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Beatrice Speedway, Beatrice, NE - 23 July 2005

The hottest day of the season also had some hot racing at the Beatrice Speedway's Gage County Fair last Saturday evening.

After getting the "mosquito fogger" back together early in the week, I decided to put it back in the factory stock and hope the oil consumption problem was remedied. When I fired it up, it appeared that the problem was taken care of.

Jeremy was able to help me out with his trailer this week, so I only had to make one trip each way to the race track. I was thankful for that on a day that saw the temperature above 100 degrees.

It appeared that the track would be in pretty decent shape despite the heat and wind. The track packers did a pretty good job of rolling the track in; then the IMCA stock cars took a turn at finishing the track packing chores. I took a few laps packing track, then came back into the pits and got into the factory stock for hot laps.

The track was still a bit "greasy" in hot laps, but I found a spot on the bottom of turn 2 where I could really feel the car getting hold of the track. A few laps, then it's back to the pits to make a few minor changes.

The line-ups are up and the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo factory stock will start on the inside of the 2nd row of the 3rd heat. In the stock car class, we will start on the pole in the 1st heat.

With the hot weather, it appeared that the grandstands did not fill as fast. I noticed that there didn't appear to be a lot of people on the midway at the fair, either. The grandstands did get more people as the evening went on.

With both cars ready to go, the announcement is made for the 1st factory stock heat to line up. I'm in the car and relaxing, but with the heat, I'm not putting my helmet and gloves on until the last minute.

Time for our heat to pull onto the track. Defending track champion Ronda Mewes is starting on my outside, with the 6R of Roy Armstrong behind me. On the front row is the 7 of Jeff Shew and the 66 of Jeff Watts. The top 4 cars will make the invert in the A Feature with the rest of the field falling in behind.

It still looks like the track will be good as we circle the track. We're out of turn 4 and the green is waving. Everybody is into turn 1 and out of turn 2 with no problems. The 66 of Jeff Watts immediately takes the point. The 7 of Jeff Shew is in 2nd and the 89 of Ronda Mewes passes me in 3 for 3rd place. Out of turn 4 and the 6R of Roy Armstrong passes me high, putting me in 5th place.

We're back into 1 and still in a pretty tight pack. Out of 2 and the 7 and 89 are battling for 2nd place. They'er side by side into 3 and I've got the best seat in the house to watch them!

One more lap and the 89 gets to the inside of the 7 going into 3, The 7 is a bit high and the 89 has the advantage coming out of 4. At the same time, the 6R passes the 7 and I seem to be closing the gap on him a bit. As we pass under the flagstand, the 7 suddenly slows and I pass him, going to 4th place. Next lap under the flagstand and we're halfway done with the heat race. I glance over to the pit and Jeremy is signaling me that I have a big lead over the 5th place car. I want to finish and not take myself out, and at this point I've made the invert and will start toward the front in the A Feature.

With the laps winding down, I'm still in 4th. The white flag is out; one more to go. Out of 4 and the checkers are waving - we've got a 4th place finish and will start in the 3rd row of the A Feature.

The engine is running a bit hot so we cool it down once I'm back to the pits. I check the tires to see how much pressure gain we had, then it's time to get into the stock car.

I need to remember to find the other cool collar for next week. By the time a heat race is over, the cool collar is warm. But it seems to help and I'm sure it's cooler than not having it on.

Prior to getting into the car, I talked to the guys starting behind me. I told them I would go to the bottom so they would not run me over. The R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo stock car is on the pole, with defending 2004 IMCA stock car National Champion Mike Nichols starting on my outside. What a way to start the night! Oh, well, if I'm going to get waxed, it might as well be by somebody that is real fast!!

The green is out and we're into turn 1in a tight pack. Everybody is out of 2 and down the back chute. Nichols has jumped to an early lead in the 8-lap race, with the 33x of Mike Sherwood on his back bumper. Everybody is scrambling for position, with some cars running the bottom and the 31 of Eric Rempel taking the high line. At the end, it's the 63 of Mike Nichols taking the checkers. The R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo finishes in 7th place and will start the A Feature on the outside of the 7th row.

We've now got a bit of time to check everything over. I decide to bump the timing up a little on both cars in the hopes that will help alleviate the heat problem. That done, we top off the fuel cells in both cars and Jeremy sets air pressure in the tires on both cars. We get a couple of tires out of the tire rack in case of a flat during the A Feature. By the time everything is done, I don't have the time to walk the track during intermission.

They're already calling for the factory stock A Feature to line up. I'm hurrying to get strapped in. Helmet on and seat belts tight - I forgot my cool collar! Too late now.....

We're on the track and it takes a couple of extra laps to get lined up. Parade lap time and the crowd is waving to us. The R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo factory stock is starting on the inside of the 3rd row, with the 89 of Ronda Mewes on my outside. The 66 of Jeff Watts is starting on the front row and will be hard to beat if he doesn't run into any bad luck. The 54m of Gary McGinty, the 9 of Gary Laflin and the 23 of Carey Ames are all starting ahead of me, and they've all been running strong in the last few weeks.

Out of 2 and down the back chute and the turn 3 lights are off. In the middle of 3, the polesitter is on the gas and the flag man is showing the green flag. We're into 1 in a pack, bumper to bumper and door handle to door handle. The track is still a bit tacky, but unless you're on the bottom, is a bit bumpy. I'm under the 9 trying to pass, but can't get by. Out of 2 and down the back chute and I'm in 5th place. The 66 has taken an early lead with the 54m in 2nd.

Going into 1 on the 3rd lap the 6A of Roy Armstrong passes me on the top side. I've decided to try to stay on the bottom in the corners as it's a bit smoother there. I find the car has developed a bit of a push, which we struggled with last year for most of the season. I can adjust my entry a little and that helps.

In the middle of 3, the 66 slows and goes toward the top of the track with a flat tire and the 54m inherits the lead. One more lap and the 89 is on my inside, making the pass coming out of 4. However, there's a yellow and the field is re-set to the last lap. We've gotten shuffled back a bit, with the 99 of Aaron DeWalt and the 03 of Aaron Roth having passed us and running ahead of us now.

During the yellow, I count back from the leaders and find that we're in 8th place. With the line-up in place, the 89 has to start behind me. Her car is strong and unless she has bad luck, it will only be a matter of time before she's able to pass me. The 15j and 94j are also someplace close behind me.

The field is re-set and the we're green again. Everybody gets through 1 OK and I still manage to stay ahead of the 89. I'm protecting the bottom; if she wants the pass, she'll have to go around me on the top. Under the flagstand and the lap counter shows 14 to go.

One more time into 1 and the 99 gets loose ahead of me. His back end goes around and he can't save it. He's crossways in the track in almost the identical spot that I hit the lap car a few weeks back. I know the 89 is on my inside someplace and I make a hard right, missing the 99. I thought everybody got through all right, but as I'm into 3, the yellow is flashing. Everybody is slowing coming out of 4 and when we get back around 2, I see the 99 with the front end all smashed and the radiator leaking. On the inside wall at the beginning of the back chute is the 89 with two flat tires.

Rhonda Mewes in the #89 on the bottom is collected by the #99 of Aaron DeWalt while the #15j of Jeremy Jensen somehow slips through untouched. The #94j of Jeremy Jensen follows me around the top of the incident.
Photo by Nick Vrtiska

One more time around, and the red flag suddenly comes out. We stop on the back chute and will turn off our engines. The turn 3 flagman tells us it will be a while before we're yellow as they will have to cut the roof off the 89 to get the driver out. We found out later that she got hit on the right by the 99, sending her into the inside wall and getting a hard hit on the left side. She was complaining of a lot of neck pain and the safety crews did not want to take any chances with possible neck injuries.

Once the safety crews are done and the cleanup is over, the yellow comes on and we can start up and move. However, since we'd idled around a bit and the weather was so hot, my engine does not want to fire. After sitting while the field circles the track, Jeff Shew pulls up behind me and pushes me off and the engine fires. Thanks, Jeff!

We're in a single file restart and the green is out. The engine temperature is a little more comfortable, but I'll keep an eye on it as it wants to go up in a hurry. We restart in 9th place. At this point, the 54m of Gary McGinty is leading the pack.

We're able to pick up another spot with 10 laps to go. Then, the 15j slows and drops out with mechanical problems. With about 5 to go, the 03 of Aaron Roth spins in 3 and we go by him. We've got some lap cars, but this week they aren't an issue as they stay out of the way, at least for me. With 4 to go, we're in 6th place, but the water temp is getting a bit dangerous. I've been trying for several laps to make a pass on the 9 and can't get enough "go" to get the job done. I know there's at least one car pressing me from behind and I'm doing all I can to protect the bottom. As we get the two to go from the flagstand, the 94j tries the bottom once again. I still keep him at bay and lead him out of 2 and down the back chute. He's able to get under me in 3 and finally makes the pass coming out of 4. The white is out and we're in 1 for the last time. Out of 2, I see the 23 of Carey Ames on my outside. I beat him into 3 and drag race him out of 4 to beat him to the checkers. We've got another respectable 7th place finish.

Factory Stock
Racing Results for 7-23-05

A Feature:
1 Roy Armstrong Beatrice
2 Neal Mittan Wymore
3 Mike Schwartz Beatrice
4 Gary Laflin Beatrice
5 Gary McGinty Fairbury
6 Jeremy Jensen Cortland
7 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
8 Gary Ames Beatrice
9 Aaron Roth Pleasant Dale
10 Shawn Howard Fairbury
11 Jason Jensen Cortland
12 Jeff Watts Wymore
13 Jeff Shew Beatrice
14 Matthew Spranjer Fairbury
15 Aaron DeWalt Waterville KS
16 Ronda Mewes Blue Springs
17 Tom Creek Wymore
18 Travis Burger Summerfield KS
19 Matthew Post Beatrice

Factory Stock
Points as of 7-23-05

1 505 Roy Armstrong Beatrice
2 502 Mike Schwartz Beatrice
3 496 Jason Jensen Cortland
3 496 Neal Mittan Wymore
5 476 Ronda Mewes Blue Springs
6 453 Jeremy Jensen Cortland
7 445 Aaron Roth Pleasant Dale
8 431 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
9 395 Gary Laflin Beatrice
10 374 Matthew Post Beatrice
11 369 Gary McGinty Fairbury
12 366 Travis Burger Summerfield KS
13 352 Tom Creek Wymore
14 347 Jeff Watts Wymore
15 342 Shawn Howard Fairbury
16 314 Derrick Sand Hanover KS
16 314 Cary Ames Beatrice
17 251 Matthew Spanjer Faibury
18 245 Dallas Dobrovolny Waterville KS
19 231 Delmar Wells Hallam
20 162 Pat Welch Lincoln
21 127 Owen Spanjer Lexington
22 126 Ryan Young Blue Springs
23 122 Jeff Shew Beatrice
24 95 Kasey Garvin Manhattan
25 81 Peter Kruse Deshler
26 26 Kurt Wilson Hanover KS
26 26 Phil Ambrose Hanover KS
28 24 Jeff Stohs Hanover KS
29 22 Scott Jones Fairbury

Once the car is cooled down and on the trailer, we have just a few minutes to get into the stock car and get ready for the IMCA A Feature. We are starting 16th, so I know I won't get run over at the beginning. The track is still tacky in the turns but getting dry in the chutes, so I'm not sure what to expect. It's still real hot in the car, and I grab my cool collar out of the ice chest. Want to be sure I have "the envelope" in my shirt pocket in case I end up being eligible to claim an engine.

We're on the track and making the parade lap. The only car that is starting behind me is the 89 of Sam Howard. I hope to be able to beat him into the first trun and keep him behind me the entire race. With the track conditions, I am anticipating that some cars will have problems and not finish. I just hope that I can miss whatever happens in front of me.

The parade lap is over and we're out of 2. The turn 3 lights flash and go out, signaling that we'll be green when we come out of 4. Everybody is on the gas and we're racing! I'm into 1 ahead of the 89 and never see him the rest of the night. Out of 2 and there's a rolling traffic jam ahead of me with everybody jockeying for position. Out of 4 and under the flagstand to finish the first lap.
As I'm coming out of 2 several cars get together ahead of me just past the beginning of the back chute. Cars are spinning every which way and the 25 of Kevin Snyder and the 45 of Brandon Johnson are stopped on the track. The 45 is steaming and water is running out of his radiator.

Both cars are unable to continue. We've already gained two spots and there's just one lap in the books. We're green one more time. I still don't see the 89, but I'm sure he's behind me, waiting for me to slip up and take the position away. We have about 12 laps of green and I am just trying to run consistent laps. With about 8 to go, the 29j of James Griffeth slows and pulls off with a flat tire. The flagman is also indicating that the leaders are coming up on me.

With 6 to go, the 1B of Eric Bartels spins in 1 and is sitting on the bottom in the middle of 1 and 2. He can't get restarted and is towed off. About the same time, the 10k of Corey Koca drops out with mechanical problems.

With the yellow, the pack closes up and when we restart, I'm in 11th, right behind the 31x of Leif Weyer. The 29j has changed his flat and is back out, but he's at least one lap down.

The green is out and once again, I keep the 89 behind me. The 31x jumps out to about 10 cars ahead of me, but going into the turns, I seem to be closing on him. It appears that he is suddenly having handling problems as he is going higher on the track and it looks like he either has an engine problem of his tires are smoking. With 3 to go, the 31x slows drastically and heads for the pits, moving us to 10th. The white is out and I'm still trying to concentrate on running a good line and not make any mistakes. One more time around and the checkers are flying - the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo stock car takes home a 10th place finish - and finishes on the lead lap, thus being eligible to claim the engine of one of the top 4 finishers.

I pull into the claim area - this time I have all the required items in my sealed envelope. Defending 2004 IMCA Stock Car National Champion Mike Nichols took home the win and I tell the official that is the engine I want to claim. He counts the money and goes to talk to Mike.

The official is back at my car telling me what I need to do. We then get the car back to the trailer and get the equipment we need.

It looks like we'll now have a good engine. Because of work schedule and having to find some parts before we put the engine in, it will be at least a couple of weeks before it goes into the car. I'm getting anxious - I want to see what this car will do with a good engine in it. :-)

Next race is at the Beatrice Speedway on Saturday July 30th. We hope to have a good night as I'll be in Oklahoma City all week so I won't have much time to work on the car between races.

We hope to see everybody soon.

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

IMCA Stock Car
Racing Results for 7-23-05
A Feature:
1 Mike Nichols Harlan IA
2 Mike Sherwood Beatrice
3 Lance Borgman Beatrice
4 Robby Marsh Hebron
5 Todd Laflin Beatrice
6 Eric Rempel Palmayra
7 Derek Fralin Beatrice
8 Josh Carpenter Fairbury
9 Darcy Dobrovolny Waterville KS
10 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
11 Samuel Howard Fairbury
12 Leif Weyer Centralia KS
13 James Griffith Beatrice
14 Corey Koca Milligan
15 Eric Bartels Jansen
16 Kevin Snyder Beatrice
17 Brandon Johnson DeWitt

IMCA Stock
Points as of 7-23-05

1 495 Lance Borgman Beatrice
2 491 Josh Carpenter Fairbury
2 491 Robby Marsh Hebron
4 488 Todd Laflin Beatrice
5 481 James Griffith DeWitt
6 472 Brandon Johnson DeWitt
7 444 Eric Rempel Palmyra
8 440 Mike Sherwood Beatrice
9 417 Samuel Howard Fairbuy
10 401 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
11 372 David Murk Blue Rapids KS
12 299 Eric Bartels Jansen
13 287 Corey Koca Milligan
14 220 Darcey Dobrovolny Waterville KS
15 202 Derek Fralin Beatrice
16 126 Greg Deters Centralia KS
17 123 Leif Weyer Centralia KS
18 121 Kevin Snyder Beatrice
19 94 Mike Nichols Harlan IA
20 60 Francis Dobrovolny Waterville KS
21 59 Terry Franz Concordia KS
22 27 Tracy Arntt Endicott

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