By Greg Soukup
Just like this great country of ours, Freedom Fest presented by Hotsy, Budweiser and Froggy 98 could be put off but not put down. Last week the event had to be called after the second heat race for the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks due to heavy rain.
Fast forward to this past Saturday and you could not ask for better weather. Afternoon highs in the upper 80’s gave way to a cool and breezy evening. 158 race teams were on hand to provide the preliminary fireworks. The second largest crowd of the season filled the stands and saw some great racing action.
Sadly, there were two significant incidents in the preliminary action. Trevor Grossenbacher and Joey Danley were battling for position in the fourth heat for the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Cars when Grossenbacher got over a wheel of Danley’s car and went for a set of wild snap-rolls. Both cars were badly damaged, but Danley was able to make repairs and get back out for the B Feature. Unfortunately, Grossenbacher was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with compression fractures in his spine. He will be out for a while recuperating.
Last was the A Feature for the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Cars. Keith Dragoo put the 77D out front of the first circuit with the 20 of Tim Hilfiker, Boyd Peterson’s 57B and the 1 of Doug Lovegrove rounding out the top 4. Paul Hendrickson’s 19JR stopped in turn 1 on lap 2 with Jason Danley’s 4X making contact and flipping. Danley was not seriously injured, but his car was damaged too badly to continue. Lovegrove took advantage of the restart to move up to third. Ryan Kitchen put the 21 into fourth the next time around. Gene Ackland passed Kitchen the next lap, putting the 14G into fourth but lost the spot to Peterson. Tyler Drueke joined the battle for fourth, taking the #12 into that position after another lap. Drueke advanced to second on lap 7 to go as Lovegrove moved to third. Lap 11 saw Joey Danley take fourth in the 14. Danley rocketed into first the next time around with Drueke holding second and Lovegrove falling to fourth. 5 laps remained as Lovegrove advanced to third and Kitchen again took over the fourth spot. Danley lengthened his lead to the checkers to take the win with Drueke second, Lovegrove third and Kitchen fourth.
This was Danley’s second win in a row and third on the year, coming from 18th on the starting grid after transferring from the B. “We definitely earned it tonight! We had a rough heat race and got caught up in a wreck. We had a lot of work to do to be able to make it out for the B Feature and somehow made it all of the way to the front of the A. I’m just as shocked as everybody else is; I did NOT expect that!! We definitely had a rocket for a car though. The moisture stayed in the track all night, which is always good because we save on tires that way. It’s hard to ask for anything better when you have 150 plus cars here every week” stated Danley. Danley’s sponsors include Heiserman Flooring, Nissen Hardwood Floors, Automotive Services, Russell Shoulders Racing Engines, CleanRite Sweeping, Empire Fencing and Complete Window and Door Solutions.
Next Saturday sees Great Clips, The Nebraska Lottery and The Blaze 104.1 present Full House Frenzy-Fan Appreciation Night at Eagle Raceway. Twinky the Clown will be there from 5:30 to 7:30 for the kids.
Front gates open at 5:15 with hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6:30. Adult and youths 6-12 are just $5 and children 5 and under are free.
The Racesaver Sprint Cars, Runner Freight Modifieds, Hoosier Racing Tire Sport Modifieds, Valentino’s Hobby Stocks and ATV Motorsports Sport Compacts will all be in competition.
Pit gates open at 4 P.M. with pit passes costing $25.
RESULTS:
IMCA Sprint A-Feature 1. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 2. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 3. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 4. Ryan Kitchen(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 6. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 7. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 8. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 9. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 10. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 11. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 12. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 13. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 14. Danny Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 15. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 16. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne. 17. Mark Pace Lincoln, Ne. 18. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 19. Paul Hendrickson Lincoln, Ne. 20. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne.
IMCA Sprint B-Feature 1. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 2. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 3. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 4. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 5. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 6. Trey Gropp(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Dan Satriano Papillion, Ne. 8. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 9. Brandon Horton Omaha, Ne. 10. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 11. Frank Rodgers Lucas, Ia. 12. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. 13. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 14. Dustin Reeh(r) Council Bluffs, Ia. DNS. Trevor Grossenbacher Hickman, Ne. DNS. Jimmy Grasso Omaha, Ne. DNS. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne.
IMCA Sprint Heat 1 1. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 2. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 3. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 4. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 5. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 6. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 7. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 8. Dan Satriano Papillion, Ne. 9. Frank Rodgers Lucas, Ia.
IMCA Sprint Heat 2 1. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 2. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne. 3. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 4. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 5. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 6. Trey Gropp(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. 8. Jimmy Grasso Omaha, Ne.
IMCA Sprint Heat 3 1. Ryan Kitchen(r) Lincoln, Ne. 2. Paul Hendrickson Lincoln, Ne. 3. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 4. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 5. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 6. Brandon Horton Omaha, Ne. 7. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 8. Dustin Reeh(r) Council Bluffs, Ia.
IMCA Sprint Heat 4 1. Danny Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 2. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 3. Mark Pace Lincoln, Ne. 4. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 5. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 6. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 7. Trevor Grossenbacher Hickman, Ne. DNS. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne.