Boespflug, Danley, & Becker Conquer the Rumble in the Bullring
By Greg Soukup
The 2016 version of The Rumble In The Bullring had the heat, the breeze and the action that the fans came out for. The rare Friday night event saw the dirt-flinging, fire-breathing 410 cubic inch wingless sprint cars of the Amsoil USAC National Tour.
The excitement began in time trials for the USAC drivers as CJ Leary blistered the 1/3 mile high banks of Eagle Raceway with a new 1 lap track record for the class with a 13.247 second circuit.
All of the preliminary races were held with no significant incidents, but plenty of fantastic racing.
The Midwest Classic Stock Cars were the first main event. Jerrid Becker’s 9J led the field after 1 lap with the 31B of Troy Bergman, Jay Dee Becker in the #5 and Greg Moravec’s 89 close behind. Bergman slowed on lap 3 and pulled to the infield with a flat right front tire. That put the 7X of Jack Hasreiter temporarily in the fourth spot. However, Hasreiter also suffered a flat tire, moving the MR2 of Ryan Cech to fourth. Cech moved past Moravec with 6 to go. As the checkered flag flew Jerrid Becker, Jay Becker, Mike Ganskow’s 2M and Cech were the top 4.
“This was my first time ever to get a chance to race here. I’ve watched from the stands a few time, but it was great to get to run. It was even better when my dad ran second behind me. I want to thank my mom and dad, my brothers and especially my wife and kids. We don’t have any sponsors, we’re just a family deal” said Becker.
Next the Sprint Series of Nebraska rolled out for their A Feature. Jason Martin’s 5X, the 91 of Adam Gullion, Joey Danley in the 14 and the 7KX of Toby Chapman were the first four after the initial circuit. There was a big mess in turns 1 & 2 on the second lap as the 0 of Chase Weiler ended going up and over. Weiler was not seriously injured. Gullion went to the pits for repairs, putting the 51 of Mike Boston in fourth and moving Danley and Chapman up one spot. Trevor Grossenbacher passed Boston on lap 3, putting the #35 into fourth and Danley took over the lead. Zach Blurton put the 2J into fourth on lap 11, but gave the position back to Grossenbacher 2 laps later. Jason Danley’s 4X spun in turn 3 with 8 to go; having suffered wing damage in the turn 2 incident. Blurton again got into fourth with 7 to go. 1 more lap was in the books when Martin stole the top spot back, only to give up the position to Joey Danley the next time around. Joey Danley, Martin, Chapman and Blurton were the top 4.
Joey stated “I got lucky starting toward the front, and made the move past Jason. I was running up top, but the cushion started going away and he got under me. I did get back by Martin finally and just held on. This win was really sweet; it was awesome”. Danley’s sponsors include Heiserman Flooring, Shoulders Race Engines, Automotive Services, Nissen Hardwood Floors, Super Saver and Onyx Wraps.
The finale was for the Amsoil USAC wingless 410 sprints. Chad Boesplug’s 98E took the lead on lap 1 with the 52 of Isaac Chapple, Bret Mellenberndt’s 97 and the 32 of Chase Stockton hot on his push bumper. Stockton moved up to third on lap 2. Thomas Messeraul also passed Mellenberndt to put the 66 into fourth, but Stockton got loose on the backstretch on lap 3, Max McGhee’s 17 plowed into Stockton and the yellow lights were lit. Brady Bacon moved the #69 into fourth on lap 4. Chapple and Mellenberndt made contact on the front stretch the next time around, damaging Mellenberndt’s front axle. Leary, with no place to go ran head-long into Mellenberndt. Landon Simon’s #24 jumped the left side tires of the #1 of Robert Ballou as they come on the incident, sending Simon flipping. Nobody was seriously injured. After the red lights were extinguished Boespflug held the top spot, Chapple was second, Brady Bacon’s 69 held third and the fourth spot went to Messeraul. Bacon took second on the restart. One more lap saw Ryan Kitchen’s 21 stop just before the turn 1 pit entrance for another slowing of the racing action. Dave Darland used the restart to put the 11 into third as Chapple held fourth. Brandon Stevenson’s 0 spun in turns 1 and 2 on lap 9 and the caution flag flew again. Darland moved to second on the restart as Chris Windom put the #5 into fourth. Windom did a 360 degree spin on lap 17 after contact with Messeraul, sending Windom to the rear after the ensuing yellow flag. That put Messeraul back to fourth. McGhee hit one of the tires guarding the infield with 7 to go for another caution. From there to the finish it was a 3-way battle as Bacon and Darland closed on Boespflug. Boespflug on the cushion, Bacon on the bottom of the track and Darland running anywhere he had an opening made for a thrilling conclusion. Bacon closed on the final circuit, but Boespflug held on for the win. Bacon, Darland and Messeraul rounded out the top 4.
This was Boespflug’s first Eagle Raceway victory, and came in just his second ever visit to the track. “I got a second place here I think it was 3 years ago, but it was great to get the win tonight. I wish the race would have stayed green, instead of so many cautions and reds. I just had to be sure to hit my marks. That made them think too hard. The top in 1 and 2 got really treacherous, and I got out of shape up top a couple of times. This is my first full season with USAC. I used to just run locally back home in Indiana in my own car, but I always wanted to do the tour. I’m still in my own stuff, running it out of my garage at home. I have a few small product sponsors, but pretty much it’s just me. I have help from a couple of great guys who work on the car, and that makes it possible to do this” said Boespflug.
Saturday night is “Race On Mania” sponsored by Great Clips. There will be a free kids Color Run at intermission sponsored by Accelerated GraphX. Blinky the Clown will be there from 5:30 to 7:30. Front gates open at 5:15 with hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6:30. The Racesaver IMCA Sprints, Kaplan University IMCA Modifieds, NAPA IMCA Sport Modifieds, Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stocks and Mountain Dew Kick Start IMCA Sport Compacts will be racing. Front gate admission is $10 for adults, $5 for youths 6-12 and children 5 and under are free.
Pit gates open at 4 P.M. and pit passes cost $25.
