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Opening Night 8 April 2006
Beatrice Speedway, Beatrice, NE - 8 April 2006

After a long winter of preparing to race, the 2006 season at Beatrice Speedway got under way on Saturday, April 8, 2006. After storms and heavy rain earlier in the week, new promoter Tim Fralin and the staff at Beatrice Speedway worked hard to get the track in shape for the races.

While working on the R & R Racing/Blue Knights/Shew Towing Monte Carlo IMCA stock car, we found more damage and were not able to get it repaired in time to be able to race. Hopefully, the car will be on track next week.

We got through Test & Tune last Saturday OK after losing the power steering before we even hit the track. The week in between was spent putting final touches on the car and trying to figure out why the power steering would not work.

Saturday dawned cool and clear. After shaking the cobwebs out by downing massive amounts of coffee, I set about putting final touches on the R & R Racing/Blue Knights/Shew Towing factory stock. Tyler Phelps, who will be our regular driver in the stock car this season, came over and helped get everything ready, then helped out in the pits during the races.

The Limited Modifieds and Factory Stocks had the dubious honor of packing the track for opening night. The track crew did a great job of working the track after all of the rain the area got late in the week. The track rolled in quickly and it was time for hot laps.

It looked like there would be some rough spots in the track, but with all the rain that had to be expected. In the set of hot laps I was in, I was the first car out and when the green flew, nobody passed me the entire time. The car worked well and felt good.

When the line-ups came out, I found that we were in the first heat, starting on the inside of the 4th row. The top 5 made the invert and would draw for starting position in the A Feature. Everybody else would fall in at the back of the A Feature.

Due to the wet infield, nobody was allowed to pit there. All pit areas were behind the track, where we weren’t able to watch any of the other races without climbing the catwalk. It was also real hard to hear announcements over the loudspeakers.

During a last minute check under the hood, I found the power steering belt had twisted and would probably come off. I made a quick check to see it I had a belt that would fit, but didn’t find one. I’d have to do without power steering.

We’re finally on the track getting ready for the first green flag of the season. Both cars scheduled to start on the front row are “no-shows”, so my chances of making the invert have increased. We’re on the track and I tighten my belts one more time. Out of turn 4 and we’re green! Into turn 1 and out of turn 2 and the 5m of Neal Mittan is in the lead, with the 66 of Jeff Watts in 2nd. The 15s of rookie Lyle Slama is in 3rd, with the 23 of Kyle Ames in 4th. I’m in 5th, right on the back bumper of the 23. Out of 4 at the end of the first lap and I see the nose of the 69 of Tim Hessheimer on my inside. I’m on the gas down the front chute and into 1, looking for the 69 to make a move on me again. I don’t see him, but I know he’s there someplace close. I concentrate on not making any mistakes and try to stay close to the 23 in case he makes a mistake so I can pick up another spot.

At the half-way point the black flag is out for the 23, as he is apparently leaking fluid. He pulls off and we’re in 4th. I know that the 69 is still behind me, but not how close. We take the checkers in 4th place. After crossing the scale, we all have to draw numbers for our starting position in the A Feature. I draw #3, putting us on the inside of the 2nd row.

We’re trying to find another power steering belt, but neither of the parts trailers has the right one. I check with as many other racers as I can but nobody has the right belt. We’ll have to go without one and hope for a good finish. Without the power steering, you can feel every little bump in the track.

Fill the fuel cell with fuel and check the tire pressures and it’s time to get back in the car and strapped in. The staging area is on the north end of the track, off of turn 4. While we’re waiting, it looks like the track had turned pretty dry as there’s a lot of dust kicking up.

We’re finally on the track. The corners have gotten a bit rough, but for me, the best way around the track will probably be on the bottom. I’m hoping it isn’t too rough as being without power steering will be a disadvantage.

Out of 4 and the flag man is waving, meaning we’ll be green on the next lap. We’re all waving to the crowd, then as we’re in turn 1, I’m making a last moment check to be sure the belts are tight. Into 3 and out of 4 and the green is waving. It’s the 1st A Feature of the season at Beatrice Speedway!

Before the green, the car starting behind be gave me a couple of taps in the back bumper. I held my line into 1, with the 35 of Mike Schwartz, the 6R of Roy Armstrong and the 66 of Jeff Watts going to the outside to pass. Down the back chute and the 5m of Neal Mittan passes. Out of 4 at the end of the 1st lap and we’re shuffled back to 8th place. No time to try to get impatient, though. There’s plenty of time and with the track conditions, anything can happen.

With 12 to go, the 23 of Carey Ames passes me high. Coming out of 2, I get a nudge in the back bumper as the 54 of Mike Pracheil comes up on me. I didn’t think there was enough room between me and the wall to make that pass, but he gets by. At the same time, the 15s of Lyle Slama passes me on the bottom.

On the next lap, the 88 of Jason Tenant loses a right rear axle and the yellow is out. When the track is cleared, we’re lined up for the re-start. A new system is in place with all re-starts in the A Feature being double-file restarts. We line up on the inside of the 54, and once the field is set, we’re green again. In the middle of 3 & 4, the 23 of Carey Ames gets high and crosses up, then shoots down across the track. I’m on the brake with no place to go as the54 is still on my outside. We both hit the 23 broadside before we’ve stopped. My nose piece is crumpled and I can see the hood is buckled as well as the right front fender. I fire the engine and don’t hear any unusual noises. The temp gage is still normal as I back away from the 23. The yellow is out and we’ll have another restart.

I’m hoping to be able to get back by the 54, but on the restart he stays ahead of me. We’re running up on the lap car of the m34 of Matt Spanjer. At the last moment, the 34m comes down and we’re both off the gas to avoid him, letting the 69 of Tim Hessheimer pass me going into 1. On the next lap, I see the 03 of Aaron Roth slow on the front chute with a flat tire. He gets off the track, but on the next lap, there’s a yellow for Lyle Slama as he spins in 3. The 9 of Gary Laflin has also pulled off with a flat tire. Just before that, I saw the 6B of Travis Burger pull to my outside, but I’m able to keep him behind me.

We get the green with 4 to go and as far as I can tell, we’re in about 10th place. I’m in a battle with the 69 of Tim Hessheimer for position. I can run up on him in the corners, but unless I tap his back bumper, I can’t make the pass. We take the white flag and I try to go higher into 1 and come out of 2 a bit lower. Down the chute and I’m alongside, forcing him out of his groove. We’re into 3 side by side, then in the middle of the corner he loses traction and spins. We’re out of 4 and under the checkers. The final count shows the R & R Racing/Blue Knights/Shew Towing Monte Carlo in 8th place.

Next on the schedule: Saturday 15 April 2006 - Beatrice Speedway. Hot laps at 5 PM and racing at 6 PM.

Ernie #6 Factory Stock
Beatrice, Nebraska Speedway

Secretary, Blue Knights Nebraska I

Factory Stock Results for 4-8-06

Heat #1
1) 66 Jeff Watts- Blue Springs, NE
2) 5m Neal Mittan- Wymore, NE
3) 15s Lyle Slama- Beatrice, NE
4) 6 Ernie Reiss- Beatrice, NE
5) 69 Tim Hessheimer, Jr.- Dorchester, NE>br> 6) 23 Cary Ames- Beatrice, Ne
7) m34 Matthew Spanjer- Fairbury, NE
8) 88 Jason Tennant- Beatrice, NE

Heat # 2
1) 1w Delmar Wells- Hallam, NE
2) 6r Roy Armstrong- Beatrice, NE
3) 35 Mike Schwartz- Beatrice, NE
4) 9 Gary Laflin- Beatrice, NE
5) 03 Aaron Roth- Pleasant Dale, NE
6) m64 Matthew Post- Beatrice, NE
7) 54 Mike Pracheil- Dorchester, NE
8) 6b Travis Burger- Summerfield, KS

Factory Stock “A” Feature
1) 6r Roy Armstrong- Beatrice, NE
2) 66 Jeff Watts- Blue Springs, NE
3) 1w Delmar Wells- Hallam, NE
4) 5m Neal Mittan- Wymore, NE
5) 35 Mike Schwartz- Beatrice, NE
6) 54 Mike Pracheil- Dorchester, NE
7) m64 Matthew Post- Beatrice, NE
8) 6 Ernie Reiss- Beatrice, NE
9) 6b Travis Burger- Summerfield, KS
10) 15s Lyle Slama- Beatrice, NE
11) 9 Gary Laflin- Beatrice, NE
12) 03 Aaron Roth- Pleasant Dale, NE
13) m34 Matthew Spanjer- Fairbury, NE
14) 69 Tim Hessheimer, Jr.- Dorchester, NE
15) 23 Cary Ames- Beatrice, NE
16) 88 Jason Tennant- Beatrice, NE

Factory Stock point standings after April 8, 2006

1) 6r Roy Armstrong- Beatrice, NE – 40
2) 66 Jeff Watts- Wymore, NE – 39
3) 1w Delmar Wells- Hallam, NE – 38
4) 5m Neal Mittan- Wymore, NE – 37
5) 35 Mike Schwartz- Beatrice, NE – 36
6) 54 Mike Pracheil- Dorchester, NE – 35
7) m64 Matthew Post- Beatrice, NE – 34
8) 6 Ernie Reiss- Beatrice, NE – 33
9) 6b Travis Burger- Summerfield, KS – 32
10) 15s Lyle Slama- Beatrice, NE – 31
11) 9 Gary Laflin- Beatrice, NE – 30
12) 03 Aaron Roth- Pleasant Dale, NE – 29
13) m34 Matthew Spanjer- Fairbury, NE – 28
14) 69 Tim Hessheimer, Jr.- Dorchester, NE – 27
15) 23 Cary Ames- Beatrice, NE – 26
16) 88 Jason Tennant- Beatrice, NE – 25

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

Email: blueknightne1@email.com