We took the trip back to Beatrice Speedway for the 16th running of their fall special this past weekend. We could have hardly asked for any nicer weather. Two complete programs were run each night with Friday being the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Northern SportMods and the IMCA Sport Compacts. Saturday night, the Sport Compacts were replaced with the factory stock class. Ironically, I counted 130 cars in competition each night even with some not returning, new ones appearing, and even with the switching of classes in the Sport Compacts and factory stocks.
Friday night, the features started off with the IMCA Sport Compact class. Scott Spellmeir took the feature win followed by Tyler Fralin, Cameron Meyer, Kenny Roberts and Justice Colson rounded out the top five.
The 20-lap feature for the IMCA Hobby Stocks came next. R.J. Macku, Lincoln, Nebraska took home the trophy tonight, but had challenges by Blain Peterson and Adam Armstrong most of the way home. Peterson out of Essex, Iowa took the runner up spot, hometown boy, Adam Armstrong took third, followed by track champion Shawn Slezak in fourth and Troy Paxton from Grand Island was fifth. There was a little drama in the post race interview when Macku expressed his displeasure with an earlier in the year incident with himself and Adam Armstrong. Quick thinking announcer Derek Long, managed to pull the microphone away before too many of the R-rated words were heard! The crowd in return, voiced their displeasure with his comments quite verbally!
Up next was the 20-lapper for the IMCA Northern SportMods. Jesse Sobbing, Glenwood, Iowa took the lead by the halfway mark and sailed home to another victory. Sobbing started well back in the field and impressively and methodically made his way forward. Second place finisher was Jason Mallicoat who jumped in the ride of Matt Pittman from Jefferson, Iowa. Mallicoat is no stranger to the SportMod class having piloted his own ride very successfully a few years back. Third place was Tyler Frye, the Beatrice Speedway champion for 2011, fourth was Max Harder who finished second in points at the track, and fifth was Dusty Leonard.
The featured IMCA Modified A main was 30-laps. After a couple of early tangles, one of which was a "slobberknocker" as friend and web caster for the IMCA SuperNationals, Bucky Doren, calls a "mess involving at least five cars". Jordy Nelson had been at the helm those early laps but "Dangerous" Dan Nelson came calling by the halfway mark and was pulling away from the pack and looking to be on his way to the win. Enter that fickle yellow flag once more! That yellow flew with just two laps remaining and put Bob Zoubek right behind for the restart. Zoubek had pulled out of the pack and had been slowly reeling in the leader, but now this restart was about to make it real interesting. On the white flag, Nelson still held the advantage but Zoubek was able to make the pull past Nelson coming out of turn four and beat him to the checkers and the win. It seemed to be a popular win from the fans reaction. Dan Nelson had to settle for second on this night, followed by Johnny "The Jet" Saathoff in third (who also advanced from mid-pack) Jordan Grabouski, track champion in fourth, and Jordy Nelson fell back to finish fifth.
Saturday dawned another beautiful day and subsequent night for racing. Tonight, we would be doing it all over again except for the switch of the factory stock class in place of the IMCA Sport Compacts from the night before.
Tonight's A main action started off with the 20-lap Factory Stock feature. This is an unsanctioned class that runs weekly at the track. The track champion, Kyle Vanover, was off to the lead from the get go from starting outside the front row. Tyler Phelps then put the pressure on the leader and with six laps to go, took the lead. Phelps took the win over Vanover in second, Jeff Watts in third, Kyle Dumfort in fourth and Dana Deeke in fifth. Winner Phelps exclaimed in victory lane what a thrill it was to get the win over his nephew, Kyle Vanover.
It was another 20-lap feature for the IMCA Hobby Stocks. Troy Paxton led the troops for the early laps but there were some heavy hitters hot on his heels. Adam Armstrong, R. J. Macku, and Roy Armstrong were battling it out for positions behind Paxton. Paxton lost the handle--untouched from our view point--brought out a yellow and handed the lead over to Adam Armstrong. Roy Armstrong made the pass on Macku for second and then it was the father/son battle. Adam, in first, ran high and dad Roy, ran low. A yellow came out with two laps to go when a car spun right at the flagstand, but the top two would hold their order with Adam gaining the win over dad Roy, in second. Brandon Stigge made the pass on Macku, as they finished third and fourth in that order, and Des Moines, Iowa's John Watson rounded out the top five.
The post race interview found Adam Armstrong expressing his thanks to his dad for all he had done for him in his racing career.
The IMCA Northern SportMods ran their 20-lap feature flag-to-flag. Gary Saathoff and Tyler Frye sat on the front row with Frye getting the advantage and the lead at the start. Previous night's winner, Jesse Sobbing quickly got to second and dogged Frye until making the pass for the lead with just three laps remaining. Sobbing took his second win in as many nights and his unbelievable 53rd win of the season. Frye finished second with Greg Metz in third, fourth was Dan Bohlmeyer, and Dusty Leonard was fifth.
Then it was time for the grand finale of the night--the 30-lap IMCA Modified feature. Just looking at the front row, which had been determined by draw, it was looking like deja vu all over again as Dan Nelson drew the pole and Bob Zoubek the outside. Nelson would hold the advantage as he ran the middle of the track and Zoubek trailed behind, running the low groove. The real race was for third and fourth place with Hunter Marriott and Brian Foote challenging each other over and over again. Tonight, things were switched up from last night as Dan Nelson got the win and Zoubek took second. Third went to Hunter Marriott and fourth to Brian Foote. We noted Foote in the #18 ride instead of his normal #43 and believe it was his son's car from the past season. Johnny Saathoff came from 18th starting spot, to finish in fifth.
We enjoyed our traditional visit to the Beatrice Speedway and although the car count was not as big as their Spring Nationals in March, there was still a nice field of about 30 modifieds. A couple of cars we noticed missing in action were Dylan Smith and Brandon Blochlinger, area drivers who are usually competing at the Spring and Fall specials. Both drivers were back in Iowa racing as a support class with the Lucas Oil Late Models at the famed Knoxville Raceway. They announced at the track, that Beatrice, Nebraska driver, Jordan Grabouski was officially crowned the IMCA National Modified Champion for 2011 by three points over Texas driver Keith White.
There are still a few special left in our neck of the woods, hopefully before the snow flies. Check out the calendar at Positively Racing for a race to attend. Happy racing!
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