Eagle Sprint Car Committee Announces Point Fund Bonus, Rules Changes

Via Greg Soukup:

The Eagle Sprint Car Committee has received and reviewed numerous ideas and suggestions in regards to what could be done to make the sprint car show more exciting for our fans, while attracting better car counts. We appreciate everyone's input.

The following rule change will be in effect for the 2011 season:
Wings: Eagle Raceway will adhere to all ASCS wing rules, including the top and front wings.

Additional changes:

Lineups: Eagle Raceway will implement a pill draw for the heat starting lineups. Each pill draw will cost $10 which will become part of the season end point fund. The top 8 drivers with the most points accumulated in the heat races will redraw for the starting position in the A Main Feature. Starting positions 9-24 will be determined by points accumulated in heat races. Draws will settle all ties.

Point Fund: The Eagle Sprint Committee is excited to announce we have secured additional sponsorship for the 2011 sprint car point fund. Our sponsors include: Budweiser (Primary Sponsor), Carpetland (associate Sponsor), personal contributions from Ken Klabunde and Dennis Parker, in addition to the funds attributed to the pill draw. We anticipate the 2011 point fund will be nearly 300% of the 2010 point fund and will pay back to the top 15 in points.

Additionally, the Rookie of the year will receive a contingency prize as well as a monetary prize. More info is forthcoming in regards to the point fund.

Purse: The 2011 sprint car purse has been increased contingent on a sustained car count of 25 cars. If the car count requirement is not met, the purse will revert to the 2010 purse amount.

Eagle Needs Driver Volunteers

Attention Drivers,

On Saturday, April 30th, 2011 we are having Media Night at Eagle Raceway. We will have media members and select sponsors in attendance for a night of VIP treatment and racing excitement! We would love to turn the media members into huge race fans so they keep coming back and would enjoy doing articles, radio interviews, and news stories on you, the drivers. We also want to give the sponsors a different perspective from the drivers' views. We are looking for a handful of drivers to volunteer to do an interview and photo session with the media members before the races between 5:15 and 6:00. We also need a handful of drivers to volunteer to participate in the intermission activity with the media, sponsors and fans. Would any of you be interested in volunteering?

I will be giving these media members and sponsors a tour of the pits before the races as well. Please let me know if you would like us to stop by your pit area for a short visit and viewing of your race car.

I will be doing similar pit interviews and tours once a month so ALL sponsors have a chance to come down and meet all of you as you prepare yourselves for the nights' races.

Please contact me if you are interested in this volunteer opportunity. You may reach me by email: Marsha@EagleRaceway.com.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Warmest regards,
Marsha Meadows
Marketing Team, Eagle Raceway

JMS Season Opener April 30

For the opening night of the 2011 Race season at JMS

Front Gates open at 5:00 PM
Hot Laps at 6:00 PM
Races Start at 7:00 PM

Admission $8.00 for adults, 4 for students ages 6-12, 5 and under are free

Pit Gate Opens at 4:00 PM

Pit passes will held be at the log cabin and Registration / pill draw will be in the garage by the Pit Concession Building. All drivers racing in NASCAR Classes need to sign the NASCAR waiver at the log cabin, and also show their NASCAR license/ temp license at the Registration building. All 4 NASCAR Classes' Drivers are required to have a NASCAR license purchased the day they begin racing for insurance purposes. Licenses can be purchased while registering and drawing.

NASCAR Driver Pit Pass : $20.00
Non- NASCAR Driver Pit Pass: $25.00
NASCAR Crew Members: $20.00
Non - NASCAR Crew/ Minor/ Spectators: $25.00

Boone County Added Purse this Weekend

From Boone County Raceway:

"There will be added purse in each class this friday night."

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Could be $1, could be $10,000. Don't know, but each class will get more!

If that was too much information, you can read it for yourself here:

http://dirtdrivers.com/messageboard/messagedetail.asp?trackid=7&mid=262530&pmid=262530

People wonder why we dive further into being a niche activity. Try to at least provide the basics.

You Get What You Pay For

As is the case for many of my editorials, I was reading a thread on Dirtdrivers.com. It started about an inquiry for photos from an event and as is the case for many threads on that site, went down another path.

In general, some fans voiced displeasure about updates and information on the track’s website, and general communication to the racers and fans.

Two of the track’s volunteers spoke up and took issue with the complaints directly with the people on the board.

Volunteering for a track is a labor of love - emphasis on the word “labor.”

Fire and rescue and tow crews earn free admission and a meal if anything. But if you break that down by hour - it borders on minimum wage at best and you can’t take a free hotdog to the bank. Push truck drivers get partial compensation, but it doesn't cover the expense long term. Event organizers for promos like Kid's Nights don't get a dime.

And there are many I’ve missed. These people give because they love the sport. Whether it’s the show itself, the chance to hang out with friends on the weekend or whatever reason they have, they do it because they want to - not for the money.

There’s a limit though. In many cases, you’re getting part time labor. You’re getting labor that has passion - but many times that passion is down the list behind family, their “day jobs,” their other hobbies and interests, the lawn that needs mowed....

For a time I volunteered for Civil Defense (now “Emergency Management”). We had a LOT of volunteers at the time.

I asked the head of the agency, a wise ex-police officer why we had so many on staff. He said that most volunteers burn out after three years, and the ones with the most passion - maybe seven. For the record, I lasted five.

It’s not like they don’t believe in the cause any longer - or that they don’t want to be there, but that fire is just a flicker now, or their outside life has changed to where they can’t commit the time, or many other reasons.

He also pointed out the obvious: you can’t schedule them for eight hours, like a police shift, or any other shift at work. Some had to be home early, others were uncomfortable being away from their family during emergencies, but wanted to help in other ways. Each could contribute, but only so much. It was ridiculous to expect them to commit in the same way they would their jobs.

And he pointed out another obvious fact: the level of service demanded by the public was high. Being late on the warning siren and blaming it on free labor was unacceptable. If it needed to be accomplished by two or three people, then that is why the volunteer force had to be so big.

Racetracks are a full-time business. It goes beyond just race night. There’s food to be ordered, bills to pay, facilities to clean, cash to count, results and points to be posted, driver and owner’s calls to take and on and on. It’s a hell of a lot of work.

During my tenure at Eagle, I was one of three full-time employees. It was my bread on the table day job, all year. We also had seasonal full-time help as well. During race season, as many as 5-6 people would work 40+ hours per week. During the off-season, it still kept two of us busy. One of my busiest times was prepping for the annual banquet - in December. It was a BIG expense. And let's face it...probably too big.

It’s ignorant to expect one volunteer to accomplish the work of a full time employee. It’s silly to for internet jockeys to make it personal. Instead of constantly criticizing, help out. Maybe pick up a trash bag after the show (or throwing your stuff away the first time). Maybe send a few bucks to the charity or promotional drive. Offer to type up the results. Do something. Even a little helps.

But to the tracks: it’s also silly for a racetrack to make their “tribe” (the fans, the drivers and all others who support your business) wait and to leave them hanging.

We live in a world where business relations are a 1-to-1 affair. Gone is the “voice on high” approach, commanding your customer to buy your product, and certainly gone is the “you’ll get it when you get it” mentality.

That doesn't mean you can't manage expectations. Nobody should ask that the race director take your call at 3AM because you happened to be up. Nor should the hotdog be ready six hours before the show. But once you ask for that grace period, you need to have it ready at the bell. Each time.

Belittling people for lack of patience isn’t the answer. Delivering is. It’s another expense, be it of money or time, but it is a new “fixed cost” in the racing world - as if it needs more.

Hats off to the volunteers. Because this sport needs as many as it can get.
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Eagle Raceway Season Opener April 30

Eagle Raceway Season Opener - Featuring Budweiser Sprints, RevHoney IMCA Modifieds, NAPA IMCA Sport Modifieds, Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks and Exhaust Pros Sport Compacts.

KX96.9 and The Eagle will be on site along with other Media! -Play "PLINKO" from 5:30-7pm to win Free "Fast (& Furious) Five" movie tickets and all types of movie gear.

Media Contest "Dress Your Driver" during intermission.

Happy D Klown from 5:30-7:30pm.

RevHoney "Stinger Hour" from 6-7pm in Courtyard area...try a RevHoney Energy Drink to get the night rolling! Adults...try the RevHoney "Stinger Shot" bee-fore the races start for a honey of a deal!

Front Gates open at 5:30pm, Hot Laps at 5:30pm and Racing at 6:30pm. Front Gate Admission: Adults(13+) $10, Youth(6-12) $5 and Child(5 & under) Free.

Pit Gates open at 4pm. Pit Pass $20. All drivers must have all their forms in as soon as possible. Late registration fee = $25. See Driver Info Tab of our website for all forms needed.

ALL minors(14-17) in the pit area MUST have a minor waiver signed by their parents in front of a notary along with a copy of their birth certificate or valid driver's license. Minor=anyone under 18 years of age. All minors must be supervised by an adult. If minor is not supervised, they will be asked to leave the pit area.

No outside food or beverage is allowed into the front gate entrance. Thank you for your cooperation.
Thanks for supporting Eagle Raceway...America's Home Track!

Beatrice 4/22 Canceled

From Beatrice Speedway:

The opening day races schedule for Friday April 22, 2011 have been cancelled due to wet conditions and the forecast of rain, high winds, and chilly temperatures.

Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame announces seven new members

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame will be inducting seven new members on October 21, 2011, at the Fireman's Hall in Lincoln, Neb.

This is the 14th class for the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame which was created in 1998 to honor Nebraskans, both native and adopted, for their contributions to the sport of auto racing.

The seven newest associates for the hall of fame are:

Fred Anderson, Omaha
Anderson started his drag racing career in 1952, and set many national records. He has 12 U.S. Nationals class wins and raced in 53 straight U.S. Nationals, beginning with the inaugural event in 1955 at Great Bend, Kan.

Keith Chambers, Beatrice
Chambers was a staff photographer for the Omaha Word-Herald from 1946-50, covering all forms of auto racing, especially the exciting midgets. He drove and promoted stock cars in the early 1950s. Chambers handled publicity for Omaha Dragway from 1962-65 and was listed as the number one reporter for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) during that time.

Don Droud Sr., Lincoln
Droud has been a driver, owner, promoter, coach and sage during his 54-year career in motorsports. He's raced motorcycles, supermodifieds, sprint cars, late models, trucks and dwarf cars during that time, winning several track championships along the way. His two sons, Don Jr. and Rodney, have also had very successful careers in auto racing.

The Kelley Family, Omaha
The Kelleys promoted Sunset Speedway from 1976 through 2000. They were a four-time nominee for national Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Award and Sunset Speedway was one of the first tracks to join the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. Sunset Speedway led the way in the use of radios for officials; they set time limits for races; among the first tracks to have a website; corporate VIP boxes; a live pre-race radio show; engine compression rules along and many other innovations.

Eddie Kracek, Omaha
Kracek started his racing career in 1928 in stock cars and in 1935 he had become a star on the fledgling midget circuits of the Omaha area. By 1937, he was racing on the national stage against some of the top midgeteers in the country. Kracek was one of the first "outsiders" to win at Olympic Stadium in Kansas City, and competed very successfully for several years. Shortly before the U.S. put a stop to racing in 1942 because of World War II, Kracek was badly injured in a race at Olympic. He passed away two weeks later on Aug. 4, 1942.

Wayne Mason, Omaha
Mason was a championship car owner and mechanic for many years with drivers such as Bud Burdick, Ed Morris, Bob Kosiski and Steve Kosiski. Mason's cars have scored 17 track championships, seven NASCAR Busch All-Star Tour titles; two Topless Outlaw Racing Association (TORA) championships and has had feature wins in NASCAR, MLRA, NCRA and the IMCA.

Jim Wyman, Fremont
Wyman started racing in 1954, and was a four-time champ at Sunset Speedway, winning 58 feature races there. He was three-time titlist at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, and a two-time champ at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa.

The purpose of the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame is to perpetuate the memory of these individuals who have brought lasting fame to the state of Nebraska through their efforts in auto racing. Nominees to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame must have been a resident of the state for at least two years and must be retired for at least four years from the discipline for which they are being honored. Active participants in the sport will be considered if they are at least 55 years of age and have been with the sport for at least 30 years. All candidates must have made positive contributions to the sport of auto racing on a local and regional level and go on to some national prominence.

Anyone wishing to nominate a person to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame can do so by submitting the person's name, with a list of their accomplishments in a short bio to:

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

You can also call 402-421-2266 or e-mail your nomination to Joe Orth at: jorth@narhof.com.

The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame is located inside the Museum of American Speed at 340 Victory Lane on the Speedway Motors complex in Lincoln, Neb. The Museum of American Speed hours: May through September, two-hour guided tours begin at 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. October through April, two-hour guided tours begin at 2 p.m. every Friday. Admission is $10 to tour the museum.

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

Nasty!

Joe Orth sent me this photo of John Klabunde's crash into the pits at I-80 on April 9. I have the sequence but "embargoed" it at Joe's request via some publishers (generally magazines and such don't want pics printed that have already been published/transmitted elsewhere).

But, since this was in Lee Ackerman's Omaha World Herald piece on John, I'd share it here too.

John Klabunde takes a tumble in the I-80 pits on April 9, 2011. Fortunately, he suffered only some bumps and bruises. And yes, that person is as close as you think they are. Click for a larger pic.

ASCS Midwest Nixed at Eagle's Ice Breaker

TULSA, Okla. (April 13, 2011) - Forecasted rain and bitterly cold temperatures has forced the cancellation of this weekend's Ice Breaker Challenge at Eagle, Nebraska's Eagle Raceway featuring the Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region. The event will not be rescheduled.

With this weekend's two-night stand nixed by inclement weather, the Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region next action will take place on Thursday night, May 26, at Greenwood's I-80 Speedway before moving on to McCool Junction's Junction Motor Speedway the following night, Friday May 27.

The May 26 card at I-80 Speedway will feature a $2,000 winner's share, while the May 27 event at Junction Motor Speedway will offer up $3,000 to win provided the winner competed in the previous night's event at I-80 Speedway.

For more information, check www.ascsracing.com

Eagle Icebreaker Canceled

Via Rainedout.net

Due to the weather forecast the Icebreaker Challenge scheduled for this weekend has been canceled.

Practice night is scheduled for April 29, with the regular season starting April 30.

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Eagle To Make Early Call on Icebreaker

From Eagle Raceway:

Attn: Race Fans and Drivers-
As we all know the weather in Nebraska can be a little crazy. Of course mother nature has blessed us with a fantastic week so far, however the weathermen are predicting
her to turn on us for our Practice Night (Thursday, April 14th) and our special
event “The Ice Breaker Challenge” for this upcoming weekend (Friday, April 15th
and Saturday, April 16th.)

We know that there are many of you that are planning on coming from great distances to race against the best, and experience some of the best entertainment that can happen on dirt. Because of these factors, we are doing some thinking and a lot of hoping for the weather forecast to change, as we know that weathermen can change their minds. We will make a decision by tomorrow evening (Wednesday, April 13th) on whether we will be racing this weekend or not. Please stay updated and visit www.eagleraceway.com and www.dirtdrivers.com for cancellation updates.

Rodney Droud to return to action

Two-time Eagle Raceway Sprint Car champ Rodney Droud will return to driving soon, he announced on his Facebook page. Details are forthcoming, including his schedule. It'll be nice seeing a familiar face back in the sprint car scene, when it needs all it can get.

 Update: I got a message from Rodney saying that he wasn't driving a sprint car this season, but will be in Dwarf Car action. 

Bummer. 

I'll admit, he didn't say WHAT he was driving, but I assumed, and you know what they say about the word assume... :-)


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Brian Brown Bags ASCS Midwest Loot at I-80

Lonnie Wheatley, GREENWOOD, Neb. (April 9, 2011) - Brian Brown emerged from an early duel with Don Droud, Jr., to take the $3,000 winner's share in Saturday night's 25-lap Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest main event at I-80 Speedway.

After swapping the point several times in the early going, Brown took command for keeps on the eleventh circuit aboard the FVP No. 21 Maxim and went on to a series' best 18th career Midwest win and 24th overall ASCS triumph.

While Droud gunned into the lead from the pole position for the second night in a row, fourth-starter Brown put on the pressure immediately and raced into the lead exiting turn four on the seventh circuit only to have Droud slide back in front a half lap later.

Brown battled back in front in turn four on the eleventh round and made it stick, leading the rest of the way for eighth I-80 Speedway in ASCS Midwest action.

Fifth after 15 laps, Wayne Johnson surged over the final circuits into second and was poised to challenge for the victory when a final caution flew with two to go, only to struggle with a cut left rear tire on the restart.

Johnson held on for runner-up honors, with 11th-starter Jack Dover, Droud and Friday night winner Seth Bergman rounding out the top five. Ryan Anderson was sixth, with Terry McCarl, Billy Alley, Gregg Bakker and Tony Bruce, Jr., completing the top ten.

Anderson, Brown, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and Johnson topped heat race action for Saturday night's 39-car field, with Russ Hall and Bruce, Jr., winning the "B" Mains.

Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Results from I-80 Speedway:

First Heat (10 Laps): 1. 71r-Ryan Anderson, 2. 2-Don Droud, Jr., 3. 11x-Gregg Bakker, 4. 31-Mark Pace, 5. 18r-Ryan Roberts, 6. 21x-Ryan Kitchen, 7. 14-Jody Rosenboom, 8. 71-Tige Jensen, 9. 77-John Klabunde. DNS: 32-Toby Chapman.

Second Heat (10 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 2. 53-Jack Dover, 3. 45c-Russ Hall, 4. 1w-Chad Meyer, 5. 2L-Logan Forler, 6. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 7. 82-Jason Danley, 8. 21c-Justyn Cox, 9. 47-Brandt O'banion, 10. 3j-Jeremiah Jordahl.

Third Heat (10 Laps): 1. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 2. 4j-Lee Grosz, 3. 28-Mitch Runge, 4. 12-Tyler Drueke, 5. 17-Gage Dorr, 6. 10d-Danielle Ossenfort, 7. 4-Jordan Boston, 8. 45x-C.J. Johnson, 9. 99j-Jake Ossenfort, 10. 7k-Robby Wolfgang.

Fourth Heat (10 Laps): 1. 38-Wayne Johnson, 2. 24a-Terry McCarl, 3. 23-Seth Bergman, 4. 22-Billy Alley, 5. 51-Mike Hess, 6. 44-Doug Lovegrove, 7. 6g-Bryan Gossel, 8. 0-Jeff Osborn, 9. 17b-Ryan Bickett.

First "B" Main (12 Laps): 1. 45c-Russ Hall, 2. 31-Mark Pace, 3. 2L-Logan Forler, 4. 99j-Jake Ossenfort, 5. 21c-Justyn Cox, 6. 14-Jody Rosenboom, 7. 44-Doug Lovegrove, 8. 0-Jeff Osborn, 9. 10d-Danielle Ossenfort, 10. 32-Toby Chapman. DNS: 71-Tige Jensen, 4-Jordan Boston, 77-John Klabunde.

Second "B" Main (12 Laps): 1. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 2. 51-Mike Hess, 3. 47-Brandt O'banion, 4. 21x-Ryan Kitchen, 5. 82-Jason Danley, 6. 17b-Ryan Bickett, 7. 6g-Bryan Gossel, 8. 7k-Robby Wolfgang, 9. 12-Tyler Drueke, 10. 3j-Jeremiah Jordahl, 11. 17-Gage Dorr. DNS: 45x-C.J. Johnson.

"A" Feature (25 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 2. 38-Wayne Johnson, 3. 53-Jack Dover, 4. 2-Don Droud, Jr., 5. 23-Seth Bergman, 6. 71r-Ryan Anderson, 7. 24a-Terry McCarl, 8. 22-Billy Alley, 9. 11x-Gregg Bakker, 10. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 11. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 12. 21c-Justyn Cox, 13. 51-Mike Hess, 14. 18r-Ryan Roberts, 15. 2L-Logan Forler, 16. 4j-Lee Grosz, 17. 31-Mark Pace, 18. 1w-Chad Meyer, 19. 82-Jason Danley, 20. 99j-Jake Ossenfort, 21. 47-Brandt O'banion, 22. 21x-Ryan Kitchen, 23. 28-Mitch Runge, 24. 45c-Russ Hall.

Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Brian Brown 292, 2. Seth Bergman 275, 3. Wayne Johnson 272, 4. Don Droud, Jr. 265, 5. Jack Dover 260, 6. Tony Bruce, Jr. 229, 7. Gregg Bakker 226, 8. Ryan Anderson 224, 9. Lee Grosz 220, 10. Logan Forler 208.

Bergman Best in Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Opener at I-80

Lonnie Wheatley, GREENWOOD, Neb. (April 8, 2011) – Snohomish, Washington’s Seth Bergman captured his second career American Sprint Car Series Regional feature win by charging to victory lane in Friday night’s season-opening 25-lap Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region main event at I-80 Speedway.

Bergman, who picked up his first win during the initial weekend of Northwest action under the ASCS banner in 2008, battled into the lead on the second round and, after some early pressure in traffic from Brian Brown, checked out in the latter stages to take the $3,000 victory with a comfortable straightaway margin.

“I knew Brian would be on me on that restart, so I drove it even harder after that,” the 23-year-old Lucas Oil ASCS National title contender explained. “I didn’t know if he was close or not.”

Finding the 4/10-mile dirt oval that was made heavy by rain the previous day to his liking, Bergman rallied from seventh to second in his heat to earn a spot in the redraw, where he drew the front row outside starting position for the feature.

While pole starter Don Droud, Jr., paced the initial circuit, Bergman blasted into the lead in turns one and two the next time around and held the point the rest of the way aboard the Petersen Motorsports Wesmar-powered Superior Marine No. 23 Eagle, lapping all the way up to ninth in the process.

It wasn’t without at least a challenge or two along the way, as fifth-starter Brown worked past Droud for second by the time Bergman reached traffic on the eighth circuit. Brown moved in on Bergman’s tailtank to challenge, with Bergman splitting a pair of lapped cars to maintain the lead moments before the caution flew on the tenth round for Ryan Roberts, who slowed to a halt in turn two.

“When we got in dirty air, the car got pretty tight if I got right behind someone,” Bergman explained. “In open track, the car was great.”

With a pair of lapped cars between himself and Brown, Bergman checked out and raced on to a straightaway advantage as Brown struggled to get past the lapped machine of Ryan Anderson until a final caution flew after 13 laps for Justyn Cox, who stopped in turn two with steering woes.

Brown disposed of the lapped car on the restart but was no match for the fleet Bergman, who again opened up a healthy lead that wasn’t even diminished as he sliced through traffic over the final handful of circuits.

Bergman took the checkered flag well ahead of Brown, with Droud settling for the show position. Wayne Johnson slipped around Jack Dover for fourth on the 24th lap, with Dover rounding out the top five.

Lee Grosz was sixth, with Tony Bruce, Jr., Russ Hall, Gregg Bakker and Chad Meyer completing the top ten.

Jason Danley, Hall, Bryan Gossel, Droud and Brown topped heat race action for the 45-car field, with Bakker and Cox winning the 12-lap “B” Mains. Chad Humston blew an engine in heat race action and was done for the night, while Trevor Grossenbacher was victimized by a turn three rut and flipped in the first “B” Main without injury.

(Joe Orth photos)

Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Results from I-80 Speedway:

First Heat (10 Laps): 1. 82-Jason Danley, 2. 18r-Ryan Roberts, 3. 53-Jack Dover, 4. 31-Mark Pace, 5. 45x-C.J. Johnson, 6. 32-Toby Chapman, 7. 99j-Jake Ossenfort, 8. 20k-Thomas Kennedy, 9. 17b-Ryan Bickett.

Second Heat (10 Laps): 1. 45c-Russ Hall, 2. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 3. 33-Danny Lasoski, 4. 21c-Justyn Cox, 5. 1w-Chad Meyer, 6. 4-Jordan Boston, 7. 14-Jody Rosenboom, 8. 12-Tyler Drueke, 9. 77-John Klabunde.

Third Heat (10 Laps): 1. 6g-Bryan Gossel, 2. 23-Seth Bergman, 3. 9-Jared Georges, 4. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 5. 71r-Ryan Anderson, 6. 7k-Robby Wolfgang, 7. 10d-Danielle Ossenfort, 8. 17-Gage Dorr, 9. 1m-Chad Humston.

Fourth Heat (10 Laps): 1. 2-Don Droud, Jr., 2. 38-Wayne Johnson, 3. 35-Trevor Grossenbacher, 4. 4j-Lee Grosz, 5. 24a-Terry McCarl, 6. 51-Mike Hess, 7. 44-Doug Lovegrove, 8. 21x-Ryan Kitchen, 9. 71-Tige Jensen.

Fifth Heat (10 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 2. 2L-Logan Forler, 3. 11x-Gregg Bakker, 4. 21k-Lou Kennedy, Jr., 5. 3j-Jeremiah Jordahl, 6. 7-Lance Fassbender, 7. 0-Jeff Osborn, 8. 28-Mitch Runge, 9. 22-Billy Alley.

First “B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 11x-Gregg Bakker, 2. 71r-Ryan Anderson, 3. 99j-Jake Ossenfort, 4. 45x-C.J. Johnson, 5. 31-Mark Pace, 6. 77-John Klabunde, 7. 7-Lance Fassbender, 8. 3j-Jeremiah Jordahl, 9. 21x-Ryan Kitchen, 10. 44-Doug Lovegrove, 11. 28-Mitch Runge, 12. 17-Gage Dorr, 13. 0-Jeff Osborn, 14. 35-Trevor Grossenbacher, 15. 51-Mike Hess. DNS: 1m-Chad Humston.

Second “B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 21c-Justyn Cox, 2. 2L-Logan Forler, 3. 4-Jordan Boston, 4. 24a-Terry McCarl, 5. 1w-Chad Meyer, 6. 14-Jody Rosenboom, 7. 22-Billy Alley, 8. 7k-Robby Wolfgang, 9. 17b-Ryan Bickett, 10. 32-Toby Chapman, 11. 10d-Danielle Ossenfort, 12. 12-Tyler Drueke, 13. 9-Jared Georges, 14. 20k-Thomas Kennedy. DNS: 71-Tige Jensen.

"A" Feature (25 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman, 2. 21-Brian Brown, 3. 2-Don Droud, Jr., 4. 38-Wayne Johnson, 5. 53-Jack Dover, 6. 4j-Lee Grosz, 7. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 8. 45c-Russ Hall, 9. 11x-Gregg Bakker, 10. 1w-Chad Meyer, 11. 2L-Logan Forler, 12. 82-Jason Danley, 13. 99j-Jake Ossenfort, 14. 71r-Ryan Anderson, 15. 4-Jordan Boston, 16. 31-Mark Pace, 17. 45x-C.J. Johnson, 18. 33-Danny Lasoski, 19. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 20. 6g-Bryan Gossel, 21. 21c-Justyn Cox, 22. 18r-Ryan Roberts, 23. 24a-Terry McCarl, 24. 21k-Lou Kennedy, Jr.

Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Seth Bergman 150, 2. Brian Brown 142, 3. Don Droud, Jr. 135, 4. Wayne Johnson 130, 5. Jack Dover 125, 6. Lee Grosz 122, 7. Tony Bruce, Jr. 119, 8. Russ Hall 116, 9. Gregg Bakker 113, 10. Chad Meyer 110.

Rex Jordan, Jr. passes

Via Gary Dominguez:

It's with a heavy heart that I must report we have lost another member of our racing Family. Rex Jordan Jr. passed away yesterday after a valiant battle with Cancer. Rex was an accomplished driver in several classes, and has the distinction of winning Speedway Motors Founder Bill Smith's first trophy.

Rex raced alongside drivers such as Tiny Lund, and for owners including Sam Holliman and DD Durham.

He founded and worked for Jordan Machine for many years after his racing career. Rex was the father of 2 sons: Rex III, and sprint car driver Jay.

Speedway Motors Inked as ASCS Midwest & Warrior Title Sponsor

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 6, 2011) - Noted as 'America's Oldest Speed Shop', Speedway Motors has joined forces with the American Sprint Car Series as title sponsor of both the ASCS Midwest and ASCS Warrior Regions.

"We're pleased to be partnered with Speedway Motors on a pair of our Regions," commented ASCS president and founder Emmett Hahn. "So highly respected in the industry, Speedway is just a natural fit with the Midwest and Warrior Regions."

Speedway Motors was founded in 1952 by "Speedy" Bill Smith, growing from a one-man operation to become the world's largest manufacturer, distributor and retailer of street rod and racing products.

Speedway's size offers customers unmatched product selection and low pricing, while its technical support and customer service have made it a recognized leader in the rodding and racing industries.

Both Speedway Motors ASCS Regional tours kick off their respective seasons this weekend, with the Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region taking to Greenwood, Nebraska's I-80 Speedway for a pair of $3,000 to win events on Friday and Saturday and the ASCS Warrior Region at La Monte, Missouri's LA Raceway on Saturday night.

The Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region is slated for 20 nights of competition at a half dozen tracks throughout Nebraska and the surrounding areas of Missouri, South Dakota and Iowa.

The Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region is currently set for 15 nights of action at nine different tracks throughout Missouri and into neighboring portions of Illinois and Kansas.

The Midwest and Warrior Regions will cross paths on three occasions this season, with each showdown at Cameron, Missouri's U.S. 36 Raceway.

Additional information regarding Speedway Motors is available at www.speedwaymotors.com.

The 2011 season marks the 20th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

Full Weekend of Action at I-80

The ASCS Midwest Region Sprint Cars kick off their 2011 season this weekend at I-80 Speedway. On Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 the ASCS Midwest Region Sprint Cars will be running complete shows on both nights paying $3,000 to win and $300 to start. Features both nights will be 25 laps.

Eric Lutz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the defending ASCS Midwest Region Champion. Lutz is expected to be joined by some of the best 360 drivers in the country including Brian Brown, Tony Bruce, Jr., Jack Dover and Billy Alley plus a host of others. On Friday, Pits open at 4pm, Grandstands at 5:30 with racing action beginning at 7. Admission for Friday is $15 for Adults, $5 Ages (6-15), 5 and under is free.

Saturday night the Pits open at 3pm, Grandstands at 4:30 and racing action starts at 5:55pm. Admission for Adults is $20, $5 Ages (6-15) and children 5 and under free. Pit Passes each night are $30.

Also featured Friday night will be Qualifying events for Grand Nationals/Crate Late Models, B Mods, ProAm/Stock Cars and Hornets (no sanctions and no points). Saturday night is another complete show for the ASCS Midwest Sprints, in addition there will be last chance races and feature races for Grand Nationals/Crate Late Models with the feature paying $1,500 to win, B Mods paying $1,200 to win ProAm/Stock Cars paying $1,000 to win and Hornets paying $500 to win.

For more information call Ed Kosiski at (402)-659-3301

ASCS Midwest Kicks Off with I-80 Double

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 4, 2011) - The American Sprint Car Series Midwest Region kicks off a strong slate of 2011 events with a two-night stand atop the 4/10-mile, semi-banked I-80 Speedway dirt oval in Greenwood, NE, this Friday and Saturday.

With I-80 Speedway hosting the scheduled series season opener for the seventh time in as many years of ASCS Midwest Region competition, a full card of heats and feature events that culminate with a $3,000 to win main event is on tap for both nights.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota's Eric Lutz enters the weekend as the reigning ASCS Midwest champion after taking the 2010 title by a healthy margin over Springfield, Nebraska's Jack Dover, who missed several events along the way while chasing the National circuit.

A series feature winner at South Dakota's I-90 Speedway last year, Lutz finished among the top ten in four of six ASCS Midwest events last year at I-80 Speedway including a pair of fourth-place runs.

Oklahoma's Dustin Morgan claimed his first career ASCS feature win by topping the first night of last year's Midwest opener at I-80 Speedway, with Dover acing the second night for the first of two Midwest wins on the year.

Morgan and Dover were two of five drivers to enjoy I-80 Speedway victory lane in 2010 along with Shane Stewart, Brian Brown and Billy Alley. Brown was the only one able to repeat with victories on Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend, extending his total of ASCS Midwest wins at I-80 Speedway to seven.

While Missouri's Brown has collected the most I-80 wins, Billy Alley and Dover are the only other drivers to pick off multiple wins. Lincoln's Alley has topped three series events at I-80, including last September's season finale, with Dover taking two.

With $3,000 to win up for grabs on both nights, a healthy field of cars is expected for the weekend's racing action.

Friday's action at I-80 Speedway fires off at 7:00 p.m., with Saturday's green flag flying at 6:00 p.m.

Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway is located in Greenwood, NE, between Lincoln and Omaha off I-80 Exit 420, then 0.4 mile north on SR 63 then west. For more information, contact the track at 402-659-3301 or 402-342-3453.

The ASCS Midwest Region is slated for 20 nights of competition at a half dozen tracks throughout Nebraska and the surrounding areas of Missouri, South Dakota and Iowa.

Past ASCS Midwest Regional Winners at I-80 Speedway:
9/24/10 - Billy Alley
9/3/10 - Brian Brown
7/2/10 - Brian Brown
5/27/10 - Shane Stewart
4/17/10 - Jack Dover
4/16/10 - Dustin Morgan
7/2/09 - Brian Brown
5/21/09 - Chad Humston
4/11/09 - Jonathan Cornell
4/10/09 - Billy Alley
8/14/07 - Jack Dover
4/15/07 - Chuck Swenson (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
4/14/07 - Brian Brown (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
8/15/06 - Billy Alley
7/3/06 - Jake Peters (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
4/8/06 - Brian Brown (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
8/3/05 - Brian Brown (Midwest vs. National)
7/8/05 - Brian Brown
4/15/05 - Terry McCarl

The 2011 season marks the 20th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com. 

ASCS To Sanction Jackson Nationals

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 31, 2011) - Yet another marquee event has been added to the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National slate, as the series will invade Minnesota for the 33rd Annual Jackson Nationals on August 19-20.

It will mark the first time for the Lucas Oil ASCS National series to sanction the history-rich event atop the high-banked, ½-mile Jackson Speedway clay oval in Jackson, MN.

With the addition of the Jackson Nationals to the slate, the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series is now slated for 38 nights of competition at 15 different tracks throughout a dozen states.

The August venture to Jackson Speedway will be just the second time in Minnesota for the ASCS National forces, with Wayne Johnson winning the only previous feature event in the state at Brainerd in 2007. Paired with car owner Bryan Sundby for the balance of the Lucas Oil ASCS National slate, Johnson was a Jackson Nationals winner in 2005.

The Lucas Oil Sprint Cars have opened the 2011 season in rousing fashion with six different winners in as many events, including Kyle Larson, Tim Kaeding, Johnny Herrera, Shane Stewart, Jason Johnson and Sam Hafertepe, Jr. This comes off a 2010 season that featured 19 different winners in 35 main events, the most single-season feature winners in modern ASCS history.

With $60,000 of the $250,000 points fund earmarked for the top spot, Bixby, OK, native Shane Stewart is out to the early driver points lead with a 57-point advantage over New Mexico's Johnny Herrera while the JJR No. 41 holds the owner points edge over Paul Silva's No. 57 by 37 markers.

With last weekend's 38th Annual Devil's Bow Spring Nationals in the books, next up for the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars is a two-night stand atop Little Rock, Arkansas' high-banked, ¼-mile I-30 Speedway red clay oval on April 15-16.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

"Eagle 3-60" USAC/Late Model multi-day show in 2012

I'm not one for rumors unless I've heard them from a VERY reliable source and usually with a plausible story. This one I've heard from some of my old contacts when I worked for Eagle. Again, I've heard nearly the same story from a couple of sources, neither of which talked "to the other guy" when I asked.

This one involves USAC and potentially several late model sanctions. As we know, the "Rumble in the Bullring" this August will feature USAC Non Winged Sprint Cars, but will be running against the famed Belleville Midget Nationals - now no longer sanctioned by USAC.

The word is that this may be the start of something bigger for 2012, akin to the "Four Crown Nationals" run at Eldora. While costs and car counts would make a return to the glory days of a four day midget show an impossibility, the idea is a multi-class weekend, with Sprints and Midgets each getting two days, with a Saturday night finale.

On top of that a big money NCRA/MLRA/(additional sanction) Late Model show could be in the mix, and in fact may end up being the headliner with a three-class features-only finale on Saturday.

The main questions seem to be one of scheduling and of getting enough cars to run a features-only night.

The first numbers thrown out are at least $20K to win for each of the three classes, leading to the "Eagle 3-60" (3 classes, $60,000 combined winner's payout) designation.

The shows would be co-promoted. No, it's not Tony Stewart but it could be a name very familiar to people at Eagle. Everything is nothing but talk, but I have a feeling the rumor was leaked intentionally to gauge interest.

This could be interesting.

-Jason