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EAGLE, NE (May 2) - Although Mother Nature cancelled the first 3 nights of racing this year, the rescheduled Season Opener presented by Pepsi won out on a night of cool temperatures, fast cars and three-wide racing throughout at “America’s Home Track” Eagle Raceway. A large car count thanks to numerous Beatrice regulars taking advantage of the new combined points fund between Beatrice and Eagle provided thrills for the great crowd who showed up to quench their racing thirst. The heat races went off without major incidents, setting the stage for the 4 A Features. The first main event was for the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks. On the very first lap the 6A of Adam Armstrong rolled in turns 1 and 2 after making contact with the 6 of Michael Elliot. As the cars came around to finish their first lap the 22 of Nick Beckman held the lead with the B4 of Ben Becher, the 1R of RJ Macku and the 94 of Mike Hansen close behind. It took Macku only 3 laps to vault into second. With 10 laps left Kevin Anderson moved his 22K into the 4th spot and 2 laps later jumped into 3rd. With just 5 laps remaining Mike Hansen’s car slowed to a stop in turn 1. On this restart Macku took advantage, grabbing first as Anderson also passed Beckman moving into the second spot and the 6R of Roy Armstrong taking 4th. The running order remained the same to the finish, despite numerous challenges in the top 4. “I really didn’t think that I had a chance to win, starting 11th. But, thanks to a really nice track I had moved up to 7th before the first caution. Then I started to think about taking Beckman’s line over after the last caution, and that’s what I did to get the win” RJ said. “It was funny, because before the race I went over and told Kevin Anderson that I was going to pay him back for beating me at the end of one of the races last year” he continued. He added “I really like this new Friday/Saturday deal with Beatrice. I love racing at both tracks and racing with the Beatrice drivers”. RJ finished by saying “I want to thank my Dad, my fiancé Stacy , Chad Fegley and most of all the fans for their great support”. RJ’s sponsors include B & B Lawn Service, Pillsworth Remodel, World of Roofs and The Shop, Inc. The Monster IMCA Modifieds were the next feature event of the evening. As happened in the Hobby Stock A Main the first lap wasn’t completed as the 5s of Zoubek, the 94 of Dan Nelson and the 22J of Justin Jurgens were involved in a melee at the flag stand as they came to it for the first time. Since the leaders had completed the lap the running order held with Sean Burkland’s B9 at the point, Johnny Saathoff’s 96, the 27 of Clint Homan and Dylan Smith’s 95 holding down the top 4 spots. On the restart lap Homan moved into 2nd and Smith also passed Saathoff to take over 3rd. The running order did not change until with 10 laps to go the KY19 of Kyle Vanover spun, collecting Ed Raines’ 11AA. Smith took full advantage of the restart to move into first. At that time the running order was Smith, Burkland, Homan and Saathoff. With 5 laps left, Bob Zoubek moved into the third position ahead of Saathoff. Shortly thereafter Homan slowed to a stop in turn four, bringing out another yellow flag. With just 2 laps remaining Jordan Grabouski garnered the 4th position in his #30. At the finish it was Smith, Burkland, Zoubek and Grabouski. “There’s not a lot to say tonight. I got a good starting spot for the A on a fast track and the car worked really good” Smith stated. Among Dylan’s sponsors are Active Life Chiropractic, Jet Racing and Eckley Racing engines. The Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts then rolled out to compete. The completion of the first circuit saw Brian Haller’s #32B in first, followed by the 55 of Garrett Rech, the 29 of Matt Moyer and Jack Prall IV as the top four. On the restart Moyer jumped past Rech, as did Prall IV. The next lap Haller made hard contact with the turn 2 wall, sending him to the infield with extensive front-end damage. That put Moyer in first, Prall IV in second, Rech in third and the 7 of Matt Fralin in fourth. At the finish it was Moyer, Prall IV, Fralin and the 94m of Brock McDougall. “That track was awesome. I feel privileged to come out to Eagle and live the dream. I want to thank the safety crew and most of all Roger and Michelle” Moyer said. Matt’s sponsors include Kinnersley Grading, Hemmer Towing and General Siding. The last race of the evening on Eagle’s high banks was the A Feature for the Budweiser 360 sprints, and it was what many said was the best race at the track in a long time. As the racers came to the flag stand the first time Mike Chadd led in his #4, followed by Jack Dover’s #53, Mike Boston in the 51 and the 44 of Doug Lovegrove. Dover wasted no time, making the first of what be numerous passes throughout the race between several drivers to take first. Chadd returned the favor on lap #3, coming to the flag stand in the lead as Kevin Danley flipped his sprinter in turn 3. After 2 more laps were run Tige Jensen took over the fourth spot. With 7 laps in the books Dover again regained the lead. 15 circuits remained when Mike Boston got around Chadd to move into second. Shortly after that Trevor Grossenbacher lost the handle on his sprinter, coming to a sideways stop in turns 3 & 4. Bobby Becker, having nowhere to go struck him broadside ending Becker’s night. Grossenbacher was able to head to the pits and return to racing. When racing resumed Chadd again moved into the lead. Three more laps had been completed when the 91 of Brad Krutz invaded the top 4. This brought about yet another fierce battle as he and Jensen fought back and forth for the position. Meanwhile the contest for the top 3 raged on. Boston and Chadd traded positions with Boston taking second and then passing Dover for the lead. With 6 left Gene Acklund’s 14 spun in turn 2, again jamming up the field. Nick Clifford used the restart to move up into fourth, but spun out the next lap. Clifford kept his sprinter going, so no caution was thrown. This put Krutz back in the fourth spot. Dover, having been passed by Chadd again got back by with 4 to go. As the field came around for the last time Adam Gullion spun his #96KX in turns 1 and 2. That set up the final run to the checkers with the running order being Boston, Dover, Chadd and Krutz. As the green flew Dover slid under Boston, only to have Boston retake the position around the top. The confrontation continued with Dover on the bottom and Boston outside of him. Coming to the finish Dover took the point for good, moving under Boston again making slight contact with him. Boston bounced off the front stretch wall but managed to finish second. “The track slicked off, and to be really honest Boston had the better car. On the last corner I slip up in front of him, doing what I had to do to win and it worked” Jack stated. He finished by saying “I need to give special thanks to my wonderful Mom and also my Dad; also Alex, who was most of my crew tonight since Dad has a broken arm”. Jack’s sponsors include ATV Motorsports, Trail Performance, Thorpe’s Body Shop, Home Pride, 3D Auto Transport, Butlerbuilt seats and Eckley Racing Engines. Next week’s Mothers Day Tribute is being brought to you by Colby Ridge, and features the Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts, Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks, Monster IMCA Modifieds and Budweiser 360 Sprints. May 25th will see the rescheduled Bootleggers Run Race of Champions. Casey Mears, Roger Mears, David Ragan, Jimmy Spencer and Dave Blaney will compete in two 8-lap Late Model races. Complimenting those contests will be the Monster IMCA Modifieds and Good Old Time Racing Association. For more information visit http://www.eagleraceway.com/ticketinfo/viewticket.asp?tid=213 for a full schedule of the days events and ticket information.
And don’t forget that the World of Outlaws Sprint Series will be making
their annual visit to “America’s Home Track” on the 4th of July as Sailor
Jerry’s Spiced Rum presents the Eagle Nationals with the Budweiser 360
Sprints and Monster IMCA Modifieds.
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