Eagle Raceway 7-18-09

By Greg Soukup

It was an unseasonably cool afternoon and evening at "America's Home Track"
Eagle Raceway as regular season points racing continued, sponsored by Jack
Daniels.

The Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks were the first A Feature to be run. Chad
Fegley's 77F led the field as they reached the flag stand on the first lap.
The next three cars in line were the 17J of Danny Lane in second, third
place went to Dan Jackson in the 98 with the 71K of Josh Kennell in fourth.
The running order remained the same as RJ Macku lost the engine in his #1R
and came to a halt in turns 3 & 4 with 8 laps remaining, bringing out a red
flag. As the field was being lined up for the restart both Kennell and
Fegley headed to the pits, Fegley having suffered a flat tire during the
hold-up. That put Lane in first, Jackson second, the 22 of Nick Beckman
third and the 2C of Dave Carter fourth. On the restart lap Rob Brown moved
his 42 into fourth and Carter hit the wall, eventually dropping out. The
yellow flag flew again with 5 to go as Mike Hansen's 94 made contact with
the 92 of Don Hall Jr. and spun to the infield in turn 4. Beckman managed to
get past Jackson on the last lap. Lane held on for the win, Jackson finished
third and although Brown got turned sideways coming to the checkers, he
still managed to cross the line in fourth. Brown's racer rode up onto the
wall and both Hall Jr. and the 6R of Roy Armstrong made hard contact with
him as they finished the race. Brown's car had to be towed to the tech area.

"This was only my third night out here this year, and I was so happy to get
the win. My last win here was last July I think" Lane said. "I wasn't sure I
was going to be here, because we broke a whole bunch of stuff on the front
end last week. I really appreciate Thom Marsh and a lot of other people for
helping me rebuild it this week. Also, a big thanks to all of the fans for
coming out every week, supporting us and rooting us on" he finished. Lane's
sponsors include Casey's Auto Body and Detailing, Speedy Steve's High
Performance, Slechta Drywall, werungame.com, Athey's Painting and Huskers
Poker.

The Monster Energy Drink IMCA Modifieds then rolled onto the track. Justin
Wulf's 86 spun into the pit entrance on the first lap, causing a complete
restart. The 11AA of Ed "Doc" Raines went into the pits to have a flat tire
changed. As the field completed a lap Phil Penney's 21 was in the lead,
followed by Jan Korth in the 42K, Dan Nelson's 94 and the Z00 of Lacey
Tuttle. Nelson moved up to second before they came back to the flag stand,
but Justin Jurgens' 22J stopped in turn 2 with a flat right front tire.
Again Nelson advanced into second on the restart and the next lap Jordan
Grabouski vaulted all the way up into third. Nelson grabbed the point on the
net lap as Johnny Saathoff came up to fourth after transferring from the B
Feature. Saathoff moved to third and Grabouski to second the next time
around. George Haney spun his #12X out in turn two shortly after that,
causing the yellow flag to be displayed. Grabouski went very high in turns 3
& 4 on the restart lap, allowing Saathoff to move up a spot to second. Dylan
Smith snared the fourth position in his #95 with 7 laps to go. As the
leaders encountered lapped traffic with 5 left Nelson still held the lead,
Saathoff was second, Grabouski was third with Smith in fourth. Despite
numerous attempts by Saathoff, Grabouski and Smith the top four remained
unchanged to the finish line.

Nelson stated "I've been so close lately. And with the competition at a heck
of a level here every week it's tough. But it finally paid off; you just
have to keep trying". Nelson's sponsors include BMS Mods, Trauernicht
Drywall and Nebraska Machine & Tool.

The first lap of the Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compact A Main saw Joey
Danley's #14 roll in turns 3 & 4. His racer was pushed to the pits as the
remaining cars lined up for a complete restart. The second attempt at a
green flag lap was halted when Larry Cronin's #5 spun on the backstretch.
The racers fell into two rows as the restart finally held. The 16T of Tyler
Saathoff held the point at the conclusion of the first lap with Mary Lenz's
17 in second, Maynard Kinnersley's 18 third and Garrett Rech holding fourth
in the 55. Trevor Noonan's #66 lost the right front tire and he came to a
stop at the top of turns 3 & 4, eventually causing a red flag after the
leaders finished the first circuit. Rech moved into third on the second
official lap and then into second the next time around. Jack Prall III moved
into fourth on lap 5 and then with 8 to go into third. Rech took the lead
from Saathoff with 7 laps left as Saathoff began to fall back. The last
caution of the race came with 2 to go as a piece of debris had to be picked
up from turn 3. During the stoppage Saathoff retired to the pits with a flat
right front tire. Prall III, Lenz and the 21T of Brandon Thornton finished
behind Rech who garnered his second win of the season at Eagle Raceway and
fifth overall on the year.

Rech was his usual quiet self when his only comment was "It was a good clean
race". Rech's sponsors include Advanced Auto Glass, Pro Drywall, Davey
Tavern, Chrome Envy and Low Budget Customs.

The finale of the night's racing was the Budweiser 360 Sprint A Feature. A
bad start to the race saw the 9J of Mark Schmidt make contact with Bill
Garrow's 3G in turn 1 of the first lap, sending Garrow hard into the rail in
turn 2. Roger Sluka's X29 could not avoid Garrow and slid into him. Both
cars were taken to the pits. The 21 of Ryan Kitchen was sent back 1 row as
the racers tried again. Doug Lovegrove led the first complete lap in the 44
as Adam Gullion's 96KX, the 23 of Terry Holliman and Kitchen fell in behind
him. Gullion got around Lovegrove on lap 2. The 28 of Ken Klabunde came to a
rest against one of the infield tires on lap 4 after spinning. Holliman got
past Lovegrove on the fourth circuit and the next time around Trevor
Grossenbacher grabbed fourth in his 35AB. Grossenbacher's night came to an
end on lap 7 as he hooked a rut in turn 1 and flipped, coming to a rest on
his wheels in turn 2. Mike Boston's 88 also received damage after contact
with the 99C of Nick Clifford. Both Boston and Clifford headed to the pits
with only Clifford being able to make repairs and return to the track after
the red was turned off. As racing resumed Gullion was leading followed by
Holliman, Lovegrove and Kitchen.Tige Jensen had found something on the
bottom groove of the track in his #71 and was advancing quickly down there,
jumping into third with 13 laps left with the 4J of Josh Riggins following
him into the fourth spot as Lovegrove pulled to the infield. Holliman moved
around Gullion on the next lap. With 3 more laps completed Jensen also
passed Gullion, but the 17 of Gage Dorr stopped in turns 3 & 4. That made
the running order Holliman, Gullion, Jensen and Riggins. On the restart lap
John Klabunde passed Riggins for fourth. With 8 to go Jensen continued
running the bottom of the track and moved under Holliman for the lead. From
there to the checkers it was a battle of 2 different grooves. Jensen hugging
the bottom and Holliman continuing to try and make the cushion work to his
advantage. Jensen maintained his lead for the win with Holliman, Gullion and
Riggins rounding out the top four after Riggins overtook Klabunde at the
end.

Jensen was beaming as he started the interview by saying "I've been waiting
SO long to have you interview me for my first win". Prior to tonight,
Jensen's highest finish was second place, which he managed 4 times since he
started racing in 2002. He continued by stating "I'm so glad that we put
this new car together after totaling our other one when the World of Outlaws
was here two weeks ago. It was a bare frame Monday in fact". When asked
about advancing so well in the bottom groove, Jensen related "We planned on
running the top, and set up for that. But, I tried the bottom and it was so
good I just stayed there. It was a good thing that I ran so well there,
because I lost my brakes after that last red". He concluded the interview by
saying "A big thanks to my car owners; Brian Bailey, and Gary and Adam
Grossenbacher and to Richards Machine for the great horsepower". Tige's
other sponsors include Horizon Bank, Accent Landscapes, Knight Plumbing and
JB Lawn & Sod.

Next week at Eagle Raceway is the annual "Kid's Night", presented by
McDonalds. Children are invited to register for the huge bike giveaway,
sponsored by the Bryan Racing Team. Registration for the giveaway will be
right inside the main gate. Last year a record 350 bicycles were handed out.
Pit gates open at 4 o'clock and the front gate swings open at 5:30 with
racing at 7. Our regular show will be run featuring the Budweiser 360
sprints, Monster IMCA Modifieds, Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks and Auto
Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts.

Saturday August 1st will be another "Fan Appreciation Night" featuring $5
front gate admission. There will be kid's bike races during intermission and
Happy D. Klown will be at the track too.

Eagle Raceway

360 Sprint 7/18/2009

A Feature:1. Tige Jensen (Lincoln, NE), 2. Terry Holliman (Hamburg, IA), 3.
Adam Gullion (Beatrice, NE), 4. Josh Riggins (Lincoln, NE), 5. John Klabunde
(Fort Calhoun, NE), 6. Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 7. Ryan Kitchen
(Weston, NE), 8. Jeff Lowery (Lincoln, NE), 9. Mikey Gablehouse (Lincoln,
NE), 10. Gene Ackland (Lincoln, NE), 11. Ken Klabunde (Omaha, NE), 12. Mark
Schmidt (Lincoln, NE), 13. Gage Dorr (Elmwood, NE), 14. Nick Clifford
(Elkhorn, NE), 15. Doug Lovegrove Racing Inc (Waverly, NE), 16. Trevor
Grossenbacher (Holland, NE), 17. MIKE BOSTON (Crete, NE), 18. Bill Garrow
(Lincoln, NE), 19. Roger Sluka (Lincoln, NE), 20. Bobby Jr Becker (Denton,
NE)

B Feature:1. Ken Klabunde (Omaha, NE), 2. Mikey Gablehouse (Lincoln, NE), 3.
Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 4. MIKE BOSTON (Crete, NE), 5. Gene Ackland
(Lincoln, NE), 6. Ian Eastman (Omaha, NE), 7. Mark Finnell (Osage Beach,
MO), 8. Terry Cadwallader (Lincoln, NE), 9. Jason Danley (Lincoln, NE)

IMCA Hobby Stock 7/18/2009

A Feature:1. Danny Lane, 2. Nick Beckman (Lincoln, NE), 3. Dan Jackson
(Crete, NE), 4. Rob Brown (Nebraska City, NE), 5. Roy Armstrong (Beatirce,
NE), 6. Kevin Anderson (Lincoln, NE), 7. Don Kros (Weston, NE), 8. Ben
Becher (Lincoln, NE), 9. Travis Burger (Tecumseh, NE), 10. EARL SCHMITT
(Omaha, NE), 11. Justin Busboom (Lincoln, NE), 12. Don Jr Hall (Lincoln,
NE), 13. Derick Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 14. Mike Hansen (Weeping Water, NE),
15. Michael Elliot (Omaha, NE), 16. Jeff Reed (Lincoln, NE), 17. Chad Fegley
(Eagle, NE), 18. Dave Carter (Scribner, NE), 19. Josh Kennell (Bennet, NE),
20. Randall Macku (Lincoln, NE)

B Feature:1. Derick Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 2. Randall Macku (Lincoln, NE), 3.
Travis Burger (Tecumseh, NE), 4. EARL SCHMITT (Omaha, NE), 5. Jeff Reed
(Lincoln, NE), 6. Troy Mencke (Blair, NE), 7. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE), 8.
Joe Ryan (Lincoln, NE), 9. Matt Draeger (Dunbar, NE), 10. Chris LaChapelle
(Omaha, NE), 11. KHRYSTA STRANSKY (Lincoln, NE), 12. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln,
NE), 13. Charlie Bartels (Lincoln, NE), 14. Dan Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 15.
Jason Edwards (Lincoln, NE), 16. Aaron Pearson, 17. Kevin Hansen

IMCA Modified 7/18/2009

A Feature:1. Dan Nelson (Beatrice, NE), 2. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE),
3. Jordan Grabouski (Beatrice, NE), 4. Dylan Smith (Osceola, NE), 5. Bob
Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 6. MATT RICHARDS (Lincoln, NE), 7. PHIL PENNY
(Percival, IA), 8. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 9. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE),
10. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 11. ED RAINES (Lincoln, NE), 12. Stacey
Wilhelm (Martell, NE), 13. Lacey Tuttle (Elmwood, NE), 14. Nathan Landauer
(Lincoln, NE), 15. Bob Ruisinger (Bennet, NE), 16. Justin Wulf (Arlington,
NE), 17. George Haney (Fremont, NE), 18. Brian Cudly (Lincoln, NE), 19. Jan
Korth (Lincoln, NE), 20. Justin Jurgens (Beatrice, NE)

B Feature:1. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 2. Stacey Wilhelm (Martell,
NE), 3. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 4. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 5.
Brian Cudly (Lincoln, NE), 6. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 7. Aaron Pella
(Lincoln, NE), 8. Lowell Holland (Omaha, NE), 9. James Oaks (Lincoln, NE),
10. Patrick Donovan (Sterling, NE), 11. Tim Pickens (Omaha, NE), 12. Roger
Hadan (Waterloo, NE), 13. Andrew Hille (Hickman, NE), 14. Sean Burklund
(Ceresco, NE), 15. CLIFF TURNER (Ashland, NE), 16. Jake Neal (Omaha, NE),
17. Mike Boston (Crete, NE)

IMCA Sport Compact 7/18/2009

A Feature:1. Garrett Rech (Davey, NE), 2. Jack Prall III (Union, NE), 3.
Mary Lenz (Elmwood, NE), 4. Brandon Thornton (Nebraska City, NE), 5. Amanda
Rhiley (Bennington, NE), 6. Mike Simpson (Ashland, NE), 7. John Irvine
(Omaha, NE), 8. Maynard Kinnersley (Gretna, NE), 9. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE),
10. Jeff Davis (Lincoln, NE), 11. Chad Bassinger (Nebraska City, NE), 12.
Tyler Saathoff (Lincoln, NE), 13. Jack Prall IV (Union, NE), 14. Jeremy
Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 15. Elliott Halvorsen (Eagle, NE), 16. Mike Wilson
(Lincoln, NE), 17. Trevor Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 18. Larry Cronin (Lincoln,
NE), 19. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE), 20. Jessie Fuller (Beatrice, NE)

B Feature:1. Jack Prall IV (Union, NE), 2. Elliott Halvorsen (Eagle, NE), 3.
Jessie Fuller (Beatrice, NE), 4. Chad Bassinger (Nebraska City, NE), 5. Mike
Wilson (Lincoln, NE), 6. Ricky Harris (Omaha, NE), 7. CODY HARRINGTON
(Eagle, NE), 8. Justin Davis (Lincoln, NE), 9. ROGER ELLIOT JR (Omaha, NE),
10. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 11. NIC HITZ (Lincoln, NE), 12. Matt Moyer
(Gretna, NE)