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MC COOK, NE. (April 22, 2011) - Despite new promoters, new help, new drivers, and a new class at McCook Speedway, things went relatively well, and the racing spoke for itself. Ronnie Wallace of McCook, Dave Plowman of Gretna, Jesse Sobbing of Glenwood, Iowa, Randy Bantam of Norton, Kansas, and Austin Davis of Benkelman spoke with their right feet, as they earned the opening night A Feature wins. Ronnie Wallace won the IMCA Modified heat race, and drew a second row starting spot for the A Feature. Fort Morgan, Colorado driver Jeremy Frenier drew the pole and drew out to the early lead, with Wallace in second place. near the halfway point, the top two caught traffic, and Wallace made his move to the lead. Unfortunately for him, Brent Bohmont of McCook and his car came to a halt on the track, reverting the field to the last completed lap, and the Colorado driver back out front. A caution a couple of laps later for then third place Cole Hodges of Ogallala set things up for a four lap dash to the finish. On the last lap, “Rockin’ Ronnie” snuck underneath Frenier on the backstretch and was able to keep his car from drifting high on the track and allowing Frenier from trying one more pass. It was his first A Feature win in a year-and-a-half. Frenier settled for second place, followed by Brandon Hagan of McCook, Brett Smith of Log Lane Village, Colorado, and Bohmont. The IMCA Stock Car A Feature started fourteen cars, and went twenty laps without a caution. Heat race winner Dave Plowman started on the second row, but obtained the lead from Cale Osborn of Cozad on lap three. Plowman would survive getting by lapped cars and grazing the slowing car of Lloyd Meeske of Champion, who was heading to the pits with a broken axle with a couple of laps to go, to pick up the win and pick up where he left off in the points, at the top. Osborn held Jesse Taylor of Fort Morgan, Colorado at bay for second place. Brandon Clough of Wallace held off his brother Kyle for fourth place. Casey Werkmeister of Maywood won the other Stock Car heat race. Fifteen IMCA Northern SportMods were in attendance opening night, nearly four times the number opening night of 2010. Shane Stout of North Platte and 2009 National champion Jesse Sobbing won their heat races and drew the front row for the main event. Sobbing took the lead at the green and never relinquished it, in spite of advances first by Stout, then by Colton Osborn of Cozad. Osborn’s car broke and pulled into the infield, across the scoring line, and allowed him to complete the nineteenth lap, but the field was shooting for twenty, and Sobbing motored to the checkered flag first. Jamey Kennicutt of Gothenburg was able to pass Stout and earn the second spot. Matt Matson of McCook started in ninth spot, but finished in fourth place. Josh Bopp of McCook, after taking off a year, came back to start this season with a fifth place finish. Not all of the IMCA 305 Sprint cars in the area are ready to race, but those that were came to McCook. Darren Berry of McCook had one of those nights he’d like to forget, as his car veered off the track and tipped while leading the heat race. It got no better in the feature. During a caution in the main event, Darren had to pull off the track because of a flat tire and some other issues, again, while leading. Howard Van Dyke of Clay Center, Kansas benefited in the heat race taking that win. It kind of helped him in the A Feature as well, as he lined up right behind new leader Randy Bantam. Despite carrying the “Touche` Turtle” on the side of the car, Bantam flew around the last few laps to earn the Feature victory. Ron Hadley of Norton, Kansas finished in third place in his first ever A Feature. IMCA Hobby Stock heat winner Jason Stephens of McCook and Austin Davis of Benkelman swapped the lead and some of their black and “millionaire green” a few times during the A Feature. Davis started off with the lead, but Stephens found a line to get him by. Davis found a way back to the front, only to have Stephens show him it wasn’t good enough. Finally, in the last couple of circuits, Davis was able to figure out to get to the head spot and stay there. Stephens’ drive shaft was beginning to come lose, and as he came out of corner four on the last lap, lost it. He managed to coast to second place, ahead of Chuck Ledbetter of Loomis and Ray Caldwell of McCook. McCook Speedway’s next race is Friday, May 20. The grandstand gates will open at 6 p.m., and the races will start at 8 p.m., Central Time. April 22
results
A Feature
IMCA Stock
Cars
Heat 2
A Feature
IMCA Hobby
Stocks
A Feature
IMCA
Northern SportMod
Heat 2
A Feature
IMCA 305
Sprint Cars
A Feature
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