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Beatrice Speedway, Beatrice, NE - June 3, 2006

This week stayed dry and the temperatures started to be a lot more summer like. Saturday’s highs were over 90 and with the kids’ bicycle races before intermission, it looked like a good night in store for fans and racers alike.

The R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo Factory Stock was scheduled to start on the inside of the 2nd row in the 1st heat race. It was also our turn to pack the track. After last week’s rains the night before the races, there was a lot of dirt moved to the bottom of the track. During the week, it was all scraped back onto the track and packed in, but it was still soft and took longer than usual to roll the track in.

We took hot laps toward the end, and the track was still real tacky in the corners and the front chute, but the back stretch was dry. It would be an unusual track tonight. The car seemed to handle well, until going into 3, it broke loose and I almost spun it out. I recovered and started to pull back onto the track, and it felt like I had a flat tire. Once into the pits, I found that the front bolt in the right lower trailing arm had either broken or come out, letting the rear end slide back on one side. With some help from the pit crew of Aaron Roth and Jason Jensen, we got another bolt back in and the car was ready to race.

Tyler decided to not take hot laps and did some last minute tinkering to get the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights IMCA Stock Car ready for his heat race. He was to start on the inside of the 2nd row in the 2nd heat.

The cruisers were racing tonight, so we weren’t the very first heat tonight. That also gave them a chance to get the track rolled in a bit more before we had to go out. Tyler was watching the track, and as I was getting ready, he came back to the car. He said the track was still tacky all the way around except for the very bottom in 3. He cautioned me about going too low there.

The 69 of Tim Hessheimer was starting in front of me, and during the drivers’ meeting, I asked him what he was going to do when we went green. He said he’d try to stay on the bottom in the turns and drift about halfway up in the chutes. I’d have to try to go under him when the green came out and hope I could beat him into 1.

We’re bunched up coming down the back chute and the turn 3 lights are out. In the middle of 3, the 68 accelerates and as we come out of 4, the green is waving. I’m on the gas and go to the inside of the 69, but can’t make the pass and fall in behind him going into 1. Out of 2 and I try again to go under him, but can’t make the pass. The 33d has taken the lead, with the 54 in 2nd and the 6R in 3rd. We’re in 5th behind the 69. The top 4 will invert.

I keep on the back bumper of the 69 but still can’t make the pass. We’ve just finished the 3rd lap, and in the middle of 1 and 2 I have to let off a bit to keep from hitting the 69 and spinning him out. I’d noticed that on the last lap, he’d washed up in the middle of 3 & 4, and if I can get below him, maybe I can pass him on the bottom coming out of 4. We’re back into 3 and I go to the very bottom - too far and hit the dry place I was warned to stay away from. The rear end starts to come around and I try to correct, but it’s too late and I make a 180. I manage to keep going, but by the time I’m going in the right direction, I’m in 7th. I’m back on track hoping for somebody else to make a mistake, but it doesn’t happen and we finish the heat race in 7th place. When the line-ups come out later, I find that I’ll start the A Feature from 16th.

Factory Stock heats:

First Heat:
1. 54 Mike Pracheil, Dorchester
2. 6R Roy Armstrong, Beatrice
3. 33d Derek Sand, Hanover, Kan.
4. 9 Gary Laflin, Beatrice
5. 69 Tim Hessheimer, Crete
6. 3 Rodney Latta,
7. 6 Ernie Reiss, Beatrice

Second Heat:
1. 66 Jeff Watts, Wymore
2. 35 Mike Schwartz, Beatrice
3. 23 Kyle Ames, Beatrice
4. M64 Matthew Post, Beatrice
5. 88 Jason Tenant, Beatrice
6. 54m Gary McGinty, Fairbury (DNS)

Third Heat:
1. 15S Jason Jensen, Cortland
2. 5m Neal Mittan, Wymore
3. 03 Aaron Roth, Pleasant Dale
4. 1w Delmar Wells, Hallam
5. 4 Greg Crannell, Beatrice
6. 6B Travis Burger, Summerfield, KS (DNF)

With tonight being the night for the Kids’ Bicycle races, we had a few extra minutes to check the car over. I added some fuel to the fuel cell, but I felt that with as heavy as the track was, I wouldn’t need any extra weight. I made sure I was about 2/3 full. Everything was checked under the hood and the radiator was topped off. During the kids’ races, we were able to walk on the track to see where the best place might be to run. We’re scheduled to run right after the cruiser A Feature, which is first after intermission.

The Cruiser A Feature is on the track and they’re calling for the Factory Stocks to get lined up in the staging area. I’m in the car and getting strapped in; Tyler puts up the window net and double checks it. With 5 to go in the Cruiser A Feature, I fire the engine in the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo and pull to the staging area.

The last laps are over and we’re being waved onto the track. I’m thinking that starting this far back, all I can do is improve my position. I make a last moment check of my belts and glance at the gauges. Everything looks fine and I’m ready to go racing. The parade lap is complete and the lights going into 3 are out. We’re into 3 and out of 4 and the green flag is waving!!

With the track being as heavy as it is, there’s not much dust tonight. The car is handling pretty well, but so are all the other cars. I’m starting behind the 4 of Greg Crannell and the 88 of Jason Tenant. In the past, I’ve never had a problem passing them, but with the track the way it is tonight, they’re both having a good run. As we complete the first lap, I have not gained any places on the track.

The 4 and the 88 are pretty much racing side by side and I’m having to wait until one gains an advantage. I can run up on both of them at the end of the chutes, but just stay even with them in the corners. At the end of the 5th lap, I’m finally able to pass the 4 and set my sights on the 88. In the meantime, the 6B of Travis Burger, who had started behind me, was able to pass me and picked up another couple of spots. He’s had some problems the last couple of weeks, including this evening in the heat race, and it looks like he’s finally having some better luck.

I’m able to glance up at the scoreboard as we run down the front straight-away. By counting back from the 5th place car, it looks like I’m in about 13th place. It’s been a while since I finished out of the top 10, and I sure don’t want to do it tonight. But, I’m not going to drive over my head or make any stupid mistakes, either. The lap after I passed the 4, I’m able to finally make my way past the 88. The lap after that, the 23 of Carey Ames, who started right behind me, passes me high coming out of 2. We’re also gaining on some of the cars that started farther toward the front of the pack.

About half way through we finally catch a yellow when the 9 of Gary Laflin breaks an axle and his tire rolls across the track in turn 2. He comes to a stop on the bottom of the back chute. Once he’s towed off the track and his wheel has been picked up, we go to the double file restart. We’re all bunched up and as we come out of 4, we’re green again! Time to get back to the task at hand.

The 23 was one spot ahead of me and started on my outside. When the green flew, we raced side by side for a couple of laps before I was able to beat him into 3. Out of 4 and I had him cleared and set my sights on the 33d, who had started on the front row. The laps are winding down, and as near as I can tell, I’m in 12th place. I run on his back bumper for a couple of laps, trying to decide where I want to try to pass him at. Out of 2 and down the back chute, I’m inches off his back bumper and about a half lane toward the bottom. All of a sudden, his rear end breaks loose. First sending the car careening toward the outside wall, then directly back across the track in front of me. Somehow, I’m able to clear him with no contact. I’m sure glad of that - I HATE body work!!

I’m coming up on the m64 of Matt Post, who also started on the front row. He’s 3 points ahead of me in 10th place going into tonight’s races and I’d sure like to pick up a couple of points. He’s had some problems tonight and I loaned him a carburetor spacer to help him out. I’d rather beat him on the track than have him broke down and sitting in the pits. That’s one of the things I really enjoy about this - everybody pulls together and helps each other out.

I can almost catch the m64 going into the corners, then he has a slight advantage in the chutes. He may also have some handling issues, but I can’t quite make a pass. The white flag is out and I have one last chance to make up the ground. We’re into 3 with the m64 having a slight advantage. I’m out of 4 on the bottom, but as we go under the checkered flags, he has about one car length on me. The R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo Factory Stock has an 11th place finish.

The gauges all show normal and I'm able to drive right onto the trailer. Once the car is tied down, I'm out checking the tires. It looks like once again, everything was working well. With the heavy track, we were probably down on power a bit compared to some of the cars that finished ahead of us, but the car is still in one piece.

Factory Stock A Feature:
1) 66 Jeff Watts, Wymore
2) 15s Jason Jensen, Cortland
3) 5m Neal Mittan, Wymore
4) 6r Ray Armstrong, Beatrice
5) 1w Delmar Wells, Hallam
6) 35 Mike Schwartz, Beatrice
7) 03 Aaron Roth, Pleasant Dale
8) 54 Mike Pracheil, Dorchester
9) 6b Travis Burger, Summerfield, KS
10) m64 Matt Post, Beatrice
11) 6 Ernie Reiss, Beatrice
12) 23 Carey Ames, Beatrice
13) 33d Derek Sand, Hanover, KS
14) 4 Greg Crannell, Beatrice
15) 3 Rodney Latta, Marysville, KS
16) 88 Jason Tennant, Beatrice
17) 9 Gary Laflin, Beatrice
18) 69 Tim Hessheimer Sr, Dorchester
19) 54m Gary McGinty, Fairbury (DNS)

Factory Stock points after June 3, 2006
1-260 Jeff Watts Wymore
2-256 Delmar Wells Hallam
2-256 Roy Armstrong Beatrice
4-255 Neal Mittan Wymore
5-243 Mike Schwartz Beatrice
6-236 Lyle Slama Beatrice
7-226 Gary Laflin Beatrice
8-222 Aaron Roth Pleasant Dale
9-219 Cary Ames Beatrice
10-216 Matthew Post Beatrice
11-212 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
12-206 Travis Burger Summerfield KS
13-143 Gary McGinty Fairbury
14-136 Bob Latta Marysville KS
14-136 Derek Sand Hanover KS
16-129 Greg Crannell Beatrice
17-128 Mike Pracheil Dorchester
18-127 Jason Tennant Beatrice
19-121 Tim Hessheimer Dorchester
20-116 David Mischnick Crete
21-80 Matthew Spanjer Fairbury
22-50 Jeff Shew Beatrice
23-30 Ashley Holle Hanover KS
24-26 Jeff Stohs Hanover KS

Tyler has a better time of it in his heat race. When his heat rolled onto the track, he was starting in the same spot I had, inside of the 2nd row. With the track being heavy, he wasn't completely sure of what to do with the car since it has been mostly dry slick all season long. As the drop of the green, he went low and passed the pole-sitter, then went into 1 side by side with the outside pole-sitter. The car washed up a bit, but everybody came out all right and going down the back chute, Tyler took the lead. He never looked back and won the heat race with the 22 of Hugh Carmichael and the 98 of Todd Laflin chasing him across the line. When the line-ups were posted later, he would start the A Feature on the inside of the 3rd row.

A quick check showed the tires heated up evenly. Tyler was pretty much satisfied with the way the car handled and ran. We checked fuel and decided that as heavy as the track was, that we didn't need to add any. If there weren't a bunch of long cautions, we'd be OK. Checking under the hood, everything looked fine.

IMCA Stock Car heats:

First Heat:
1. 31 Eric Rempel, Palmyra
2. 76 Lance Borgman, Beatrice
3. 3 Josh Carpenter, Fairbury
4. 21 Jay Holle, Hanover, KS
5. 73 Dallas Dobrolovny, Waterville, KS
6. James Griffith, Beatrice (DNF)

Second Heat:
1. 6 Tyler Phelps, Beatrice
2. 22 Hugh Carmichael, Blue Springs
3. 98 Todd Laflin, Beatrice
4. 99 Darcy Dobrovolny, Waterville, Kan
5. 5 Jim Stolzenburg
6. 89 Sam Howard, Alexandria

The IMCA Stock Car A Feature was the next to last race of the night. Another check on everything and the car is ready to go. They’re finally calling for the stock cars to get lined up in the staging area. Tyler is strapped in, I snap the window net and re-check it, and he pulls away and reports to the staging area.

I check some tires in the tire rack on the trailer, getting them ready in case there is a need for them. I think we’re ready to race.

The stock cars are pulling onto the track and the pace car is out. A couple of times around the track, and the pace car pulls off. The field is bunched up down the back chute. Into 3 and out of 4 and the green is waving. It’s time to race!

Tyler takes the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights IMCA Stock Car to the bottom on the front chute and pulls even with the 73 of Dallas Dobrolovny. The 99 of Darcy Dobrolovny (these guys are twins!!) goes high around outside polesitter #89, Dam Howard. Into 1 and they’re 4 wide. Out of 2 and down the back chute 3 wide, with Tyler having a slight advantage in 3rd place. Out of 4 to complete the 1st lap, and he’s still barely hanging onto 3rd place, with the 31 of Eric Rempel and the 3 of Josh Carpenter making it three wide.

On lap 3, Tyler is able to make a pass on the leader, the 21 of Jay Holle. The 3 is right on Tyler’s back bumper, then pulls alongside Tyler. They battle side by side for 3 laps before Tyler suddenly develops a push coming off the corners and the 3 takes the lead. (We later find that the right front shock went bad) It’s clear after that that Tyler is struggling with the car as he is passed by the 22 of Hugh Carmichael and then the 98 of Todd Laflin. The 3 is still leading, but suddenly begins to smoke. After a couple of laps, he's still smoking and takes a black flag, putting Tyler back into 4th. He is able to change his line some and actually gains some ground back; however, there are no yellows to bunch the field back up and when the checkers fall, he brings the car home in 4th place.

Once across the scale and into the tech area, where the top 4 cars are required to stop. The tech inspector asks us to take the carburetor off in order to inspect it to be sure it's legal. Once that's done, we're told that we're OK, the carb goes back onto the engine and I drive the car back to the pits. Overall, it's been another good night for the R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlos.

IMCA Stock Car A Feature:
1) 98 Todd Laflin, Beatrice
2) 22 Hugh Carmichael, Blue Springs
3) 76 Lance Borgman, Beatrice
4) 6 Tyler Phelps, Beatrice
5) 73 Dallas Dobrovolny, Waterville, KS
6) 21 Jay Holle, Hanover, KS
7) 99 Darcy Dobrovolny, Waterville, KS
8) 5 Jim Stolzenburg, Clifton, KS
9) 89 Samuel Howard, Alexandria
10) 3 Josh Carpenter
11) 31 Eric Rempel
12) 29j James Griffith (DNS)

IMCA Stock Car points after June 3, 2006
1-264 Lance Borgman Beatrice
1-264 Todd Laflin Beatrice
3-256 High Carmichael Blue Springs
4-249 Josh Carpenter Fairbury
5-245 Eric Rempel Palmyra
6-231 James Griffith Beatrice
7-220 Dallas Dobrovolny Waterville KS
8-213 Tyler Phelps Beatrice
9-194 Darcy Dobrovolny Waterville KS
10-183 Samuel Howard Alexandria
11-156 Mike Sherwood Beatrice
12-155 Jay Holle Hanover KS
13-100 David Murk Blue Rapids KS
14-70 Dustin Schmidt Fairbury
15-65 Jason Kreft Carelton
16-65 Jim Stolzenburg Clifton KS
17-38 Shane Stuzman Milford
19-33 Bryan LaRiviere Wichita KS
20-30 Eric Weyer Centralia KS

The next races will be at the Beatrice Speedway on Saturday June 10th. This will be a special night at Beatrice Speedway, with several specials planned and races being sponsored by Husqvarna. The Beatrice Speedway Hall of Fame will feature local legends of racing through the years. The Big Car Asociation will be on hand to take a two hot lap session in their "classics." You can also experience the "Beast" racing simulator in front of the grandstand throughout the night.

Following the races, "Whizker Bizkit" will be playing in the pit along with a pork BBQ feed. Sponsored by Beatrice Speedway, Jet Racing, Buhr Truking, Buhr Hog Farm, C & C Processing, Van's BBQ, Bruna Hog, Women for Racing and Crawford Heating and Air.

Admittance to the band & BBQ will require a grandstand ticket stub or pit wristband.

The R & R Racing/Shew Towing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo will be wheeled by a guest driver, as Jan & I will be out of town for a Blue Knights function. If the driver does well, he may have a job on Saturdays for the rest of the summer.

We hope to see everybody at the track soon. Don't forget to take your kids racing, so you won't have to go racing after your kids.

Ernie #6 Factory Stock
Beatrice Speedway
Beatrice, NE

Secretary, Blue Knights Nebraska I

Email: blueknightne1@email.com