August 6, 2023 | By Greg Soukup

Grossenbacher, Anderson headline at Eagle Raceway

Eagle, NE —  Saturday at Eagle Raceway saw the crowd greeted by sunny skies and the usual August humidity as they filed in for Rock ‘N Roll Classic night presented by A1 Iron, the Nebraska Lottery and Demon Decals. 80’s music, a mullet contest at intermission accompanied by kid’s bike races kept the fun going during the few down times of racing action.

The A1 Iron IMCA Stock Car main event saw Gary Laflin’s 9 out front on lap 1 with the 6 of Jeremy Down second, Dylan Haney in the 12X third and Dillon Richards’ 24R rounding out the top 4. Richards passed Down for third on lap 2. Bob Ruisinger also got past Down on lap 3 to move to fourth. Haney snagged the lead the next time around. Marty Steinbach advanced to fourth in his 5ELI after another lap. Lap 7 saw the first caution of the race when Travis Patterson looped his 17TK on the front stretch. Richards took over the second spot on lap 8 and passed Haney for the lead the following circuit but had that pass negated when Dan Jackson’s 3 came to a halt in turns 1 & 2 before being towed to the pits. 9 laps to go saw Jerod Bussen’s 71JJ spin coming out of turn 2 for another halt in the action. The restart saw Steinbach pass Ruisinger for third as Richards took over the lead. Steinbach advanced to second with 5 to go. The action slowed again 2 laps later when Matt Boucher’s 5B stopped at the bottom of turn 2. Haney stopped at the top of turn 3 also and was pushed to the pits. That made the top 4 Richards, Steinbach, Laflin and Ruisinger. 1 lap after the restart saw Nathan Landauer put the 11N into fourth. At the checkers it was Richards, Steinbach, Laflin and Landauer.

I told Dillon he got a good run tonight for his fifth win of the 2023 season . He said “Yeah, it was pretty good. We finally got the car freed up enough that I could run anywhere I wanted to tonight. It was really good tonight, and I’ll take the win. I want to thank Roger for giving us a hell of a racetrack, giving us a place to race. Racine and all of the others who do what they do to make it possible to race”. Dillon’s sponsors include JGR, CPD Shocks, S&L Trenching and Fester’s Bait and Tackle.

The Avid Realty IMCA Sportmods were up next. Austin Jochum led lap 1 in the 3J, Dion Kovar put the 18 into second, Amber Cook held third in the 9 with Matt Andrews taking up the fourth spot in the 22. Drake Bohlmeyer’s 24 stopped at the top of turn 3 on lap 2 for a caution as he was towed pit side. Andrews used the restart to pass Cook for third and then moved up to second place the following lap. Shawn Pospisil also passed Cook for fourth on lap 5. Terry Richards’ 18X and the 6A of Adam Armstrong got together on lap 6, ending up collecting the 7X of Lauren Cook in turn 4. Andrews snagged the lead on the restart after Jochum bobbled in turn 4. Jochum again bobbled on lap 8, falling back to fifth as Adam Vrbka put the 7V into fourth and Pospisil moved up to third. 8 to go saw Pospisil take over second from Kovar. The next circuit Vrbka got spun to the infield after contact with Jochum and the yellow flag came out. Jochum suffered a broken tie rod in the incident and went to the pits. That allowed Cook to move back into fourth. Josh Pfeifer passed Cook on the restart to put the 33J into fourth before moving up to third the following circuit. Joe Feyen joined the fray with 4 to go, moving the 25! Into fourth. Gary Saathoff made contact with Cook, causing her to spin out in turn 4 collecting McLain Reed’s 44, Vrbka and Dana Deeke’s 36. Saathoff was sent to the rear of the field. No changes in the top 4 made Andrews the winner, Pospisil second, Pfeifer third and Feyen fourth.

This was Matt’s fifth victory of the season. He stated “I tried biding my time, seeing how the track was going to end up. I saw a gap and finally went for it and started going like hell from there. I want to thank my father-in-law, brother-in-law and my Dad. We rolled a car a couple weeks ago, stripped it and built this one. We’ve been chasing it since but finally got her where she needs to be and got the win”. Matt’s sponsors include John Bonta Skytop Towers, Raymond Contracting, Big Red Lawn Care, All Pro, PBS Rentals and Strategic EMS.
The Nebraska Lottery IMCA Modified Feature saw a battle of the Andersens as Dustin Andersen put the 8A out front of lap 1 with Chad Andersen’s 8C second, the 3J Jeremy Baker third and Brandon Verbeek’s 4B fourth. Chad passed his brother for the lead on lap 5. Anthony Roth joined the fray with 9 laps left, passing Verbeek for fourth and got past Baker with 5 to go. Despite furious attempts by Dustin, he could not catch Chad. The final top 4 were Chad, Dustin, Roth and Baker.

This marked back to back wins by Chad. Chad said “We just kind of found something. We’ve been hitting on a set-up that we really like. We struggled for a little while there but we’re getting back to our old days and old ways here at Eagle Raceway. Starting position always helps after those bad nights, but starting third row definitely helps to get the win on a track like we had tonight. I felt like I was really aggressive on the start with my brother starting on the front row with an open motor. I figured that if I could get to him and try to cross him up, throw some sliders, have some fun and kill his momentum a little bit I could get him out of rhythm before he got up on the cushion I might be able to sneak away with the win. I think that it worked out that way; I got to the lead and as long as I didn’t make any mistakes I was good. We had something to prove”. Chad’s sponsors include Dinker’s Bar and Grill, Bobcat of Omaha, Big Red Towing, Countryside Contracting, Paddy McGown’s Pub and Grill, Razor Chassis, Logeman Auto Parts and Machine, Five Star Frameworks, Only Pro Decaling, Flatfoot Trucking, Utility Trenching, Continental Battery Systems, Jerovetz Motorsports, Ben and Kathy and Jake and April.

Lap 1 of the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock A saw Fletcher Petersen’s 33 in the lead with Tyler Jackson second in the 13T, Jeff Watts third in the 66 and the 39 of Khrysta Stransky fourth. Stransky passed Watts for third on lap 2. Jackson moved to the lead on lap 7. Dan Markham’s #6 stopped at the bottom of turn 4 with 10 to go for a caution. Petersen regained the lead on the restart but went extremely high in turn 4 with a flat right front tire but made it to the pits allowing the action to continue. In the melee that occurred behind him Jackson again was out front followed by the 00J of John Martinez, Tanner Dowty’s 7T and the 66G of Kyle Gannon. Gannon moved to third the next time around. Dave Carter spun the 2C to the infield with 5 to go and the yellow lights were lit in the corners. Ryan Gilland passed Dowty on the restart to put the 46 into fourth. At
the finish it was Jackson, Martinez, Gannon and Gilland.

This was just the second victory for Tyler this season and second since almost a year ago kidded Tyler that this year for him has either been the penthouse or the outhouse, to which he replied in his usual low key voice “Mmm Hmm. I got lucky and started on the front row. The 33 gave me a pretty good hard run tonight but it looks like he broke. I got the lead and the 00J showed his nose a couple of times so I just stood on it. The car wasn’t really that great tonight but those restarts really helped”. Tyler’s sponsors include Ace Electric, Central States Hydraulics and Central Body Shop.

The final race of the night was a real barnburner!! Doug Lovegrove put the 55 in front of lap 1 of the Twin Rivers IMCA Racesaver Sprint Car A Feature. Tim Hilfiker’s 20, the 100 of Clint Benson and Cole Wayman in the 18W rounded out the top 4. Hilfiker spun to the infield on lap 2 but kept going. However, the yellow flag flew to slow the action. That moved the 5A of Andrew Jackson into fourth. Tyler Drueke passed Jackson on the restart to put the #12 into fourth. Wayman advanced to second place on lap 3. Wayman took the lead away from Lovegrove on lap 5 but the pass was called off when Bret Klabunde spun coming out of turn 2. Drueke passed Benson for third on the restart. Wayman again took the lead from Lovegrove on lap 6 with Drueke also passing Lovegrove the next time around. Alex Davenport spun out in turn 2 on lap 14 to again slow the action. Galusha passed Lovegrove on the restart to take third. Wayman spun on the front stretch with just 10 circuits left. In the ensuing jumble Drueke held the lead with Galusha second, Trevor Grossenbacher’s 35 third and the 91 of Adam Gullion fourth. Grossenbacher was on a mission as he passed Galusha for second with 6 to go. There were just 2 laps left when Josh Riggins spun out in turn 2, setting up a battle to the finish between Grossenbacher and Drueke. Grossenbacher used a huge slider in 3 & 4 on the restart to grab the lead as Gullion moved up to third. Grossenbacher held on for the win with Drueke second, Gullion third and Galusha fourth.

This was Trevor’s first win of the 2023 season as he is on a hit or miss schedule. The victory came after starting 17th. He said “Everybody was kind of 2-wide at the start and I couldn't get my momentum going. Then we had a yellow and was able to get up top to where I wanted to be. I started moving forward and found the bottom in 3 and 4. The yellows kind of fell my way and that one with 2 to go was HUGE! I knew that if I could keep up with Tyler in 1 and 2 that I would have a shot at getting him on the bottom of 3 and 4. It worked out and I couldn’t be happier. My crew gave me a great race car tonight and the Speedway Motors engine ran good. Thanks to all of my sponsors who allow me to do this. We haven’t raced much this year, but we’re making it count”. Trevor’s sponsors include Stop ‘N Shop, Muehling Financial, Fast Trak Farms, Husker Diesel, Buda Concrete, Greg’s Masonry, Cornhusker Heating and Air Conditioning, W.C.’s South, Mark Burch and Team Jack, Icon Pistons, Speedway Motors Race Engines, Ron Fox Motorsports and Zamp.

Next Saturday is Junior Fan Club Night, presented by Twin Rivers, Empire Fence and Mom’s Popcorn.

Adult front gate admission is $15 and those 12 and under get in free. There will be kids’ car rides at intermission. Blinky the Clown will be in the courtyard and there will be face painting as well.

Front gates open at 5:15. All 5 classes will be competing including the Twin
Rivers Sprint Cars, Nebraska Lottery Modifieds, Avid Realty SportMods, A1 Iron Stock Cars & Valentino’s Hobby Stocks. Track, State, Regional & National Points for all classes.

Hot laps kick off at 5:30 with racing at 6:30.

Pit gates open at 3:45 with pit admission being $30.

RESULTS:

Hobby Stock-IMCA A-Feature

1. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 2. John Martinez Beatrice, Ne. 3. Kyle Gannon Lincoln, Ne. 4. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 5. Adam Wasserman Fairbury, Ne. 6. Tanner Dowty Fremont, Ne. 7. Nick Ronnebaum(r) 8. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne. 9. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 10. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 11. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne. 12. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 13. Ian Roschewski Beatrice, Ne. 14. David Carter Fremont, Ne. 15. Dawson Kubes Fairbury, Ne. 16. Brandon Fisher Lincoln, Ne. 17. Dave Blanton Bellevue, Ne. 18. Fletcher Petersen Lincoln, Ne. 19. Trenton Dowty Fremont, Ne. 20. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne.

Hobby Stock-IMCA Heat 1

1. Fletcher Petersen Lincoln, Ne. 2. Tyler Jackson Lincoln, Ne. 3. Kyle Gannon Lincoln, Ne. 4. Trenton Dowty Fremont, Ne. 5. Adam Wasserman Fairbury, Ne. 6. Neil Pella Adams, Ne. 7. Dawson Kubes Fairbury, Ne.

Hobby Stock-IMCA Heat 2

1. John Martinez Beatrice, Ne. 2. Khrysta Stransky Lincoln, Ne. 3. Tanner Dowty Fremont, Ne. 4. Ryan Gilland Sterling, Ne. 5. Brad Schreiner Weeping Water, Ne. 6. Ian Roschewski Beatrice, Ne. 7. Dave Blanton Bellevue, Ne.

Hobby Stock-IMCA Heat 3

1. Dan Markham Plattsmouth, Ne. 2. Brandon Fisher Lincoln, Ne. 3. Ben Becher Lincoln, Ne. 4. Jeff Watts Beatrice, Ne. 5. Nick Ronnebaum(r) 6. David Carter Fremont, Ne.

Modified-IMCA A-Feature

1. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 2. Dustin Andersen Omaha, Ne. 3. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 4. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 5. Brandon Verbeek Lincoln, Ne. 6. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 7. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 8. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 9. Cole Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 10. Scott Bivens Elmwood, Ne. 11. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. 12. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne. 13. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 14. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne.

Modified-IMCA Heat 1

1. Dustin Andersen Omaha, Ne. 2. Jeremy Baker Nebraska City, Ne. 3. Anthony Roth Columbus, Ne. 4. Brandon Verbeek Lincoln, Ne. 5. Chad Andersen Ft Calhoun, Ne. 6. Jared Deterding Lincoln, Ne. 7. Clint Homan Bellevue, Ne. 8. Cole Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne.

Modified-IMCA Heat 2

1. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 2. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 3. Aaron Pella Lincoln, Ne. 4. Scott Bivens Elmwood, Ne. 5. Terry Hurt Ft. Calhoun, Ne. 6. Sean Manning Bennington, Ne. 7. Norm Ziegenbein Lincoln, Ne.

SportMod-IMCA A-Feature

1. Matt Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 2. Shawn Pospisil Lincoln, Ne. 3. Josh Pfeifer St. Paul, Ne. 4. Joe Feyen Plattsmouth, Ne. 5. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 6. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 7. Terry Richards Denton, Ne. 8. Trevor Noonan Lincoln, Ne. 9. Jacob Swanson Lincoln, Ne. 10. Dana Deeke Waverly, Ne. 11. Lauren Cook Lincoln, Ne. 12. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 13. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 14. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 15. McLain Reed Lincoln, Ne. 16. Austin Jochum(r) Roca, Ne. 17. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 18. Mason Richards(r) Denton, Ne. 19. Adam Armstrong Pickrell, Ne. 20. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne.

SportMod-IMCA B-Feature

1. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 2. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 3. Jacob Swanson Lincoln, Ne. 4. McLain Reed Lincoln, Ne. 5. Robert Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 6. Theron Ahlman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 8. Mike Leonard Fremont, Ne. 9. Daniel Latture Omaha, Ne. 10. A.j. Oaks Lincoln, Ne. 11. Brady Papineau(r) Lincoln, Ne. 12. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne.

SportMod-IMCA C-Feature

1. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 2. Mike Leonard Fremont, Ne. 3. A.j. Oaks Lincoln, Ne. 4. Theron Ahlman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 5. Melissa Latture Omaha, Ne. 6. Richard Flock Malcolm, Ne. DNS. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Tyler Deeke Waverly, Ne.

SportMod-IMCA Heat 1

1. Austin Jochum(r) Roca, Ne. 2. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 3. Josh Pfeifer St. Paul, Ne. 4. Lauren Cook Lincoln, Ne. 5. Jacob Swanson Lincoln, Ne. 6. Brady Papineau(r) Lincoln, Ne. 7. A.j. Oaks Lincoln, Ne. 8. Derek Hall Lincoln, Ne.

SportMod-IMCA Heat 2

1. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 2. Mason Richards(r) Denton, Ne. 3. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 4. Adam Armstrong Pickrell, Ne. 5. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 6. McLain Reed Lincoln, Ne. 7. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 8. Melissa Latture Omaha, Ne.

SportMod-IMCA Heat 3

1. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 2. Shawn Pospisil Lincoln, Ne. 3. Terry Richards Denton, Ne. 4. Dana Deeke Waverly, Ne. 5. Drake Bohlmeyer Beatrice, Ne. 6. Daniel Latture Omaha, Ne. 7. Theron Ahlman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 8. Tyler Deeke Waverly, Ne.

SportMod-IMCA Heat 4

1. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 2. Matt Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 3. Joe Feyen Plattsmouth, Ne. 4. Trevor Noonan Lincoln, Ne. 5. Bryce Walker Omaha, Ne. 6. Robert Draper Valparaiso, Ne. 7. Mike Leonard Fremont, Ne. 8. Richard Flock Malcolm, Ne.

Sprint-IMCA A-Feature

1. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne. 2. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 3. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 4. Jake Galusha Lincoln, Ne. 5. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 6. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 7. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 8. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 9. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 10. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne. 11. Bret Klabunde Omaha, Ne. 12. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 13. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 14. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 15. Cole Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 16. Dominic Dobesh Brookings, Sd. 17. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. DNS. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne.

Sprint-IMCA Heat 1

1. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 2. Jake Galusha Lincoln, Ne. 3. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 4. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 5. Bret Klabunde Omaha, Ne. 6. Ryan Kitchen Seward, Ne.

Sprint-IMCA Heat 2

1. Tim Hilfiker Greenwood, Ne. 2. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 3. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 4. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 5. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 6. Trevor Grossenbacher Panama, Ne.

Sprint-IMCA Heat 3

1. Cole Wayman(r) Lincoln, Ne. 2. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 3. Jason Danley Lincoln, Ne. 4. Alex Davenport Lincoln, Ne. 5. Dominic Dobesh Brookings, Sd. DNS. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne.

Stock Car-IMCA A-Feature

1. Dillon Richards(r) Wymore, Ne. 2. Marty Steinbach Fremont, Ne. 3. Gary Laflin Beatrice, Ne. 4. Nathan Landauer Davey, Ne. 5. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. 6. Eric Rempel Lincoln, Ne. 7. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne. 8. John Meyer Odell, Ne. 9. Travis Patterson Ashland, Ne. 10. Jakob Boucher(r) Murdock, Ne. 11. Matt Boucher Murdock, Ne. 12. Dylan Haney Fremont, Ne. 13. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 14. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne. 15. Jerod Bussen Fremont, Ne. 16. Dan Jackson Ceresco, Ne.

Stock Car-IMCA Heat 1

1. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne. 2. Bob Ruisinger Bennet, Ne. 3. Nathan Landauer Davey, Ne. 4. Matt Boucher Murdock, Ne. 5. Dylan Haney Fremont, Ne. 6. John Meyer Odell, Ne. 7. Jerod Bussen Fremont, Ne. DQ. Nick Beckman Lincoln, Ne.

Stock Car-IMCA Heat 2

1. Gary Laflin Beatrice, Ne. 2. Dan Jackson Ceresco, Ne. 3. Dillon Richards(r) Wymore, Ne. 4. Nate Thompson Fremont, Ne. 5. Marty Steinbach Fremont, Ne. 6. Travis Patterson Ashland, Ne. 7. Eric Rempel Lincoln, Ne. 8. Jakob Boucher(r) Murdock, Ne.