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Beatrice Speedway, May 13, 2006

IMCA Stock Car photo by Nick Vrtiska

After taking the weekend of May 6th off for a motorcycle trip, I got home to find that we had an engine problem in the factory stock. Jeff was scheduled to drive and while he was packing track, the engine self-destructed. He went to his shop and got his car, put a “6” on it, and ran it for points under my number.

I have not had the time to start taking the dead engine apart for an autopsy, so I don’t know for sure what happened. It had gotten real hot the week before, so something may have failed due to that heat.

I didn’t have a very good selection of engines, so I decided to go to an engine we raced for a full season and used as a spare after that. It really needs to be freshened, but will have to do. On Friday evening, after firing the engine, I found that we had an issue with the starter, but did get it to start. Later, the starter would not work, and I had to be pushed each time in order to start the car.

When I checked in, I had to draw a number for starting position as I was evidently tied with somebody for a points average. The draw put the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo on the outside pole of the first heat race.

I took a few hot laps and the car felt pretty good, but the track was still a bit greasy, so it was hard to tell how it would be by the time our heat race came around. Looking at the line-up, it would be tough to make the invert (top 5) as the winners of the first three nights were in the heat, and four of the top five in points would be starting behind me.

In the meantime, Tyler was to start the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights IMCA Stock Car on the inside of the second row of the second stock car heat. He had a good run last week, finally finishing 6th after having led before a carburetor problem slowed him down a bit. When asked if the car needed to go back on the scales, he said the car was awesome and to not touch anything on the chassis.

The Factory Stock heat races were the first up after the National Anthem. We rolled onto the track and everything seemed to be in order. The track looked a bit greasy on the very bottom of the corners, but in the middle of 2 I could see dust kicking up a bit already. I’m starting on the outside of the front row, alongside the 4 of Greg Crannell. He’s a first year driver in the factory stock class, but has experience in the two-man cruiser class. The 9 of Gary Laflin is starting behind me, as well as the 6R of Roy Armstrong, who has won two of the three A Features this season. The 66 of Jeff Watts, the 35 of Mike Schwartz and the 1w of The Milkman, Delmar Wells and the 03 of Aaron Roth are also back there. I feel as though I’m about ready to be thrown to the dogs. I tighten my belts and get ready for the green.

We’re down the back chute and the corner lights are off, meaning we’ll be green when we come out of 4. I get a tap in the back bumper just as we go into 3. In the middle of the corner, I’m on the gas as the green waves. We’re racing!!

I clear the 4 and jump into the lead before we’re into 1, but with the cars behind me, I know I won’t be up there for long. I’ve got a great line and the car feels good. Out of 2 and I feel a rub in my right rear quarter panel. I’m telling myself to stay calm and keep my line. When they start to pass me, they’ll have to go around, because I’m not going to give ground to them. Out of 4 and under the flagstand to complete the 1st lap and we’re still leading. Into 1 and out of 2 and once again I feel a tap on my back bumper. I keep it straight and keep the lead into 3 and out of 4 to complete the 2nd lap.

I glance at the water temp and oil pressure and everything looks good. I’d broken down and gotten a new radiator and re-built the fan shroud, and it looks like that may have taken care of the problem. The leader board shows the 35 of Mike Schwartz behind me, and I know that he’ll be on my back bumper soon if he already isn’t.

I can’t figure out why nobody is passing me. It sure seems quiet except for my car, and I’m sure everybody has crashed or fallen out behind me. The crossed flags are showing, meaning we’re halfway through, and still nobody has pulled alongside the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo.

With 3 to go, I'm back in 2 and see a car on the bottom, off the track. Jeff brought his car out this week and is running it under his own number. He's spun and I think to myself that I sure hope there's no yellow for him. However, he keeps it going and all I see is green flags. I later find out that he spun out twice in the heat race.

With 2 to go, the leader board still shows the 35 behind me, with the 66 of Jeff Watts behind him. I just have to hang on for two more laps. Concentrate on staying smooth and not making any mistakes. I’ve been in this spot before and something has always happened in the last couple of laps and everybody passes me.

The white flag is showing and the leader board shows that the 66 is in 2nd now. I sure wish I knew how far back he was. I’m out of 2 and down the back chute and a car is on my outside - the 66 of Jeff Watts. We’re into 3 side by side; I’m on the bottom and he’s a couple of car widths higher. He slides up a bit, and I’m on the bottom where I want to be. The car pulls good and we’re headed for the checkers. I know the 66 has to be coming hard and I let the car drift up a bit to block him, but not so high as to squeeze him into the wall. We’re under the flag stand to take the first win of any kind since I’ve been behind the wheel! It’s been a long time coming!!

My very first win behind the wheel!! Photo by Nick Vrtiska

I run across the scale to be sure we’re legal on the weight, then to our pit area. The water temperature has stayed at 180 and the oil pressure is good. Check the tire pressures as soon as I’m out of the car - they were all even, meaning the chassis was working like it should. It looks like the track will be pretty dry by A Feature time, so I make sure the fuel cell is full. When the tires cool, I make some adjustments to the left side tires to compensate for what I think the track will be like in the A Feature.

The stock car is ready to go and when they call for the cars to line up, Tyler is strapped in. The track is already going pretty dry, and all the cars in the heat are fast. The cars are on the track and lined up. Out of turn 4 and the green is out! Into 1 and there is some contact with the cars being all bunched up. However, everybody comes out in one piece. Tyler falls into 3rd place, and the car looks good to me. He may have a little problem coming off the corners, but nothing serious. He maintains 3rd and when the checkers fall, that‘s where he finishes. Once he‘s back in the pits, I check all the tires and they warmed evenly.

Tyler down the back chute 3 wide Photo by Nick Vrtiska

While looking the car over a bit more, we find the left front shock is leaking fluid. After asking around, Tyler is able to find a used shock that we put on the car. We now have 3 new shocks on the car - if we do well enough, maybe in a couple of more weeks we can get another one!

Tyler and Jeff also discuss changes to Jeff's car to try to keep it from making little circles out of big ones. A spring change on the rear appears to be in order, and they get busy on taking care of that.

There is an announcement over the pit loudspeakers that the line-ups for the A Features are up. I go to get the line-ups and find that the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo factory stock will be going from the pole position. Tyler will line up on the inside of the 3rd row in the stock car A Feature.

We’re first up in the factory stock as soon as intermission is over, so all last minute checks are done. Jeff will give me a push when we get ready to go as I haven’t even bothered to try the starter since it started making such terrible noises. I feel good about our chances; but also know that the guys with the good stuff will be coming up fast. Hopefully, the dry slick will be to my advantage.

The Beatrice Speedway van pulls onto the track ahead of us and the turn 3 flag man is signaling for us to go onto the track. We’ll be green in minutes.

The 33d of Derek Sand is starting on the outside pole, while the 54m of Gary McGinty is starting behind me. The 9 of Gary Laflin will be on the outside of the 2nd row. As we follow the Beatrice Speedway van around the track, I try to find the best place to run on the track. It's dried out, but I see the bottom is smooth. I'll try to stay on the bottom in the corners and they'll have to go around me on the top if they want to pass. I have got to beat the 33d into turn 1 for a good start.

We're in front of the grandstand for the parade lap, waving at the people in the stands while they wave back at us. Into turn 1 and check the belts one last time. The van pulls off the track in 2 and when we go down the back chute the lights are off. We pick up the pace and half way through 3 & 4, I'm on the gas hard. Out of 4 and the flag man is showing the green. We're going racing!!

I've cleared the 33d as we pass the flagstand. Into 1 on the bottom, then out of 2, drifting to the middle of the track. Into 3 on the bottom and out of 4 to finish the first lap in the lead! Without mirrors, I have no idea where the pack is behind me. The scoreboard only shows the leader this time around. I just want to concentrate on holding my line and not making any mistakes.

The car is running and handling great. I just want to be sure to keep the line I have since in the past, I've struggled on the dry slick when I move up in the corners. I'm holding my breath every lap as I know that the freight train is coming up behind me. The scoreboard shows the 1w of Delmar Wells is the next car behind me, then the 35 of Mike Schwartz. I don't know how far back they are, but still haven't seen anything of them. The 6R of Roy Armstrong is also on the board and he started in the 7th row.

With 12 to go, I'm still in the lead, but going into 1 I feel a tap on the back bumper. The Milkman wants by, but if he's going to pass, he'll have to go high. I'm able to keep him in check one more lap, then get into 1 about a half car width too high. The 1w is able to get under me and beats me out of 2. I try to stay on his back bumper, and at the same time, the 35 of Mike Schwartz and the 6R of Roy Armstrong pass me in 3 and 4. However, the yellow is out and we'll go back to the last complete lap, with the #6 R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo still in the lead.

We re-start with the lead car up front, then all the other cars fall in behind double-file. When you're farther back, this kind of a re-start is good, but when you're leading, it's not so good - especially with all the good cars on my back bumper. We're lined up and out of 4 the green is waving again. If the 1w wants to pass me again, he'll have to go high this time. I hold the bottom and the Milkman is on my outside. I see him slide up a bit, and I come out of 2 just ahead of him. Into 3 and he's able to pass me on the high side. I'm still on the bottom and know that I'll be getting passed soon with the 35 and 6R behind me.

Into 1 on the bottom again and out of 2 and the 35 of Mike Schwartz passes me on the high side. Into 3 and the 6R is on my outside. Where's the checkered flag when you need it? Back into 1 and out of 2 and the 66 of Jeff Watts passes me on the bottom out of 2. I know the 03 of Aaron Roth and Neal Mittan's 5m, piloted by veteran driver Bruce Wasserman tonight, have to be close behind me.

I'm still able to hold the bottom of the track in the corners and force both the 03 and the 5m to pass me high. I'm now in 7th and don't know who is next in line behind me or who it is. I'm still trying to concentrate on running a smooth line and not spinning myself out on the dry slick track. I glance at the gauges and the water temp is 180 with good oil pressure. It looks like the overheating problem has been taken care of.

With 4 to go, we're still in 8th place, right on the back bumper of the 9 of Gary Laflin. Out of 4 and there's a yellow for something. Back to a double file restart. I get the inside. A couple of slow laps to take care of whatever the problem was, and we're green again. Another lap down and the 15s of Lyle Slama is able to get by above me on the back chute. Into 3 and somebody hits me pretty good in the back bumper, getting me crossed up. I'm able to save it and not lose any more positions. Two to go now, and nobody has come alongside me. The checkers are showing now and we cross the line in 9th place. The water temp and oil pressure still look good and as far as I can tell, the car is still in one piece.

I'm leading the A Feature with the Milkman and Mike Schwartz trying to pass Photo by Nick Vrtiska

Back to the pits and I'm able to drive the car right onto the trailer. Once I'm out, I do a quick tire pressure check and find that they've all heated up evenly. Jeff and Tyler both tell me that the car looked good on the track.

Once I'm calmed down a bit, it's time to get Tyler into the stock car and onto the track. He's starting in mid-pack, so will have to work some traffic as well as race some fast cars. They're calling for the stock cars to line up, and then they're pulling onto the track for 18 laps of racing action.

The parade lap is done and the pace vehicle is into the pits. Out of 4 and everybody has the pedal to the metal when the green comes out. Tyler likes to run higher up than I do and he's able to move up a bit. He's dropped back to about 7th place, but finda a comfortable line and starts to go forward.

Last week's A Feature winner, the #98 of Todd Laflin, is coming up from the back. Tyler is trying to get around the 99 of Darcy Dobrolovny. He can run up on his back bumper in the corners, but loses about a half car length in the chutes. Laflin passes Tyler on the bottom coming out of 2 and is able to pass the 99 the next lap. Once again, Tyler makes a run on the 99 oout of 2 and finally makes the pass, putting himself back into 6th. As the laps wind down, he appears to be gaining ground on Laflin, but not fast enough. As the checkers fall, the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights IMCA Monte Carlo has a 6th place finish.

A quick check-up finds that the tires heated up evenly on this car, too. Tyler made the comment that the track was a lot different from last week. It didn't look like anything was too badly damaged this week. One thing we do need to look at is the radiator as the water temp is a bit higher than we'd like to see it. We'll have to look into another radiator and see what we can do for a shroud.

Hopefully we won't have too much to do this week and we'll be ready for next Saturday, May 20th. This will be WFR Bowl-A-Thon Races as well as a Salute to Military, Police and Firemen. Beatrice Speedway will honor Military, retired, reserve and active duty, Police and Firemen when they show their ID or badge, with a $2.00 off Grandstand Entry. We hope to see everybody at the track soon.

Ernie #6 Factory Stock
Beatrice, NE Speedway
Secretary, Blue Knights Nebraska I

Factory Stock
1st heat:
1 - #6 Ernie Reiss, Beatrice
2 - #66 Jeff Watts, Wymore
3 - #35 Mike Schwartz, Beatrice
4 - #9 Gary Laflin, Beatrice
5 - #1w Delmar Wells, Hallam

2nd Heat:
1 - #5m Bruce Wasserman, Fairbury
2 - #23 Carey Ames, Beatrice
3 - #54m Gary McGinty, Fairbury
4 - #m64 Matt Post, Beatrice
5 - #33d Derek Sand, Hanover, KS

Factory Stock "A" Feature

1)1w Delmar Wells, Hallam, NE
2) 66 Jeff Watts, Wymore, NE
3) 6r Roy Armstrong, Beatrice, NE
4) 35 Mike Schwartz, Beatrice, NE
5) 5m Bruce Wasserman, Beatrice, NE
6) 03 Aaron Roth, Pleasant Dale, NE
7) 9 Gary Laflin, Beatrice, NE
8) 15s Lyle Slama, Beatrice, NE
9) 6 Ernie Reiss, Beatrice, NE
10) 23 Cary Ames, Beatrice, NE
11) 7 Jeff Shew- Beatrice, NE
12) 54m Gary McGinty- Fairbury, NE
13) m64 Matthew Post- Beatrice, NE
14) 3 Bob Latta- Marysville, KS
15) 33d Derek Sand- Hanover, KS
16) 05 David Mischnick- Crete, NE
17) 4 Greg Crannell- Beatrice, NE
18) 69 Tim Hessheimer, Sr.- Dorchester, NE
19) 6B Travis Burger- Summerfield, KS

Factory Stock Points after 5-13-2006

1-155 Roy Armstrong, Beatrice
2-148 Neal Mittan, Wymore
3-146 Jeff Watts, Wymore
4-142 Delmar Wells, Hallam
5-137 Mike Schwartz, Beatrice
6-132 Aaron Roth, Pleasant Dale
7-129 Matt Post, Beatrice
8-129 Gary Laflin, Beatrice
9-128 Carey Ames, Beatrice
10-126 Lyle Slama, Beatrice
11-116 Travis Burger, Summerfield KS
11-116 Ernie Reiss, Beatrice
13-109 David Mischnick, Crete
14-91 Gary McGinty, Fairbury
15-82 Bob Latta, Marysville, KS
16-73 Greg Crannell, Beatrice
17-59 Mike Pracheil, Dorchester
18-57 Matthew Spanjer, Fairbury
19-55 Jason Tennant, Beatrice
20-54 Derek Sand, Hanover, KS
21-50 Tim Hessheimer, Dorchester
22-30 Jeff Shew, Beatrice

IMCA Stock Car “A” Feature

1) 22 Hugh Carmichael, Blue Springs
2) 3 Josh Carpenter, Fairbury
3) 31 Eric Rempel, Palmyra
4) 33x Mike Sherwood, Beatrice
5) 98 Todd Laflin, Beatrice
6) 6 Tyler Phelps, Beatrice
7) 76 Lance Borgman, Beatrice
8) 29j James Griffith, Beatrice
9) 99 Darcy Dobrovolny, Waterville, KS
10) 73 Dallas Dobrovolny, Waterville, KS
11) 89 Sam Howard, Fairbury

IMCA Stock Car points after 5-13-2006
1-152 Lance Borgman, Beatrice
2-149 Josh Carpenter, Fairbury
3-148 Eric Rempel, Palmyra
4-146 Todd Laflin, Beatrice
4-146 Hugh Carmichael, Blue Springs
6-126 Mike Sherwood, Beatrice
7-125 James Griffith, Beatrice
8-123 Dallas Dobrovolny, Waterville KS
9-103 Tyler Phelps, Beatrice
10-100 David Murk, Blue Rapids Ks
11-92 Darcy Dobrovolny, Waterville KS
12-88 Samuel Howard, Alexandria
13-70 Dustin Schmidt, Fairbury
14-65 Jason Kreft, Carleton
15-54 Jay Holle, Hanover, KS
16-38 Shane Stutzman, Milford
17-33 Bryan LaRiviere, Wichita KS
18-30 Eric Weyer, Centralia KS

Front Page
Gearing Up for 2006
Beatrice Spring Fling 2006
Opening Night 8 April 2006
Results from April 15, 2006
Results from April 22, 2006
Results from April 29, 2006
Results from May 6, 2006
Results from May 13, 2006
Results from May 20, 2006
Results from May 27, 2006
Results from June 3, 2006

Email: blueknightne1@email.com