By Greg Soukup
We’ve all heard the expression “I went to a race and a party broke out”. Well, last night at Eagle Raceway it was just the opposite. The final night of the IMCA Sprint Car Racesaver Nationals, presented by Precise Racing Products saw a near capacity crowd enjoying fantastic racing on a great track surface.
In the F Feature for the Racesaver Sprints Trey Burke’s 3 and the 22H of Rod Henning made contact, sending Burke flipping. Neither driver was significantly injured.
The good news of the night was that John Webster, who had been transported to the hospital the previous evening not only returned to race Sunday but won the F Feature!
As the fans waited for the cars to come out for the finale, they were treated to a way-back machine of sorts as the announcers got everyone up to do the YMCA, stomp their feet to ‘We will rock you’ and dance to ‘Thunderstruck’. When the lights went out, the complimentary glow sticks were lit, and the spotlight shone on the 27 drivers who were set to take off in the unique 3-wide start. By that time the crowd was at a fever pitch and the racers delivered what everyone had waited all night to see.
The start of the race saw a big pile-up on the front stretch after Michelle Melton’s 21 bounced off the retaining wall and made contact with the 40X of Toby Chapman, causing him to turn sideways and collect the 44 of Jason Howell, the M1 of Keith Martin and Adam Gullion’s 91JV. None of the drivers were seriously injured, but Howell’s ride ended upside down and he was done for the evening. Jason Martin took advantage of his starting spot in the middle of row 1 to grab the lead when a lap was officially in the books. Kaleb Johnson’s 22, the 95 of Trevor Grossenbacher and Jake Bubak’s 74B rounded out the top 4. Shon Pointer’s 20P stopped in turn 2 on lap 2 for another caution. The next 18 circuits saw non-stop racing as the leaders dealt with lapped traffic every inch of the way. Jake Martens passed Bubak on lap 7 to grab fourth, then moved up to third on lap 11. Bubak passed Martens and Grossenbacher on lap 17 to move to third with Martens holding fourth. Martens spun out in turns 3 and 4 with 11 to go, moving Grossenbacher into fourth. Grossenbacher moved to third on the restart and advanced to second 2 laps later. The last change in the top 4 came with 7 to go as Bubak moved back to third. The final top 4 were Martin, Grossenbacher, Bubak and Johnson.
This was Martin’s second victory at the IMCA Sprint Car Nationals after he finished a very close second last year. He said “I’m super proud to do this. We finally got a second one! Last year we….I don’t know if I should say we let one go or whatever, but we didn’t get the job done last year and that really kind of ticked me off all year. I kind of had a chip on my shoulder. Jake’s kind of been a thorn in my side as well this year. We’ve really, really banged wheels and been really competitive with him, but we just couldn’t quite get the job done, so I’m really, really proud to get this second win at the Nationals. I knew that the start was going to be crucial because Jake sets a pretty torrid pace. I knew that there was water on the bottom of 3 and 4, so I kind of pushed Kaleb up a little bit, held my line and made sure that I was out of the water and that maybe Jake was going to stay in it. That really was the key for me to get a good start. That was a long race and the racetrack changed a lot. Early on it was pretty good and then it got pretty slick there towards the end, getting into turn 3 especially. I can’t say enough about my guys! We had a set-up and a plan coming in here tonight and about 5 minutes before the race Roger started working the track. He worked it more than I thought he was going to, so we ended up throwing a curve ball at the car and we ended up good. I have to thank Craig Meyers for providing me the best motors that money can buy”. Martin’s sponsors include Trucks Plus, Midwest Linings, Peterson Automotive in Shenandoah and Meyers Racing Engines.
This coming Sunday wraps up racing for 2019 at Eagle Raceway as Hoosier Tire and Duros Dent Works present The Nebraska Cup, featuring the SLMR Late Models, Precise Racing Products Sprint Series of Nebraska, Nebraska 360 Sprints, MCSA and GOTRA.
Front gates open at 4:45, hot laps begin at 5 P.M. with racing at 6. Adult admission is $20, youths 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are free.
Pit gates open at 3:30 and pit admission is $30.
RESULTS:
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint A-Feature 1. Jason Martin Lincoln, Ne. 2. Trevor Grossenbacher Bennet, Ne. 3. Jake Bubak Arvada, Co. 4. Kaleb Johnson Sioux Falls, Sd. 5. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 6. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 7. Ethan Barrow Bloomington, In. 8. Bradley Sterrett(r) Bloomington, In. 9. Anton Hernandez Arlington, Tx. 10. Brooklyn Holland Fresno, Ca. 11. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 12. Andy Shouse Oklahoma City, Ok. 13. Jake Martens Fairview, Ok. 14. Michelle Melton Flower Mound, Tx. 15. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 16. Dustin Stroup Fremont, Oh. 17. Justin Clark Hamersville, Oh. 18. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 19. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 20. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 21. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 22. Keith Martin Burleson, Tx. 23. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 24. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 25. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 26. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 27. Jason Howell Fort Worth, Tx.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint B-Feature 1. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 2. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 3. Dustin Stroup Fremont, Oh. 4. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jason Howell Fort Worth, Tx. 6. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 7. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 8. Brooklyn Holland Fresno, Ca. 9. Keith Martin Burleson, Tx. 10. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 11. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 12. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 13. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 14. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 15. Brandon Anderson Glenpool, Ok. 16. Colby Estes Mansfield, Tx. 17. Joe Wood Jr New Castle, Ok. 18. Claud Estes Iii Godley, Tx. 19. Chase Brewer Waxahachie, Tx. 20. Jacob Harris Vidor, Tx.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint C-Feature 1. Brooklyn Holland Fresno, Ca. 2. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 3. Joe Wood Jr New Castle, Ok. 4. Colby Estes Mansfield, Tx. 5. Chase Brewer Waxahachie, Tx. 6. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 7. Ryan Hall Midlothian, Tx. 8. Steven Richardson Liberal, Ks. 9. Tyler Thompson Des Moines, Ia. 10. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 11. Kade Higday Burleson, Tx. 12. Danny Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 13. Jacob Gomola Seneca, Pa. 14. Brett Becker Odessa, Tx. 15. Robert Vetter Wolfe City, Tx. 16. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint D-Feature 1. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 2. Brett Becker Odessa, Tx. 3. Kade Higday Burleson, Tx. 4. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx. 5. Brandon Allen St Peter, Mn. 6. Tyler Harris Vidor, Tx. 7. Chad Koch Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jerald Harris Harrisonburg, Va. 9. Daren Bolac Moyock, Nc. 10. Johnny Brown Jr. Orange, Tx. 11. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 12. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 13. Dj Estes Mansfield, Tx. 14. Larry Neighbors Oklahoma City, Ok. 15. Brandon Bosma Round Lake, Mn. DNS. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint E-Feature 1. Larry Neighbors Oklahoma City, Ok. 2. Jerald Harris Harrisonburg, Va. 3. Daren Bolac Moyock, Nc. 4. Brandon Bosma Round Lake, Mn. 5. Nate Johnson Hastings, Ne. 6. John Webster North Platte, Ne. 7. Randy Sterling Morrisdale, Pa. 8. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 9. Jeremy Schultz Stewart, Mn. 10. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 11. Bruce Allen Mankato, Mn. 12. Brant Obanion Viborg, Sd. 13. Ken Potter Harrisonville, Mo. 14. Dewayne White Byhalia, Ms. 15. Jack Potter Lees Summit, Mo. 16. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint F-Feature 1. John Webster North Platte, Ne. 2. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 3. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 4. Dewayne White Byhalia, Ms. 5. Casey Merrell Springtown, Tx. 6. Rick Hansen Omaha, Ne. 7. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jerrad Warhurst Joshua, Tx. 9. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 10. Charlie Ware Hallieford, Va. 11. Rod Henning Middleton, Oh. 12. Trey Burke League City, Tx. 13. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. DNS. Ryan Navratil East Des Moines, Ia.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Qualifying 1 1. Jake Bubak Arvada, Co. 2. Jason Martin Lincoln, Ne. 3. Kaleb Johnson Sioux Falls, Sd. 4. Trevor Grossenbacher Bennet, Ne. 5. Anton Hernandez Arlington, Tx. 6. Ethan Barrow Bloomington, In. 7. Jake Martens Fairview, Ok. 8. Andy Shouse Oklahoma City, Ok. 9. Justin Clark Hamersville, Oh. 10. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 11. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 12. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 13. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 14. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 15. Bradley Sterrett(r) Bloomington, In. 16. Michelle Melton Flower Mound, Tx. 17. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 18. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 19. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 20. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 21. Neil Nickolite
Bellwood, Ne. 22. Dustin Stroup Fremont, Oh. 23. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 24. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 25. Jason Howell Fort Worth, Tx. 26. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 27. Keith Martin Burleson, Tx. 28. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 29. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 30. Jacob Harris Vidor, Tx. 31. Claud Estes Iii Godley, Tx. 32. Brandon Anderson Glenpool, Ok. 33. Colby Estes Mansfield, Tx. 34. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 35. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 36. Chase Brewer Waxahachie, Tx. 37. Jacob Gomola Seneca, Pa. 38. Joe Wood Jr New Castle, Ok. 39. Ryan Hall Midlothian, Tx. 40. Brooklyn Holland Fresno, Ca. 41. Steven Richardson Liberal, Ks. 42. Tyler Thompson Des Moines, Ia. 43. Danny Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 44. Robert Vetter Wolfe City, Tx. 45. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 46. Tyler Harris Vidor, Tx. 47. Brett Becker Odessa, Tx. 48. Kade Higday Burleson, Tx. 49. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx. 50. Brandon Allen St Peter, Mn. 51. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 52. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 53. Dj Estes Mansfield, Tx. 54. Chad Koch Lincoln, Ne. 55. Johnny Brown Jr. Orange, Tx. 56. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 57. Jack Potter Lees Summit, Mo. 58. Jerald Harris Harrisonburg, Va. 59. Randy Sterling Morrisdale, Pa. 60. Ken Potter Harrisonville, Mo. 61. Jeremy Schultz Stewart, Mn. 62. Daren Bolac Moyock, Nc. 63. Larry Neighbors Oklahoma City, Ok. 64. Brant Obanion Viborg, Sd. 65. Nate Johnson Hastings, Ne. 66. Brandon Bosma Round Lake, Mn. 67. Bruce Allen Mankato, Mn. 68. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 69. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 70. John Webster North Platte, Ne. 71. Trey Burke League City, Tx. 72. Rod Henning Middleton, Oh. 73. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 74. Jerrad Warhurst Joshua, Tx. 75. Rick Hansen Omaha, Ne. 76. Charlie Ware Hallieford, Va. 77. Dewayne White Byhalia, Ms. 78. Casey Merrell Springtown, Tx. 79. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 80. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. 81. Ryan Navratil East Des Moines, Ia. 82. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne.