By Greg Soukup
Temperatures in the 70’s, a large crowd and 145 race teams in the pits added up to a perfect night of racing as Colby Ridge presented Junior Fan Club Night at Eagle Raceway Saturday evening.
Trevor Grossenbacher’s #35 Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car got into trouble and rolled on the front stretch of the first heat. Chantel Bade’s 02 snap rolled multiple times in the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock B Feature. Both drivers were not seriously injured, but only Grossenbacher was able to make repairs and return to action.
Keith Dragoo’s 44 was out front after the first lap of the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car finale with Gene Ackland’s 14G, the 8G of Jimmy Grasso and Brandon Horton’s 1B close behind. Mike Boston got past Horton on lap 2, putting the 51 into fourth. Ackland moved to first 2 laps later with Boston also passing Dragoo the next lap. Dragoo looped his sprint after another lap, putting the 100 of Clint Benson into fourth. Boston used the restart to take the lead. Joey Danley jumped up to third in the 14 the next circuit with Benson retaining fourth. Lap 9 saw
Horton spin out in turn 4. Benson passed Danley 1 lap after the restart for third. The next circuit saw Benson take over the second spot as Jason Danley grabbed fourth. Lap 13 saw Don Droud Jr. stop for the final caution of the evening. Joey Danley moved to second with 7 to go making the top 4 Boston, Joey Danley, Benson and Jason Danley.
“It’s been over a year since we got a win; 2015 I think. It’s been a struggle. We got a new car this year and a different shock package. We’ve been creeping up on it. We had some bad luck last week; we were running good when a 25 cent nut came off of the tie rod. We got lucky that it just took 25 cents to fix it and we’re back out here this week. We’ve been fast though. A lot of times you create your own luck, and sometimes you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s kind of how it’s been this year. Last year we were really good; at the Nationals, we ran 7th before being DQ’ed for a couple of titanium bolts in a wheel center that got overlooked. This is more than likely going to be my last year. I’m going to really enjoy it, and I figured if I got a win, then I got a win. The track was great tonight. There was 2 lines; we were running on the bottom in turns 1 & 2 and I got to the lead there on the bottom. I was running the top in turns 3 & 4, because that’s my favorite. The bottom kind of went away there when we got to the lapped cars, so I went up to the top and thought to myself ‘I should have been here 10 laps before’. A lot of times it’s hard to know what’s going on behind you, but I knew that they were behind me and that they were coming. I’ve got to give it up to my girlfriend, Amber. We’ve been together for 3 years and she just busts her butt for this car. She probably loves racing even more than I do. I want to quit, but she wants to keep going. It’s been a great accomplishment with both of us and I couldn’t have done it without her. Zach Woods of course; I still have his Speedway Motors engine. He’s just a great guy and has helped me out for 20 years now. Moock Trucking and Johnson Farms too. We’re doing a deal this year; I don’t take any money, I don’t want any money. Matt Talbot Kitchen is a great organization. I have an acquaintance that went to Matt Talbot for assistance and that’s the reason that I have them on my car. People get down on their luck and they help the people in any way that they can. From driver’s licenses, to clothes, to food. I want to try to give back to them in any way that I can. It’s great to have them on my car, and hopefully I can get them some support” he said.
Next week is Freedom Fest, presented by Great Clips. There will be Lincoln’s premier fireworks extravaganza following the last feature. All military, police, fire and rescue personnel get free grandstand admission with their uniform or ID. Twinky the Clown will be there from 5:30 to 7:30 for the kids. 50/50 drawing proceeds will be going to Eagle Fire and Rescue.
Front gates open at 5:15. Adult admission is just $15, youths 6-12 are only $5 and children 5 and under are free. Hot laps start at 5:30 with racing beginning at 6:30.
Pit gates open at 4 PM, with pit passes costing $25.
RESULTS:
IMCA Sprint A-Feature
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Mike Boston 51
Lincoln, Ne
2. Joey Danley 14
Lincoln, Ne
3. Clint Benson 100
Papillion, Ne
4. Jason Danley 4X
Lincoln, Ne
5. Toby Chapman 7KX
Panama, Ne
6. Trevor Grossenbacher 35
Hickman, Ne
7. Adam Gullion 91
Lincoln, Ne
8. Zach Blurton 2J
Quinter, Ks
9. Jimmy Grasso 8G
Omaha, Ne
10. Shayle Bade 03
Lincoln, Ne
11. Gene Ackland 14G
Martell, Ne
12. Nathan Weiler 4W
Lavista, Ne
13. Matt Richards 1R
Lincoln, Ne
14. Terry Richards 18
Denton, Ne
15. Brandon Horton 1B
Omaha, Ne
16. Keith Dragoo 44
Lincoln, Ne
17. Tyler Drueke 12
Eagle, Ne
18. Don Droud Jr 5
Lincoln, Ne
19. Jack Dover 84
Springfield, Ne
DNS Stu Snyder 23S
Waverly, Ne
IMCA Sprint B-Feature
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Adam Gullion 91
Lincoln, Ne
2. Trevor Grossenbacher 35
Hickman, Ne
3. Stu Snyder 23S
Waverly, Ne
4. Terry Richards 18
Denton, Ne
5. Dan Satriano 17
Papillion, Ne
6. Richard Weers 55
Lincoln, Ne
7. Ryan King 93
Bennet, Ne
8. Chase Weiler 0
Lincoln, Ne
9. Chad Fegley 77D
Eagle, Ne
10. Boyd Peterson 57B
Ithaca, Ne
11. Neil Nickolite 12N
Bellwood, Ne
12. Bill Garrow 3G
Lincoln, Ne
13. Paul Hendrickson 19JR
Lincoln, Ne
14. Dwight Carter 4U
Lincoln, Ne
15. Jason Miller 77
Omaha, Ne
IMCA Sprint Heat 1
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Brandon Horton 1B
Omaha, Ne
2. Mike Boston 51
Lincoln, Ne
3. Tyler Drueke 12
Eagle, Ne
4. Zach Blurton 2J
Quinter, Ks
5. Richard Weers 55
Lincoln, Ne
6. Chad Fegley 77D
Eagle, Ne
7. Paul Hendrickson 19JR
Lincoln, Ne
8. Trevor Grossenbacher 35
Hickman, Ne
IMCA Sprint Heat 2
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Gene Ackland 14G
Martell, Ne
2. Joey Danley 14
Lincoln, Ne
3. Jimmy Grasso 8G
Omaha, Ne
4. Don Droud Jr 5
Lincoln, Ne
5. Stu Snyder 23S
Waverly, Ne
6. Terry Richards 18
Denton, Ne
7. Neil Nickolite 12N
Bellwood, Ne
8. Jason Miller 77
Omaha, Ne
IMCA Sprint Heat 3
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Shayle Bade 03
Lincoln, Ne
2. Jack Dover 84
Springfield, Ne
3. Toby Chapman 7KX
Panama, Ne
4. Matt Richards 1R
Lincoln, Ne
5. Dan Satriano 17
Papillion, Ne
6. Boyd Peterson 57B
Ithaca, Ne
7. Bill Garrow 3G
Lincoln, Ne
8. Dwight Carter 4U
Lincoln, Ne
IMCA Sprint Heat 4
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Clint Benson 100
Papillion, Ne
2. Jason Danley 4X
Lincoln, Ne
3. Keith Dragoo 44
Lincoln, Ne
4. Nathan Weiler 4W
Lavista, Ne
5. Adam Gullion 91
Lincoln, Ne
6. Chase Weiler 0
Lincoln, Ne
7. Ryan King 93
Bennet, Ne