By Greg Soukup
Another gorgeous day was on tap as Twin Rivers presented Memorial Day Extravaganza at Eagle Raceway Saturday. A big crowd watched as over 100 cars competed on One Badass Racetrack.
Ryan Kitchen jumped from the fourth spot on the starting grid of the Twin Rivers IMCA Racesaver Sprint Car A Main to put the 21 into first place on lap 1 followed by Dan Nekolite’s 22D, the 1B of Brandon Horton and Tim Hilfiker in the 20. Cole Vanderheiden passed Hilfiker on lap 2, putting the 15V into fourth. Vanderheiden moved to third on lap 5, sending Horton back to the fourth position. Lap 7 saw Josh Riggins get past Horton for fourth in the 14J. Riggins passed Vanderheiden two laps later. Riggins got around Nekolite for third on lap 10. Hilfiker spun out in turn 4 on lap 13, erasing Kitchen’s 5+ second lead and making the top 4 Kitchen, Riggins, Vanderheiden and the 5 of Stu Snyder. Riggins snagged the lead with laps to go. Snyder moved to third the next time around and advanced to second with 4 to go. Riggins began to check out and the top 4 remained unchanged to the checkered flag. Riggins took the victory with Snyder second Kitchen third and Vanderheiden rounding out the top 4.
This was Riggins’ second career win at Eagle Raceway. Josh related “We really had a rocket tonight and I’m so excited about it. The funny this is that last week we ran here and got fifth. I said ‘Hey, we’ve got something here’ and I’ve been telling everybody all week like family members and everyone that they’d better come to the races because we’re going to win this week. My aunt came, and others. I didn’t change a thing on the car from last week because it was really dialed in. I’m just super excited about it. It’s really nice to get lucky like that. The car is certainly fast and I’m capable of putting really good laps together. Part of it is when you get so many good cars out here it’s very hard to pick your way through them. It’s just tough because there isn’t a slow car in the pits. I need to thank my grandpa for all of his help. Also, BNSF Railroad for letting me push wheels at the shop to make some money”. Josh’s sponsors include Goodcents, Pro Restaurant Group, Harry’s Wonder Bar, Piedmont and Venue.
Next Saturday is School’s Out for Summer at Eagle Raceway, presented by Avid Realty and Mammoth Station.
All 5 classes will be competing including the Twin Rivers Sprint Cars, Nebraska Lottery Modifieds, Avid Realty SportMods, A1 Iron Stock Cars & Valentino’s Hobby Stocks. Track, State, Regional & National Points for all classes. Following the racing there will be fan favorite school bus races.
Front gates open at 5:15 with adult admission being $15, youths 6-12 $5 and children 5 and under free.
Hot laps kick off at 5:30 with racing at 6:30.
Pit gates open at 3:45 with pit admission being $30.
RESULTS:
Sprint-IMCA A-Feature
1. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 2. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 3. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 4. Cole Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 5. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 6. Daniel Nekolite O`neill, Ne. 7. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 8. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 9. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 10. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 11. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 12. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 13. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 14. Jake Galusha Lincoln, Ne.15. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 16. Shayle Bade Raymond, Ne. 17. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 18. Heath Nestrick Caddo Mills, Tx. 19. Cole Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 20. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA B-Feature
1. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 2. Cole Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 3. Shayle Bade Raymond, Ne. 4. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 5. Heath Nestrick Caddo Mills, Tx. 6. Nate Johnson Hastings, Ne. 7. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 8. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. DNS. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 1
1. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 2. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 3. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 4. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 5. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 6. Shayle Bade Raymond, Ne. 7. Nate Johnson Hastings, Ne. 8. Heath Nestrick Caddo Mills, Tx. DNS. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 2
1. Jake Galusha Lincoln, Ne. 2. Cole Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 3. Daniel Nekolite O`neill, Ne. 4. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 5. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 6. Cole Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Alex Salzman Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 3
1. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 2. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 3. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 4. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 5. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 6. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 7. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 8. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne.