Saturday Portion of RaceSaver Nationals victory goes to Drueke, Bubak wins Race of Champions
By Greg Soukup
The weather could hardly have been better Saturday evening for the second night of the IMCA Sprint Car Racesaver Nationals, presented by Precise Racing Products. A very large crowd was treated to a full pit area that gave them the fast and furious competition that they craved.
Unfortunately, in the 7th heat race for the Racesaver Sprints John Webster’s #9 got over the cushion in turns 1 and 2, rode along the Armco barrier and came to a hard stop at the entrance to the track. He was transported to a local hospital for observation. As of the time of this article, no further word is available.
The first A Feature was for the Racesaver Sprints. Joey Danley’s 14 was first back to the flag stand with Tyler Drueke in the 12, Toby Chapman’s 40 and the 21 of Michelle Melton rounding out the top 4. Danley dropped to the infield on lap 12, moving the 2D of Dusty Ballenger into fourth. Ballenger moved up to third after 2 more laps. There were 10 laps remaining when Tim Benson’s #100 slowed on the front stretch, bringing out a caution. Ballenger got past Chapman on the restart to take second. Cody Ledger moved the 47 into the fourth spot with 8 to go and took over third the next time around. The final change in the top 4 came with 3 laps left when Stu Snyder put the 5S into fourth. The top 4 were Drueke, Ballenger, Ledger and Snyder. Ledger was disqualified in post-race tech for refusing to tech. That moved Luke Cranston’s 11C into fourth. Joining the top four to fill rows 4 through 6 Sunday for the finale were Chapman, Bradley Starrett, Melton, Adam Gullion and Kevin Ramey.
Drueke secured the 10th starting spot for tonight’s main event. “We lost a few spots because of the magneto points giving up last night, causing us to fall out running sixth. But, finishing first tonight was the best that we could do, and starting 10th Sunday was the best we could hope for. We got the job done though” he stated. I asked if he had a chance for the win Sunday he said “I don’t know; we’re going to have to get this car rolling really good. We tried something in the Race of Champions tonight. But, it’s pretty obvious who the guy to beat is. He’s been the guy to beat all year; he’s been the guy to beat all week, so we’re all playing catch up. We can do it though. We have to have the car darned near perfect and I’ve got to drive 35 perfect laps. Coming from 1oth the track is going to have to be conducive to get guys moving around and mixing it up. If things go our way, we can do it!”.
The Sam’s Club IMCA Sport Modified Feature saw Amber Cook lead the first circuit in the 21 followed by Jacob Swanson’s 31S, the 51 of Mike Scheinost and Roger Sluka in the 5S. Scheinost jumped into the lead on lap 2 as Sluka moved up to third. Cook stopped along the wall on the back stretch the next time around to light the yellow lights in the corners. That moved the 17 of Mary Lenz into fourth. Lenz advanced to third on lap 4 as Shawn Harker cracked the top four in the #40. Lap 9 saw Sluka grab the lead with Harker moving up to third the next time around. Harker took over the second spot with 10 laps left and moved to the lead the next lap when Sluka pulled into the pit entrance in a cloud of steam, apparently having suffered a major cooling system malfunction. That put the 18W of Cole Wayman into fourth. Lenz and Wayman both moved up a spot with 7 to go. The next lap saw the 25B of Buddy Ray Jones and Trevor Noonan’s 66 spin in turns 1 and 2. Matt Andrews put the 22 into fourth with 5 to go, moved up to third the next circuit and took over second after another lap. The final top 4 were Harker, Andrews, Lenz and Wayman.
Asked if this win made up for the previous week where he was leading both the A Feature as well as the points race before suffering a catastrophic engine failure late in the race which cost him both, he said “Yeah. We led the feature for 17 ½ laps and then the motor let go. I thought we were going to coast across the finish line until the yellow came out. We gave it our best last week but couldn’t do much with it. I tell you what; if we could have a track like this every week, it would be great! It was smooth, slick and racey. I mean, it doesn’t get better than this. We know what to do here and how to set up the car, so we’re really happy here”.
The final event was the Jake Ita Memorial Race of Champions. Bradley Starrett led lap 1 in the 23S with Trevor Grossenbacher’s 35 second, Mike Moore’s 69 and the 22 of Kaleb Johnson close behind. Jason Martin vaulted up to third in the 5X the next lap with Johnson holding down fourth. Johnson passed Martin on lap 9 but Martin passed he and Grossenbacher the next circuit to grab second as Jake Bubak put the 74B into fourth. Martin grabbed the lead the next lap. Bubak jumped up to second on lap 13 as Starrett fell to third and Grossenbacher moved to fourth. Bubak passed Martin with 10 to go to take the lead. Johnson’s car jumped over the turn 1 wall with 7 to go and landed against the catch fence. He was not seriously injured but was unable to continue. On the restart Jake Martens made a huge move, vaulting the 48 all the way into third. That made the final top 4 Bubak, Martin, Martens and Starrett.
That was Bubak’s second victory on the weekend, so I asked if he was going to make it 3 for 3. He said “I sure hope so! I know we’ve got the car to do it, so I just have to make 35 good laps tomorrow night. Jason is going to be tough though, and there’s lots of others who are going to be tough too that we need to watch out for. Jason is a tough competitor and I know we can race each other clean. We’ve done that all year long. It seems like a lot of these races have come down to him and I, so I kind of expect the same thing tomorrow night”.
RESULTS:
IMCA SportMod A-Feature 1. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 2. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 3. Mary Lenz Elmwood, Ne. 4. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 5. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 6. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 7. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 8. Joe Feyen Plattsmouth, Ne. 9. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 10. Lane Cornwell Newman Brave, Ne. 11. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 12. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 13. Buddy Ray Jones 14. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 15. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 16. Tyler Harr Ashland, Ne. 17. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 18. Roger Sluka Lincoln, Ne. 19. Jacob Slough 20. Jacob Swanson
IMCA SportMod B-Feature 1. Buddy Ray Jones 2. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 3. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 4. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 5. Noah Williams Ashland, Ne. 6. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne. 7. Brock Curtis Papillion, Ne. 8. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 9. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 10. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 11. Brandon Lewis 12. Michael Towle Douglas, Ne. 13. Kyle Trout Bellevue, Ne. DNS. Daniel Morris(r) Bellevue, Ne. DNS. Melissa Knecht(r) Omaha, Ne. DNS. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne. DNS. Terry Callender Lincoln, Ne.
IMCA SportMod Heat 1 1. Gary Saathoff Beatrice, Ne. 2. Jacob Swanson 3. Amber Cook Lincoln, Ne. 4. Lane Cornwell Newman Brave, Ne. 5. Michael Towle Douglas, Ne. 6. Nick Morris Bellevue, Ne. 7. Brock Curtis Papillion, Ne. 8. Braydon Latture Omaha, Ne. 9. Breanna Pfanstiel Lincoln, Ne.
IMCA SportMod Heat 2 1. Trevor Noonan Dorchester, Ne. 2. Mary Lenz Elmwood, Ne. 3. Roger Sluka Lincoln, Ne. 4. Jacob Slough 5. Rich Flock Malcolm, Ne. 6. Jeremy Down Nebraska City, Ne. 7. James Hines Bellevue, Ne. 8. Melissa Knecht(r) Omaha, Ne.
IMCA SportMod Heat 3 1. Cole Wayman Lincoln, Ne. 2. Shawn Harker Nebraska City, Ne. 3. Mike Scheinost Ceresco, Ne. 4. Gunnar Pike South Bend, Ne. 5. Buddy Ray Jones 6. Kyle Trout Bellevue, Ne. 7. Daniel Morris(r) Bellevue, Ne. DNS. Terry Callender Lincoln, Ne.
IMCA SportMod Heat 4 1. Matthew Andrews Malcolm, Ne. 2. Joe Feyen Plattsmouth, Ne. 3. Adam Vrbka Eagle, Ne. 4. Tyler Harr Ashland, Ne. 5. Dion Kovar Rising City, Ne. 6. Noah Williams Ashland, Ne. 7. Shawn Davis Burr, Ne. 8. Brandon Lewis
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint A-Feature 1. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 2. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 3. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 4. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 5. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 6. Bradley Sterrett(r) Bloomington, In. 7. Michelle Melton Flower Mound, Tx. 8. Adam Gullion Lincoln, Ne. 9. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 10. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 11. Jason Howell Fort Worth, Tx. 12. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 13. Dustin Stroup Fremont, Oh. 14. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 15. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 16. Jacob Harris Vidor, Tx. 17. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 18. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 19. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. DQ. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint B-Feature 1. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 2. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 3. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 4. Jacob Harris Vidor, Tx. 5. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 6. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 7. Mike Moore Des Moines, Ia. 8. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 9. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 10. Dustin Stroup Fremont, Oh. 11. Keith Martin Burleson, Tx. 12. Ken Potter Harrisonville, Mo. 13. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 14. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 15. Chad Koch Lincoln, Ne. 16. Tyler Harris Vidor, Tx.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint C-Feature 1. Doug Lovegrove Waverly, Ne. 2. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 3. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 4. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 5. Keith Martin Burleson, Tx. 6. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 7. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx. 8. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 9. Brett Becker Odessa, Tx. 10. Brooklyn Holland Fresno, Ca. 11. Tyler Thompson Des Moines, Ia. 12. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 13. Jacob Gomola Seneca, Pa. 14. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint D-Feature 1. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 2. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 3. Brett Becker Odessa, Tx. 4. Tyler Thompson Des Moines, Ia. 5. Austin McLean Loveland, Co. 6. Kade Higday Burleson, Tx. 7. Colby Estes Mansfield, Tx. 8. Dustyn Welch Bryan, Tx. 9. Brandon Anderson Glenpool, Ok. 10. Steven Richardson Liberal, Ks. 11. Brandon Allen St Peter, Mn. 12. Joe Wood Jr New Castle, Ok. 13. Robert Vetter Wolfe City, Tx. 14. Dj Estes Mansfield, Tx.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint E-Feature 1. Steven Richardson Liberal, Ks. 2. Dj Estes Mansfield, Tx. 3. Joe Wood Jr New Castle, Ok. 4. Brandon Anderson Glenpool, Ok. 5. Blake Mallory Joshua, Tx. 6. Chase Brewer Waxahachie, Tx. 7. Trey Burke League City, Tx. 8. Danny Nekolite O’neill, Ne. 9. Claud Estes Iii Godley, Tx. 10. Jeremy Schultz Stewart, Mn. 11. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 12. Ryan Hall Midlothian, Tx. 13. Nate Johnson Hastings, Ne. 14. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint F-Feature 1. Claud Estes Iii Godley, Tx. 2. Trey Burke League City, Tx. 3. Nate Johnson Hastings, Ne. 4. Danny Nekolite O’neill, Ne. 5. Rod Henning Middleton, Oh. 6. Jack Potter Lees Summit, Mo. 7. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 8. Brant Obanion Viborg, Sd. 9. Randy Sterling Morrisdale, Pa. 10. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 11. Gary Kelley Ardmore, Ok. 12. Larry Neighbors Oklahoma City, Ok. 13. Johnny Brown Jr. Orange, Tx. 14. Rick Hansen Omaha, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint G-Feature 1. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 2. Rod Henning Middleton, Oh. 3. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 4. Larry Neighbors Oklahoma City, Ok. 5. Brandon Bosma Round Lake, Mn. 6. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 7. Daren Bolac Moyock, Nc. 8. Jerrad Warhurst Joshua, Tx. 9. Dewayne White Byhalia, Ms. 10. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 11. Jerald Harris Harrisonburg, Va. 12. Casey Merrell Springtown, Tx. 13. Andrew Jackson Fremont, Ne. 14. Charlie Ware Hallieford, Va.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint H-Feature 1. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne. 2. Keith Dragoo Greenwood, Ne. 3. Dewayne White Byhalia, Ms. 4. Jerald Harris Harrisonburg, Va. 5. Bruce Allen Mankato, Mn. 6. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne. 7. Ryan Navratil East Des Moines, Ia. DNS. Joe Miller Vail, Ia. DNS. Blake Dacus Fletcher, Ok. DNS. John Webster North Platte, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 1 1. Jason Howell Fort Worth, Tx. 2. Trey Gropp Lincoln, Ne. 3. Nathan Weiler Lavista, Ne. 4. Robert Vetter Wolfe City, Tx. 5. Jeremy Schultz Stewart, Mn. 6. Nate Johnson Hastings, Ne. 7. Daren Bolac Moyock, Nc. 8. Jason Miller Omaha, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 2 1. Bradley Sterrett(r) Bloomington, In. 2. Dustin Stroup Fremont, Oh. 3. Taylor Courtney Fort Worth, Tx. 4. Kade Higday Burleson, Tx. 5. Steven Richardson Liberal, Ks. 6. Randy Sterling Morrisdale, Pa. 7. Rod Henning Middleton, Oh. 8. Ryan Navratil East Des Moines, Ia.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 3 1. Michelle Melton Flower Mound, Tx. 2. Stuart Snyder Lincoln, Ne. 3. Mark Vanderheiden Papillion, Ne. 4. Austin McLean Loveland, Co. 5. Dj Estes Mansfield, Tx. 6. Johnny Brown Jr. Orange, Tx. 7. Jerrad Warhurst Joshua, Tx. 8. Josh Riggins Lincoln, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 4 1. Toby Chapman Panama, Ne. 2. Ryan King Bennet, Ne. 3. Brooklyn Holland Fresno, Ca. 4. Brett Becker Odessa, Tx. 5. Dwight Carter Lincoln, Ne. 6. Rick Hansen Omaha, Ne. 7. Larry Neighbors Oklahoma City, Ok. 8. Joe Miller Vail, Ia.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 5 1. Cody Ledger Omaha, Ne. 2. Ken Potter Harrisonville, Mo. 3. Clint Benson Papillion, Ne. 4. Mike Boston Lincoln, Ne. 5. Joe Wood Jr New Castle, Ok. 6. Trey Burke League City, Tx. 7. Gene Ackland Martell, Ne. 8. Blake Dacus Fletcher, Ok.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 6 1. Luke Cranston Holcomb, Ks. 2. Chad Koch Lincoln, Ne. 3. Keith Martin Burleson, Tx. 4. Dustyn Welch Bryan, Tx. 5. Chase Brewer Waxahachie, Tx. 6. Claud Estes Iii Godley, Tx. 7. Charlie Ware Hallieford, Va. 8. Dewayne White Byhalia, Ms.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 7 1. Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, Sd. 2. Jacob Harris Vidor, Tx. 3. Jacob Gomola Seneca, Pa. 4. Neil Nickolite Bellwood, Ne. 5. Ryan Hall Midlothian, Tx. 6. Gary Kelley Ardmore, Ok. 7. Brandon Bosma Round Lake, Mn. 8. John Webster North Platte, Ne.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 8 1. Joey Danley Lincoln, Ne. 2. Kevin Ramey Fort Worth, Tx. 3. Chase Weiler Lincoln, Ne. 4. Colby Estes Mansfield, Tx. 5. Brandon Horton Waterloo, Ne. 6. Brant Obanion Viborg, Sd. 7. Casey Merrell Springtown, Tx. 8. Jerald Harris Harrisonburg, Va.
RaceSaver Nationals Sprint Heat 9 1. Tyler Drueke Eagle, Ne. 2. Tyler Harris Vidor, Tx. 3. Shon Pointer Grand Island, Ne. 4. Tyler Thompson Des Moines, Ia. 5. Brandon Anderson Glenpool, Ok. 6. Jack Potter Lees Summit, Mo. 7. Nick Bryan Lincoln, Ne. 8. Bruce Allen Mankato, Mn.