From Eagle Raceway
Eagle, NE — Although Mother Nature held sway over the first scheduled event for Eagle Raceway, the Icebreaker Challenge, she relented a little for Media Night presented by KX 96.9 Saturday. Even though she gave the large crowd sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-sixties, she reminded everyone that she was around with strong winds throughout the day and evening. Both KX9.9 and The Eagle 92.9 were on hand, doing live broadcasts. There were other media outlets were on hand also, with several folks being treated to free rides during the heat races in the 2-seater modified.
A record car count of 180 (surpassing the previous record by 130), combined with the unrelenting winds, led to dry-slick track conditions by the time that the features rolled around.
The heats went without serious instances until the first Budweiser 360 Sprint heat when Mark Finnell flipped his #27 racer in turn 4 on the very first lap. On the second attempt at a restart Mike Boston got the 51 up into Gage Dorr’s 17 in turn 3, sending them both for a ride. Just before the checkered flag, the 23S of Stu Snyder and Billy Alley’s 22 got together on the front stretch with both of them tumbling past the flag stand. Mark Schmidt got the 9J very high in the second heat, contacting the Armco and flipping.
The Budweiser 360 Sprints were the final A Feature of the evening. Lap 1 saw Mark Pace’s 31 in the lead with Jack Dover in the 53, Trevor Grossenbacher’s 35 and the 4 of Jordan Boston in hot pursuit. Lap 7 saw Dover pass Pace, only to lose the lead back to him the next circuit. Lap 14 saw Tadd Holliman’s 23R spin in turn 4 after contact with the 21 of Ryan Kitchen. The race ran under green until with just 3 laps left Ken Klabunde stopped his #28 at the entrance to turn 3 and jump out of his racer and drop to the ground with a fuel fire. He suffered minor burns on his right foot. On the restart Dover passed Pace and held on for the victory. At the checkers it was Dover, Pace, Jordan Boston and Grossenbacher. “I was nervous the whole time, I can tell you” Dover related. He concluded the interview by saying “When that last red flag came out, I told myself ‘Be patient’. I figured he’d go high on the restart, but when he moved to the bottom in 1 & 2 in front of me I said again ‘Don’t worry’. I finally got by him and then just set sail”. Dover’s sponsors include Thorpe’s Body Shop, Home Pride, Butlerbuilt, Trail Performance Coatings, Oil Medics and Ledger Motorsports.
Next weekend Lincoln Salt Dogs presents Fan Appreciation and Moms Rule! Night at “America’s Home Track”. Front gate admission is just $5. There will be a Moms Rule “Tribute to Mom” in the courtyard from 5-6:45. Moms will receive a token at the front ticket booth to redeem for a free gift from the “Diva Dash” Boutique vendors while supplies last. “Kids Know Best” will be featured during intermission, as will the rescheduled Dress Your Driver from last evening’s racing. Driver autographs will be available from 5-5:30 in the courtyard and HyFy the clown will be on hand with face painting from 5-7. Hot laps start at 5:30 with racing at 6:30. Pit gates open at 4, with pit passes costing $20.
RESULTS:
360 Sprint 04/30/2011
A Feature:1. Jack DOVER (Springfield, NE), 2. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 3. Jordan Boston (Crete, NE), 4. Trevor GROSSENBACHER (Lincoln, NE), 5. Ryan Kitchen (Weston, NE), 6. Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD), 7. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 8. Tige Jensen (Lincoln, NE), 9. Terry Holliman (Hamburg, IA), 10. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 11. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 12. Stu Snyder (Waverly, NE), 13. Tyler Drueke(Omaha, NE), 14. Gene Ackland (Lincoln, NE), 15. Jason DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 16. Jeff Osborn (Savannah, MO), 17. Ken KLABUNDE (Omaha, NE), 18. Ryan Roberts (Aurora, NE), 19. Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 20. Mitchell Moore (Edgerton, KS)
B Feature:1. Ryan Roberts (Aurora, NE), 2. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 3. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 4. Ken KLABUNDE (Omaha, NE), 5. Stu Snyder (Waverly, NE), 6. Nick BRYAN (Lincoln, NE), 7. Mike Houseman Jr (Des Moines, IA), 8. Billy Alley (Lincoln, NE), 9. Mark Schmidt (Lincoln, NE), 10. Mike Boston (Crete, NE), 11. Gage Dorr (Elmwood, NE), 12. Zach Davis (Savannah, MO), 13. Mark Finnell (Osage Beach, MO)
Heat 1:1. Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 2. Jeff Osborn (Savannah, MO), 3. Mitchell Moore (Edgerton, KS), 4. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 5. Tyler Drueke (Omaha, NE), 6. Billy Alley (Lincoln, NE), 7. Stu Snyder (Waverly, NE), 8. Gage Dorr (Elmwood, NE), 9. Mike Boston (Crete, NE), 10. Mark Finnell (Osage Beach, MO)
Heat 2:1. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 2. Jordan Boston (Crete, NE), 3. Ryan Kitchen (Weston, NE), 4. Trevor GROSSENBACHER (Lincoln, NE), 5. Tige Jensen (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jason DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 7. Nick BRYAN (Lincoln, NE), 8. Mark Schmidt (Lincoln, NE), 9. Zach Davis (Savannah, MO)
Heat 3:1. Jack DOVER (Springfield, NE), 2. Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD), 3. Terry Holliman (Hamburg, IA), 4. Gene Ackland (Lincoln, NE), 5. Mike Houseman Jr (Des Moines, IA), 6. Ryan Roberts (Aurora, NE), 7. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 8. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 9. Ken KLABUNDE (Omaha, NE)