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Beatrice Speedway, April 22, 2006

IMCA Stock Car photo by Nick Vrtiska

After having an extra week to get ready, the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlos were ready to hit the race track. The weather turned absolutely gorgeous for a Saturday night battle on the 3/8 mile dirt oval.

Not having had the stock car at the track the first week meant we had to draw for starting position. I did better than the first week; the draw put us on the outside of the 3rd row in the second stock car heat.

We did a bit better in the factory stock. When the line-ups came out, we were to start on the outside of the 2nd row in the first heat. The top 5 would make the invert, all other cars would fall in at the back of the A Feature.

The Beatrice Speedway crew is still trying to figure out how to give us a great track to race on. The track seemed a bit greasy in hot laps, but was still smooth. On the next to last lap, I got into 3 a bit hard and went into a lazy spin, but everybody cleared OK. Got to make a mental note to be a bit more careful. The track should be better by heat race time after all the other classes hot lap. The power steering belt stayed on this time!! What would happen if I could drive an entire race with power steering….

Tyler felt like the stock car was pretty good in his hot lap session. We should be in the ball park after a couple of adjustments. With three of us working on two cars, we should be OK. I don’t much know how to act after taking care of both cars by myself last season!!

The factory stock heats are first up, so as soon as the pit meeting is over, I’m strapping into the car. National anthem is done and we’re pulling onto the track. I’m starting right behind the 03 of Aaron Roth, and the 23 of Carey Ames is starting on the pole. The 15s of Lyle Slama is on my inside. Behind me is the 6R of last week’s A Feature winner Roy Armstrong. We have a good starting position, but with the cars coming from the back of the pack, it won’t be a cakewalk by any means.
br> We’re down the back chute and the lights are out, meaning we’ll be green when we hit the front straightaway. I get as close to the 03 as I can without bumping him. Out of 4 and the green is waving! Into 1 and I clear the 15s and fall in behind the 03. Down the back chute and we’re in 3rd place. Out of 4 and under the flagstand to complete the 1st lap in 3rd place.

I glance up at the scoreboard and it is still blank. One more time around and we’re still in 3rd place. At the end of lap 2 the scoreboard shows the 6R of Roy Armstrong in 4th behind me. Going into turn 1, I can see a white nosepiece to my inside. I try to keep my line - the car feels good and if somebody wants to pass they’ll have to go around. At the half-way point, we’re still in 3rd. Going into 1 at the beginning of the 5th lap, the 35 of Mike Schwartz is on my inside again. I still try to hold my line, but coming out of 2, he rubs me pretty hard, getting me out of shape a little. We’re down the back chute and into 3 and the 1w of Delmar wells is on my inside with the 6R of Roy Armstrong on my outside. Out of 4 and they both get by me. As I glance down at the gauges, I see the water temperature is coming up again. Two to go and we’re in 6th, one spot out of the invert. Into 3 again and the 15s of Lyle Slama is able to pass me high. One more lap and we come under the checkers in 7th place, which will put us on the inside of the 7th row. I’m hoping we can find some way to hold the temperature down a bit.

It’s not long before it’s time for Tyler to get strapped into the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo Stock Car. The car was good a month ago during the Spring Fling, but the track is different tonight. After having to straighten and weld the rear end, we’re hoping that everything is right.

The cars are bunched up on the back stretch and when they come out of 4, the green is waving. Into 1 and out of 2 and they’re still all bunched up. First lap is done and Tyler goes to the top of the track to try a pass there. From where we’re at, it looks like the car is loose (meaning the back end is wanting to come around too much) and he loses a little ground. Watching him out of 4 on the next lap, we know we’ll have some changes to make when he comes in. It looks like the carburetor problem we had in the Spring Fling is fixed. As the laps wind down, Tyler puts himself in 5th and keeps that spot at the checkers. That will put him on the inside of the 5th row in the A Feature.

After letting the factory stock cool down, I checked to be sure the radiator was as full as possible. The fuel cell was topped off and all the tires were checked for pressure. The track looked like it wouold dry out, but so far, it was smooth. Starting on the inside was where I wanted to be as I thought my line would be on the bottom in the corners.

During a check on the Stock Car, we could see the right rear was "rolling" too far. In looking at the right rear spring, it was apparent that when we mounted the bottom spring perches, we did not get the right one located properly. Right now, all we could do was to put the heaviest spring we had on the right rear.

With the spring changed, the tire pressures checked and the fuel cell topped off in the stock car, we were ready to race.

The Factory Stocks were the first out after the intermission. I got strapped in and lined up for the A Feature. We still had a few minutes, so I shut the engine down so it would not get warm too soon.

It was just cool enough that when I closed the visor on my helmet when I was sitting, it would start to fog up. We're being waved onto the track and the cars pitting on the east side of the track are pulling onto the track. We're lining up and getting in order so we can get this race in the books.

We get a couple of extra laps, then we're lined up. In front of the grandstand for the parade lap and the crowd is waving and we're waving back. The flag man shows that the next time around we will go green. Out of 2 and down the back chute and the lights going into 3 flash and go off. I'm as close to the car ahead of me as I can get, and the car behind me is pushing my back bumper. Not sure where he thinks he's going to push me, as I'm touching the back bumper on the car ahead of me. Out of 4 and the green is waving and we're racing!

There are a lot of good cars ahead of me, and everybody is through 1 and 2 with no problems. Out of 2 and down the back chute and everybody is bumper to bumper and door handle to door handle. Out of 4 to complete the first lap, and back into 1. The R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo is working on the bottom and feels comfortable. By the end of the 3rd lap we've moved from the 13th starting spot into the top 10.

Five laps down and there's a caution for something. I didn't see any incidents in front of me. I glance down at the temperature gauge and it's showing about 210. Already higher than I like to see, but not dangerous. I want to keep an eye on it, though.

We go to a double file restart, which is something new to Beatrice Speedway this year. On a restart in the A Feature of the non-sanctioned classes, the leader starts up front all alone, then the rest of the field falls in behind in double file.

On the green, I pass the 6B of Travis Burger, who started toward the front of the field. The 35 of Mike Schwartz isn't too far ahead of me and I seem to be gaining on him. I glance at the temperature and it's slowly coming back up. It doesn't look like it will make it to the end without overheating.

Ten to go and the tempurature is getting too high to stay out, so I drop to the inside and wave off, signaling the cars behind me that I'm slowing down. Into the pits and I try to downshift, but the transmission won't go in gear and I have to be pushed to the trailer. We end up with a 17th place finish.

Looks like I'll be trying to figure out how to cool this thing down before next week, as well as trying to figure out why the transmission won't go into gear. I get out and notice that the left rear got a pretty good hit, too. I didn't even feel it, but it was a hard enough hit that the wheel is bent and pretty much junk!

There’s a bit of a break before Tyler has to get strapped in since there are a couple of other A Features ahead of him. A few last minute checks on stuff and the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights IMCA Stock Car is ready to go. I check some tires on the trailer in case we’d have to change some tires during the race. Get the water bottle ready as well as a couple of water jugs.

They’re calling for the stock cars to start getting lined up. Tyler is strapped in and ready to go. The limited mod feature is over and the stock cars are pulling onto the track.

It looks like the track has several racing lanes and there should be some good racing. Everybody is lined up and the flagman is signaling for a green the next time around. Out of 4 and they’re green!

The car looks better than it was in the heat race, but there may still be some issues with it. It looks like it’s loose coming off the corner and he has to get off the accelerator slightly. Tyler is able to adjust his line and looks like the car is working better for him. With 3 down, he’s in 10th place. The 28 of Jason Kreft is the next car ahead of him, and Tyler is slowly catching him. He’s able to make a pass coming out of 2 and sets his sights on the next car ahead of him. The leaders are not that much farther ahead and are battling it out 2 and 3 wide.

Tyler is able to pass the next car in front of him and is closing in on the 7th place car. With 8 to go, the 6th & 7th place cars get together slightly and spin in front of Tyler. He slows and is able to miss everything, but is hit from behind, cutting down the left rear tire. During the yellow, he’s back into the pits for a tire change, then back out to fall in at the back of the field, restarting in 13th place. With only 8 laps to go, he has his work cut out for him.

The green is out and the field is on the gas again. Tyler is able to pick off a car almost every lap and by the time the checkers are out, he’s back to 8th place. A good run, but we felt if he hadn’t gotten hit and flattened the tire, he’d have had a lot better finish.

A quick look at the stock car showed it got hit a pretty good lick on the left rear. It looked almost like the same damage as on the factory stock. Guess we’ll have to do a little extra body work this week. We’ll put the stock car in Jeff’s shop so we can use a hoist to get it off the ground. I hope to find the source of the overheating problem in the factory stock so it will finish a race. The way it was handling and moving, I feel we would have had a great finish if it would have stayed cool.

We hope to see everybody soon at the track.

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

Factory Stock Heat #1

1) 23 Cary Ames- Beatrice, Ne
2) 03 Aaron Roth- Pleasant Dale, NE
3) 35 Mike Schwartz- Beatrice, NE
4) 6r Roy Armstrong- Beatrice, NE
5) 1w Delmar Wells- Hallam, NE
6) 15s Lyle Slama- Beatrice, NE
7) 6 Ernie Reiss- Beatrice, NE
8) 33d Derek Sand- Hanover, KS
9)54m Gary McGinty- Fairbury, NE

Heat # 2

1) 66 Jeff Watts- Wymore, NE
2) 5m Neal Mittan- Wymore, NE
3) 9 Gary Laflin- Beatrice, NE
4) 6b Travis Burger- Summerfield, KS
5) m64 Matthew Post- Beatrice, NE
6) 05 David Mischnick-Crete, NE
7) m34 Matthew Spanjer- Fairbury, NE
8) 4 Greg Crannell-Beatrice, NE
9) 3 Rodney Latta- Marysville, KS

Factory Stock “A” Feature

1) 66 Jeff Watts- Wymore, NE
2) 35 Mike Schwartz- Beatrice, NE
3) 1w Delmar Wells- Hallam, NE
4) 6r Roy Armstrong- Beatrice, NE
5) 5m Neal Mittan- Wymore, NE
6) 23 Cary Ames- Beatrice, NE
7) 9 Gary Laflin- Beatrice, NE
8) 54m Gary McGinty- Fairbury, NE
9) m64 Matthew Post- Beatrice, NE
10) 05 David Mischnick- Crete, NE
11) 03 Aaron Roth- Pleasant Dale, NE
12) m34 Matthew Spanjer- Fairbury, NE
13) 33d Derek Sand- Hanover, KS
14) 6b Travis Burger- Summerfield, KS
15) 4 Greg Crannell- Beatrice, NE
16) 15s Lyle Slama- Beatrice, NE
17) 6 Ernie Reiss- Beatrice, NE
18) 3 Rodney Latta- Marysville, KS

Factory Stock Points

1-79 Jeff Watts Wymore
2-77 Roy Armstrong Beatrice
3-76 Delmar Wells Hallam
4-74 Mike Schwartz Beatrice
5-72 Neal Mittan, Wymore
6-64 Gary Laflin Beatrice
7-61 Carey Ames Beatrice
8-59 Travis Burger Summerfield KS
8-59 Aaron Roth Pleasant Dale
10-57 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
10-57 Matthew Spanjer Fairbury
12-56 Lyle Slama Beatrice
13-35 Mike Pracheil Dorchester
14-33 Gary McGinty Fairbury
15 David Mischnick Crete 31
16 Derek Sand Hanover, KS 28
17 Tim Hessheimer Dorchester 27
18 Jason Tennant Beatrice 26
19 Greg Crannel Beatrice 26
20 Rodney Latta, Marysville, KS 23

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat #1
1) 98 Todd Laflin- Beatrice, NE
2)76 Lance Borgman- Beatrice, NE
3) 3 Josh Carpenter- Fairbury, NE
4) m30 David Murk- Blue Rapids, KS
5) 29j James Griffith- Beatrice, NE
6) 33x Mike Sherwood- Beatrice, NE
7) c15 Eric Weyer- Centralia, KS
8) 89 Samuel Howard- Alexandria, NE

Heat #2
1) 31 Eric Rempel- Palmyra, NE
2) 22 Hugh Carmichael- Blue Springs, NE
3) 28 Jason Kreft- Carelton, NE
4) 69 Dustin Schmidt- Fairbury, NE
5) 6 Tyler Phelps - Beatrice
6) 21 Jay Holle- Hanover, KS
7) 73 Dallas Dobrovolny- Waterville, KS

Stock Car “A” Feature

1) 98 Todd Laflin- Beatrice, NE
2) 76 Lance Borgman- Beatrice, NE
3) 31 Eric Rempel- Palmyra, NE
4) 22 Hugh Carmichael- Blue Springs, NE
5) 28 Jason Kreft- Carelton, NE
6) 3 Josh Carpenter- Fairbury, NE
7) 69 Dustin Schmidt- Fairbury, NE
8) 6 Tyler Phelps- Beatrice, NE
9) 73 Dallas Dobrovolny- Waterville, KS
10) m30 David Murk- Blue Rapids, KS
11) c15 Eric Weyer- Centralia, KS
12) 89 Samuel Howard- Alexandria, NE
13) 33x Mike Sherwood- Beatrice, NE
14) 29j James Griffith- Beatrice, NE
15) 21 Jay Holle- Hanover, KS
IMCA Stock Car Points

1-79 Lance Borgman Beatrice
2-77 Eric Rempel Palmyra
3-74 Todd Laflin Beatrice
4-70 Dustin Schmidt Fairbury
4-70 Josh Carpenter Fairbury
6-69 Hugh Carmichael Blue Springs
7-68 David Murk Blue Rapids KS
8-62 Dallas Dobrovolny Waterville KS
9-59 Mike Sherwood Beatrice
10-58 Samuel Howard Fairbury
11-54 Jay Holle Hanover KS
11-54 James Griffith Beatrice
13-38 Shane Stutzman Milford
14-36 Jason Kreft, Carleton, NE
15-33 Bryan LaRiviere Wichita KS
15-33 Tyler Phelps, Beatrice, NE
17-30 Eric Weyer, Centralia, KS
18-26 Darcy Dobrovolny Waterville 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

Email: blueknightne1@email.com