By Greg Soukup
Now THAT is the way to finish the biggest Racesaver event in the world!!!
Sunny skies, low 80’s temperatures and a nice breeze greeted the very large crowd that showed up to witness the final night of the 10th Annual IMCA Sprint Car Racesaver Nationals.
This was some drivers’ chance to make it to The Big Dance and for one driver it was the opportunity to be crowned the champion of this big Racesaver race, but who would it be??
First there were 6 preliminary features to determine who would form the last 3 rows of the 3-wide field for the finale.
In the F Feature Nick Bryan’s X and the 5A of Andrew Jackson got together with Bryan flipping down the front stretch. Then, in the E Feature there were simultaneous flips, one at each end of the track with the 05 of Brandon Allen going up and over in turn 4 while Jesse Graham went for a ride in turns 1 & 2. Then in the B Main Zach Blurton hit a rut in turn 1, started to bounce and ended up contacting Toby Chapman’s 11X sending Chapman into the Armco barrier and sending him flipping on lap 8. Lap 16 of the B saw contact between the 22P of Taylor Courtney and Luke Cranston’s 20C in turns 1 & 2 with Cranston going for a wild ride. There were no serious injuries in any of these events.
Finally, it was time!!! The race that everyone, drivers and fans had both been waiting for since last September. There was $3000 cash on the line as well as the coveted Championship belt to whoever could manage to come out on top after 35 fast laps on the high banks of America’s Home Track. After a spotlight introduction ceremony, the cars lined up in the three-wide formation that is the signature of the race.
Jake Bubak took advantage of his place outside the front row on the starting grid to grab the lead on the first attempt at a start but it was called back when a 4-car pileup occurred in turn 4 involving Trevor Grossenbacher’s 35, the 88J of Jeremy Huish, Bradley Sterrett’s 21A and Jay Russell’s 76. Bubak again took off in the lead on the complete restart with John Carney II in the 74C second, Chad Wilson’s 20 third and the 25 of Chase Brewer fourth . Lap 2 saw Ethan Barrow’s 14B slow in turn 3 and the caution lights came on again. This attempt at getting going again saw Josh Riggins roll the 14J in turns 1 and 2, bringing the red flag out. It was decided to go with a single file restart this time. Yet again, Bubak took off to retain his lead. Lap 8 saw Brewer move up to third but lose the spot back to Wilson the following circuit. Wilson slipped to the infield moving to third and the 12 of Tyler Drueke to fourth. Drueke advanced to third on lap 25 for the final change in the top 4. Bubak grabbed the victory, Carney was second, Drueke third and Brewer fourth.
Saturday evening Jake took home his third Precise Racing Products Race of Champions win and tonight awarded him his second victory in the IMCA Sprint Car Racesaver Nationals. I mentioned that he must like Eagle Raceway since he was so successful and he replied “Yes! It’s pretty fun and we really enjoy coming here. It helped that we had a really good car this week though. Starting on the front row didn’t hurt any either and starting outside was a big advantage. John (Carney) got a little bit stuck down on the bottom on the start and that allowed us to get away from him and the pack. I felt like I was getting through traffic really well, but you don’t dare making any mistakes with John behind you, especially with him in another Coyote Candle Company car because we had two of the best cars here, there’s no doubt about that!! The track started out a little narrow, making it kind of hard to pass; but that worked out good for us, starting on the front row. I don’t know what we could have done if we had started out further back, but we’ll take the win and be glad that it worked out good for us”. Jake’s sponsors include Coyote Candle Company, KRS Fabrication, Maxim Chassis and King Racing Products.
That concludes the 2022 season at Eagle Raceway, America’s Home Track. But we’ll be back again next spring to bring you the best in IMCA racing including IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sportmods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sprint Cars each and every Saturday night. Don’t forget to make your plans right away to be here next Labor Day weekend to attend the 2023 IMCA Sprint Car Racesaver Nationals. See you next year.
RESULTS:
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint A-Feature
1. Jake Bubak Lincoln, Ne. 2. John Carney Amarillo, Tx. 3. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 4. Chase Brewer Waxahachie, Tx. 5. Landon Thompson Haslet, Tx. 6. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 7. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 8. Max Guilford Clay City, In. 9. Trevor Serbus Olivia, Mn. 10. Kevin Rutherford 11. Shayle Bade Lincoln, Ne. 12. Justin Clark Hamersville, Oh. 13. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 14. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 15. Mitchell Moore(r) Peculiar, Mo. 16. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 17. Jeremy Huish(r) Ness City, Ks. 18. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 19. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 20. Brandon Bosma Rock Rapids, Ia. 21. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 22. Nathan Weiler Omaha, Ne. 23. Chad Wilson North Richland Hills, Tx. 24. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 25. Bradley Sterrett Bloomington, In. 26. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 27. Ethan Barrow Bloomington, In.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint B-Feature
1. Shayle Bade Lincoln, Ne. 2. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 3. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 4. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 5. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 6. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 7. Jeremy Huish(r) Ness City, Ks. 8. Bradley Sterrett Bloomington, In. 9. Brandon Bosma Rock Rapids, Ia. 10. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 11. Tyler Harris Vidor, Tx. 12. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 13. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 14. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx. 15. Jacob Harris Vidor, Tx. 16. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 17. Derek Kral(r) York, Ne. 18. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 19. Zach Blurton Quinter, Ks. 20. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint C-Feature
1. Tyler Harris Vidor, Tx. 2. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 3. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 4. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx. 5. Brandon Bosma Rock Rapids, Ia. 6. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 7. John Paynter Jr Bloomington, In. 8. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 9. Ryan Navratil Altoona, Ia. 10. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 11. Shane Obanion Danville, In. 12. Claud Estes Godley, Tx. 13. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 14. Jake Galusha Lincoln, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint D-Feature
1. Claud Estes Godley, Tx. 2. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 3. Brandon Bosma Rock Rapids, Ia. 4. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 5. Jacob Dye Albany, Mo. 6. Bryce Norris Terre Haute, In. 7. Michelle Parson Abilene, Tx. 8. Ryan Hall Midlothian, Tx. 9. Robert Herrera Las Cruces, Nm. 10. Cole Vanderheiden(r) Papillion, Ne. 11. Daniel Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 12. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 13. Heath Nestrick Caddo Mills, Tx. 14. Jeremy Schultz Stewart, Mn. DNS. Chris Graf Glencoe, Mn.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint E-Feature
1. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 2. Robert Herrera Las Cruces, Nm. 3. Heath Nestrick Caddo Mills, Tx. 4. Chris Graf Glencoe, Mn. 5. Jeremy Schultz Stewart, Mn. 6. Alex Nalon Pittsboro, In. 7. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 8. Michael Oliver San Antonio, Tx. 9. Justin Melton Justin, Tx. 10. Jesse (chip) Graham Lewisville, Tx. 11. John Webster North Platte, Ne. 12. Michael Stien Ceylon, Mn. 13. Matt Etzelmiller Keller, Tx. 14. Brandon Allen St Peter, Mn.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint F-Feature
1. Chris Graf Glencoe, Mn. 2. Alex Nalon Pittsboro, In. 3. Justin Melton Justin, Tx. 4. Michael Oliver San Antonio, Tx. 5. Dj Estes Ft Worth, Tx. 6. Mike Houseman Jr Des Moines, Ia. 7. Jack Hall Yukon, Ok. 8. Andrew Sullivan Spirit Lake, Ia. 9. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. 10. Philip Heynen Visalia, Ca. 11. Aaron Guillaume Sioux City, Ia. 12. Bret Klabunde Omaha, Ne. 13. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 14. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint G-Feature
1. Mike Houseman Jr Des Moines, Ia. 2. Dj Estes Ft Worth, Tx. 3. Aaron Guillaume Sioux City, Ia. 4. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. 5. Rick Hansen Omaha, Ne. 6. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 7. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne. 8. Steve Hurst(r) Ames, Ne. 9. Mark Finnell Osage Beach, Mo. 10. Daren Bolac Moyock, Nc. 11. Zackary Wight Winnebago, Mn. 12. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 13. Bruce Allen Mankato, Mn.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Qualifying 1
1. John Carney Amarillo, Tx. 2. Chad Wilson North Richland Hills, Tx. 3. Jake Bubak Lincoln, Ne. 4. Max Guilford Clay City, In. 5. Nathan Weiler Omaha, Ne. 6. Chase Brewer Waxahachie, Tx. 7. Kevin Rutherford 8. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 9. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 10. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 11. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 12. Ethan Barrow Bloomington, In. 13. Justin Clark Hamersville, Oh. 14. Mitchell Moore(r) Peculiar, Mo. 15. Landon Thompson Haslet, Tx. 16. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 17. Trevor Serbus Olivia, Mn. 18. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 19. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 20. Shayle Bade Lincoln, Ne. 21. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 22. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 23. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 24. Zach Blurton Quinter, Ks. 25. Bradley Sterrett Bloomington, In. 26. Jeremy Huish(r) Ness City, Ks. 27. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 28. Derek Kral(r) York, Ne. 29. Jacob Harris Vidor, Tx. 30. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 31. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 32. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 33. Tyler Harris Vidor, Tx. 34. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 35. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx. 36. Jake Galusha Lincoln, Ne. 37. Ryan Navratil Altoona, Ia. 38. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 39. John Paynter Jr Bloomington, In. 40. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 41. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 42. Shane Obanion Danville, In. 43. Bryce Norris Terre Haute, In. 44. Claud Estes Godley, Tx. 45. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 46. Michelle Parson Abilene, Tx. 47. Cole Vanderheiden(r) Papillion, Ne. 48. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 49. Jacob Dye Albany, Mo. 50. Ryan Hall Midlothian, Tx. 51. Daniel Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 52. Brandon Bosma Rock Rapids, Ia. 53. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 54.
Robert Herrera Las Cruces, Nm. 55. Jeremy Schultz Stewart, Mn. 56. Jesse (chip) Graham Lewisville, Tx. 57. Heath Nestrick Caddo Mills, Tx. 58. Brandon Allen St Peter, Mn. 59. Michael Stien Ceylon, Mn. 60. John Webster North Platte, Ne. 61. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 62. Matt Etzelmiller Keller, Tx. 63. Alex Nalon Pittsboro, In. 64. Chris Graf Glencoe, Mn. 65. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 66. Michael Oliver San Antonio, Tx. 67. Bret Klabunde Omaha, Ne. 68. Andrew Sullivan Spirit Lake, Ia. 69. Justin Melton Justin, Tx. 70. Jack Hall Yukon, Ok. 71. Philip Heynen Visalia, Ca. 72. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 73. Mike Houseman Jr Des Moines, Ia. 74. Dj Estes Ft Worth, Tx. 75. Steve Hurst(r) Ames, Ne. 76. Aaron Guillaume Sioux City, Ia. 77. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne. 78. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. 79. Bruce Allen Mankato, Mn. 80. Rick Hansen Omaha, Ne. 81. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 82. Zackary Wight Winnebago, Mn. 83. Mark Finnell Osage Beach, Mo. 84. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. 85. Daren Bolac Moyock, Nc.