Eagle Nationals victories go to Hiatt, Jensen and Bergman
By Greg Soukup
The weather for the annual Eagle Nationals, brought to you by TBJ Promotions, was beautiful but cool and the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car series presented by MAVTV American Real put on a show for the fans that had them on the edge of their seats and finished with a race that was one for the ages!
The first heat for the 360 winged sprinters saw Ryan Roberts set a new track record in his 18R rocket with an 11.801 second circuit. That was a sign of what was to come in the evening’s finale.
The other big happening in the preliminary events came during the 4th heat for the ASCS sprinters when Jordan Weaver’s #92 made contact with another car, sending her flipping high into the air down the back stretch ending with her mount’s frame broken in half. Weaver was not significantly injured but her evening was over.
Aarron Pella’s 3A was first back to the flag stand on lap 1 of the Kaplan University IMCA Modified A Main followed by the 33Z of Bob Zoubek, Trevor Baker in the 25! and Shane Hiatt’s 21H. Nathan Landauer put the 11N into fourth on lap 4 as Zoubek grabbed the lead. Landauer passed Baker the next time around and Chad Andersen moved the 8C past Baker after another circuit. Landauer moved up to 2nd on lap 8. Hiatt again moved to fourth on lap 9 with Andersen jumping all the way to third the next circuit before giving the spot up to Hiatt after another lap. Landauer took over the point on lap 11. Jordan Grabouski moved the 30 into fourth on lap 13. The next lap saw Zoubek pass Landauer and Grabouski move into third. Lap 19 saw Grabouski, Zoubek and Landauer in a pile-up in turn 1. Grabouski and Landauer both headed pit side with Zoubek taking his mount to the rear of the field. That made the top 4 Hiatt, Pella, Johnny Saathoff in the 96J and Matt Boucher’s 5B. The restart saw Saathoff advance to 2nd with Justin Wulf moving the 86 into fourth and taking third on the last lap.
“I want to thank TBJ Promotions and Roger Hadan for having us out here again this year. This is my favorite track!! We had a good car tonight, but I feel bad for Nathan, Bob and Jordan. I think we would have been right there at the end though. I also want to thank my mom and dad. We won this race last year on dad’s birthday, so this one was for dad also. A big thanks to my crew guys too, because I couldn’t have won without all that they do for us” Hiatt said. Hiatt’s sponsors include Jono’s Racing Engines, CPD Racing Tools, Razor Chassis, Shelby Hotel, Knuth Farms, X-Factor Bushings, J & K Motorsports, 3E Electric, BBR, Moock Trucking, Benes Service, Rerucha Ag and Auto, Over the edge Motorsports, Pump ‘N Munch, DSR, Ian’s Wish and Frank Soukup.
The Sam’s Club IMCA Sport Compacts were up next. Nick Jensen in the 48J, the 2CS of Brian Haller, RJ Maas’ 88K and the 19X of Evan Hrabik were the top 4 at the end of the first lap. Lap 2 saw Sarah Cronin’s #8 and the 29 of Matt Moyer stopped at the bottom of turn 4. Maas moved up to second on the restart. Hrabik also passed Haller to take third on lap 4 before giving the spot back 2 laps later. Spencer Pavey III moved the 32 into fourth on lap 8 and took over the third spot with 6 to go. Tim Horsham cracked the top 4 with 5 to go and battled Ole Olsen’s 23 over the final laps, taking the spot for good with just 2 laps to go. The final top 4 were Jensen, Maas, Pavey III and Horsham.
This was Jensen’s first feature victory in this, his 4th year of racing. “The track wasn’t the best for us tonight. It was rough in spots but we made it work. I want to thank my daughter Mariah for being the best crew chief I ever had” Jensen stated. Jensen’s sponsors include 4 Brothers, Complete Carpet and Flooring, Mike’s 66 Towing, Roberts Racing and Fearing Racing.
The A Feature for the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint cars got off to a rough start when Jake Bubak’s #1B went up and over in turn 1 on the initial start. His car went back to the pits on the hook and he was uninjured. Trevor Grossenbacher also headed to the pits with damage to the top wing of the 81. The top 4 at the end of lap 1 after the restart were Matt Covington’s 95, Brandon Hanks’ 84, the 53 of Jack Dover and Aaron Reutzel’s 87. Seth Bergman passed Reutzel on lap 3, putting the 23 into fourth. Bergman passed Dover for third on lap 8 and took over second from Hanks the next time around. It took Bergman just 1 more circuit to take over the lead as Johnny Herrera moved the 45X into fourth. Once in the lead Bergman stretched out his lead to over a straightaway, running high or low as the lapped traffic dictated. Lap 13 saw Herrera move into third and then take second on lap 18. Dover regained the fourth position shortly after that Ryan Roberts grabbed fourth for a short time in the 18R, but Dover battled back to regain the position. When it was all said and done, Bergman took the victory by a half lap over Herrera Covington and Dover. Bergman’s win was so convincing and his domination of the event so complete that he ended up lapping all but the top 5 in a performance unlike any seen on the high banks of Eagle Raceway in many years!!
“I started 5th, and took it easy the first few laps until I found my way. The track wasn’t in great shape, with quite a few ruts. I finally figured out how to use them, hit them just right to take me to the front” related Bergman. Bergman’s sponsors include Oil Field Equipment Manufacturing, Corridor Electric and Young Tool Company.
Next weekend will be “The House is Rockin’ Night”, presented by Kaplan University. It also is the make-up night for the May 23rd Driver Appreciation Night, so that means that your May 23rd passes are good for the evening. The pit area will be open to fans from 4:00 to 4:45 for pictures and driver autographs. There will be school bus races following the last A Feature. After that, Rockin’ DJ Tom will be in the pits until midnight. Happy D Klown & Face Painter will be on site from 4:45 to 7:30. There will be a Rockin’ the House Challenge at intermission. There will be a Rockin’ half rack of ribs special at the outdoor bar. The RaceSaver IMCA sprint cars, Kaplan University IMCA Modifieds, Napa IMCA Sport Modifieds, Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks and Sam’s Club IMCA Sport Compacts will be in action.
Front gates open at 4:00 with hot laps starting at 5:30 and racing at 6:30. Adult front gate admission is $10, youths 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are free. Remember that your Driver Appreciation Night passes are good for tonight. You may use your May 16th front gate ticket for either tonight or June 13th only! Take these tickets to the front gate ticket boot to exchange them for a new ticket.
Pit gates open at 3pm with pit passes costing $25.
RESULTS:
ASCS Sprint
A Feature:
1. Seth Bergman (Everett, WA), 2. Johnny Herrerra (Albuquerque, NM), 3. Matt Covington, 4. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), 5. Ryan Roberts (Aurora, NE), 6. Billy Alley (Bennet, NE), 7. Brandon Hanks (Burlison, TN), 8. Jordan Boston (Lincoln, NE), 9. Wayne Johnson (Knoxville, IA), 10. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN), 11. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 12. Cody Ledger (Omaha, NE), 13. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 14. Kyle Bellm, 15. Tony Bruce Jr. (Liberal, OK), 16. Jason Martin (Lincoln, NE), 17. Blake Hahn, 18. Josh Riggins (Lincoln, NE), 19. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 20. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX), 21. Jake Bubak, 22. Trevor Grossenbacher (Hickman, NE), 23. Seth Brahmer, 24. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE)
B Feature: 1. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 2. Jason Martin (Lincoln, NE), 3. Cody Ledger (Omaha, NE), 4. Jordan Boston (Lincoln, NE), 5. Josh Riggins (Lincoln, NE), 6. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE), 7. Kyle Bellm, 8. Kris Miller (Woodward, OK), 9. Blake Hahn, 10. Shayle Bade (Lincoln, ne), 11. James Mosher, 12. JR Topper (ST. Joseph, MO), 13. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 14. Danny Thoman, 15. Taylor Forbes (Neligh, NE), 16. Jordan Weaver (Woodward , OK), 17. Dalton Parsons (Rushville, MO)
Heat 1: 1. Ryan Roberts (Aurora, NE), 2. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX), 3. Seth Bergman (Everett, WA), 4. Tony Bruce Jr. (Liberal, OK), 5. Jake Bubak, 6. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE), 7. Jordan Boston (Lincoln, NE), 8. Kyle Bellm, 9. Blake Hahn
Heat 2: 1. Matt Covington, 2. Johnny Herrerra (Albuquerque, NM), 3. Brandon Hanks (Burlison, TN), 4. Jason Martin (Lincoln, NE), 5. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 6. Cody Ledger (Omaha, NE), 7. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 8. Dalton Parsons (Rushville, MO)
Heat 3: 1. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), 2. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 3. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 4. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN), 5. Shayle Bade (Lincoln, ne), 6. Kris Miller (Woodward, OK), 7. James Mosher, 8. JR Topper (ST. Joseph, MO)
Heat 4: 1. Seth Brahmer, 2. Wayne Johnson (Knoxville, IA), 3. Billy Alley (Bennet, NE), 4. Trevor Grossenbacher (Hickman, NE), 5. Josh Riggins (Lincoln, NE), 6. Taylor Forbes (Neligh, NE), 7. Danny Thoman, 8. Jordan Weaver (Woodward , OK)
IMCA Modified 5/30/2015 A Feature: 1. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 2. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 4. Aaron Pella (Lincoln, NE), 5. Jared Hoefelman (Lincoln, NE), 6. Matt Boucher (Murdock, NE), 7. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 8. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 9. Stacey Wilhelm (Martell, NE), 10. Trevor Baker (Lincoln, NE), 11. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 12. Nathan Landauer (Davey, NE), 13. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 14. Tim Pickens (Bellevue, NE), 15. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 16. Jordan Grabouski (Beatrice, NE), 17. Mike Densberger (Lincoln, NE), 18. Kevin Larkins (Greenwood, NE), 19. Gary Billings (Prairie Village, KS), 20. Roger Hadan (Bennington, NE)
B Feature: 1. Jordan Grabouski (Beatrice, NE), 2. Roger Hadan (Bennington, NE), 3. Gary Billings (Prairie Village, KS), 4. Tim Pickens (Bellevue, NE), 5. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jared Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 7. Phillip Byfield (Auburn, NE), 8. Peter Shoup (Lincoln, NE), 9. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 10. Justin Zeitner (LaVista, NE)
Heat 1: 1. Nathan Landauer (Davey, NE), 2. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 3. Matt Boucher (Murdock, NE), 4. Trevor Baker (Lincoln, NE), 5. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 7. Peter Shoup (Lincoln, NE), 8. Roger Hadan (Bennington, NE), 9. Justin Zeitner (LaVista, NE)
Heat 2: 1. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 2. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 3. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 4. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 5. Mike Densberger (Lincoln, NE), 6. Tim Pickens (Bellevue, NE), 7. Gary Billings (Prairie Village, KS), 8. Phillip Byfield (Auburn, NE)
Heat 3: 1. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 2. Stacey Wilhelm (Martell, NE), 3. Aaron Pella (Lincoln, NE), 4. Kevin Larkins (Greenwood, NE), 5. Jared Hoefelman (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jordan Grabouski (Beatrice, NE), 7. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 8. Jared Deterding (Lincoln, NE)
IMCA Sport Compact 5/30/2015 A Feature: 1. Nick Jensen (Hickman, NE), 2. RJ Maas (Wilbur, NE), 3. Spencer Pavey III (Sterling, NE), 4. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 5. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 6. Kurt Beckstrom (Omaha, NE), 7. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 8. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 9. Evan Hrabik (Bellevue, NE), 10. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 11. Steven Rol (Hastings, NE), 12. Mitchell Wachter (Syracuse, NE), 13. Brad Schreiner (Weeping Water, NE), 14. Jeremey Byfield (Auburn, NE), 15. Michelle Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 16. Jeremy Baker (Nebraska City, NE), 17. Cole Krichau (Lincoln, NE), 18. Kyle Owen (Nebraska City, NE), 19. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 20. Sarah Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 21. Matt Moyer (Gretna, NE)
B Feature: 1. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 2. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 3. Jeremy Baker (Nebraska City, NE), 4. Cole Krichau (Lincoln, NE), 5. Steven Rol (Hastings, NE), 6. Kyle Owen (Nebraska City, NE), 7. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 8. Rick Hollandsworth (Milford, NE), 9. Tommy Etherton (Lincoln, NE), 10. Justin Callender (Lincoln, NE), 11. Tom Powell (Hickman, NE), 12. Greg Snow (Lincoln, NE), 13. Sarah Hollandsworth (Milford, NE), 14. Kevin Staack (Lincoln, NE), 15. Ray Harrington (Lincoln, NE), 16. Jacobi Evans (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 1: 1. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 2. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 3. Jeremey Byfield (Auburn, NE), 4. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 5. Kevin Staack (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jeremy Baker (Nebraska City, NE), 7. Cole Krichau (Lincoln, NE), 8. Jacobi Evans (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 2: 1. Kurt Beckstrom (Omaha, NE), 2. Evan Hrabik (Bellevue, NE), 3. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 4. Spencer Pavey III (Sterling, NE), 5. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 6. Justin Callender (Lincoln, NE), 7. Ray Harrington (Lincoln, NE), 8. Sarah Hollandsworth (Milford, NE)
Heat 3: 1. Sarah Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 2. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 3. RJ Maas (Wilbur, NE), 4. Matt Moyer (Gretna, NE), 5. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 6. Kyle Owen (Nebraska City, NE), 7. Rick Hollandsworth (Milford, NE), 8. Greg Snow (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 4: 1. Brad Schreiner (Weeping Water, NE), 2. Nick Jensen (Hickman, NE), 3. Mitchell Wachter (Syracuse, NE), 4. Michelle Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 5. Tom Powell (Hickman, NE), 6. Steven Rol (Hastings, NE), 7. Tommy Etherton (Lincoln, NE)
