By Greg Soukup
The second largest crowd of the season took their seats at Eagle Raceway last night for Student Burn Out Night, presented by Budweiser. Under mostly sunny skies on a muggy evening, the racing action ran on a smooth track with at least 2 grooves which led to 3-wide action in all classes most of the night.
Zach Blurton led lap #1 of the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car A Feature in his 2J with Matt Richards in the 1R, the 18 of Terry Phillips and Shon Pointer in the 20P close behind. Pointer passed Phillips on lap 2. Lap 5 Chris Roseland’s 84 and another car came to a halt in 3 & 4 to bring out the caution flag. Pointer passed Richards on the restart and Clint Benson put the 100 into fourth. Richards again moved up to second the next time around. Tyler Drueke passed Benson on lap 10 to put the 12 into fourth. Richards grabbed the lead from Burton with 12 to go and began pulling away, running lap times over a second faster than the first circuits of the feature. 3 laps later Pointer grabbed second. The last change in the top 4 came with 5 laps left as Toby Chapman moved the 7KX to fourth. The checkered flag saw Richards first by a straightaway, Pointer second, Blurton third and Chapman fourth.
This was Richards’ very first win in a sprint car after many years in A Modifieds and Late Models. Richards, like many others, moved to the Racesaver class when Eagle Raceway began the class. When asked his thoughts on the victory, Richards said “I’m just excited! I probably had 2 shots before to get a win, but I kind of squandered them. There may be lots more, but that first one is really, REALLY hard to get in this class. Every time you race it seems to get harder and harder. Last year we didn’t bend anything or tear anything up, but this year we’ve got old parts and they’re kind of worn out, and it’s kind of biting us. I’m running a 1997 chassis, and about the only thing new on this car is the motor and the wings. In fact, the last lap I was riding the brakes to keep it hooked up. Going into turn 1 the brake pedal went all of the way down, and one of the brake rotors cracked in half! I got pretty lucky. There’s been a few driver errors but we’re working on it. It’s really a big deal for me to get this win. I’ve had wins in the different modified series, and I ran Late Models for a couple of years and won there. But this sprint car win is truly a big deal and means a lot to me. There are so many people that I need to thank. First of all, my wife Jessica and my son Cade. Ken Stefonik has really helped me out a lot with this whole sprint car deal. My crew chief Doug Pascoe of course. Skip Smith who really was the one who got me started in the Racesaver deal. Richards Machine Racing Engines; I think we’ve probably got the most horsepower out here”. Richards’ sponsors include Husker Car Wash, Hoppy’s Hauling, Piedmont Auto Care, Extreme Graphics and CSI Shocks.
Next weekend Accelerated Graphx presents the Cracklin’ Classic. Twinky the Clown will be there from 5:30 to 7:30. Accelerated Graphx will sponsor a Kids Color Run at intermission. Age Groups: 5-7, 8-10 and 11-12. All kids are welcome to participate (parents will not be allowed to be with their kids during the color run) There will be Color Run Packets available for $5 to any kids that would like to wear a tutu(girls) or t-shirt(boys) at the Photo Booth/Clean up Station in the courtyard. You can take your picture after the Color Run. There will also be other goodies in the packet including a free kid’s ticket to be used on any remaining regular event race night, etc. This money will go towards the Bike Giveaway Fund. The colored powder is non-toxic, but we recommend bringing a pair of goggles or sunglasses to protect your eyes. Top 3 in each age group will get a trophy. Bring an extra pair of clothes if you think you will be uncomfortable in your new colored outfit!
Front gates will open at 5:15, hot laps begin at 5:30 with racing at 6:30. Adult front gate admission is $10, youths 6-12 are just $5 and children 5 and under are free.
Pit gates open at 4 P.M. with pit admission being $25.
Don’t forget that on June 13th the World of Outlaws 410 winged sprint cars make their long-anticipated return to America’s Home Track. The Precise Racing Sprint Series of Nebraska will be the support class. For ticket information go to www.slspromotions.com or call SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023.
RESULTS:
IMCA Sprint A-Feature
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Matt Richards 1R
Lincoln, Ne
2. Shon Pointer 20P
Grand Island, Ne
3. Zach Blurton 2J
Quinter, Ks
4. Toby Chapman 7KX
Panama, Ne
5. Tyler Drueke 12
Eagle, Ne
6. Jason Martin 36
Lincoln, Ne
7. Trevor Grossenbacher 35
Hickman, Ne
8. Joey Danley 14
Lincoln, Ne
9. Terry Richards 18
Denton, Ne
10. Clint Benson 100
Papillion, Ne
11. Shayle Bade 03
Lincoln, Ne
12. Jason Danley 4X
Lincoln, Ne
13. Adam Gullion 91
Lincoln, Ne
14. Gene Ackland 14G
Martell, Ne
15. Ron Love 5
Lincoln, Ne
16. Chase Weiler 0
Lincoln, Ne
17. Austin McLean 83
Loveland, Co
18. Tim Hilfiker 20
Greenwood, Ne
19. Neil Nickolite 12N
Bellwood, Ne
20. Chris Roseland 84
Carter Lake, Ia
IMCA Sprint B-Feature
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Toby Chapman 7KX
Panama, Ne
2. Adam Gullion 91
Lincoln, Ne
3. Chase Weiler 0
Lincoln, Ne
4. Austin McLean 83
Loveland, Co
5. Mike Boston 51
Lincoln, Ne
6. Mike Johnston 14J
Des Moines, Ia
7. Ryan King 93
Bennet, Ne
8. Nathan Weiler 4W
Lavista, Ne
9. Nick Bryan 52
Lincoln, Ne
10. Bill Garrow 3G
Lincoln, Ne
11. Keith Dragoo 44
Lincoln, Ne
12. Brandon Horton 1B
Omaha, Ne
13. Jimmy Grasso 8G
Omaha, Ne
14. Dwight Carter 4U
Lincoln, Ne
15. Joel Thorpe 3TJ
16. Boyd Peterson 57B
Ithaca, Ne
17. Paul Hendrickson 19JR
Lincoln, Ne
18. Frank Rodgers 11
19. Jason Miller 77
Omaha, Ne
IMCA Sprint Heat 1
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Ron Love 5
Lincoln, Ne
2. Gene Ackland 14G
Martell, Ne
3. Shayle Bade 03
Lincoln, Ne
4. Neil Nickolite 12N
Bellwood, Ne
5. Mike Johnston 14J
Des Moines, Ia
6. Adam Gullion 91
Lincoln, Ne
7. Nick Bryan 52
Lincoln, Ne
8. Keith Dragoo 44
Lincoln, Ne
9. Jason Miller 77
Omaha, Ne
IMCA Sprint Heat 2
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Shon Pointer 20P
Grand Island, Ne
2. Jason Martin 36
Lincoln, Ne
3. Zach Blurton 2J
Quinter, Ks
4. Tim Hilfiker 20
Greenwood, Ne
5. Chase Weiler 0
Lincoln, Ne
6. Boyd Peterson 57B
Ithaca, Ne
7. Joel Thorpe 3TJ
8. Ryan King 93
Bennet, Ne
9. Mike Boston 51
Lincoln, Ne
IMCA Sprint Heat 3
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Matt Richards 1R
Lincoln, Ne
2. Tyler Drueke 12
Eagle, Ne
3. Joey Danley 14
Lincoln, Ne
4. Chris Roseland 84
Carter Lake, Ia
5. Toby Chapman 7KX
Panama, Ne
6. Austin McLean 83
Loveland, Co
7. Brandon Horton 1B
Omaha, Ne
8. Paul Hendrickson 19JR
Lincoln, Ne
9. Frank Rodgers 11
IMCA Sprint Heat 4
Driver Nbr
------------------------------ -----
1. Terry Richards 18
Denton, Ne
2. Clint Benson 100
Papillion, Ne
3. Trevor Grossenbacher 35
Hickman, Ne
4. Jason Danley 4X
Lincoln, Ne
5. Bill Garrow 3G
Lincoln, Ne
6. Nathan Weiler 4W
Lavista, Ne
7. Jimmy Grasso 8G
Omaha, Ne
8. Dwight Carter 4U
Lincoln, Ne