There is a female deity that dirt track fans are all too familiar with that I refuse to glorify her by using her name. She took a REALLY good shot at cancelling The Final Countdown, presented by A1 Iron and Mammoth Station at Eagle Raceway Saturday evening. With a heavy shower right before race time and lighter rain and drizzle that continued off and on through the night, the track prep crew worked doggedly to get the racing surface back into shape. Nothing was going to keep the races from being run, with all but 1 points championship on the line. Finally, 2 hours late the racing kicked off.
There were no serious incidents in the preliminary action.
The Twin Rivers IMCA Racesaver Sprint Cars rolled out to complete the regular season racing for 2022. Clint Benson in the 100, the X of Nick Bryan, Toby Chapman’s 11 and Josh Riggins’ 14J led the field after 1 circuit was in the books. Riggins passed Bryan for third on lap 3 but slowed the next lap after nearly spinning and hitting the Armco barrier in 1 and 2, allowing Jake Bubak to move into fourth in the 74B. Bubak advanced to third on the restart with Adam Gullion taking the 91 into fourth. Bubak moved to second with 7 to go. There were 5 circuits remaining when Gunnar Pike’s 25G slowed in turn 4 for another caution. The final change in the top 4 came when Stu Snyder put the #5 into fourth making the top 4 Benson, Bubak, Chapman and Snyder.
I kidded Clint that this must be an alternate universe where he won twice in 1 season. He responded “We were really rolling tonight! There was grease on the bottom and you had to drive it in just right and get through lapped traffic just as quickly as everyone else. That was the trick tonight. Having Jake Bubak right on your tail is a great motivating factor to not let up and keep on the gas!! I had that little scuffle with a rut last week and that made me go through the whole car and check everything out. Usually when we’re on, we’re pretty good”. Clint’s sponsors include Clint Benson Motorsports, Sundown Homes, Green Beans Coffee, Acme Auto and Fistful Of Bourbon.
Although this was the last regular season race, we aren’t done as beginning Thursday September 1st the world’s largest IMCA Racesaver race begins; the IMCA Sprint Car Racesaver Nationals, powered by Sunbelt Rentals. Thursday will be a practice night to allow the out of towners to get reacclimated with the high banks of America’s Home Track. Following that, will be qualifying races for the Precise Racing Products Race of Champions.
The front gates and pits will open at 5 PM with adult front gate admission being just $3 with those 12 and under free. A pit pass will cost just $15 for all ages.
Where else can you see sprint car drivers from all over the country hurtling around a 1/3-mile bullring, billed as the world’s fastest for just $3?? Nowhere but Eagle Raceway.
RESULTS:
Sprint-IMCA A-Feature
1. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 2. Jake Bubak Lincoln, Ne. 3. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 4. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 5. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 6. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 7. Cole Vanderheiden(r) Papillion, Ne. 8. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 9. Daniel Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 10. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 11. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 12. Jake Galusha Lincoln, Ne. 13. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 14. Maxwell Roseland Carter Lake, Ia. 15. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 16. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 17. Steve Hurst(r) Ames, Ne. 18. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 19. Conner Thomas Post, Tx. 20. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA B-Feature
1. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 2. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 3. Cole Vanderheiden(r) Papillion, Ne. 4. Maxwell Roseland Carter Lake, Ia. 5. Conner Thomas Post, Tx. 6. Derek Kral(r) York, Ne. 7. Joe Miller Vail, Ia. 8. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. DNS. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. DNS. Elizabeth Phillips Bixby, Ok.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 1
1. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 2. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 3. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 4. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 5. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 6. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. 7. Maxwell Roseland Carter Lake, Ia. 8. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 9. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 2
1. Jake Bubak Lincoln, Ne. 2. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 3. Daniel Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 4. Steve Hurst(r) Ames, Ne. 5. Jake Galusha Lincoln,
Ne. 6. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 7. Cole Vanderheiden(r) Papillion, Ne. 8. Derek Kral(r) York, Ne. 9. Conner Thomas Post, Tx.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 3
1. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 2. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 3. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 4. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 6. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 7. Joe Miller Vail, Ia. DNS. Elizabeth Phillips Bixby, Ok.