leave. They just pick up their stuff and don't look back.

Maybe I'm being too harsh - maybe the sun baked my brain, but after a few days...I still feel the same because I've seen it before, and on that night I just had enough.

Eagle Raceway August 2 2008

Thunder Thru the Plains
By Greg Soukup

Summer finally arrived at "America's Home Track" Eagle Raceway Saturday
night as 96KX presented the "Thunder Through The Plains", featuring the All
Stars Circuit of Champions. Scorching temperatures, sunny skies and a strong
wind prevailed all during the day but Eagle's track preparation crew came
through with flying colors. The track remained smooth throughout the program
and only got racier as the events progressed. In the modified feature the
cars were running within 3/10 of a second of the track record. One of the
All Stars even commented to an official "I've raced all over the world, and
this was the best track I've ever seen".

The first event was the time trials for the sprint cars. Dale Blaney posted
the fastest time with a 11.535, Randy Hannagan was second at 11.565, Lance
Dewease in third with a 11.686 and fourth went to Tim Shaffer with a 11.721.

In the Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modified feature Bob Ruisinger came back to
the start/finish line in his #7 with the lead. He was followed by the 11X of
Steve Devitt, the 12X of George Haney and the 11N of Nathan Landauer. Aaron
Pella took just 5 laps to move his 3A around Landauer for fourth. A yellow
flag was thrown on the next lap when Ed "Doc" Raines looped his #11AA in
turn 1. Pella took advantage of the restart to move under Haney to grab
third, but Chevy Hadan spun his #4 coming out of turn 2 bringing out another
yellow. With 8 laps in the books Dylan Smith made a move inside Pella in the
#95 to take over the fourth spot. 2 laps later Haney slowed dramatically
allowing Smith to move into third and Pella back to fourth. Pella could hold
his position for only 1 lap as Chris Alcorn's #3 passed him the very next
lap. On the same circuit Smith passed Devitt to take the second spot. With
only 6 laps left Alcorn advanced to third. Another 2 circuits had been run
when Smith got around Ruisinger for the lead. Alcorn managed to grab second
on the very last lap.

"The track was really smooth tonight. We were worried early on because it
was a little sloppy in turn 4, but by the time the feature came around it
was super racy" Smith said. "I started 10th, and just started picking cars
off 1 at a time until I got to the front" he finished. Dylan's sponsors
include Active Live Family Chiropractic, Marquardt Plumbing, Hot Rods by
Todd, Augustin Electric and Burke Show Cattle.

The next A Main event was for the Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks. Eric Hanson
grabbed the early lead in his #33 followed by the B4 of Ben Becher, the M70
of Rick Munson and the 22 of Nick Beckman. Despite numerous battles, the
running order stayed the same until with 8 laps to go RJ Macku got his 1R
past Beckman to grab the fourth spot. With just 2 laps left Macku made a
tremendous move all the way into the second spot, but his advance was
cancelled when the #86 of Dan Jackson pulled into the infield with a fire
under his hood. On the restart Beckman moved back around Macku for fourth
and took over third on the last lap when Munson was forced high in turns 3 &
4 and fell all the way to 9th. At the finish it was Hanson, Becher, Beckman
and Macku.

This was Hanson's first victory at Eagle Raceway in this, his first year at
the track. "The track was nice and smooth tonight. It was what we needed
because we've had nothing but troubles all year long. I don't know how many
times we swore we were going to quit racing, but we always decided to stick
with it. Tonight just shows you that every dog has his day" Hanson stated.
"It was great to have such a track where everyone played nice" he finished.

The last race of the evening was for the All Stars Circuit of Champions
sprint cars. Dale Blaney jumped to the early lead in his #2 with Lance
Dewease's 30C in second, the 1X of Randy Hannagan in third and Jeremy
Campbell in fourth driving the Rick Ferkel 0. On the second lap it appeared
that Blaney's lead might be very short-lived when his engine began smoking
heavily, but the problem soon cleared and Blaney began to stretch out his
lead. Shortly thereafter Campbell managed to pass Hannagan for third. With
10 laps down the 56R of Ryan Meyers slowed to a stop in turn four, bringing
out the caution flag. On the restart Tim Shaffer moved his #83A past
Hannagan for the fourth spot. Meyers again slowed dramatically down the
front stretch. When the yellow flew for him Mike Chadd slowed his #4 quickly
in turn 1 and Mike Boston's #51 got together with him. Boston was able to
continue but Chadd was towed into the pits. At that time the running order
was Blaney, Dewease, Campbell and Shaffer. With 9 laps left Shaffer passed
Campbell to grab the third position. 3 laps later Adam Gullion's #96KX
slowed in turns 3 and 4, coming to a halt high in turn 4. Miranda
Throckmorton's #22T slowed to a stop just past Gullion with an engine fire.
Blaney again used the clear track to his advantage, holding off all
challengers to the checkered flag. Randy Hannagan used a super move to move
back around Campbell with 3 laps left to take home the fourth spot.

"This is an amazing track" Blaney said. "I haven't been here since like 2001
I don't think. I was here almost every year from 1998-2001 with the Outlaws,
but I honestly couldn't tell you how I finished. It wasn't very good I know"
he continued. "But, my experience on the track sure helped tonight. The car
was really good in the heat, and luckily I never got hung up in traffic in
the feature" he continued. "I want to thank George Fisher Racing. He's the
car owner, the mechanic and he builds the engines. He does it all. I don't
have 1 sponsor name on the car or the hauler; and if you look at all of the
others, that's pretty unusual. But George gives me everything I need every
night" he finished.

Next Friday and Saturday the Monster Truck Challenge will be on the track.
On August 16th The Blaze presents Sizzlin' August Nights as weekly racing
resumes.