After a week of lows in the 30's and rain in the middle of the week, the decision was made by Beatrice Speedway officials to cancel the races scheduled for 30 April. The high temperature for the day was predicted to be 55 with an overnight low around 30. After trying to work the track more for a better racing surface, Mother Nature once again did not cooperate.

The R & R Racing/Blue Knights IMCA stock car was ready to race and after thinking things over, we decided to make the haul to the Junction Motor Speedway at McCool Junction, Nebraska. During the trip over, I kept wondering if we should have stayed at home.

That feeling got stronger as we pulled to the pit gates and there was nobody there. I'd been sure the pit gates opened at 4 PM, and it was about 4:10. We were met at the gate by an official who assured us we were just a bit early.

We had a choice of pit stalls, so I got the one as close to the coffee pot as I could. We got our pit area set up and I went to register the car. Not having raced this year at JMS, I thought we would have to start at the back since we didn't have a point average.

The scehdule of events showed that track packing would start at 5:50 PM. As the time neared, I started to get ready; however the call never came to pack the track. Shortly after 6 PM, the announcement came that the late models would hot lap first.

During our hot lap session, the car felt good. I still felt we should have been at least one step taller in gear, but since the only gear set we have is in the car, we'll have to use what we have.

When the line-ups came out, we were to line up on the inside of the 2nd row in the 2nd heat race. They must not go by a point average to figure out where to line you up. I hunted up the guy who was to start behind me and let him know that I would not be doing a brake check at the start; however, I'd hold my line so he could go around me. Someday, I WILL have an engine that will keep up with these guys!

There was another Beatrice regular in my heat race and I figured that I could race him even if I did get smoked by everybody else. We're lined up in the staging area, waiting for the race ahead of to be over. Finally, the official waves us onto the track. As we go through turn 2, the official signals that we'll be green when we come out of turn 4. Down the back chute and the lights are off. Out of turn 4 and the green flag is waving!

I'm on the gas, giving the R & R Racing./Blue Knights Monte Carlo everything I have. The car handles great through the corner, but we are passed by two cars coming out of turn 2. That allows me to move up a bit on the track to run a bit different line. The corners are real wide with a fair amount of banking. The track was smooth, something I had not seen yet this season!

Coming out of turn 4, I glance at the scoreboard and see that we're in 6th place. Everybody is to go into the A Feature with the top 4 in each heat inverted.

I've pretty much got the footfeed all the way to the floor around the entire track. Just let up a bit going into the turn, then back on all the way around and back down the chute. I'm running a line where I'm fairly comfortable.

On the 3rd lap, the 89 of Sam Howard passes me on the bottom in turn 1-2. I drop in behind him, trying to keep him from getting too far ahead of me. He's running the bottom in the corners and I know if I'm to get the spot back, I'll have to pass him high.

I can run right up on his back bumper in the chutes, then he's diving to the bottom. I notice that in the middle of the corner, he looks like the car wants to come around on him. At the same time, I'm starting to smell a little bit of anti-freeze. I realize his engine is getting hot and is pushing antifreeze out of the radiator overflow and onto the right front tire.

Another lap and the 89 almost spins in 2, gets straightened out and heads down the back chute. I'm running a higher line and in turn 4 he spins to the bottom of the track. I'm clear and it's smooth sailing to the end of the heat race. We finish in 6th place.

Our finish puts us on the inside of the 7th row for the A Feature. The track is drying out a bit, but is staying smooth. During a last minute check of tire stagger on the rear end of the car, I find a loose left rear wheel bearing. Not enough time to fix it, I decide to take a chance and race it.

Once we're lined up and waiting for the call to pull onto the track, it seems to take forever for the race ahead of us to getover with. After several restarts and yellow flags, we finally get the call to pull onto the track.

We're lined up and out of turn 4, the green is waving! Here we go!

The car is working well in the middle of the track. Even though lacking the power that the other cars have, it is working flawlessly. I keep the cars ahead of me within a respectable distance and am actually reeling in the 88B that started on the outside of the 2nd row.

I can count the cars ahead of me and it looks like we're in about 12th or 13th place. I'm slowly gaining on the 88B and hope to catch him and see if I can race with him. I forget about the 89 who is someplace behind me until he passes me on the bottom in turn 2. I make a mental note that if I can get by him again, to protect the bottom of the track in the corners.

The 88B seems to have found his groove as he starts to pull away from me. I simply can't keep up with him. I'm staying on the back bumper of the 89. With 4 to go, I'm in 12th place and the 89 spins to the bottom of the track in turn 3. I go by on the high side, moving into 11th place. On the restart, I find myself on the back bumper of the 88B and another chance to try to pass him.

At the drop of the green, I'm not able to stay with the 88B. At the checkers, the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo is in 11th place.

We're able to drive the car onto the trailer and finish up another good night of racing.


4/30/2005 - Junction Motor Speedway Results...
Street Stock Cars

Heat 01
1. Chuck Bialas, Monroe
2. Shane Stutzman, Milford
3. Jason Van Winkle, Grand Island
4. Bill Graber, Ewing
5.Nick Wehrle, Madison
6. Owen Spanjer, Fairbury
7. Andy Wilkinson, York
8. Corey Koca, Milligan
Heat 02
1. Jason Wilkinson, Neligh
2. Justin Gregg, Hastings
3. Shawn Primrose, Norfolk
4. Gene Kohmetscher, Lincoln
5. Mike Graber, Ewing
6. Ernie Reiss, Beatrice
7. Sam Howard, Fairbury

A-Main 01 -- 1. Jason Wilkinson, Neligh; 2. Andy Wilkinson, York; 3. Shawn Primrose, Norfolk; 4. Chuck Bialas, Monroe; 5.Gene Kohmetscher, Lincoln; 6. Justin Gregg, Hastings; 7. Shane Stutzman, Milford; 8. Jason Van Winkle, Grand Island; 9.Mike Graber, Ewing; 10. Bill Graber, Ewing; 11. Ernie Reiss, Beatrice; 12. Nick Wehrle, Madison; 13. Sam Howard, Fairbury; 14. Owen Spanjer, Fairbury; 15. Corey Koca, Milligan.

Arriving back home shortly after midnight, we got the car unloaded and into the shop. Before quitting for the night, we pull the rear axles and check and tighten the rear wheel bearings.

A quick nut and bolt check as well as checking the ride height Sunday and the car is ready to load and head to the Thayer County Speedway in Deshler, Nebraska.

It's another cool, breezy day and the crowd is sparse. The R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carol will start from the pole in the first heat.

In hot laps, the track is tacky in the corners and the car handles well. With the track being tacky, I can drive the car a bit differently and actually "throw" it into the corners. That's the first time all season I've been able to do that.
br> The top 4 cars in each heat will be inverted in the A Feature according to their points average and the rest will start behind those making the invert.

At the drop of the green, it's a mad scramble into turn 1. Coming out of turn 2, a blanket could have covered all 6 cars. I come out in 6th place. The 2002 IMCA Stock Car National Champion, Mike Nichols, quickly takes the lead. I'm trying my best to keep up. On the 3rd lap, the 45 of Brandon Johnson slows going into turn 2 and pulls off the track, moving me into 5th place. As the laps wind down, I concentrate on running smooth, consistent laps. When the checkers fall, I'm still in 5th place.

For some reason, we're stuck on the 7th row as when the line-ups come out, that's where we start again tonight. Not to worry, that will keep me from being run over right off the bat.

Top off the fuel and check the tires and it's time to get belted back into the car and get lined up. The wind is still blowing and it's plenty cool. I tell Jeff to get the ramps down on the trailer and when I come in, we'll get the car right onto the trailer.

The track does not run north and south like some tracks do, but it doesn't run due east and west like others do. Because of this, when you're in the middle of turns 3 and 4, the sun is right in your eyes and makes it really hard to see.

We are lined up and it looks like we'll get the green the next time around. The pack is out of turn 4 and everybody accelerates, but coming out of turn 2 the yellow lights are flashing. It will be a complete restart.

The next attempt at a start is good and we're into turn 1 and out of turn 2 and down the back chute. Into turn 3 and several cars get together and are spinning. I go to the bottom and miss the mess. It looks like everybody gets going because there is no yellow.

The y2j car looks like it has a flat tire and pulls into the pits. He is apparently able to make quick repairs because he is back onto the track real fast.

Next, the 3 of Josh Carpenter starts smoking badly. He runs one more lap and pulls his car into the pits. As I come down the front chute I glance up and see that the 1b of Eric Bartels is in the lead with the 63 of Mike Nichols in 2nd. The 11 of Robby Marsh is in a pack ahead of me, and suddenly slows as he drifts toward the top of the track in turn 3. It looks like he has a flat right front tire, and he pulls into the infield.

As I go under the flagstand at the halfway mark, I'm lapped by the 1b and then the 63. On the next lap, several more cars go by me. I'm still trying to make the best laps I can and try not to get into anybody's way. As the laps wind down, it seems like my car is running as well as it did at the beginning. The checkers are out and we go across the finish line in 13th place.

Once again, I was able to drive the car onto the trailer and it does not appear that we have any repairs to make during the week. Time will tell.

It looks like the weather will be a lot nicer this weekend. We plan to take both the factory stock and the IMCA stock car to the Beatrice Speedway on Saturday. There are no races at Deshler on Sunday, so we'll be taking the day off from racing.

Thayer County Speedway
A Feature - IMCA Stock Cars
1) 63 Mike Nichols
2) 1b Eric Bartels
3) 22s Shane Stutzman
4) 10 Tracy Arntt
5) 98 Todd Laflin
6) 31 Eric Rempel
7) 00 Darren Nutsch
8) 15x Leif Weyer
9) 17 Brett Berhrends
10) 21f Terry Franz
11) 31x Greg Deters
12) y2j Jeremy Bell
13) 6 Ernie Reiss
14) 97 Troy Atwood
15) 3 Josh Carpenter
16) 11 Robby Marsh
17) 25 Brent Drohman
18) 45 Brandon Johnson


Thayer County Speedway Points standings after 5-1-2005

1. #63 Mike Nichols 117
2. #22s Shane Stutzman 111
3. #31 Eric Rempel 109
4. #1b Eric Bartels 104
5. #15x Leif Weyer 100
6. #97 Troy Atwood 98
6. #10 Tracy Arntt 98
8. #45 Brandon Johnson 91
9. #00 Darren Nutsch 90
10. #21F Terry Franz 89
11. #y2j zJeremy Bell 86
12. #3 Josh Carpenter 84
13. #98 Todd Laflin 69
14. #19 Mel Franz 68
15. #17 Brett Behrends 67
16. #25 Brent Drohman 54
17. #6 Ernie Reiss 53
18. #29j James Griffith 36
19. #31x Greg Deters 30
20. #89 Sam Howard 26


We hope to see you at the track soon!

Ernie #6 Factory Stock
#6 Stock Car
Beatrice Speedway & Thayer County Speedway, Nebraska

Secretary, Blue Knights Nebraska I

Front Page
Beatrice Spring Fling 2005
Opening Night April 2, 2005
Results from April 9, 2005
Results from April 16, 2005
Results from April 23, 2005
Results from April 30 & May 1, 2005
Results from May 7, 2005
Results from May 14, 2005
Results from May 21, 2005
Results from May 28, 2005
Results from June 18, 2005
Results from June 25, 2005
Results from July 2, 2005
Results from July 9, 2005
Results from July 16, 2005
Results from July 23, 2005 (Gage County Fair)
Results from July 30, 2005
Results from August 6, 2005 - Kids' Night
Results from August 20, 2005
Results from August 27, 2005
Results from September 3, 2005
Results from Eagle Raceway September 10, 2005