Zoubek, Noonan and Johnson take home the honors at The Nebraska Cup/A 9/11 Tribute

By Greg Soukup

The 2011 Nebraska Cup-9/11 Tribute presented by the Nebraska Lottery, provided everything that you could ask for in a season finale for “America’s Home Track” Eagle Raceway. Sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-80’s and a great crowd were all in place for the great competition that would end the racing year at the track. 40 sprints, including many of the National Lucas Oil ASCS 360 Sprint Car competitors, 27 IMCA A Modifieds including several visitors who chose to stop in after racing in the IMCA Nationals and 27 IMCA Sport Compacts provided the type of racing that will hopefully hold everyone over the long winter until spring comes back around. Add in all sorts of giveaways for the fans, including a trip to the Daytona 500 and one to Las Vegas, and it’s easy to see why fans flock to the fastest 1/3-mile track in the country.

Miss Nebraska Cup 2011 was crowned during intermission, and DeAnne Kathol began her year-long reign. She received $500 from Great Western Bank, a gift certificate for a free session at Springboard Modeling and pageant coaching. The first runner-up was Elle Patocka, receiving $150 from Village Inn, a product gift bag from Ulta Salon by Shannon Zeitner and a $25 gift certificate from Hair Art. The second runner-up and Miss Congeniality honors went to Lindsey Flodman. Lindsey received $100 from Village Inn, a product gift bag from Ulta Salon by Shannon Zeitner and a $25 gift certificate from Hair Art. All of the contestants received contingency prizes, products and gift cards from such sponsors as Village Inn, Fox & Hound, Tammy’s Soap Shack, Eagle Raceway, Diva Girl Purses, Avon, Arbone, Creative Edge Signs & Graphics, Partylite, Trios Salon, Great Clips and many many more.

There were 3 major incidents in the preliminary action, and all were in the ASCS 360 sprint car class. Zach Chappell took a ride in the hot laps when he flipped. In the first B Feature for the sprints Gene Acklund’s 14G and the 18 of Tony Bruce Jr. got together in turn 1 and Acklund’s racer made a hard right turn into the Armco of turn 2, ending his night with a badly damaged front end. The second B saw Terry Holliman’s #23 hop over the rear tire of the X29 of Roger Sluka, coming to a halt sideways on the front stretch. Mark Schmidt in the 9J then ran headlong into him. Both cars were damaged too badly to repair, but both drivers were uninjured.

The initial start of the RevHoney IMCA Modified Feature saw both the 33L of Lee Goertz and the 8C of Chad Andersen spin to the infield, bringing out the yellow flag for a complete restart. The second attempt also was negated when the 3A of Aaron Pella stopped in turn 1. As the first official lap was completed Kyle Berck’s 33Z held the lead with Bob Zoubek’s 5S, the 95 of Dylan Smith and Mike Densberger in the 81 rounding out the top 4. Current track champion Johnny Saathoff moved the 96J into fourth on lap 2. Zoubek took the lead on lap 4. Berck made run after run at Zoubek over the next 10 laps, drawing close to his rear bumper, but never being able to complete the pass. Scott Bivens’ S56 stopped at the top of turn 4 on lap 14 and the yellow lights came on again. 2 laps later Smith went very high in turn 4, allowing Saathoff and the 18Z of Zane DeVilbiss to move to third and fourth. At the checkers it was Zoubek, Berck, Saathoff and DeVilbiss. However, during inspection in the tech area, Berck was found to have an illegal chip, resulting in his disqualification. That made the official top 4 Zoubek, Saathoff, DeVilbiss and Smith.

“This was my second win in a row here at Eagle, but the competition seemed to be even stiffer than normal” Zoubek said. He continued by stating “Berck started outside of me and grabbed the lead. But, I got it back and never looked back. It helped that there weren’t many cautions, and my car was really great tonight. Plus, they reworked the track at intermission and that made it really racy!”. Zoubek’s sponsors include Vhynalek Farms, Klein Construction, Kremer Storage, Gropp Trucking and Joe’s Place.

The Exhaust Pros IMCA Sport Compact Feature saw Barry Kinnersley’s 00 in the lead at the end of the first circuit followed by Trevor Noonan’s 66, the 29 of Matt Moyer and the 95C of Bob Cigelman. Noonan snagged the lead on lap 2 and Larry Cronin moved the #5 into fourth. Lap 12 saw Chadd Bassinger’s 4X move past Cronin to take the fourth position. 3 laps later Bassinger moved up to third. Kinnersley passed Noonan on the next lap but lost the position back to him on the next circuit. The battle led to the 2 racers getting together the next time around and Kinnersley ran head-on into the turn 2 wall. That made the running order Noonan, Bassinger, Moyer and the 23 of current track champion Ole Olsen and set up a green/white/checkered finish. The top 4 positions remained unchanged to the finish.

“It feels great to finally get my first win here at Eagle. It was really fun racing Matt and Chad” Noonan related. He concluded the interview by stating “I want to thank my pit crew for all of their help, my Grandpa and my parents”. Noonan’s sponsors include Ron Fox and Sons Motorsports, Brodd’s Small Engines, Longoria’s MMA Academy, Suds & Scissors and Advanced Auto Parts.

The last A Feature on the night was for the Lucas Oil ASCS 360 Sprint Cars. Danny Lasoski put the 1M out front at the end of lap 1 with Trevor Grossenbacher’s 35, the 53 of Jack Dover and Gregg Bakker in the 11X in hot pursuit. Zach Chappell pulled the 50Z to a halt on the front stretch on lap 3 for the first caution of the race. Mike Boston took advantage of the restart to move his #51 past Bakker for fourth. Unfortunately Boston went for a wild ride on lap 5, flipping numerous times in turn 3 before coming to rest right-side up over the wall in turn 4 and the red lights came on. Boston was uninjured. Dover took second on the restart and Jason Johnson moved his #41 into fourth. Grossenbacher and Johnson both got past Dover on lap 7. The top four battled for position over the next 7 laps until Miranda Arnold looped the 5M. Arnold kept going but the yellow lights had already been lit for her. Johnson moved up to second on lap 17 and moved past Lasoski the next time around. His pass for the lead was all for nothing however, as Tony Bruce Jr. lost the left rear tire from the #18 going into turn 3, bringing out the yellow flag. Grossenbacher went to the pits the same lap after contact with the front stretch wall. That put Lasoski back into the lead with Johnson, Dover and Jordan Boston’s 4B rounding out the top 4 spots. Boston moved into third on the restart. The final position change in the top 4 came on lap 21 as Johnson again passed Lasoski and held on for the win.

“My car was really bouncy with a full load of fuel, and that ended up with me dropping back from my front row starting spot at the start” Johnson said. He closed the interview by stating “It was really great to win on 9/11 to remember everyone that we lost on that day. It’s an honor to know that people are still out there fighting for our right to race, go to races and enjoy our freedom”. Johnson’s sponsors include Haynes, the Law Office of Richard Strunks, GT Bobcat of Australia, Lickdale Campgrounds, MVT, Maxim Chassis and Don Ott Power plants.

Eagle Raceway wishes to thank each and every racer and fan that came out to “America’s Home Track” this year and made it THE place to be for the best racing action each and every weekend. Be sure to keep checking www.eagleraceway.com for the latest news and information.

RESULTS:

ASCS Sprint 9/11/2011

A Feature:1. Jason Johnson Racing*, 2. Danny Lasoski, 3. Jordan Boston (Crete, NE), 4. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), 5. Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO), 6. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK), 7. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 8. Mitchell Moore (Edgerton, KS), 9. Trevor Grossenbacher (Lincoln, NE), 10. Gregg Bakker (Sioux Falls, SD), 11. Miranda Arnold (Sedelia, MO), 12. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 13. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 14. Lee Grosz (Harwood, ND), 15. Brady Bacon (Sopulpa, OK), 16. Bronson Maeshen (Knoxville, IA), 17. Tony Bruce Jr. (Liberal, OK), 18. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA), 19. Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 20. Mike Boston (Crete, NE)

B Feature 1:1. Mitchell Moore (Edgerton, KS), 2. Tony Bruce Jr. (Liberal, OK), 3. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK), 4. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK), 5. Ryan Anderson (Charter Oak, IA), 6. Jason DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 7. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 8. Justin Jacobsma, 9. Bryan Gossel (Ft. Collins, CO), 10. Ryan Kitchen (Weston, NE), 11. Gregg Clemons (Belton, MO), 12. Gene Ackland (Lincoln, NE), 13. Jeff Osborn (Savannah, MO)

B Feature 2:1. Lee Grosz (Harwood, ND), 2. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 3. Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 4. Stu Snyder (Waverly, NE), 5. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 6. Billy Alley (Lincoln, NE), 7. Tige Jensen (Lincoln, NE), 8. Roger SLUKA (Lincoln, NE), 9. Ryan Jones (Harrisberg, SD), 10. Terry Holliman (Hamburg, IA), 11. Mark Schmidt (Lincoln, NE), 12. Danny Wood (Norman, OK), 13. John Cressman Enterprises* (Hartford, SD)

Heat 1:1. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), 2. Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO), 3. John Klabunde (Fort Calhoun, NE), 4. Miranda Arnold (Sedelia, MO), 5. Roger SLUKA (Lincoln, NE), 6. Terry Holliman (Hamburg, IA), 7. Ryan Kitchen (Weston, NE), 8. John Cressman Enterprises* (Hartford, SD)

Heat 2:1. Gregg Bakker (Sioux Falls, SD), 2. Jordan Boston (Crete, NE), 3. Mitchell Moore (Edgerton, KS), 4. Jay Russell (Elwood, KS), 5. Tony Bruce Jr. (Liberal, OK), 6. Ryan Anderson (Charter Oak, IA), 7. Mark Pace (Lincoln, NE), 8. Stu Snyder (Waverly, NE)

Heat 3:1. Trevor Grossenbacher (Lincoln, NE), 2. Doug Lovegrove (Waverly, NE), 3. Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE), 4. Lee Grosz (Harwood, ND), 5. Bryan Gossel (Ft. Collins, CO), 6. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK), 7. Danny Wood (Norman, OK), 8. Justin Jacobsma

Heat 4:1. Jason Johnson Racing*, 2. Bronson Maeshen (Knoxville, IA), 3. Danny Lasoski, 4. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK), 5. Jason DANLEY (Lincoln, NE), 6. Tige Jensen (Lincoln, NE), 7. Mark Schmidt (Lincoln, NE), 8. Ryan Jones (Harrisberg, SD)

Heat 5:1. Mike Boston (Crete, NE), 2. Brady Bacon (Sopulpa, OK), 3. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA), 4. Tyler Drueke (Eagle, NE), 5. Gene Ackland (Lincoln, NE), 6. Billy Alley (Lincoln, NE), 7. Jeff Osborn (Savannah, MO), 8. Gregg Clemons (Belton, MO)

IMCA Modified 9/11/2011

A Feature:1. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 2. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Zane DeVilbiss (Farmington, NM), 4. Dylan Smith (Osceola, NE), 5. Mike Densberger (Malcolm, NE), 6. Jake NEAL (Omaha, NE), 7. Shane Thome (Clarks, NE), 8. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 9. Robert Brinkman (Lincoln, NE), 10. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 11. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 12. Jared Hoefelman (Columbus, NE), 13. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 14. Aaron Pella (Lincoln, NE), 15. Scott Bivens (Ceresco, NE), 16. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 17. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 18. Lee Goertz (Omaha, NE), 19. Chris Alcorn (Lincoln, NE), 20. Josh Most (Red Oak, IA), 21. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE)

B Feature:1. Jared Hoefelman (Columbus, NE), 2. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 3. Jake NEAL (Omaha, NE), 4. Robert Brinkman (Lincoln, NE), 5. Aaron Pella (Lincoln, NE), 6. Nathan Landauer (Lincoln, NE), 7. Mike Johnson (Council Bluffs, IA), 8. Jarrod Wiechert (Lincoln, NE), 9. Josh Most (Red Oak, IA), 10. Brian Olson (Lincoln, NE), 11. Matt Stevens (Waverly, NE), 12. Andrew Hille (Hickman, NE)

Heat 1:1. Zane DeVilbiss (Farmington, NM), 2. Bob Zoubek (Dorchester, NE), 3. Scott Bivens (Ceresco, NE), 4. Shane Hiatt (Rising City, NE), 5. Doug Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 6. Jared Hoefelman (Columbus, NE), 7. Aaron Pella (Lincoln, NE), 8. Mike Johnson (Council Bluffs, IA), 9. Jarrod Wiechert (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 2:1. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 2. Lee Goertz (Omaha, NE), 3. Chris Alcorn (Lincoln, NE), 4. Dylan Smith (Osceola, NE), 5. Shane Thome (Clarks, NE), 6. Rik Gropp (Lincoln, NE), 7. Jake NEAL (Omaha, NE), 8. Matt Stevens (Waverly, NE), 9. Robert Brinkman (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 3:1. Justin Wulf (Arlington, NE), 2. Johnny Saathoff (Beatrice, NE), 3. Mike Densberger (Malcolm, NE), 4. Dustin Andersen (Omaha, NE), 5. Chad Andersen (Omaha, NE), 6. Nathan Landauer (Lincoln, NE), 7. Josh Most (Red Oak, IA), 8. Andrew Hille (Hickman, NE), 9. Brian Olson (Lincoln, NE)

IMCA Sport Compact 9/11/2011

A Feature:1. Trevor Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 2. Chad Bassinger (Nebraska City, NE), 3. Matt Moyer (Gretna, NE), 4. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 5. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 6. Cameron Meyer (Pierce, NE), 7. Kyle Gannon (Lincoln, NE), 8. Amanda Rhiley (Bennington, NE), 9. Randy Cass (Onawa, IA), 10. Nick Alexander (Gretna, NE), 11. John Sedlachek (Eagle, NE), 12. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 13. Robert Cigelman (Lincoln, NE), 14. Josh Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 15. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 16. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 17. Sara Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 18. Barry Kinnersley (LaVista, NE), 19. Fred Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 20. Tim Cass (Mapleton, IA)

B Feature:1. Robert Cigelman (Lincoln, NE), 2. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 3. Josh Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 4. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 5. Sara Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 6. Mike Simpson (Ashland, NE), 7. Rick Hollandsworth (Lincoln, NE), 8. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE), 9. Amanda Triplette (Lincoln, NE), 10. Trenton Dowty (Fremont, NE), 11. Austin Angel (Lincoln, NE), 12. Dennis Knaub (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 1:1. Matt Moyer (Gretna, NE), 2. John Sedlachek (Eagle, NE), 3. Cameron Meyer (Pierce, NE), 4. Ole Olsen (Carter Lake, IA), 5. Erica Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 6. Rick Hollandsworth (Lincoln, NE), 7. Amanda Triplette (Lincoln, NE), 8. Sydney Yost (Nebraska City, NE), 9. Austin Angel (Lincoln, NE)

Heat 2:1. Kyle Gannon (Lincoln, NE), 2. Barry Kinnersley (LaVista, NE), 3. Chad Bassinger (Nebraska City, NE), 4. Amanda Rhiley (Bennington, NE), 5. Randy Cass (Onawa, IA), 6. Robert Cigelman (Lincoln, NE), 7. Melissa Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 8. Dennis Knaub (Lincoln, NE), 9. Trenton Dowty (Fremont, NE)

Heat 3:1. Tim Cass (Mapleton, IA), 2. Larry Cronin (Lincoln, NE), 3. Trevor Noonan (Lincoln, NE), 4. Fred Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 5. Nick Alexander (Gretna, NE), 6. Josh Johnson (Lincoln, NE), 7. Sara Deterding (Lincoln, NE), 8. Mike Simpson (Ashland, NE), 9. Brian Haller (Lincoln, NE)