By Greg Soukup
WOW!!!!! If there’s a better way to close out the season I don’t know what it might be. With the points championships on the line in all 5 classes the fans who showed up definitely got their money’s worth. Saturday night’s Season Finale, presented by Casey’s, Empire Fence and Netting, A1 Iron and Coors Light gave one and all action that was as hot as the sunny weather’s mid-90’s temperatures with 2 last lap passes for the win.
There were no serious incidents in the preliminary action.
Gunnar Pike led lap 1 of the Duros Dent Works IMCA Racesaver finale in the 25G with Adam Gullion’s 91, the 5 of Stu Snyder and Doug Lovegrove in the 55 in hot pursuit. Lap 2 saw Pike’s right rear wheel center break, causing the wheel to come off and Gullion to run it over. That caused Gullion to flip over the wall and slam into the catch fence hard. As she slowed, Shayle Bade’s 03 was struck in the side by the 14 of Joey Danley causing her to flip also. Nobody was seriously injured with Bade stating “Flipping a sprint car doesn’t hurt nearly as much as giving birth!!”. Also getting involved was the X of Nick Bryan. All 4 cars were towed or pushed to the pits. When racing resumed, Stu Snyder, Lovegrove, Cody Ledger in the 47 and Jason Martin’s 5X led the field back to green. Ledger passed Lovegrove for second on lap 5 but lost the spot to Martin 2 laps later. Another 2 circuits were in the books when Lovegrove also passed Ledger for third. Ledger regained third the next time around. Trevor Grossenbacher put the 35 into fourth on lap 11 with Martin taking over the top spot the next time around. Joey Danley cracked the top 4 with 7 to go. Maxwell Roseland looped the 84 in turns 1 & 2 with 5 to go. Lovegrove regained fourth on the restart but gave the position back to Danley the next time around. The final top 4 were Martin, Snyder, Ledger and Danley. By finishing in the 5th spot, Jason Danley secured the track points for the sprints.
“The way the format is, you don’t get to start out front. It takes a little bit to work through the traffic. I’m just really thankful to everybody that gives me the opportunity to come out here and do this. I haven’t been here all year, because I’ve just kind of been doing my own thing, racing everywhere. To come in here the first time this season and win is a pretty proud moment for myself and my team. We’re really looking forward to the Nationals next week!! I feel like we always have a good package here. Things change, the racetrack changes, so I won’t use tonight as a judgement of what it will be next week. We’ve got a good baseline and we’ll just tune on it from there. We should be pretty good”. Jason’s sponsors include Trucks Plus Midwest Linings, Rezac Concrete, Meyers Racing Engines and Peterson Auto in Shenandoah.
This coming week is the 9th Annual IMCA Sprint Car Racesaver Nationals, powered by Sunbelt Rentals. It all begins on Thursday the 2nd with a practice night to allow the visiting drivers get reacclimated with the high banks of Eagle Raceway. Finishing out the night will be qualifying for the Precise Racing Products Race of Champions. Front gates and pit gates both open at 5:00. Grandstand admission is just $3 for those 13 & up and pit passes are $15 with 4 day passes available for $105 (a savings of $15). Practice/hot laps run from 6:00 to 8:45. ROC qualifying heats begin at 9:00. The Pit Party begins after qualifying with a DJ, race replays and discounted drinks at the Melon Bar.
RESULTS:
Sprint-IMCA A-Feature
1. Jason Martin Crete, Ne. 2. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 3. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 4. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 5. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 6. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 7. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 8. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 9. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 10. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 11. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 12. Jake Galusha(r) Lincoln, Ne. 13. Troy Sanford Lincoln, Ne. 14. Dan Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 15. Maxwell Roseland Carter Lake, Ia. 16. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 17. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 18. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 19. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 20. Shayle Helget
Sprint-IMCA B-Feature
1. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 2. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 3. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 4. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 5. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 6. Nathan Weiler Omaha, Ne. 7. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 8. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 9. Jeff Reiman Ft. Worth, Tx. 10. Rod Craddock Alvin, Tx. 11. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. 12. Dan Satriano Omaha, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA C-Feature
1. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. 2. Dan Satriano Omaha, Ne. 3. Nathan Weiler Omaha, Ne. 4. Rod Craddock Alvin, Tx. 5. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 6. Kevin Frisbie 7. Justin Bolte Fremont, Ne. 8. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 9. Dennis Engelhaupt Page, Ne. DNS. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 1
1. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 2. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 3. Shayle Helget 4. Dan Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 5. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 6. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 7. Dan Satriano Omaha, Ne. 8. Nathan Weiler Omaha, Ne. 9. Justin Bolte Fremont, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 2
1. Maxwell Roseland Carter Lake, Ia. 2. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 3. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 4. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 5. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 6. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 7. Junior Jenkins Greenville, Tx. 8. Kevin Frisbie DNS. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 3
1. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 2. Jason Martin Crete, Ne. 3. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 4. Troy Sanford Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 6. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 7. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 8. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 4
1. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 2. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 3. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 4. Jake Galusha(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jeff Reiman Ft. Worth, Tx. 6. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 7. Rod Craddock Alvin, Tx. 8. Dennis Engelhaupt Page, Ne.