Rockin’ Kids Night sees Leiting, Fegley, Hiatt, Baker and Grossenbacher victorious
by Greg Soukup
A hot, sunny afternoon greeted the very large crowd who turned out for Rockin’ Kids Night, presented by Casey’s General Store, Colby Ridge and Pepsi at Eagle Raceway Saturday afternoon. The fans were treated to fantastic racing throughout the night as 134 teams put on a great show. At intermission 154 children picked up a brand new bicycle thanks to fans, drivers and others who provided the two-wheeled gifts that put huge smiles on so many young faces.
All preliminary events were completed without significant incidents.
Dan Wayman in the 22K, James Hopkins’ 81, the 33 of Jeremy Noonan and Arie Schouten in the 99RE were the first 4 at the end of lap 1 of the NAPA IMCA Sport Modified A Main. Lap 2 saw a huge pile-up in turns 1 & 2 as Benji Legg’s 25B, the S56 of Scott Bivens, Brandon Spanjer’s 19XX, Roger Sluka’s 5S and the 09RX of Randy Fox were all caught up in the mess. Lap 5 saw Schouten move to third. The next and circuit saw Mark Leiting put the 20M into fourth. Leiting passed Noonan and Hopkins the next time around, but Hopkins spun in turn 2 to light the caution lights. That made the running order Wayman, Noonan, Leiting and Schouten. Leiting vaulted into the lead on the restart and Gary Saathoff put the 96 into fourth. Saathoff jumped all the way second the next lap. Gunnar Pike cracked the top 4 in his #25 with 6 to go and advanced to third 2 laps later as Noonan regained fourth. The final top 4 were Leiting, Saathoff, Pike and Noonan.
This was Leiting’s 4th victory of the 2015 season and second at Eagle Raceway, and came after transferring from the B Feature and starting in the 18th spot. “My guys worked really hard getting me going after getting that axle bent. Not transferring out of my heat and having to come through the B meant that we had a lot of work to do, but the win makes it all worthwhile” Leiting said. Leiting’s sponsors include K2L Graphics, Williams Welding, Goldfuss Shocks, Terry Electric, People’s Mortgage, Roca Tavern, Traditions Pub and MRI Home Builders.
Lap 1 of the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock Feature saw Brett Saathoff’s 11B spin in turn 4, collecting the 01 of Ally Shively. The first official lap saw Joe Wollenhaupt’s 4W out front with Casey Moyer’s 38C, the 69 of Kenny Roberts and David Carter’s 2c rounding out the top 4. Chad Fegley made a huge move on lap 3, putting the 13F into second before grabbing the lead the next lap. Carter and the 6A of Adam Armstrong got together on lap 5 and spun on the front stretch. Tim Kozak put the 29 into fourth on lap 8. Justin Busboom passed Kozak the next time around but spun in turn 4 before the lap was completed. With 8 laps remaining Roy Armstrong got around Kozak and put the 6R into fourth. With 1 to go the caution flag flew for a spinning car setting up a green, white, checkered finish. The restart saw Roy Armstrong move up to third and Adam Armstrong move to fourth. That made the final top 4 Fegley, Wollenhaupt, Roy Armstrong and Adam Armstrong.
This was Fegley’s second 2015 Eagle Raceway victory and second in a row, coming from the 11th starting spot. “First I want to thank my family and crew for spending a lot of time working on the car. Keith Dragoo came and worked on it this week again. The track was amazing tonight. I’ve been trying to be more patient this year, not so aggressive. It’s worked out pretty well so far with no DNF’s and I think the worst I finished was 8th this season” Fegley related. Fegley’s sponsors include The Shop Inc., Nightmare Vinyl and Sapp Brothers.
The Kaplan University IMCA Modifieds were up next. Kevin Larkins held the top spot in the 4X followed by Mike Lineberry’s 72, the 00 of Tim Pickens and Shane Hiatt in the 21H. Hiatt passed Pickens on lap 2 for third and then got past Lineberry the next lap, moving to second as Justin Wulf’s 86 took over third and Andy Eickhoff put the #9 into fourth. Jared Hoefelman passed Eickhoff on lap 5, putting the 15h into fourth. Pat Wheeler looped the 22 in turn 4 on lap 6 for a caution. Hoefelman moved up to third on the restart. Hiatt grabbed the lead on lap 10, but was put back when Phillip Byfield spun the 10 in turns 1 & 2. There was a melee in turn 4 on the restart with the V45 of Rik Gropp, Chad Andersen’s 8C and the 5B of Matt Boucher all stopped. From there to the finish it was a battle of 2 different lines as Hiatt clung to the low line and Larkins rode the top. Hiatt would pull alongside Larkins time and again, but Larkins would use his speed and momentum to hold the lead. That battle carried through to the final 2 corners as Larkins got trapped behind a lapped car and Hiatt used the bottom to carry him to victory. At the end it was Hiatt, Larkins, Hoefelman and Eickhoff.
This was Hiatt’s 4th Eagle Raceway win this season and came from the 7th spot on the starting grid. “That was an awesome racing with Kevin. Running like that with a legend like him is something I’ve always dreamed about. I’ve looked up to him immensely for a long time and I can’t thank him enough for racing me clean. A big thank you to my crew for putting this new car together after I got the other one destroyed. We’ve been having a lot of problems just getting going again, so it’s nice to finally have a little good luck. This was a special win because it was the first one that my nephew got to see. I want to thank my fans for voting for me in the Fast Shafts All Star Invitational” 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.
Next it was time for the Sam’s Club IMCA Sport Compact main event. Kevin Staack got the 13K sideways on the front stretch on lap 1, collecting Steven Rol’s 33 and the 10K of Kyle Owen. When a lap was completed Jeremy Bohlen’s 10J, the 24T of Tommy Etherton, Melissa Cronin in the 5M and Jeremy Baker’s 3J were the top 4. Bohlen spun in turn 2 on the second lap, putting the 18R of Tom Powell into fourth. Etherton spun on the restart and Ole Olsen’s 23 got caught up. That moved the 24 of Mike Rice up to fourth. Lap 3 saw Baker take the lead with Powell taking the second spot the next lap as Tim Horsham put the #3 into fourth. Cronin grabbed second on lap 5 as Rice took over 4th. Lap 6 saw a caution for debris on the track. With 9 laps remaining Horsham got loose down the front stretch, going into the infield and then jumping over the berm in turn 1. That launched him into the air. The car then dug in and went into a series of snap-rolls. Horsham appeared to be unhurt. At that time, the race was called. The final top 4 were Baker, Cronin, Powell and Rol.
Baker left before being interviewed.
The final A Feature was for the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Cars. Dwight Carter’s 4U led lap one with Tim Hilfiker’s 20, the 54 of Nate Weiler and Adam Gullion’s 91 in hot pursuit. Lap 3 saw Mike Boston take over fourth and then put the 51 into third. Boston wasted no time, grabbing the lead the next lap. Weiler moved up to second on lap 7 as Gullion again moved to fourth. Gullion jumped up to second the next lap and 1 circuit later Mark Pace put the 1X into fourth. Trevor Grossenbacher cracked the top 4 with 10 to go, putting the 35 into fourth. Boston suffered a flat right rear the next time around making the top 4 Gullion, Grossenbacher, Weiler and Pace. Grossenbacher moved past Gullion with 9 laps remaining, putting the 35 into first as Tyler Drueke jumped up to third with Weiler holding onto fourth. The final change in the top 4 came with 4 to go as Pace again took over fourth. The top 4 were Grossenbacher, Gullion, Drueke and Pace.
Grossenbacher’s victory came from the 14th starting position. “I really thing that this was my favorite win his year!!! Thanks to Speedway Racing Engines for getting my power plant back to me in just 4 days, and to my crew for getting it back in the car this morning” he said. Grossenbacher’s sponsors include Stop ‘N Shop, Lincoln WinNelson, WC’s South, Husker Diesel and Mark Schmidt Enterprises.
Next weekend Rotella’s and Coors Light present Let’s Get Rocked Night. Front gate adult admission is $10, youths 6-12 are just $5 and children 5 and under are free. Hot laps start at 5:30 with racing at 6:30.
Pit gates open at 4 P.M. with pit admission costing $25.
RESULTS:
IMCA Hobby Stock 08/01/2015
A Feature:
1. Chad Fegley (Eagle, NE), 2. Joe Wollenhaupt (Neola, IA), 3. Roy Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 4. Adam Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 5. Casey Moyer (Auburn, NE), 6. Tyler Saathoff (Holland, NE), 7. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 8. Brint Lemke (Lincoln, NE), 9. Justin Busboom (Lincoln, NE), 10. Tim Kozak (Lincoln, NE), 11. David Carter (Fremont, NE), 12. Travis Albracht (Lincoln, NE), 13. Allyn Shiveley (Lincoln, NE), 14. Kenny Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 15. Nick Lindblad (Beatrice, NE), 16. Luke Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 17. Brett Saathoff (Lincoln, NE), 18. Mark McKinney (Omaha, NE), 19. Charlie Bartels (Lincoln, NE), 20. Rick Bradley (Council Bluffs, IA)
B Feature:
1. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 2. Tyler Saathoff (Holland, NE), 3. Brint Lemke (Lincoln, NE), 4. Nick Lindblad (Beatrice, NE), 5. Charlie Bartels (Lincoln, NE), 6. Tim LaPointe (Lincoln, NE), 7. Tyler Jackson (Lincoln, NE), 8. Khrysta Stransky (Lincoln, NE), 9. Dale Hoyle (Nebraska City, NE), 10. Don Hall Jr (Lincoln, NE), 11. Michael Rice (Elmwood, NE), 12. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 13. Brad Perkons (Waterloo, NE)
Heat 1:
1. Casey Moyer (Auburn, NE), 2. Tim Kozak (Lincoln, NE), 3. Luke Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 4. Justin Busboom (Lincoln, NE), 5. Allyn Shiveley (Lincoln, NE), 6. Nick Lindblad (Beatrice, NE), 7. Tyler Saathoff (Holland, NE), 8. Khrysta Stransky (Lincoln, NE), 9. Michael Rice (Elmwood, NE), 10. Brad Perkons (Waterloo, NE)
Heat 2:
1. Adam Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 2. Joe Wollenhaupt (Neola, IA), 3. Roy Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 4. Rick Bradley (Council Bluffs, IA), 5. Travis Albracht (Lincoln, NE), 6. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 7. Brint Lemke (Lincoln, NE), 8. Tyler Jackson (Lincoln, NE), 9. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE)
Heat 3:
1. David Carter (Fremont, NE), 2. Chad Fegley (Eagle, NE), 3. Kenny Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 4. Brett Saathoff (Lincoln, NE), 5. Mark McKinney (Omaha, NE), 6. Charlie Bartels (Lincoln, NE), 7. Dale Hoyle (Nebraska City, NE), 8. Don Hall Jr (Lincoln, NE), 9. Tim LaPointe (Lincoln, NE)
IMCA Modified 08/01/2015
A Feature:
1. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 2. Kevin Larkins (Greenwood, NE), 3. Jared Hoefelman (Lincoln, NE), 4. Andy Eickhoff (Albion, NE), 5. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 6. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 7. Mike Lineberry (Fremont, NE), 8. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 9. Norm Ziegenbein (Lincoln, NE), 10. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 11. Tim Pickens (Bellevue, NE), 12. Jared Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 13. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 14. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 15. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 16. Matt Boucher (Murdock, NE), 17. Phillip Byfield (Auburn, NE), 18. Pat Wheeler (Omaha, NE)
Heat 1:
1. Mike Lineberry (Fremont, NE), 2. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 3. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 4. Jared Hoefelman (Lincoln, NE), 5. Tim Pickens (Bellevue, NE), 6. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 7. Pat Wheeler (Omaha, NE), 8. Phillip Byfield (Auburn, NE), 9. Jared Deterding (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 2:
1. Kevin Larkins (Greenwood, NE), 2. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 4. Andy Eickhoff (Albion, NE), 5. Matt Boucher (Murdock, NE), 6. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 7. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 8. Norm Ziegenbein (Lincoln, NE), 9. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE)
IMCA Sport Compact 08/01/2015
A Feature:
1. Jeremy Baker (Nebraska City, NE), 2. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 3. Tom Powell (Hickman, NE), 4. Steven Rol (Hastings, NE), 5. Michael Rice (Elmwood, NE), 6. Cole Krichau (Lincoln, NE), 7. Spencer Pavey III (Sterling, NE), 8. RJ Maas (Wilbur, NE), 9. Nick Jensen (Hickman, NE), 10. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 11. Evan Hrabik (Bellevue, NE), 12. Michelle Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 13. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 14. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 15. Jeremy Bohlen (Percival, IA), 16. Tommy Etherton (Lincoln, NE), 17. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 18. Kevin Staack (Lincoln, NE), 19. Kyle Owen (Nebraska City, NE), 20. Justin Olsen (Lincoln, NE)
B Feature:
1. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 2. Nick Jensen (Hickman, NE), 3. Justin Olsen (Lincoln, NE), 4. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 5. Michelle Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 6. Steve Shepard (Exeter, NE), 7. Rick Hollandsworth (Milford, NE), 8. Jacobi Evans (Lincoln, NE), 9. Justin Callender (Lincoln, NE), 10. Greg Snow (Lincoln, NE), 11. Jeremey Byfield (Auburn, NE), 12. Sarah Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 13. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 1:
1. Jeremy Baker (Nebraska City, NE), 2. Kevin Staack (Lincoln, NE), 3. Cole Krichau (Lincoln, NE), 4. Jeremy Bohlen (Percival, IA), 5. RJ Maas (Wilbur, NE), 6. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 7. Steve Shepard (Exeter, NE), 8. Justin Callender (Lincoln, NE), 9. Sarah Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 10. Jacobi Evans (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 2:
1. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 2. Spencer Pavey III (Sterling, NE), 3. Michael Rice (Elmwood, NE), 4. Kyle Owen (Nebraska City, NE), 5. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 6. Justin Olsen (Lincoln, NE), 7. Rick Hollandsworth (Milford, NE), 8. Greg Snow (Lincoln, NE), 9. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 3:
1. Steven Rol (Hastings, NE), 2. Tom Powell (Hickman, NE), 3. Tommy Etherton (Lincoln, NE), 4. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 5. Evan Hrabik (Bellevue, NE), 6. Michelle Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 7. Nick Jensen (Hickman, NE), 8. Jeremey Byfield (Auburn, NE), 9. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE)
IMCA SportMod 08/01/2015
A Feature:
1. Mark Leiting (Lincoln, NE), 2. Gary Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Gunnar Pike (South Bend, NE), 4. Jeremy Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 5. Nathan Kobus (Lincoln, NE), 6. Dan Wayman (Lincoln, NE), 7. Trent Roth (Columbus, NE), 8. Arie Schouten (Blair, NE), 9. Dion Kovar (Rising City, NE), 10. Mike Hansen (Weeping Water, NE), 11. James Hopkins (Waterloo, NE), 12. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE), 13. Don Rinke (Lincoln, NE), 14. Mike Scheinost (Ceresco, NE), 15. Nick Beckman (Lincoln, NE), 16. Randy Fox (Lincoln, NE), 17. Scott Bivens (Waverly, NE), 18. Benji Legg (Beatrice, NE), 19. Roger Sluka (Lincoln, NE), 20. Brandon Spanjer (Crete, NE)
B Feature:
1. Trent Roth (Columbus, NE), 2. Mark Leiting (Lincoln, NE), 3. Nathan Kobus (Lincoln, NE), 4. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE), 5. Derick Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 6. Bob Ruisinger (Bennet, NE), 7. Logan Thomsen (Lincoln, NE), 8. Jason Harms (David City, NE), 9. James Hines (Bellevue, NE), 10. Matt Andrews (Seward, NE), 11. Bryan Adams (Nebraska City, IA), 12. Derek Benes (Lincoln, NE), 13. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE), 14. Steve Osmon (Lincoln, NE)
C Feature:
1. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE), 2. Matt Andrews (Seward, NE), 3. Mary Lenz (Elmwood, NE), 4. Tracy Harr (, NE), 5. Terry Callendar (Lincoln, NE), 6. Braydon Latture (Omaha, NE), 7. Lucas Robinson (Missouri Valley, IA), 8. Jeremy Peckham (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 1:
1. Dion Kovar (Rising City, NE), 2. Randy Fox (Lincoln, NE), 3. Arie Schouten (Blair, NE), 4. Brandon Spanjer (Crete, NE), 5. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE), 6. Steve Osmon (Lincoln, NE), 7. Derek Benes (Lincoln, NE), 8. Braydon Latture (Omaha, NE), 9. Lucas Robinson (Missouri Valley, IA)
Heat 2:
1. Scott Bivens (Waverly, NE), 2. Benji Legg (Beatrice, NE), 3. Mike Hansen (Weeping Water, NE), 4. Gunnar Pike (South Bend, NE), 5. Bryan Adams (Nebraska City, IA), 6. James Hines (Bellevue, NE), 7. Derick Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 8. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE), 9. Terry Callendar (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 3:
1. Jeremy Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 2. Don Rinke (Lincoln, NE), 3. Roger Sluka (Lincoln, NE), 4. Mike Scheinost (Ceresco, NE), 5. Nathan Kobus (Lincoln, NE), 6. Logan Thomsen (Lincoln, NE), 7. Trent Roth (Columbus, NE), 8. Matt Andrews (Seward, NE), 9. Jeremy Peckham (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 4:
1. James Hopkins (Waterloo, NE), 2. Gary Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Dan Wayman (Lincoln, NE), 4. Nick Beckman (Lincoln, NE), 5. Bob Ruisinger (Bennet, NE), 6. Mark Leiting (Lincoln, NE), 7. Jason Harms (David City, NE), 8. Mary Lenz (Elmwood, NE), 9. Tracy Harr (NE)
IMCA Sprint 08/01/2015
A Feature:
1. Trevor Grossenbacher (Hickman, NE), 2. Adam Gullion (Lincoln, NE), 3. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 4. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 5. Shon Pointer (Grand Island, NE), 6. Nate Weiler (Omaha, NE), 7. Shayle Bade (Lincoln, ne), 8. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE), 9. Terry Richards (Denton, NE), 10. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 11. Ryan King (Bennet, NE), 12. Gene Ackland (Martell, NE), 13. Clint Benson (Papillion, NE), 14. Dwight Carter (Lincoln, NE), 15. Chase Weiler (Lincoln, NE), 16. Tim Hilfiker (Greenwood, NE), 17. Dan Satriano (Papillion, NE), 18. Bill Garrow (Lincoln, NE), 19. Mike Boston (Lincoln, NE), 20. Toby Chapman (Panama, NE)
B Feature:
1. Shon Pointer (Grand Island, NE), 2. Gene Ackland (Martell, NE), 3. Clint Benson (Papillion, NE), 4. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 5. Chase Weiler (Lincoln, NE), 6. Lee Bowes (Lincoln, NE), 7. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln, NE), 8. Brandon Horton (Omaha, NE), 9. Nick Bryan (Lincoln, NE), 10. Jason Becker (Seward, NE)
Heat 1:
1. Nate Weiler (Omaha, NE), 2. Ryan King (Bennet, NE), 3. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 4. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 5. Shayle Bade (Lincoln, ne), 6. Shon Pointer (Grand Island, NE), 7. Clint Benson (Papillion, NE), 8. Jason Becker (Seward, NE), 9. Nick Bryan (Lincoln, NE)
Heat 2:
1. Adam Gullion (Lincoln, NE), 2. Mike Boston (Lincoln, NE), 3. Dwight Carter (Lincoln, NE), 4. Toby Chapman (Panama, NE), 5. Trevor Grossenbacher (Hickman, NE), 6. Chase Weiler (Lincoln, NE), 7. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln, NE), 8. Brandon Horton (Omaha, NE)
Heat 3:
1. Bill Garrow (Lincoln, NE), 2. Tim Hilfiker (Greenwood, NE), 3. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE), 4. Dan Satriano (Papillion, NE), 5. Terry Richards (Denton, NE), 6. Gene Ackland (Martell, NE), 7. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 8. Lee Bowes (Lincoln, NE)
