ASCS Midwest Region Update

ASCS Midwest Region Update #19


Friday August 31st * Cameron, MO - $1500
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest & Warrior Regions

Nebraska Cup Weekend Night #1
Saturday September 8th
McCool Junction, NE - $1500 to win!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest

Nebraska Cup Weekend Night #2
Sunday September 9th
Eagle, NE - $5000 to win!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest

Midwest Fall Brawl Double-Header!
Friday Sept. 21st * Saturday Sept. 22nd
I-80 Speedway * Greenwood, NE
$2500 to win each night!
Plus - $750 Hard Charger Each Night!
Plus - (8) Car King of the Hill $500 to win!
Plus - Special point fund for total points positions 6th thru 15th!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Championship Weekend


For more info: Call Chuck Zitterich (605) 212-2408

Requiem

This Saturday marks the end of an era at Eagle Raceway as the 360 Sprints will take to the track for the final time in a weekly points show. While the non-points Eagle Shootout and Nebraska Cup will run in September, this is the final show for the class at the track.

For 29 seasons, the 360’s consistently ran at Eagle. But rising costs cited as reason for declining car counts through Roger Hadan’s seven seasons of ownership forced Hadan to end what had become Eagle’s signature series in favor of ostensibly lower-costs and more tightly regulated IMCA Racesaver 305’s. While some fans had held hope that reconciliation could be met, the final nail had been driven when Eagle Raceway announced the 2013 Sprint Rules package - of the 305 spec - this week. 360’s can run, with restriction - but this will be a 305 series now. To those who ask how Eagle can pull it off with a dozen or so possible cars, I respond...about as well as he’s doing with the dozen cars now.

With less than a dozen cars competing the last two nights - the lowest car counts in the history of the series - there is no fanfare, and a 70% forecast for rain for Saturday would seem almost a “go figure” kind of end to the final season (not to mention ironic during this drought year).

Mike Boston leads Trevor Grossenbacher by 88 points going into the final show. Given there’s too large of a point spread for Grossenbacher to make up, lest a miracle 24 cars show for a B feature and Boston fails to qualify, Boston will seal up his sixth track title, tying John Gerloff (sprints), Mike Meyer (IMCA Modified), and Kevin Larkins (IMCA Modified) for most titles in one class in the track’s history.

Weather permitting (or maybe regardless) I plan to be there for the final go-round. With the exception of my tour with the NCRA Outlaws in 1996 and taking out time for the family this year, Eagle Raceway and sprint cars have been a part of my summer life for this entire period.

While I’m in agreement that Roger had to make a change, I’m not happy about it. Yes, there will be Sprint Cars in the academic sense, and to the fan that may be enough, but there is a culture which is leaving. Granted, it’s not a complete break, but many of the names and faces I’ve grown familiar with, in some cases became friends with, will not be part of the fabric at Eagle next year. And while current owners and fans are working to create a new series with the current Eagle regulars at its core, the shows out of town just don’t have the same attachment. Place and people were linked.

I plan on being there with my camera (which I've already sold - but will use for one last time), pen and paper and a single focus. Saturday - it isn’t about the other classes on the track for me. It’s about this group...who happen to race Sprint cars. After that...who knows?

So for me, this Saturday is a requiem of sorts. Saying goodbye to the class that spoke for Eagle Raceway for nearly 30 years.

ASCS Midwest Region Update #18

August 20, 2012

Friday August 31st * Cameron, MO - $1500
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest & Warrior Regions

Nebraska Cup Weekend Night #1
Saturday September 8th
McCool Junction, NE - $1500 to win!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest

Nebraska Cup Weekend Night #2
Sunday September 9th
Eagle, NE - $5000 to win!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest

Midwest Fall Brawl Double-Header!
Friday Sept. 21st * Saturday Sept. 22nd
I-80 Speedway * Greenwood, NE
$2500 to win each night!
Plus - $750 Hard Charger Each Night!
Plus - (8) Car King of the Hill $500 to win!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Championship Weekend

For more info: Call Chuck Zitterich (605) 212-2408

Stu Snyder injured in Wingless Sprint Crash

2011 Eagle Raceway champion and current ASCS Midwest points leader Stu Snyder suffered serious injury in a non-wing sprint car accident August 5 at Missouri's US36 Raceway. As of Monday August 6, Stu is reported to be in stable/critical condition at KU Med Center in Kansas City.

Update: Eagle Raceway will pass the helmet for funds to help Snyder's expenses on August 18.

Oswald to take over as JMS Track Manager

From Jessica Stutzman, Former Manager, Junction Motor Speedway:

This was very hard for me to write today.  

I am deciding to hand down my position as track manager of Junction Motor Speedway to Mandi Oswald as of yesterday Aug. 1, 2012. My plans were to announce this news at the track banquet, which I am still going to attend in January; but this time as a guest and not an employee.

I want to thank again, all of the drivers especially those who allowed me the opportunity to work with them every week to bring a great racing experience to the fans and guests of the beautiful facility south of York, Nebraska.

I currently live in Lincoln, Nebraska, therefore I will be attending more races around that area, not to mention some Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas tracks just to visit with people and to watch racing for once (and not work).

I have grown up around racing thanks to my wonderful family, namely, Mike and Lori Goldfuss, my parents; my two brothers, Logan and Brandon Jessen, and their better halves, Kaylie McKenzie and Keisha Jessen. I encourage those who are interested to utilize my dad’s new racing business for shocks and springs.

If anyone has any questions they are more than welcome to call my number 402-469-9443 for information. I plan on marketing his new business to those in the Midwest region- free of charge, I am sure somewhere along the lines my dad purchased some things for me growing up in Sutton, NE.

I also want everyone to continue supporting the local race tracks, especially Junction Motor Speedway. Thanks to Delmar Friesen, Jason Friesen, and the Entire Friesen and Nunnenkamp families for allowing me the opportunity of almost 4 seasons as Track Manager and 6 years of Scoring; this to me was a great career. One thing I haven’t pursued is racing itself. Thank you Chevy Hadan for the racing experience a few years ago at Eagle; you inspired me to want to run a car in the future.

Racing is a family sport; I encourage all drivers to never give up when times get tough, because the fans need family get-a-ways to the local dirt tracks and you all put on a “heck of a good show” for lack of better words. I wish everyone the best; my future also entails getting another degree through Peru State College; I may be a nerd, but one thing I do know is that I am a good friend and confidant to those around me. Thanks again and see everyone at the races!!