By Greg Soukup
Temperatures in the mid-90’s and high humidity led the crowd for the Fold ‘Em Finale, presented by the Nebraska Lottery to arrive late. But with 2 of the season-long points championships in doubt and the other 3 having fierce competition for moving up a spot or 2, the action was furious throughout the night.
Also, with the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Nationals less than a week away, there were several visitors from around the country who showed up to get an early crack at the high banks of Eagle Raceway.
No serious incidents occurred in the preliminary racing.
The Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car finale for the 2018 season saw Nate Weiler’s 4W, the 57B of Boyd Peterson, Neil Nickolite’s 12N and the 0 of Chase Weiler out front of the pack at the end of the first circuit. Nickolite moved to second on lap 3 and Chase Weiler passed Peterson for third the next lap. Lap 5 saw Matt Richards put the 1R into fourth, only to lose it to Jake Bubak’s 74B the next time around. Bubak moved to third the next lap. Richards regained fourth with 17 to go. Ryan Kitchen’s 21, the 93 of Ryan King and Brandon Bosma all came to a stop in turn 4 the next lap. Bubak jumped up to second on the restart and snagged the lead the next lap with Chase Weiler again moving into fourth. A car did a 360-degree spin to cause a caution after 2 more circuits. Joey Danley used the restart to vault up to third on the restart as Nickolite fell to fourth. Danley moved up to second the next lap. The final change in the top 4 came with 6 to go when Tyler Drueke put the #12 into fourth. At the checkers it was Bubak, Danley, Nathan Weiler and Drueke. Drueke’s 4th place finish wrapped up his 3rd straight Racesaver Sprint Car championship at Eagle Raceway.
Bubak was just 1 of the visitors to Eagle Raceway, coming in to get some extra laps prior to next week’s Racesaver IMCA Sprint Nationals. His win came from the 12th spot on the starting grid. “We put the 360 in last night at another track, got the win and had a lot of confidence going into tonight and we managed to do it again. We got through our heat race alright, so I’m assuming I’ll draw bad next week and have to start at the back of my heat. We almost won our heat race tonight, so we have to do that for sure next week! I need to thank Mike and Melissa Meyers. They’re giving us a place to stay this week. It’s so nice to have a
nice cool shop to work in all week” said Bubak. Bubak’s sponsors include Coyote Candle Company, Momentum Racing Suspension, Sardeson Racing Products, Maxim Chassis, King Racing Products and Winters Rear Ends.
Next Thursday kicks off the 2018 Racesaver Nationals at Eagle Raceway. At the last count, there were 118 teams that had pre-registered, so this year is shaping up to be a record car count for the event.
Thursday is practice night with hot laps from 6 until 8:30. Beginning at 9 o’clock heat races to determine the A Feature for the Jake Ita Memorial Race of Champions will be run. Grandstand admission is free with pit passes costing $25. There will be a pit party afterwards with live entertainment. The Melon Bar will be open with discounted pricing.
Friday kicks off the action in earnest with the first night of qualifying for the Big Dance on Sunday. Rows 1-3 will be determined Friday. Hot laps begin at 5 PM with racing starting at 6. There will be a Meet and Greet in the Fan Zone from 5 until 6 with Discovery Channel star Thomas Weeks. Bad Apple will be the pit party entertainment along with replays of Friday’s action. Adult front gate admission is just $13 with youths 6-12 only $5 and children 5 and under free. Pit passes are $25.
Saturday’s racing will set up rows 4-6 for the A Feature on Sunday. There will be another Meet and Greet at 5 PM with Thomas Weeks. Following the night’s A Feature, the Jake Ita Memorial Race of Champions will be run. Saturday’s pit party will feature V-Twin and replays of the days competition. Front gate admission is $15 for adults, $5 for youths 6-12 and children 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $25.
The weekend’s action concludes on Sunday as the top 27 Racesaver Sprint Cars will take off 3-wide to crown this year’s champion. The top 9 finishers in the evening’s B Feature will fall into the final 3 rows of the Big Dance. 27 of the best will take off in the unprecedented 3-wide start on the high banks of the fastest 1/3-mile dirt track in the world!! Who will come out on top?? You’ll have to come out to America’s Home Track, Eagle Raceway and see for yourself.
The front gate will swing open at 4:30. The first 2,500 fans through the gate will receive a light-up wand to be used during the driver introduction before the A Feature. From 4:30 to 5:30 there will again be a Meet and Greet with Thomas Weeks. In addition, there will be an autograph session with the 18 drivers who already are qualified for the A Feature. Miss Eagle Raceway will be crowned during intermission also. After the races, the pit party will feature the Kali Indiana Band.
Front gate admission is $18 for adults, youths 6-12 are just $5 and children 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $30.
RESULTS:
IMCA Sprint A-Feature 1. Jake Bubak Arvada, Co. 2. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 3. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 4. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 5. Mike Houseman Jr Des Moines, Ia. 6. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 7. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 8. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 9. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 10. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 11. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 12. Zach Blurton Quinter, Ks. 13. Brandon Bosma Round Lake, Mn. 14. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 15. Matt Richards Lincoln, Ne. 16. Jimmy Grasso Omaha, Ne. 17. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne. 18. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 19. Ryan Kitchen(r) Lincoln, Ne. 20. Ryan King Bennet, Ne.
IMCA Sprint B-Feature 1. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 2. Zach Blurton Quinter, Ks. 3. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 4. Jimmy Grasso Omaha, Ne. 5. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 6. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 7. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 8. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 9. Brandon Horton Omaha, Ne. 10. Trey Gropp(r) Lincoln, Ne. 11. Danny Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 12. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 13. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne. 14. Frank Rodgers Lucas, Ia. 15. John Ricketts Burleson, Tx. DNS. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne.
IMCA Sprint C-Feature 1. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 2. Trey Gropp(r) Lincoln, Ne. 3. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 4. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne. 5. Tige Jensen(r) Lincoln, Ne. 6. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 7. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. 8. Tom Belsky North Platte, Ne. DNS. Monty Ferriera Fresno, Ca. DNS. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne.
IMCA Sprint Heat 1 1. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 2. Josh Riggins(r) Lincoln, Ne. 3. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 4. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 5. Tim Fricke Lincoln, Ne. 6. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 7. Danny Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 8. Monty Ferriera Fresno, Ca. 9. Tom Belsky North Platte, Ne. DNS. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne.
IMCA Sprint Heat 2 1. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 2. Jake Bubak Arvada, Co. 3. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 4. Ryan Kitchen(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jimmy Grasso Omaha, Ne. 6. Frank Rodgers Lucas, Ia. 7. Brandon Horton Omaha, Ne. 8. Trey Gropp(r) Lincoln, Ne. 9. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne.
IMCA Sprint Heat 3 1. Matt Richards Lincoln, Ne. 2. Boyd Peterson Ithaca, Ne. 3. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 4. Brandon Bosma Round Lake, Mn. 5. Zach Blurton Quinter, Ks. 6. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 7. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 8. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 9. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 10. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne.
IMCA Sprint Heat 4 1. Mike Houseman Jr Des Moines, Ia. 2. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 3. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 4. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 5. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 6. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 7. John Ricketts Burleson, Tx. 8. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne. 9. Tige Jensen(r) Lincoln, Ne.