Cornhead Classic wins go to Sanford, Becher, Smith, Bassinger and Boston

By Greg Soukup

Almost perfect weather for the second week in a row greeted the large crowd who came out to Eagle Raceway Saturday night for the Cornhead Classic presented by Pepsi. The season points finale saw fabulous racing as the points champions were crowned in all 5 classes.

All preliminary results were run without serious incidents.

The NAPA IMCA Sport Modified Feature’s first lap saw a HUGE pileup in turn 4 with several cars caught up in it. The restart saw Lindsey Yost’s #20 in the lead with the K00 of Joe Schidler, Nate Thompson in the 3T and Roger Harpster’s 88 close behind. Todd Sanford cracked the top 4 on lap 2 in the 7R. Yost dropped back to fourth on lap 3 but Sean manning spun the 52M in turns 3 & 4 and collected the 22K of Kevin Anderson. Thompson moved to second on the restart. Dustin Thayer leaped the 10T into first on lap 5 with Sanford taking second, Joey Danley grabbing third in the 14 and Denny Berghahn Jr. moving the 6 into fourth. Thompson got back into fourth on lap 7 and then advanced to third the next time around. Danley moved to third on lap 15 but a car spun in turns 3 & 4 and the yellow flag was brought out again. At that time it was Thayer, Sanford, Thompson and Gary Saathoff’s #96 who had moved up to fourth. One lap after the restart Thayer’s engine went up in smoke moving Saathoff to third and Berghahn Jr. back into fourth. The next circuit saw Saathoff move up to second. Sanford held on for the win with Saathoff taking home not only second place but the season long points championship, Thompson third and Berghahn Jr. fourth. This was Sanford’s third win this year.

“I want to thank the Flodman family first, and my crew also for all of their hard work this season. Randy, Kyle, Troy, Conner, Ron Jr., TJ, my dad Jerry and the ‘New Guy’ Ray give me a great chance to win every week” Sanford said. He concluded the interview by stating “We have a great time racing here thanks to so many people. NAPA deserves a lot of thanks for sponsoring the class, and the whole Eagle Raceway staff for all they do to give us a great place to race. Also, the tow crew does such a great job not only helping out by getting race cars back to their pits after a wreck but also cleaning up the debris that happens almost every race”. Sanford’s sponsors include Ink Machine, Signs Now, Uprise, Frontier Group, Ron Fox & Sons, Cattle Company, Vermeer, Geek to the Rescue, Alltronix, Butthead Express, B & B Seamless Gutters, Production Car Care Products and R.A.P.

David Carter led the first lap of the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock A in his 2C with Dan Noonan’s 12, the 42 of Rob Brown and the 14 of Ron Novak rounding out the top 4. Lap 2 saw Noonan pass Carter for the lead. Ben Becher got his B4 past Novak on lap 4 to take fourth. Lap 6 saw Brown pass Carter for second. The next time around Chad Fegley’s 13F and the 6R of Roy Armstrong spun in turns 3 & 4. At that time the top 4 were Noonan, Brown, Carter and Becher. Becher took advantage of the restart to get around Carter for third. Nick Beckman moved his 22 past Carter on the next lap. Lap 10 saw Becher and Beckman advance to second and third. Brown and Beckman swapped position the next two laps. Becher grabbed the lead on lap 16 and Beckman got around Noonan the next circuit. At the finish it was Becher, Beckman, Noonan and Brown. Despite his early exit from the race Armstrong won his second points championship. This was Becher’s first victory this season.

“It was a fun, fast race for sure. I just bided my time until Noonan went high, I went low and got past him” Becher stated. He continued by saying “I knew I had Beckman’s favorite line, and kept looking for his fender beside me but never did see it. We’ve had a lot of bad luck this year, so I’m really happy to finally win again”. His closing thoughts were “I want to thank my family and friends for coming out this season and giving me so much support. We couldn’t win without them”. Becher’s sponsors include WC’s South, Auto Connection, Lincoln Lawn Guys, Egan Equipment, Lasting Memories Photography and Speedy Steve’s Hi Performance.

The RevHoney IMCA Modifieds were up next for their A Feature. Bob Ruisinger in the 7, Jerry Trejo’s 4T, the 3A of Aaron Pella and Scott Bivens in the S56 were the first four back to the flag stand on lap 1. Justin Wulf’s 86 came to a halt in turn 1 on lap 3 after contact with the front stretch wall. Chris Alcorn moved his #3 into fourth on the restart. Pella passed Trejo on the restart and Alcorn moved into third. Alcorn got into second the next lap as Pella grabbed the lead. The advances were called back however as Mike Densberger’s #81 stopped in turn 4. Alcorn passed Pella on the restart and Chris Ableson moved the 1X into fourth. Ableson moved up to second the next lap and took the top spot 1 circuit later. Dylan Smith moved the 95 into fourth on the next lap. 1 more circuit saw Smith grab second as Johnny Saathoff moved to 4 in the 96J. Ed Raines’ 11AA and Densberger got together in 3 & 4 the next lap, moving the 5S of Bob Zoubek into fourth. Saathoff moved up to third on lap 12. Ableson’s engine began smoking and he was forced to go to the pits a few circuits later on lap 17, giving the lead to Smith who held on for the win. Saathoff’s second place finish gave him the 2011 Championship.

“I got into second behind Chris, but we both were running the high line which was the fast way around. I didn’t have anything for him until he lost the motor. I feel really bad for Chris, because he had that race” Smith related. He finished by saying “Congratulations to Johnny for winning the points. He’s a great racer”. Dylan’s sponsors include Jet Racing, Active Life Chiropractic, Icon Racing Pistons, DSR, Eckley Racing Engines, Pinnacle Agency, Vrbka Ag Solutions, Circle Racing Wheels, Bilstein, Hypercoil, Moser Engineering and ISP Seats.

The lead on lap 1 of the Exhaust Pros IMCA Sport Compact A Main was held by Kevin Zeitner’s 60 followed by the 2X of Hunter Wergin, Larry Cronin’s 5 and the 3 of Tim Horsham. Lap 2 saw Josh Johnson’s 25 pass Horsham for fourth. Cronin got past Wergin on lap 3 but Johnson came to a halt in turns 1 & 2, giving the fourth spot to the 51 of Amanda Rhiley. Chad Bassinger moved his 4X past Rhiley on lap 6 and also moved up 1 position each of the next 2 laps to snag second. Bassinger snared the lead the next lap. Cronin’s racer had the rear end expire the same lap, putting Rhiley back into fourth. Wergin passed Zeitner on the final lap to move back into second. Ole Olsen, despite a 14th place finish won the Championship.

When I gave Chad his pit wristband before the races he told me “I’m going to do my best to win it tonight!”, and he lived up to his promise.
His first statement of the interview was “I want to wish my wife Jenny a happy birthday”. He continued by saying “Thanks to Barry and Maynard Kinnersley, Nick Lindblad and Matt Moyer for being the best darned pit crew anywhere!!”. He concluded the interview by relating “Also, I want to thank the Eagle staff for everything they do for the racers and fans every night”. Chad’s sponsors include Shipley Flooring, NAPA Auto Parts, Higgley Plumbing and Kreifel Plumbing.

Ryan Kitchen’s 21, the 23R of Tadd Holliman, Mike Boston in the 51 and the 27 of Mark Finnell were the first 4 at the conclusion of lap #1 of the Budweiser 360 Sprint A. Doug Lovegrove moved his #44 past Finnell on lap 3 to take fourth. Boston got past Holliman on lap 7, but the yellow lights were lit for the 9J of Mark Schmidt. Boston passed Holliman on the restart and then got around Kitchen the next lap. Trevor Grossenbacher got his #35 around Lovegrove on lap 10 and moved up to third the next circuit. Terry Cadwallader spun the #33 on lap 14 to slow the action again. Stu Snyder moved to fourth on lap 17 after Kitchen spun but kept going. The caution was thrown however, moving Kitchen to the rear of the field. Roger Sluka’s X29 and Schmidt spun in turns 1 & 2 on lap 19 and the yellow flag was thrown yet again. Grossenbacher slowed to a stop on the front stretch on the restart, moving Jason Danley’s 82 into fourth. At the checkers it was Boston, Holliman, Snyder and Terry Holliman’s 23 who passed Danley in the waning laps. Although he finished second, Snyder’s point total on the night allowed him to win his first ever points crown.

Boston’s said “Congratulations to the 23S team for an awesome year and for winning the championship”. He continued by saying “We did all we could, and gave it all we had but came up short. My crew gave me the car to win with every night; thanks to Dave and Dan Satriano, Fred Garbers, Austin Bradley and my Dad”. Boston’s sponsors include JKL Motorsports and MTO Clean.

Racing moves to Sunday next weekend as Coors Light presents the Eagle Shootout featuring the Pro Rolloff’s King of the Hill races. It is the annual Driver Appreciation night and Labor Day Weekend Celebration also. There will be music provided by Willis? from 3:30 to 5 as fans are invited to tailgate with their favorite drivers and then the music will resume after the last races. There will be face painting by Shade the Clown from 5-7 and the Crown Royal Girls will be on site from 6-9. Coors Light Happy Hour will run from 6-7. The 50/50 drawing proceeds will be going to Make a Wish and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Center, so please give generously. Front gates open at 3:30 with hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6:30. Adult admission is $10, youths 6-12 are $5 and 5 and under are free. Pit gates open at 3 P.M. with pit passes costing $20.

RESULTS:

360 Sprint 8/27/2011

A Main:1. Mike Boston (Crete, NE), 2. Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 3. Stu Snyder (Waverly, NE), 4. Terry Holliman (Hamburg, IA), 5. Jason DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 6. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 7. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 8. Mitchell Moore (Edgerton, KS), 9. Jeff Osborn (Savannah, MO), 10. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 11. Ryan Kitchen (Weston, NE), 12. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 13. Gene Ackland (Lincoln, NE), 14. Mark Finnell (Osage Beach, MO), 15. Lee Bowes (Lincoln, NE), 16. Terry Cadwallader (Lincoln, NE), 17. Trevor Grossenbacher (Lincoln, NE), 18. Roger SLUKA (Lincoln, NE), 19. Mark Schmidt (Lincoln, NE), 20. Frank Sheridan (Lincoln, NE), 21. Nick Bryan (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 1:1. Jason DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 2. Gene Ackland (Lincoln, NE), 3. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 4. Stu Snyder (Waverly, NE), 5. Mark Schmidt (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jeff Osborn (Savannah, MO), 7. Frank Sheridan (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 2:1. Mike Boston (Crete, NE), 2. Mark Finnell (Osage Beach, MO), 3. Trevor Grossenbacher (Lincoln, NE), 4. Terry Holliman (Hamburg, IA), 5. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 6. Roger SLUKA (Lincoln, NE), 7. Lee Bowes (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 3:1. Ryan Kitchen (Weston, NE), 2. Tadd Holliman (Beaaer Lake, NE), 3. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 4. Mitchell Moore (Edgerton, KS), 5. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 6. Terry Cadwallader (Lincoln, NE), 7. Nick Bryan (Lincoln, NE)

IMCA Hobby Stock 8/27/2011

A Feature:1. Ben Becher (Lincoln, NE), 2. Nick Beckman (Lincoln, NE), 3. Dan Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 4. Rob Brown (Nebraska City, NE), 5. Mike Hansen (Weeping Water, NE), 6. Don Hall Jr (Lincoln, NE), 7. Don Kros (Weston, NE), 8. Robbie Hobus (Council Bluffs, IA), 9. Justin Busboom (Lincoln, NE), 10. David Carter (Fremont, NE), 11. Roy Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 12. Joe Wollenhaupt (Neola, IA), 13. Larry Brockman (Lincoln, NE), 14. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln, NE), 15. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 16. Ron Novak (Blair, NE), 17. Tim LaPointe (Lincoln, NE), 18. Derick Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 19. Chad Fegley (Eagle, NE), 20. Randall Macku (Lincoln, NE)

B Feature:1. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 2. Robbie Hobus (Council Bluffs, IA), 3. Larry Brockman (Lincoln, NE), 4. Tim LaPointe (Lincoln, NE), 5. Joe Wollenhaupt (Neola, IA), 6. Randall Macku (Lincoln, NE), 7. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE), 8. Troy Dowty (Fremont, NE), 9. Tyler Potts (Lincoln, NE), 10. Jeremy Conkel (Lincoln, NE), 11. Jason Tadlock (Omaha, NE), 12. Cody Boone (Syracuse, NE), 13. Scott Santee (Omaha, NE), 14. Khrysta Stransky (Lincoln, NE), 15. Brandon Baker (Omaha, NE), 16. Laurisa Shoup (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 1:1. Don Hall Jr (Lincoln, NE), 2. Ben Becher (Lincoln, NE), 3. David Carter (Fremont, NE), 4. Ron Novak (Blair, NE), 5. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln, NE), 6. Robbie Hobus (Council Bluffs, IA), 7. Scott Santee (Omaha, NE), 8. Tyler Potts (Lincoln, NE), 9. Brandon Baker (Omaha, NE), 10. Randall Macku (Lincoln, NE), 11. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE)

Heat 2:1. Nick Beckman (Lincoln, NE), 2. Chad Fegley (Eagle, NE), 3. Dan Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 4. Justin Busboom (Lincoln, NE), 5. Derick Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 6. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 7. Jason Tadlock (Omaha, NE), 8. Larry Brockman (Lincoln, NE), 9. Troy Dowty (Fremont, NE), 10. Laurisa Shoup (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 3:1. Don Kros (Weston, NE), 2. Roy Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 3. Mike Hansen (Weeping Water, NE), 4. Rob Brown (Nebraska City, NE), 5. Thom Marsh (Lincoln, NE), 6. Tim LaPointe (Lincoln, NE), 7. Jeremy Conkel (Lincoln, NE), 8. Khrysta Stransky (Lincoln, NE), 9. Cody Boone (Syracuse, NE), 10. Joe Wollenhaupt (Neola, IA)

IMCA Modified 8/27/2011

A Feature:1. Dylan Smith (Osceola, NE), 2. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Chris Alcorn (Lincoln, NE), 4. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 5. Lance Borgman (Beatrice, NE), 6. Aaron Pella (Lincoln, NE), 7. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 8. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 9. Scott Bivens (Ceresco, NE), 10. Nathan Landauer (Lincoln, NE), 11. Lacey Tuttle (Elmwood, NE), 12. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 13. Justin Addison (Leigh, NE), 14. Bob Ruisinger (Bennet, NE), 15. Jerry Trejo (Lincoln, NE), 16. Chris Ableson (Sioux City, IA), 17. Ed RAINES (Lincoln, NE), 18. Mike Densberger (Malcolm, NE), 19. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 20. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE)

B Feature:1. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 2. Justin Addison (Leigh, NE), 3. Ed RAINES (Lincoln, NE), 4. Nathan Landauer (Lincoln, NE), 5. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 7. Matt Stevens (Waverly, NE), 8. Roger Hadan (Bennington, NE), 9. Jarrod Wiechert (Lincoln, NE), 10. Brian Cudly (Lincoln, NE), 11. Jace Wikoff (Lincoln, NE), 12. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 13. Tim Pickens (Omaha, NE), 14. Andrew Hille (Hickman, NE)

Heat 1:1. Mike Densberger (Malcolm, NE), 2. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Jerry Trejo (Lincoln, NE), 4. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 5. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 6. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 7. Nathan Landauer (Lincoln, NE), 8. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 9. Jace Wikoff (Lincoln, NE), 10. Roger Hadan (Bennington, NE)

Heat 2:1. Chris Alcorn (Lincoln, NE), 2. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 3. Chris Ableson (Sioux City, IA), 4. Bob Ruisinger (Bennet, NE), 5. Lacey Tuttle (Elmwood, NE), 6. Justin Addison (Leigh, NE), 7. Ed RAINES (Lincoln, NE), 8. Brian Cudly (Lincoln, NE), 9. Matt Stevens (Waverly, NE), 10. Tim Pickens (Omaha, NE)

Heat 3:1. Dylan Smith (Osceola, NE), 2. Aaron Pella (Lincoln, NE), 3. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 4. Scott Bivens (Ceresco, NE), 5. Lance Borgman (Beatrice, NE), 6. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 7. Andrew Hille (Hickman, NE), 8. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 9. Jarrod Wiechert (Lincoln, NE)

IMCA Sport Compact 8/27/2011

A Feature:1. Chad Bassinger (Nebraska City, NE), 2. Hunter Wergin (Milford, NE), 3. Kevin Zeitner (Omaha, NE), 4. Amanda Rhiley (Bennington, NE), 5. Kenny Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 6. Kyle Gannon (Lincoln, NE), 7. Barry Kinnersley (LaVista, NE), 8. Matt Moyer (Gretna, NE), 9. Michelle Nicholson (Ashland, NE), 10. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 11. Maynard Kinnersley (Gretna, NE), 12. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 13. Billy Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 14. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 15. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 16. Trevor Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 17. Nick Lindblad (Beatrice, NE), 18. Fred Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 19. Josh Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 20. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE)

B Feature:1. Trevor Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 2. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 3. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 4. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 5. Billy Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 6. Rick Hollandsworth (Lincoln, NE), 7. Jeremy Essary (Hickman, NE), 8. Jesse Osmon (Alvo, NE), 9. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 10. Don Heyne (Omaha, NE), 11. Shannon Wulf (Lincoln, NE), 12. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 13. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 14. Austin Angel (Lincoln, NE), 15. Travis Schellpeper (Douglas, NE)

Heat 1:1. Hunter Wergin (Milford, NE), 2. Amanda Rhiley (Bennington, NE), 3. Kyle Gannon (Lincoln, NE), 4. Kevin Zeitner (Omaha, NE), 5. Chad Bassinger (Nebraska City, NE), 6. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 7. Trevor Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 8. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 9. Austin Angel (Lincoln, NE), 10. Don Heyne (Omaha, NE)

Heat 2:1. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 2. Matt Moyer (Gretna, NE), 3. Nick Lindblad (Beatrice, NE), 4. Josh Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 5. Maynard Kinnersley (Gretna, NE), 6. Billy Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 7. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 8. Jeremy Essary (Hickman, NE), 9. Rick Hollandsworth (Lincoln, NE), 10. Travis Schellpeper (Douglas, NE)

Heat 3:1. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 2. Michelle Nicholson (Ashland, NE), 3. Kenny Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 4. Fred Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 5. Barry Kinnersley (LaVista, NE), 6. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 7. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 8. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 9. Shannon Wulf (Lincoln, NE), 10. Jesse Osmon (Alvo, NE)

IMCA Sport Modified 8/27/2011

A Feature:1. Todd Sanford (Lincoln, NE), 2. Gary Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Nate Thompson (Fremont, NE), 4. Denny BERGHAHN JR (Plattsmouth, NE), 5. Kevin Jochum (Roca, NE), 6. Nathan Kobus (Lincoln, NE), 7. Kyle Driskell (Rock Port, MO), 8. Matt Boucher (Murdock, ne), 9. Ryan Munhall (Plattsmouth, NE), 10. Joey DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 11. Buddy Ray Jones (Council Bluffs, IA), 12. Lindsey Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 13. Mary Lenz (Elmwood, NE), 14. Dustin Thayer (Bellevue, FL), 15. Larry Robinson Sr (Omaha, NE), 16. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE), 17. Roger Harpster (Omaha, NE), 18. Marty Steinbach (Fremont, NE), 19. Sean Manning (Firth, NE), 20. Kevin Anderson (Lincoln, NE)

B Feature:1. Kevin Jochum (Roca, NE), 2. Buddy Ray Jones (Council Bluffs, IA), 3. Larry Robinson Sr (Omaha, NE), 4. Ryan Munhall (Plattsmouth, NE), 5. Matt Boucher (Murdock, ne), 6. Jeremy Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 7. Dave Tadlock (LaVista, NE), 8. Shelly Andersen (Lincoln, NE), 9. Kyle Prauner (Norfolk, NE), 10. Don Rinke (Lincoln, NE), 11. Jared Cote (Lincoln, NE), 12. Anthony Kobus (David City, NE), 13. Steven Saunders (Bellevue, NE), 14. Jack Prall III (Union, NE), 15. Dan JACKSON (Crete, NE)

Heat 1:1. Gary Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 2. Roger Harpster (Omaha, NE), 3. Marty Steinbach (Fremont, NE), 4. Dustin Thayer (Bellevue, FL), 5. Joey DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 6. Buddy Ray Jones (Council Bluffs, IA), 7. Ryan Munhall (Plattsmouth, NE), 8. Jack Prall III (Union, NE), 9. Dave Tadlock (LaVista, NE), 10. Matt Boucher (Murdock, ne)

Heat 2:1. Lindsey Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 2. Nate Thompson (Fremont, NE), 3. Todd Sanford (Lincoln, NE), 4. Denny BERGHAHN JR (Plattsmouth, NE), 5. Nathan Kobus (Lincoln, NE), 6. Don Rinke (Lincoln, NE), 7. Steven Saunders (Bellevue, NE), 8. Jared Cote (Lincoln, NE), 9. Anthony Kobus (David City, NE), 10. Larry Robinson Sr (Omaha, NE)

Heat 3:1. Kevin Anderson (Lincoln, NE), 2. Mary Lenz (Elmwood, NE), 3. Kyle Driskell (Rock Port, MO), 4. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE), 5. Sean Manning (Firth, NE), 6. Kevin Jochum (Roca, NE), 7. Kyle Prauner (Norfolk, NE), 8. Shelly Andersen (Lincoln, NE), 9. Jeremy Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 10. Dan JACKSON (Crete, NE)