By Greg Soukup
The sun was out (finally) Saturday as Avid Realty, Charger Chassis and Rotella’s presented Dads Crash Bash but the large crowd showed that race fans want racing!!! They were treated to 145 cars in the pits ready to tackle the high banks of America’s Home Track, Eagle Raceway. Once the sun went down so did the temperatures and a nice southerly breeze made it a perfect night to be at the track.
The only serious incident in the preliminary racing came in the second heat for the Twin Rivers IMCA Racesaver Sprints when Neil Nickolite 12N flipped coming out of turn 4. His racer was too badly damaged to continue but he was not seriously injured. This was part of his comeback season at Eagle Raceway since a very serious incident last season.
The last race of the evening was for the Twin Rivers IMCA Racesaver Sprint Cars. Gunnar Pike spun the 25G to the infield on the start. The first official lap showed Mike Houseman Jr.’s 4L out front, followed by Dan Neckolite in the 22N, Jay Russell’s 76 and the 51 of Mike Boston. Boston passed Russell for third on lap 2. Russell jumped up to second on lap 3. Lap 15 saw Josh Riggins’ 14J spin out in turns 1 & 2. With 11 circuits remaining Trevor Grossenbacher put the 35 into fourth and moved up to third 2 laps later. The next time around Tyler Drueke’s 12 and the 57 of Mitchell Moore made contact and spun in 1 and 2. At that time it was Houseman, Russell, Grossenbacher and Boston. Grossenbacher passed Russell for second on the restart as Joey Danley cracked the top 4 in his #14. Russell regained second the next lap. 4 laps remained when Gene Ackland spun the 14G in turns 3 & 4. Russell moved to the lead on the restart as Danley moved up to third. Danley continued his march to the front, moving to second with just 3 laps left and taking the lead from Russell the next time around. With just 1 to go Derek Kral looped the 85 in turn 4, making it a green/white/checkered battle for the win. Nothing changed in the top 4 to the finish with Danley winning, Russell second, Houseman third and Grossenbacher fourth.
“I started 10, and I think I ran there it felt like half the race. We finally started coming on a little bit in the second half. We got a lot of opportune yellows for us and started picking our way towards the leaders. The track was really great tonight, you couldn’t ask for anything better! It was great right around the top, down close to the tires on the bottom; it was a blast!! Roger did a really great job with the heat and everything. My favorite track of the year”. Joey’s sponsors include Empire Fence, The Wave, My Salesman, Nissen Hardwood Floors, Automotive Services and Onyx Digital Group.
Next Saturday is Junior Fan Club Night, presented by Great Clips and Village Ponte Toyota. Those fans 12 and under get in the front gates free and there will be a free $1600 money grab during intermission.
All 5 classes will be in competition including the Twin Rivers Sprint Cars, Nebraska Lottery Modifieds, Avid Realty SportMods, Valentino’s Hobby Stocks & A1 Iron Stock Cars.
Front gates open at 5:15 with adult admission being $15, kids 6-5 are just $5 and those 5 and under are free.
Pit gates open at 3:30 with pit passes costing $30. Hot laps begin at 5:30.
RESULTS:
Sprint-IMCA A-Feature
1. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 2. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 3. Mike Houseman Jr Des Moines, Ia. 4. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 5. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 6. Daniel Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 7. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 8. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 9. Nathan Weiler Omaha, Ne. 10. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 11. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 12. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 13. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 14. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 15. Trevin Littleton Jacksonville, Il. 16. Derek Kral(r) York, Ne. 17. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 18. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 19. Mitchell Moore(r) Peculiar, Mo. 20. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA B-Feature
1. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 2. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 3. Mitchell Moore(r) Peculiar, Mo. 4. Derek Kral(r) York, Ne. 5. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 6. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 7. Cole Vanderheiden(r) Papillion, Ne. 8. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne. 9. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 10. James Reed Holodrege, Ne. 11. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. DNS. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 1
1. Mike Houseman Jr Des Moines, Ia. 2. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 3. Nathan Weiler Omaha, Ne. 4. Joey Danley Martell, Ne. 5. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne.
6. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 7. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 8. Bill Garrow Lincoln, Ne. 9. Derek Kral(r) York, Ne. 10. James Reed Holodrege, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 2
1. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 2. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 3. Jay Russell Wathena, Ks. 4. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 5. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 6. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 7. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 9. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne.
Sprint-IMCA Heat 3
1. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 2. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 3. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 4. Daniel Nekolite O'neill, Ne. 5. Trevin Littleton Jacksonville, Il. 6. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 7. Mitchell Moore(r) Peculiar, Mo. 8. Cole Vanderheiden(r) Papillion, Ne. 9. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne.