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Beatrice Speedway, Beatrice, NE - 16 April 2005

Factory Stock Photo by Nick Vrtiska
After two straight weeks of taking two cars to Beatrice Speedway and racing in two classes, we decided to only take the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo factory stock to the Beatrice Speedway. If all went right, we planned to take the IMCA car to Deshler on Sunday.

After getting another transmission put in the factory stock over the week, we thought we were ready to race. Somehow, the gremlins keep sneaking in.

We got the car unloaded and got our pit stall in order. It was the week for the factory stocks to pack track, so I got strapped in and ready to go. As we took to the track going in the opposite direction from when we raced, I got into high gear and got on the gas slightly. As I let off, the transmission jumped out of gear!!

After packing the track, I came back into the pits and had my pit guy get a tie down strap to put on the shifter. We got back out for hot laps and going into turn 1, the transmission jumped out of gear and we were headed toward the turn 1 wall. I managed to get back into gear and get the car turned enough to only brush the wall with the right rear tire.

Finishing the hot laps driving with one hand, I came into the pits completely disgusted.

Jeff managed to find a ratchet strap for the shifter and we got it ready to go.

The R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo drew the pole in the 2nd heat. The top 4 in the heat made the inversion and the cars from 5th on back would fill in the back of the A Feature.

Because of the position of the ratchet on the strap, I had to leave my shoulder nelts a bit loose until I got shifted into high gear and got the strap tight. Then, I got leaned back and tightened the shoulder straps. On the 2nd time around the track, the green came out and we were racing on the front straightaway!

I was a bit uneasy going into the 1st turn, not knowing if the transmission would jump out of gear or not. Everything was good, but running the very bottom, the car was tight and I lost ground to several cars. We came out of the first lap in 7th place.

Still worring about the transmission, I got right in behind the next car ahead of me. The R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo seemed to handle well wherever I drove it except the very bottom. We continued running bumper to bumper and two and three wide. As we came down the back chute on the last lap, third place on back was hotly contested. The car ahead of me slid a little high and I tried to pass him on the bottom but got beat to the line. Our 6th place finish put us in the 7th row outside in the A Feature.

The water temp had come up at the end, and in checking under the hood, we found that the ring on the shroud had hit the fan and was destroyed. Using some aluminum sheet we carry, we fashioned another ring and got the shroud fixed before it was time to get lined up for the A Feature.

We still had to top off the fuel cell and check the tires. With a little help from the pit crew next to us, we were able to get out with no problems.

The track was a bit dry in the straightaways, but the corners were tacky, although rough on the bottom. Since I was starting on the outside, I felt I could run a bit higher and make some ground. The current points leader, Jason Jensen in the 15j was starting directly ahead of me. I didn't feel like I could stay with him for long, but maybe I could follow him for a few laps.

We're out of turn 4 on the parade lap and waving at the crwod as they wave back at the drivers. The next lap, the green is out and we're racing!

Going into turn 1, I'm about 1/2 way up the track and feel like I've got a good line. Coming out of turn 2, I've passed a car and am right behind the 54t of Tom Creek. He's loose on the bottom and I try a pass on the high side coming out of 4. However, he drifts high and cuts me off. We go into turn 1 and he is about two car widths below me. Again, he's loose and spins out below me. As I come out of two, I pass another car. Out of turn 4, the yellow is showing. Only one lap is officially completed.

As the line-up is sorted out, I fall into the 11th spot. Not bad after starting 14th. I see a wisp of smoke as we idle around the track, but think it's coming from the car in front of me. The next time around, the corner flagman waves me ahead and tells me I'm in 5th place. I know that can't be right.

One more time around and they're still trying to move me ahead in the lineup. As we idle down the back chute, I glance at the gauges and the red oil pressure light is flickering. The oil pressure gage is not showing any pressure! I push in the clutch and shut the engine down as I coast into the pits.

When we checked the engine, we found that the copper line going to the oil pressure switch in the back of the engine had broken. What a fluke - first time that's ever happened! Wish we could have gotten that gremlin to stay at home.

We watched the rest of the A Feature from the top of the trailer. Hopefully, next week will go better! Guess we should have left the factory stock at home and taken the stock car!

Factory Stock
Points as of 4-16-05

1 114 Jason Jensen, Cortland #15j
2 110 Ronda Mewes, Blue Springs #89
3 109 Neal Mittan, Wymore #5m
3 109 Roy Armstrong, Beatrice #6R
5 108 Mike Swartz, Beatrice #35
6 101 Jeff Watts, Wymore #66
7 100 Jeremy Jensen, Cortland #94j
8 86 Derek Sand, Hanover, KS #33d
9 81 Kasey Garvin, Manhattan, KS #40
10 80 Matt Post, Beatrice #m64
11 79 Travis Burger, Summerfield, KS #6B
12 78 Tom Creek, Wymore #t54
13 77 Ernie Reiss, Beatrice #6
14 74 Shawn Howard, Fairbury #22
15 68 Aaron Roth, Pleasant Dale #03
16 65 Delmar Wells, Hallam #1w
17 64 Darcy Dobrovolny, Waterville, KS #99
17 64 Pat Welch, Lincoln #38g
18 53 Matthew Spanjer, Fairbury #m34
19 44 Ryan Young, Blue Springs #78j
20 32 Gary McGinty, Fairbury #54m
21 29 Owen Spanjer, Lexington #8
22 28 Carey Ames, Beatrice #23

IMCA Stock
Points Standing as of 4-16-05

1 116 Josh Carpenter, Fairbury #3
2 107 David Murk, Blue Rapids KS #m30
3 106 Lance Borgman, Beatrice #76b
3 106 Brandon Johnson, DeWitt #45
5 103 Mike Sherwood, Beatrice #33x
5 103 James Griffith, Beatrice #29j
7 101 Robby Marsh, Hebron #11
7 101 Corey Koca, Milligan #10K
9 89 Samuel Howard, Fairbury #89
10 86 Todd Laflin, Beatrice #98
11 65 Eric Bartels, Jansen #1B
12 65 Eric Rempel, Palmyra #31
13 64 Leif Weyer, Centralia KS #15x
14 61 Ernie Reiss, Beatrice #6
15 59 Terry Franz, Concordia KS #21f
16 40 Derek Fralin, Beatrice #1
17 31 Francis Dobrovolny, Waterville, KS #73

Thayer County Speedway, Deshler, NE - 17 April 2005

After taking care of some last minute details, the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo IMCA stock car was loaded on the trailer and we headed to Deshler for the opening night of the season at the Thayer County Speedway.

IMCA Stock Car photo by Nick Vrtiska
Since it was the first night of the season, everybody had to draw for starting position. Thankfully, I drew a high enough number that I started in the back of the 2nd heat. Starting alongside me was the 2002 IMCA stock car National Champion, Mike Nichols of Harlan, Iowa. I was hoping to at least stay close to him for one straightaway so I might get a look at him at speed.

The straightaways were dry and dust was kicking up. The corners stayed tacky and it was rough on the bottom of the track. Higher up it was smooth. I knew I didn't have enough engine, so I ran the higher side of the track. I did notice that, unlike the factory stock, this car seemed to work on the bottom as well as up higher. Last year when we had the factory stock at Deshler, I really struggled on the dry slick track.

Every time down the front straightaway, I could glance to the left and see the lap counter. Two more laps and we'll be back in the pits. The R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo finishes 5th in the heat race. Checking the lineup later, I find we're starting on the outside of the 6th row in the 20-lap A Feature.

Deshler is running 4 classes this year. The first A Feature to run is the two-man cruiser cars. That is over and the IMCA Hobby stocks pull onto the track. They're calling for the stock cars to get lined up for their A Feature.

This race track runs somewhat east and west. When you come out of turn 4, you're looking directly into the sun. For some reason, when I left the house, I didn't grab my contact lenses. Now, I didn't have any sunglasses to help shield the sun.

Let's see, can I think of any other excuses?? I don't think so, except those guys are fast! I stayed in my high line and tried to get used to the track up there. When the green flew, two of the cars starting behind me went charging forward. The 00 car picked up several places, then dropped to the bottom of turn 3 and dropped out. A couple of laps later, the 3 of Josh Carpenter dropped out with a flat left front tire.

The 89 car of Sam Howard, which started alongside me, was still someplace behind me. He is a first year driver and has struggled at Beatrice. With 6 laps to go, he passes me as I wonder where he came from. Right after that, the leaders lap me and I'm able to watch the race for the win.

We ended up finishing 16th in the A Feature. We don't plan to go to Deshler every week, but hope that every 2nd or 3rd week we'll be able to make the trip. Of course, maybe somebody will come forward to sponsor us with fuel money so we can travel more..... We'll see everybody soon at the races!!

Ernie #6 Factory Stock
#6 Stock Car
Beatrice, Nebraska Speedway

Secretary, Blue Knights Nebraska I

Archives from the 2000 Season

Photo by Nick Vrtiska

We had another nice night for racing as the NSCA Sprint Cars had their first show of the 2000 season at the Beatrice Speedway. Winners in all classes were first time winners at Beatrice Speedway in 2000.

In the Factory Stock class, Andy Barnts shook off his rash of bad luck as he won his heat race and came back to win the A Feature, holding off a hard-charging Jason Logan and Neal Mittan. There was good racing all the way through the Factory Stock A Feature and some shuffling of the point standings.

The R & R Racing Monte Carlo finished 3rd in the 1st heat, putting us in the inside of the third row of the A Feature. After making a couple of minor changes, we thought we were ready for a top 5 finish. Some good natured joking about my bib overalls led me to make a promise..."If we win the A Feature, I'll wear these to bed tonight." If we win some night, I'll still carry this promise out! This was not our night, as we developed either a fuel or an ignition problem and the engine would miss and sputter part of the time and run well part of the time. We lost a 12th place finish to a hard-charging Dave Murck at the finish line by about 3 feet.

Factory Stock:
First Heat:
1. Jason Logan, Diller
2. Brett Goosic, Lincoln
3. Jason Rosenthal, Beatrice
4. Greg Post, Diller

Second Heat:
1. Kyle Ames, Beatrice
2. Todd Laflin, Beatrice
3. Scott Boyer, Beatrice
4. Aron DeWalt, Blue Rapids, KS

Third Heat:
1. Ronda Mewes, Beatrice
2. Dave Murk, Blue Rapids, KS
3. Eric NcMillan, Home, KS
4. Neal Mittan, Beatrice

Fourth Heat:
1. Andy Barnts, DeWitt
2. Brian Carnes, Crete
3. Mike Pracheil, Dorchester
4. Cory Rains, Dorchester

Relaxing after the A Feature

B Feature # 1:
1. Neal Mittan, Wymore
2. Jeff Shew, Beatrice
3. Mike Schwartz, Beatrice
4. Tim Fralin, Beatrice

B Feature # 2:
1. Cory Rains, Dorchester
2. Jeff Watts, Wymore
3. Shane Stutzman, Friend
4. Dave Jueneman, Hanover, KS

Factory Stock A Feature Winner Andy Barnts

A Feature:
1. Andy Barnts, DeWitt
2. Neal Mittan, Wymore
3. Jason Logan, Diller
4. Ronda Mewes, Beatrice
5. Kyle Ames, Beatrice
6. Brett Goosic, Lincoln
7. Cory Rains, Dorchester
8. Eric McMillan, Home, KS
9. Shane Stutzman, Friend
10. Todd Laflin, Beatrice
11. Mike Pracheil, Dorchester
12. David Murk, Blue Rapids, KS
13. Jason Rosenthal, Beatrice
14. Jeff Watts, Wymore
15. Jeff Shew, Beatrice
16. Scott Boyer, Beatrice
17. Brian Carnes, Crete
18. Mike Schwartz, Beatrice

IMCA Hobby Stock:

In the IMCA Hobby Stocks, it looked as though Joel Naaf would close out April with another win. He held off Derek Fralin to win his heat race, with Naaf taking the bottom of the race track and Fralin running a higher line. Fralin appeared to close on the chutes but could not get a run to make the pass. In the second heat, James Griffeth looked like he would hold off Brian Langdale until a lapped car spun and Griffeth had no place to go. Brian Langdale took the lead and the win. In the A Feature, several cars got tangled up in a turn 2 mishap, putting Naaf out for the night. Having replaced his radiator, Griffeth ran second behind Fralin until being passed by Langdale. At the checkers it was Fralin, Langdale and Griffeth.

First Heat:
1. Joel Naaf, Summerfield, KS
2. Derek Fralin, Beatrice
3. Ryan Roschewski, Virginia
4. Chris Kleine, DeWitt

Second Heat:
1. Brian Langdale, Beatrice
2. Justin Fritzson, Blue Rapids, KS
3. James Griffeth, Beatrice
4. Tim Cude, Fairbury

A Feature:
1. Derek Fralin, Beatrice
2. Brian Langdale, Beatrice
3. James Griffith, Beatrice
4. Justin Fritzson, Blue Rapids, KS
5. Terry Shearer, Auburn
6. Ryan Roschewski, Virginia
7. Chris Klein, DeWitt
8. Ryan Gilland, Beatrice
9. Joel Naaf, Summerfield, KS
10. Tim Cude, Fairbury

Pro Am:
First Heat:
1. Brian Florian, Wilber
2. Lance Borgman, Beatrice
3. Eric Bartels, Plymouth
4. Tracy Arntt, Endicott

Second Heat:
1. Kyle Halsey, Beatrice
2. Dan Bohlmeyer, Beatrice
3. Chad Steel, Beatrice
4. Lawrence Warnke, Fairbury

Third Heat:
1. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice
2. Mike Snyder, Beatrice
3. Benji Legg, Beatrice
4. Spencer Sutton, Odell

Trophy Dash:
1. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice

A Feature: 1. Spencer Sutton, Odell
2. Kyle Halsey, Beatrice
3. Brian Florian, Wilber
4. Dan Bohlmeyer, Beatrice
5. Lance Borgman, Beatrice
6. Kevin Olsen, Dorchester
7. Mike Snyder, Beatrice
8. Tracy Arntt, Endicott
9. Lawrence Warnke, Fairbury
10. Leo Huffman, Fairbury
11. Benji Legg, Beatrice
12. Chad Steel, Beatrice
13. Brad Anderson, Beatrice
14. Hugh Carmichael, Wymore
15. Don Brinson, Lincoln
16. Justin Hill, Washington, KS
17. Eric Bartels, Plymouth
18. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice
19. Paul Burck, Beatrice
20. Craig Evers, Beatrice

I.M.C.A. Modified:
First Heat:
1. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice
2. Ron Karpisek, Wilber
3. Tom Vanover,JR, Beatrice
4. Tyler Phelps, Beatrice

Second Heat:
1. Rich Erb, Beatrice
2. Darren Hosick, Lincoln
3. Tom Petracek, Wilber
4. Bryan McAllister, Beatrice

Third Heat:
1. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice
2. Dave Hardesty, Minneapolis, KS
3. Mike Heideman, Seneca, KS
4. Shawn VanLaningham, Beatrice

B Feature
1. Brandon Floyd, Lincoln
2. Rudy Blake, Wilber
3. Steve Davison, Lincoln
4. Gary Saathoff, Beatrice

A Feature:
1. Dave Hardesty, Minneapolis, KS
2. Mike Heideman, Seneca, KS
3. Tom Petracek, Wilber
4. Tyler Phelps, Beatrice
5. Tom Vanover, JR, Beatrice
6. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice
7. Darren Hosick, Lincoln
8. Shawn VanLaningham, Beatrice
9. Roy Christlieb, Wymore
10. Bryan McAllister, Beatrice
11. Rudy Blake, Wilber
12. Brandon Floyd, Lincoln
13. Gary Saathoff, Beatrice
14. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice
15. Rich Erb, Beatrice
16. Jason Brase, Davenport
17. Troy Johnson, Concordia, KS
18. Greg Metz, Washington, KS
19. Ron Karpisek, Wilber
20. Steve Davison, Lincoln

NSCA 360 SPRINT CARS:
For points update, contact http://www.nscasprints.com
Heat 1:
1. Jeff Greffis, Council Bluffs, IA
2. Shelby Steenson, Salina, KS
3. Todd VanLaningham, Beatrice
4. Jason Danley, Lincoln

Heat 2:
1. Jeff Lwery, Lincoln
2. Mike Chadd, Lincoln
3. Todd Frisbe, GreenValley, MO
4. Brian Schnep, Sioux Falls, SD

Heat 3:
1. Terry Ledger, Omaha
2. Rodney Droud, Lincoln
3. Doug Lovegrove, Waverly
4. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln

Trophy Dash Winners:
1. Mike Chadd, Lincoln
1. Shelby Steenson, Salina, KS

B Feature:
1. Andy Devine, Geneva
2. Toby Chapman, Lincoln
3. Kevin Danley, Lincoln
4. Rick Ideus, Lincoln
5. Seth McCown, Fairbury
6. Rick Halverlstadt, Firth
7. Kelly Jacob, Lincoln
8. Scott VanLaningham, Beatrice
9. Ken Lange

A Feature:
1. Shelby Steenson, Salina, KS
2. Rodney Droud, Lincoln
3. Jeff Griffis, Council Bluffs, IA
4. Lonnie Jensen, Lincoln
5. Terry Ledger, Omaha
6. Jason Danley, Lincoln
7. Kevin Danley, Lincoln
8. Rick Ideus, Lincoln
9. Mike Chadd, Lincoln
10. Toby Chapman, Lincoln
11. Todd Frisbe, Green Valley
12. Doug Lovegrove, Waverly
13. Brian Schnel, Sioux Falls, SD
14. Tom Williams, North Platte
15. Seth McCown, Fairbury
16. Dean Chadd, Lincoln
17. Todd VanLaningham, Beatrice
18. Keith Hightshoe, Lincoln
19. Andy DeVine, Geneva
20. Jeff Lowery, Lincoln

Email: blueknightne1@email.com