Beatrice Spring Fling 2006
18 March 2006
Photo by Nick Vrtiska
The 2006 racing season is officially under way as the Beatrice Spring Fling was held in conjunction with the Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway. Originally scheduled for March 17th - 19th, the show was shortened to March 17th & 18th due to an approaching winter storm.
After spending a lot of time in the shop on the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo IMCA Stock Car, we were ready to go racing. However, as the weekend approached, the weather forecast worsened and there was doubt as to if the show would even be a go. I hoped it would rain or snow and get it over with so we didn’t end up loading up, going to the track and then getting weathered out.
As we were making final adjustments to the car late Friday afternoon, Jeff started feeling a bit under the weather. Tyler Phelps, who will be doing most of the driving in the stock car in 2006, helped Jeff finish scaling the car before the shop was closed for the night.
I still had to get all the tools at home loaded, fill the air bubbles, and be sure all the equipment we might need was ready to go and on the trailer. As I was hooking the trailer to the truck on Saturday morning, Jeff called to say he was sick and would not be going to the track.
Tyler works in Lincoln and had to work until after noon. With the weather radar showing that it was snowing in Lincoln, I still thought we would get some moisture before it was race time. The first green flag was scheduled to fall at noon.
I still had a few things to take care of at Jeff’s shop before getting the car loaded. As I was putting tires on the tire rack, light rain started to fall. However, it only lasted a few minutes. It was plenty cool, but the wind was real light. I’d dressed in several layers of clothes and was fairly comfortable.
I pulled into the infield at the track about 10:45. I noticed there was still a long line of stock cars waiting to be inspected by the tech guys. As soon as I got the car off the trailer, I got in line for inspection. During this time, an announcement was made that hot laps would start at noon, with IMCA modifieds going first and stock cars having hot laps after that. By the time I got through tech, there was barely enough time to get back to the pit area, check the tires and get the fire suit on so I could hot lap.
In all the years I have been attending races at Beatrice Speedway, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the track as smooth as it was now! The back chute wall has been moved out about 18” and the inside wall was moved closer to the bottom of the track. The track crew has spent many hours working on the track over the winter and it looks like the efforts have paid off.
When the time came, I pulled onto the track for hot laps. There were about 10 cars on the track at a time. It looked like the track was pretty slick and I didn’t want to make any little circles. The green came out as I was going down the back chute and as I went into turn 3, two cars spun in front of me. They were well to the bottom of the track and everybody came through in good order. When the green came out again, I got to drive a car that had a lot more engine than anything I’d ever driven before!
I got a few hot laps in
Photo by Nick Vrtiska
I was being on the cautious side, letting off the gas just past the flagstand and kind of rolling through the corners. The car felt really good to me and I was keeping up with the other cars. Of course, I hoped it would be good for Tyler, too.
A couple of phone calls and I knew that Tyler was on his way and would be there in plenty of time.
When the line-ups came out, the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo was scheduled to start on the outside of the 2nd row in the 3rd heat. There were a total of 29 IMCA Stock Cars in attendance and all cars would go to the A Feature. The top 3 in each heat would re-draw for starting positions and 4th on back would fall in according to their heat race finish. Heat races were 10 laps.
At the drop of the green, Tyler quickly moved the #6 R & R Raing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo into the 3rd place spot, with the 76B of Lance Borgman behind him. The 2nd place car was just ahead of Tyler. Lap after lap there was no change in the top 4 places. On the 5th lap, coming out of 4, Tyler tried to take a higher line to pass the 2nd place car, but he found that wasn’t to his liking. The 76B got under him and was able to pass going down the front chute. Tyler fell back into line, but could not re-take the position. When the checkers fell, he was in 4th place. When the line-ups for the A Feature came out, we were to start on the inside of the 8th row.
We decided to change to a bit heavier oil in the engine and adjust the time pressures a bit. The fuel cell had to be topped off and as I was putting the last quart of oil in the engine, the announcer was calling for the 25 lap IMCA Stock Car A Feature to be lining up.
There were some people hungry to go racing as there were cars from as far away as Green Bay, Wisconsin rolling out to do battle. With all 29 cars in the A Feature, it took a couple of extra laps to get everybody lined up. The pace vehicle pulls off the track and as the pack comes out of turn 4, the green is out. It's race time!!
On the 3rd lap, a couple of cars farther back in the pack spin in 3 and the yellow is out. Tyler has fallen in behind the 98 of Todd Laflin and is running in 15th place. The field is lined back up and we're green again.
Tyler working traffic early in the A Feature
Photo by Nick Vrtiska
It's a good race all the way from the leader to the back of the pack. The #2 of Bryan La Riviere, from Wichita, KS exchanges the lead with the 81x of Randy Killen of Des Moines, IA several times. Farther back, Tyler is still in 15th, trying to pass the 98 at the same time trying to hold off the 69 of Dustin Schmidt.
Tyler Phelps at the wheel of the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo racing with the 69 of Dustin Schmidt
Photo by Nick Vrtiska
With 18 to go, the yellow is out again for another spin. When the green comes out again, we're in 14th place. Tyler gets a run on the 98 and tries to make a pass on the top, but loses ground and is passed by the 69. Further toward the front, the 22S of Shane Stutzman has started to fade. Tyler comes up on the 22S in turn 1 and out of turn 2 the 22S starts to smoke. Suddenly, the entire car is engulfed in smoke as the engine explodes. Tyler is able to go by on the inside and stay out of trouble.
Another restart as the laps wind down
Photo by Nick Vrtiska
Once the dead car is pushed off and the track is cleaned up, we restart in 14th. Laps are starting to wind down. Some of the cars that had been running farther forward are starting to fade and the 98, the 69 and the #6 R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte are all moving forward. The flagman signals two to go and Tyler has just passed one more car. He is gaining on the 9V of Luke Veren and as they come out of 4 for the white flag, Tyler passes on the inside for 10th place. As he makes the pass, the 9v turns down into him, sending both cars spinning. I could see the entire back end of the car lift off the ground and come back down hard. The 9v is also stopped and eventually towed off. Tyler is able to re-start the car, but our night is done with the left rear and right front tires and wheels and both upper control arms destroyed. The final tally shows the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo with an 18th place finish.
The night ended one lap too soon
Photo by Nick Vrtiska
With an April 8th starting date at the Beatrice Speedway, we should not have too much problem getting the car ready to go for Opening Night. We still need to do some work on the Factory Stock and it will be ready to go, too. Here's hoping we'll see everybody at the races sometime this season!
Stock Car Heat #1
1) 2 Bryan La Riviere Wichita, KS
2) 81x Randy Killen Des Moines, IA
3) 19b Tim Bengard Exira, IA
4) 3 Josh Carpenter Fairbury, NE
Stock Car Heat #2
1) 01 Troy Jerovetz Green Bay, WI
2) y2j Jeremy Bell Hastings, NE
3) 9v Luke Veren Haverhill, IA
4) 15g Kraig Gretz Kewaunee, Wi
Stock Car Heat #3
1) 22s Shane Stutzman Milford, NE
2) 20v Dustin Vis Leground, IA
3) 76 Lance Borgman Beatrice, NE
4) 6 Tyler Phelps Beatrice, NE
Stock Car Heat #4
1) 31 Eric Rempel Palmyra, NE
2) 60 Clayton Deppe Kellogg, Ia
3) 57v Mike Van Genderen Newton, Ia
4) 98 Todd Laflin Beatrice
IMCA Stock Car A Feature:
1) 57v Mike Vangenderen, Newton, IA
2) 81x Randy Killen, Des Moines, IA
3) 98 Todd Laflin, Beatrice, NE
4) y2j Jeremy Bell, Hastings, NE
5) 2 Bryan LaRiviere, Wichita, KS
6) 69 Dustin Schmidt, Fairbury, NE
7) Mike Pierrard, Green Bay, WI
8) 15 Leif Weyer, Centralia, KS
9) Brent Reierson, Arlington, MN
10)60 Clayton Deppe, Kellogg, IA
11)15c Eric Weyer, Centralia, KS
12) Tony Ditch North, Platte, NE
13)76B Lance Borgman, Beatrice, NE
14) Troy Jerovetz, Green Bay, WI
15) Joe Leuthje, Zearing, IA
16) 3 Josh Carpenter, Fairbury, NE
17) 19B Tim Bengard, Exira, IA
18) 6 Tyler Phelps, Beatrice, NE
19) 9v Luke Veren, Haverhill, IA
20) 31 Eric Rempel, Palmyra, NE
21) 28 Jason Kreft, Carleton, NE
22) 22S Shane Stutzman, Milford, NE
23) 89 Sam Howard, Alexandria, NE
24) Chris Neisen, Burlington, MN
Front Page
Beatrice Spring Fling 2005
Opening Night April 2, 2005
Results from April 9, 2005
Results from April 16, 2005
Results from April 23, 2005
Results from April 30 & May 1, 2005
Results from May 7, 2005
Results from May 14, 2005
Results from May 21, 2005
Results from May 28, 2005
Results from June 18, 2005
Results from June 25, 2005
Results from July 2, 2005
Results from July 9, 2005
Results from July 16, 2005
Results from July 23, 2005 (Gage County Fair)
Results from July 30, 2005
Results from August 6, 2005 - Kids' Night
Results from August 20, 2005
Results from August 27, 2005
Results from September 3, 2005
Results from Eagle Raceway September 10, 2005
Email: blueknightne1@email.com
