SMITH, ARMSTRONG, HALVORSEN & GROSSENBACHER VICTORS AT FREEDOM FEST
Greg Soukup
(06/29/09)
Take a great crowd, add in a great car count and even greater racing and you have Freedom Fest, sponsored by Jack Daniels at Americas Home Track Eagle Raceway Saturday evening as we honored all military, fire & rescue and police personnel.
There was one minor incident in the heat races when Jeremy Noonan got turned coming out of turn 4 and ended up with an easy rollover and then backed into the front stretch wall.
The first lap of the Monster IMCA Modified Feature race was called back when Doug Deterdings #13 and another car came to a halt in turns 1 & 2, bringing out the caution. As the first official lap was completed Justin Jurgens 22J, Bob Ruisinger in the 7, the S56 of Scott Bivens, the 27 of Clint Homan and Lance Borgmans 76 were the top 5. The second lap saw Clint Homan spin out in turn 2 and Dan Nelsons 94 get hooked to the 18 of Terry Richards and they came to a halt on the back stretch. Stacey Wilhelm used the restart to jump up to fourth. The next time around Johnny Saathoffs 96J vaulted all the way up to the 3rd spot right behind Bivens who had moved up to second as Wilhelm also got around Ruisinger. Saathoff moved past Bivens on the next circuit, only to come to a halt in turn four with rear suspension problems. When Saathoff went to the pits it allowed Jordan Grabouski to advance to 4th. Dylan Smith was the next to make a big move as he leapfrogged both Grabouski and Wilhelm to garner third with Grabouski tailing him around Wilhelm to retain fourth. With 10 laps left Jurgens suffered a flat right rear tire and brought out the yellow flag. He hurried into the pits and was able to rejoin the pack at the rear before the green flew again. Grabouski needed two laps before taking second from Bivens as Smith also advanced to grab the lead. Borgman remained in fourth, setting the stage for the hardest fought contest of the race. With Bivens running high and Borgman taking the low line the two fought tooth and nail all the way to the checkers, neither one moving out of his line and swapping the two positions repeatedly. With two to go Ruisinger and Jurgens came to a stop in turn 1, resulting in Jurgens being black-flagged for his second stoppage of the action. The top four spots were unchanged at the finish with Smith winning, Grabouski second, Bivens taking third narrowly and Borgman having to settle for fourth. Smith and Grabouski are now tied for the points lead.
The track was really different tonight, dry slick in one & two and tacky in three and four. I had to muscle the car in 3 & 4 to let it work in 1 & 2. I missed a few crashes and worked my way to the front, holding off Grabouski for the win Dylan said. Dylans sponsors include Eckley Racing Engines, Jet Racing, Active Life Family Chiropractic. I want to say thanks to Mike & Lisa Goecke my car owners, Kyle Schamp, and especially Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.
The Valentinos IMCA Hobby Stocks were up next. Keith Dragoo lead lap 1 in his 77D with Josh Kennells 71K second, Joe Ryans 32 third and the 33 of Eric Hanson rounding out the top four. On the second lap Kennell took the lead, Hanson grabbed second and Roy Armstrong moved to third in his 6R. Lap three saw Nick Beckmans 22 move up to fourth. The caution was displayed on lap 5 when Murray Haugens #8 spun out in turn two. Armstrong took advantage of the racers being bunched up to take over second on the restart lap and then snagged the lead the next time around. He and Kennell swapped positions for quite awhile before Armstrong managed to take a slight lead. There were 6 laps left when Hanson grabbed second and Beckman came up to third the next lap. There were 4 circuits remaining when the B4 of Ben Becher spun in turn 2. The order at that time was Armstrong, Hanson, Beckman and Kennell. Beckman moved up to second with 2 laps left as RJ Macku moved into 4th. After the white flag flew Dragoo spun out in 2 causing a green/white/checkered finish. On the last lap Macku came up to finish third. The finish saw Armstrong with the victory, Beckman in second, Macku in third and Hanson fourth. As the top 4 entered the tech area Derick Noonan claimed Armstrongs engine. In order to keep the win and the points Armstrong accepted the claim.
Ive had bad luck the last two weeks here, not even finishing the A, and I figured that I had turned my luck around until I got claimed. When I headed here tonight I just wanted to finish the race, but I got a couple of breaks and got to the front Armstrong stated. He concluded the interview by saying I want to thank the Tuttle bunch for helping me out every week and the Borgman crew too. I was here alone tonight, but my friends here at the track really helped me out . Armstrongs only sponsors are his sister Bonnie and her friend Diane.
As the Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compacts turned their first lap the right front tire came off of a racecar, forcing a complete restart. The 32J of Jeff Davis was the first to lead a lap with the 3s of Ricky Harris in second and Garrett Rechs 55 in third. Rech grabbed the point on lap two. As the pack came around into the first turn on lap three Jack Prall IIIs 45 was the meat in the middle of the sandwich as he had Joey Danleys 14 outside of him and Harris was underneath him. All three cars came to a halt after Prall was forced up onto two wheels and Harris hit the wall hard. That made the running order Rech, Davis and Adam Vrbkas 7V in third. With 11 laps left Vrbka moved past Davis and the next time around Elliot Halvorsen grabbed fourth. One more lap was in the books when Vrbkas steering went out on him as he collected Rech. Vrbkas racer hit the wall very hard and he left behind the tow truck with Rech joining him in the pits. Davis was in first, Halvorsen second, Mary Lenzs 17 third and the 95C of Bob Cigelman in fourth. John Sedlacek snagged the fourth position with 7 left and Halvorsen took the lead on the next lap. At the finish it was Halvorsen, Davis, Lenz and Sedlachek.
I want to thank my dad for helping me out every weekend, Ronnie Schwartman for getting me a new car and all of my family and friends for coming out every weekend. Also, thanks to my Grandma and Grandpa for helping build Eagle Raceway so we can have fun here, and Roger for keeping it open and doing a super job with it Elliot related. Elliots sponsors are JBH Ag and the Corner Cafe.
Trevor Grossenbachers 35AB was the first Budweiser 360 Sprint Car back to the flag in the final A Feature followed by John Klabundes 77, the 8B of Bobby Becker and the 44 of Doug Lovegrove. Becker got around Klabunde on lap two and grabbed second. On lap 6 Mike Boston used the high side of the track in the #88 sprinter to pass Lovegrove. On lap 7 Adam Gullion spun the 96KX to the inside of turn 2 and the yellow flag flew. 2 laps later Boston moved up to third and then to second the next time around with Brad Krutzs 91 following him into third. Grossenbacher and Boston were both flying around the top in turns 1 & 2 while Krutz used the bottom of the track to eventually get around Boston. Both the 35AB and the 88 were running so close to the wall in the first 2 corners that they bounced off of it several times and both were sucked into it coming around turn 2 but suffered only minor damage. Krutz used Bostons misstep to grab second with 5 laps left, but Boston managed to nip him at the flag stand as the checkered flag flew. The top 4 at the finish were Grossenbacher, Boston, Krutz and Becker.
This was my first 360 sprint car win, and Im dedicating it to my friend Anthony Buis who passed away last October; his initials are the AB in my car number Trevor said. I knew Boston was behind me, and I knew I couldnt let what happened last week happen again. I hit the wall in two several times, and the one time I hit it really hard and got sucked into it and ran against it until the backstretch it actually tore out a piece of the wheel lock on my right rear. I really wasnt sure the car was going to hold together, and couldnt believe that my right rear tire didnt end up going flat he continued. He finished the interview by stating I want to thank my family and all of those others who supported me. Without them, racing here and winning just wouldnt be possible . Trevors sponsors include Stop N Shop, GMS Wings, J & M Technologies and Agee Automotive.
After all of the Features were completed, the fans and racers were treated to one of the finest fireworks displays seen at Eagle in many years.
Next week the World of Outlaws make their only appearance at Eagle Raceway this year as Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum presents the Eagle Nationals. The show will also feature the Monster IMCA Modifieds and the Budweiser 360 sprints. Front gate reserved and general admission pricing is $35 for those 13 and up with a pit pass upgrade available for an extra $5, and its just $10 for those 6-12. However, advanced tickets for those 14 and older can still be purchased at Lincoln Hy-Vee stores for only $30, and they include a pit pass. Children 5 and under will be admitted for free, but must have 1 paid adult with each of them.
The pit gate will open at 2 P.M. and the front gate will open at 4 P.M. with racing beginning at 7:30. Pit passes for the 360 sprint and modified teams will be $25 with a limit of 4 passes per car entered. All other pit passes will be $40.
The regular weekly racing season will resume on July 11th as Colby Ridge presents Christmas in July, featuring the Auto Trans Matic IMCA Sport Compact, Valentinos IMCA Hobby Stocks, Monster IMCA Modifieds and Budweiser 360 sprints. People bringing one toy donation for the Toys For Tots will receive $5 off of an adult front gate admission.All children in attendance will receive a gift from Santa Claus.
