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Leiting, Carter, Hoefelman, Owen and Richards take home Rockin' Freedom Fest wins

By Greg Soukup

Rockin’ Freedom Fest, presented by Sam’s Club, fell on our nation’s most patriotic holiday Saturday, and saw a good-sized crowd of racing fans treated to some great racing and quite possibly the best fireworks show in Eagle Raceway’s history.

There were no major occurrences in the preliminary events.

The first A Feature was for the NAPA IMCA Sport Modifieds and saw Matt Andrews’ 22A out front with the 99RE of Arie Schouten, Anthony Kobus’ 27 and the S56 of Scott Bivens close behind. Mary Lenz leapfrogged Kobus and Bivens on lap 2, putting the 17 into third with Kobus retaining fourth. Kobus repassed Lenz on lap 4, and then took over second a lap later as Mark Leiting put the 20M into third and Schouten fell to fourth. Lap 8 saw Joe Schidler’s K00 and the 96 of Gary Saathoff get together on the front stretch and stop. With 9 to go Bivens moved up to fourth as Leiting took over the lead. Lenz got back to fourth the next circuit before giving the spot to the 14T of Trent Roth with 6 laps remaining. Don Rinke in the 2R and the 35 of Alex Deeke spun in turn 4 with 2 to go for another yellow. On the last lap Roth made contact with Andrews and was set back 2 positions. The final top 4 were Leiting, Kobus, Lenz and Roth.

Mark’s victory came after starting in 8th and was his second Eagle Raceway victory, but his first in 2015. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us, especially last week with a pinched fuel line. It’s good to finally get a good run in. Thanks to everyone who came out on the 4th of July to show support for our troops. And thank you to Jeff, Kevin, Bill, Jesse, David, Hannah and Monica for all that they do”. Leiting’s sponsors include MRI Home Builders, Traditions Pub, Roca Tavern, People’s Mortgage, Terry Electric, Goldfuss Shocks, Williams Welding and K2M Graphics.

Joe Wollenhaupt’s 4W, the 26L of Brint Lemke, David Carter’s 2C and the 29 of Tim Kozak were the top 4 at the conclusion of the first lap for the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock A Main. Kozak went very high in turn 4 on lap 2, allowing Mark Saathoff’s 97M into fourth. Chad Fegley passed Saathoff on lap 5, putting his 13F into fourth. Lap 8 saw Wollenhaupt fall to third, Carter move to second and Lemke take the lead as Fegley remained in fourth. Fegley lost the position to the 6A of Adam Armstrong on lap 11. Carter took over the lead with 7 to go as Armstrong advanced to third and Fegley regained fourth. Roy Armstrong put his 6R into fourth the next lap. Adam Armstrong moved up to second with four to go. The final top 4 were Carter, Adam Armstrong, Lemke and Roy Armstrong.

Carter’s win came from the 4th spot and was his first at Eagle Raceway, his second ever. “I’ve been trying for this win for a long time. It took me 8 years to get it! Thanks to my parents, my wife Stacey, Jeff and Joanna and my brother Jeffrey” he related.

The A Feature for the Kaplan University IMCA Modified feature had Dustin Andersen’s 8A the first back to the flag stand with Mike Lineberry’s 72, the 5S of Bob Zoubek and Nathan Landauer’s 11N in hot pursuit. Shane Hiatt moved his 21H into fourth temporarily on lap 2 but lost the spot back to Lineberry. Matt Boucher’s 5B stopped on the next lap for a caution and Landauer fell to the rear of the field. Jared Hoefelman leapt all of the way to second a lap after the restart as Hiatt moved to third. Unfortunately, Hiatt’s racer stopped in turn 2 and had to be towed to the pits. That made the top 4 Andersen, Hoefelman, Zoubek and Lineberry. Hoefelman passed Andersen for the lead on the restart as Johnny Saathoff put the 96J into fourth. The top 4 remained unchanged to the finish with Hoefelman winning, Andersen second, Zoubek third and Saathoff fourth.

Jared’s 2nd win of 2015 came after starting ninth. “Thanks to the racers for racing clean tonight on a great track. I just had to figure out where to go, and it helped that the car worked great. A big thanks to all of my sponsors for making this possible” were Hoefelman’s thoughts on the evening’s events.

RJ Maas in the 88K, Steven Rol’s 33, the 3J of Jeremy Baker and Kyle Owen’s 10K led the field on lap 1 of the Sam’s Club IMCA Sport Compact feature. Sarah Cronin’s 8 and the 5M of Melissa Cronin stopped at the top of turn 1 on lap four for a caution period. Owens moved to third on lap 5. With 9 to go Tom Powell cracked the top 4, putting the 18R into fourth; only to lose the spot back to Baker after another lap. Owens moved to second with 5 to go and was followed to third by Baker 2 laps later. With 2 laps remaining Maas went for a wild ride, spinning in the air through turn 1. That made the top 4 Maas, Baker, Rol and Powell. They held those spots through to the checkers.

This was Kyle’s second win ever and his first at Eagle Raceway; coming from 8th. “That was a fun track; fast and tacky with plenty of hard close racing. Thanks to my wife Jill, my pit crew and all of the others who help out with the car. A special thanks to my parents, Don and Carla McCowen” Kyle stated. Kyle’s sponsors include Bohlen Farm Service, KRK Trucking, Don McCowen Trucking and Snap Dragon.

The first lap of the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car A Main was called back when Matt Richards looped the 1R at the top of 3 and 4. The second attempt at a start fared no better as Ron Love spun at the top of turns 1 & 2 for another restart. The first official lap saw Terry Richards out front in the 18, followed by Jason Martin in the 5X, the 27R of Jason Rakes and Adam Gullion’s 91.  Lap 2 saw Gullion move up to third and Shayle Bade put the 03 into fourth. Martin grabbed the lead the next time around, but slowed to a stop on lap 7. That put Clint Benson’s 100 into fourth. Trevor Grossenbacher passed Benson the next lap to put the 35 into fourth but lost the spot to Joey Danley’s 14 before the lap was completed. Danley moved up to third with 12 laps left. 1 more circuit was in the books when Toby Chapman cracked the top 4 in the 7K. Chase Weiler looped the 0 in turn 4 with 7 to go and then spun again on the restart. Chapman advanced to second with 6 to go. Mike Boston put the #51 into fourth the next time around and moved to third with 3 laps left. The final position change in the top 4 came with 2 laps left as Danley again moved to fourth. The final top 4 were Richards, Chapman, Boston and Danley.

“After losing 2 cars in 3 weeks, I’m finally glad that we had a little luck. If it wasn’t for my sponsors and some friends, we wouldn’t even be here this week. We had about $4000 in damage last week, but lots of people stepped up to make it possible. I thought it was kind of funny that the 2 guys that crashed us the last 2 weeks started right ahead of us this week. Hopefully we can keep this luck, because I’m looking forward to more wins here at Eagle. A special thanks to my car owner Daren Rodgers and my crew” Richards said. Richards’ sponsors include C & L Automotive, Spanel Engines, The Kustom Shop, Kaser Blasting and Coating, Palmyra Pub, D-Sign Shop, JDJ Structural Group, Speedway Motors, TR’s Tool Service, Sardeson Racing and Wade Easton Racing.

Next weekend the Nebraska Lottery, Kaplan University & Miller Lite presents I Love Rock ‘N Roll night at Eagle Raceway, featuring the Racesaver IMCA Sprints, Kaplan University IMCA Modifieds, NAPA IMCA Sport Modifieds, Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks and Sam’s Club IMCA Sport Compacts.

Front gates open at 5:15 with hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6:30. Adult front gate admission is just $10, youths 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are free.

Pit gates open at 4 P.M. with pit admission being $25.

RESULTS:

IMCA Hobby Stock 07/04/2015
A Feature:

1. David Carter (Fremont, NE), 2. Adam Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 3. Brint Lemke (Lincoln, NE), 4. Roy Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 5. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 6. Chad Fegley (Eagle, NE), 7. Tyler Saathoff (Holland, NE), 8. Joe Wollenhaupt (Neola, IA), 9. Justin Busboom (Lincoln, NE), 10. Tim Kozak (Lincoln, NE), 11. Austin Davis (Benkelman, NE), 12. Rick Bradley (Council Bluffs, IA), 13. Allyn Shiveley (Lincoln, NE), 14. Nick Lindblad (Beatrice, NE), 15. Don Hall Jr (Lincoln, NE), 16. Tim LaPointe (Lincoln, NE), 17. Luke Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 18. Khrysta Stransky (Lincoln, NE), 19. Dale Hoyle (Nebraska City, NE), 20. Charlie Bartels (Lincoln, NE)

B Feature:

1. Austin Davis (Benkelman, NE), 2. Luke Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 3. Khrysta Stransky (Lincoln, NE), 4. Charlie Bartels (Lincoln, NE), 5. Dale Hoyle (Nebraska City, NE), 6. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 7. Tyler Jackson (Lincoln, NE), 8. Kenny Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 9. Brett Saathoff (Lincoln, NE), 10. Shane Wartele (Nebraska City, NE)

Heat 1:

1. Brint Lemke (Lincoln, NE), 2. Allyn Shiveley (Lincoln, NE), 3. David Carter (Fremont, NE), 4. Tyler Saathoff (Holland, NE), 5. Nick Lindblad (Beatrice, NE), 6. Austin Davis (Benkelman, NE), 7. Luke Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 8. Brett Saathoff (Lincoln, NE), 9. Shane Wartele (Nebraska City, NE)

Heat 2:

1. Joe Wollenhaupt (Neola, IA), 2. Roy Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 3. Chad Fegley (Eagle, NE), 4. Tim Kozak (Lincoln, NE), 5. Tim LaPointe (Lincoln, NE), 6. Kenny Roberts (Lincoln, NE), 7. Khrysta Stransky (Lincoln, NE), 8. Charlie Bartels (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 3:

1. Adam Armstrong (Beatrice, NE), 2. Don Hall Jr (Lincoln, NE), 3. Mark Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 4. Justin Busboom (Lincoln, NE), 5. Rick Bradley (Council Bluffs, IA), 6. Dale Hoyle (Nebraska City, NE), 7. Tyler Jackson (Lincoln, NE), 8. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE)

IMCA Modified 07/04/2015
A Feature:

1. Jared Hoefelman (Lincoln, NE), 2. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 3. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 4. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 5. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 6. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 7. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 8. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 9. Nathan Landauer (Davey, NE), 10. Mike Lineberry (Fremont, NE), 11. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 12. Tim Pickens (Bellevue, NE), 13. Jared Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 14. Alan Schmitt (Omaha, NE), 15. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 16. Matt Boucher (Murdock, NE)

Heat 1:

1. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 2. Mike Lineberry (Fremont, NE), 3. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 4. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 5. Jared Hoefelman (Lincoln, NE), 6. Alan Schmitt (Omaha, NE), 7. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 8. Jared Deterding (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 2:

1. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 2. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 3. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 4. Nathan Landauer (Davey, NE), 5. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jan Korth (Lincoln, NE), 7. Tim Pickens (Bellevue, NE), 8. Matt Boucher (Murdock, NE)

IMCA Sport Compact 07/04/2015
A Feature:

1. Kyle Owen (Nebraska City, NE), 2. Jeremy Baker (Nebraska City, NE), 3. Steven Rol (Hastings, NE), 4. Tom Powell (Hickman, NE), 5. Spencer Pavey III (Sterling, NE), 6. Cole Krichau (Lincoln, NE), 7. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 8. Justin Olsen (Lincoln, NE), 9. Kevin Staack (Lincoln, NE), 10. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 11. Michelle Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 12. Justin Callender (Lincoln, NE), 13. RJ Maas (Wilbur, NE), 14. Jeremy Bohlen (Percival, IA), 15. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 16. Sarah Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 17. Tommy  Etherton (Lincoln, NE), 18. Nick Jensen (Hickman, NE), 19. Jacobi Evans (Lincoln, NE), 20. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE)

B Feature:

1. Jeremy Bohlen (Percival, IA), 2. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 3. Justin Olsen (Lincoln, NE), 4. Justin Callender (Lincoln, NE), 5. Jacobi Evans (Lincoln, NE), 6. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 7. Greg Snow (Lincoln, NE), 8. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 9. Duke Bourassa (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 1:

1. Tommy  Etherton (Lincoln, NE), 2. Nick Jensen (Hickman, NE), 3. Kevin Staack (Lincoln, NE), 4. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 5. Michelle Nicholson (Omaha, NE), 6. Kevin Fearing (Lincoln, NE), 7. Jeremy Bohlen (Percival, IA), 8. Duke Bourassa (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 2:

1. Steven Rol (Hastings, NE), 2. Tim Horsham (Raymond, NE), 3. Spencer Pavey III (Sterling, NE), 4. Jeremy Baker (Nebraska City, NE), 5. Cole Krichau (Lincoln, NE), 6. Justin Callender (Lincoln, NE), 7. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 8. Greg Snow (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 3:

1. Tom Powell (Hickman, NE), 2. Kyle Owen (Nebraska City, NE), 3. Sarah Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 4. RJ Maas (Wilbur, NE), 5. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jacobi Evans (Lincoln, NE), 7. Justin Olsen (Lincoln, NE), 8. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE)

IMCA SportMod 07/04/2015
A Feature:

1. Mark Leiting (Lincoln, NE), 2. Anthony Kobus (David City, NE), 3. Mary Lenz (Elmwood, NE), 4. Trent Roth (Columbus, NE), 5. Scott Bivens (Waverly, NE), 6. Dion Kovar (Rising City, NE), 7. Benji Legg (Beatrice, NE), 8. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE), 9. Matt Andrews (Seward, NE), 10. Arie Schouten (Blair, NE), 11. Roger Sluka (Lincoln, NE), 12. Jason Harms (David City, NE), 13. Bob Ruisinger (Bennet, NE), 14. Brandon Spanjer (Crete, NE), 15. James Hopkins (Waterloo, NE), 16. Derek Hall (Lincoln, NE), 17. Don Rinke (Lincoln, NE), 18. Alex Deeke (Waverly, NE), 19. Gary Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 20. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE)

B Feature:

1. Brandon Spanjer (Crete, NE), 2. Don Rinke (Lincoln, NE), 3. Roger Sluka (Lincoln, NE), 4. Derek Hall (Lincoln, NE), 5. Jeremy Peckham (Lincoln, NE), 6. Nick Beckman (Lincoln, NE), 7. James Hines (Bellevue, NE), 8. Mike Hansen (Weeping Water, NE), 9. Kevin Anderson (Lincoln, NE), 10. Braydon Latture (Omaha, NE), 11. Mike Scheinost (Ceresco, NE), 12. Shane Hennessy (Alvo, NE), 13. Sean Manning (Bennington, NE), 14. Steve Osmon (Lincoln, NE), 15. Terry Callendar (Lincoln, NE), 16.  Bryan Adams (Nebraska City, IA)

Heat 1:

1. Anthony Kobus (David City, NE), 2. Jason Harms (David City, NE), 3. Joe Schidler (Lincoln, NE), 4. Benji Legg (Beatrice, NE), 5. Brandon Spanjer (Crete, NE), 6. Terry Callendar (Lincoln, NE), 7. Nick Beckman (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 2:

1. Scott Bivens (Waverly, NE), 2. Mark Leiting (Lincoln, NE), 3. Arie Schouten (Blair, NE), 4. James Hopkins (Waterloo, NE), 5. Sean Manning (Bennington, NE), 6.  Bryan Adams (Nebraska City, IA), 7. Steve Osmon (Lincoln, NE), 8. Mike Hansen (Weeping Water, NE), 9. Roger Sluka (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 3:

1. Matt Andrews (Seward, NE), 2. Adam Vrbka (Eagle, NE), 3. Dion Kovar (Rising City, NE), 4. Alex Deeke (Waverly, NE), 5. James Hines (Bellevue, NE), 6. Kevin Anderson (Lincoln, NE), 7. Braydon Latture (Omaha, NE), 8. Derek Hall (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 4:

1. Gary Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 2. Mary Lenz (Elmwood, NE), 3. Trent Roth (Columbus, NE), 4. Bob Ruisinger (Bennet, NE), 5. Jeremy Peckham (Lincoln, NE), 6. Don Rinke (Lincoln, NE), 7. Mike Scheinost (Ceresco, NE), 8. Shane Hennessy (Alvo, NE)

IMCA Sprint 07/04/2015
A Feature:

1. Terry Richards (Denton, NE), 2. Toby Chapman (Panama, NE), 3. Mike Boston (Lincoln, NE), 4. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE), 5. Adam Gullion (Lincoln, NE), 6. Shayle Bade (Lincoln, ne), 7. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 8. Trevor Grossenbacher (Hickman, NE), 9. Shon Pointer (Grand Island, NE), 10. Clint Benson (Papillion, NE), 11. Gene Ackland (Martell, NE), 12. Jason  Rakes (Hastings, NE), 13. Brandon Horton (Omaha, NE), 14. Dan Satriano (Papillion, NE), 15. Ron Love (Lincoln, NE), 16. Matt Richards (Lincoln, NE), 17. Ryan King (Bennet, NE), 18. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln, NE), 19. Chase Weiler (Lincoln, NE), 20. Jason Martin (Lincoln, NE)

B Feature:

1. Gene Ackland (Martell, NE), 2. Shon Pointer (Grand Island, NE), 3. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln, NE), 4. Mike Boston (Lincoln, NE), 5. Chase Weiler (Lincoln, NE), 6. Nate Weiler (Omaha, NE), 7. Dwight Carter (Lincoln, NE), 8. Jason Becker (Seward, NE)

Heat 1:

1. Trevor Grossenbacher (Hickman, NE), 2. Joey Danley (Lincoln, NE), 3. Clint Benson (Papillion, NE), 4. Jason  Rakes (Hastings, NE), 5. Ryan King (Bennet, NE), 6. Keith Dragoo (Lincoln, NE), 7. Gene Ackland (Martell, NE), 8. Mike Boston (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 2:

1. Matt Richards (Lincoln, NE), 2. Jason Martin (Lincoln, NE), 3. Dan Satriano (Papillion, NE), 4. Adam Gullion (Lincoln, NE), 5. Toby Chapman (Panama, NE), 6. Jason Becker (Seward, NE), 7. Dwight Carter (Lincoln, NE), 8. Nate Weiler (Omaha, NE)

Heat 3:

1. Shayle Bade (Lincoln, ne), 2. Ron Love (Lincoln, NE), 3. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 4. Terry Richards (Denton, NE), 5. Brandon Horton (Omaha, NE), 6. Chase Weiler (Lincoln, NE), 7. Shon Pointer (Grand Island, NE)

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