Beatrice Speedway, Beatrice, NE - 9 July 2005
The evening was hot and the action even hotter at the Beatrice Speedway on Saturday 9 July 2005. I had a premonition that this evening would be, at the least, a strange one. As I was unloading the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo stock car, the water truck was on the track putting more water on the track. I heard a yell and looked in time to see the water truck come to a stop sitting sideways on the track just before turn 1. I guess they had enough water on the track!
Prior to the Invocation, it was announced that Francis Dobrolovny of Waterville, Kansas passed away Saturday morning. Francis had raced an IMCA stock car, a factory stock and a two man cruiser at Beatrice Speedway. He raced at Beatrice Speedway for the last time on 26 June 2005. On Tuesday 6 July 2005, he learned that he had cancer and was to start chemotherapy the next day. On Thursday his health took a turn for the worse and he passed away late Saturday morning. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Due to the amount of water that had been dumped on the track, it took some extra time to get the track rolled in. However, once ready to race, the track stayed tacky and got rough before the end of the evening.
After fighting an oil consumption problem in the engine in the R & R Racing/Blue Knights factory stock for the last three weeks, the old reliable "Bullfrog" engine was put back in the car. Here's hoping it will run long enough for me to get the other engine apart and figure out why it became a mosquito fogger.
For the 4th week in a row, we were in the first heat race. Due to our recent successful runs, our points average has come up a little and we're having to start farther back in the races. We were scheduled to start on the inside of the 2nd row, behind the #7 car of my occasional substitute driver, Jeff Shew, and the 6B of Travis Burger. The #35 of Mike Schwartz was starting behind me, along with the 6R of Roy Armstrong, who won last week and the 94j of Jeremy Jensen. The top 4 in each heat would make the invert; the remaining cars would fall in behind to start the A Feature.
The track was almost too wet when we went out for our heat race. At the drop of the green, I tried to go to the inside of the #7. The 35 of Mike Schwartz went high and passed both of us and the 6B of Travis Burger maintained his position. I passed the 7 coming out of turn 2 and beat him into turn 3. Coming out of turn 4, the 6R of Roy Armstrong passed me on the high side. As we crossed the start/finish line at the end of the 1st lap, we were in 4th place. The leader board showed the #7 someplace behind me.
The 35 stepped out on the rest of us, and the battle was for 2nd place between the 6B, the 6R and the 6. The 6B found a higher groove to his liking and it was all the 6R could do to finally get around the 6B for 2nd place. I stayed about 3 car lengths behind the 6B but could not close the gap on him. At the checkers, the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo factory stock crossed in 4th place, making the invert.
It looked like the track would stay tacky for the A Feature, so there were not many changes to make. I did pick out another tire with a little better tread for the left rear - with the tacky track, I wanted the best tires I had on the car. I also changed thermostats in the engine as I thought the temperature came up pretty fast during the heat race.
In checking the line-up board, I found that the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo factory stock would start on the inside of the 3rd row in the A Feature.
Time for the stock car heats. We were scheduled to start on the outside pole in the first heat. The 89 of Sam Howard was to start on the pole. I just hoped to somehow beat the 89 into the first corner and stay ahead of him for the entire heat. Lining up behind us were current points leader Brandon Johnson and former IMCA national champion Mike Nichols.
Getting strapped into the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo stock car, I waited until the last possible moment before strapping on the helmet. The heat was still stifling.
We pulled onto the track and took the obligatory couple of laps. Down the back chue and the lights flash, then go out. Out of turn 4 and the green flag is out and we're racing!
I actually didn't get passed until we got into turn 1. The 89 had the bottom of the track, and with a tacky track, he stayed in front of me. Out of turn 2, most of the pack went by me. Going down the back chute, I was already pulling tearaways from my helmet in order to see through the mud being thrown back by the cars in front of me.
The heat race ran green the entire 8 laps, with cars ahead of me jockeying for position. I was able to stay within about 10 car lengths of the 89, then there was a gap before the rest of the pack ahead. As I came out of turn 4 with two laps to go, I caught a glimpse of a black nosepiece on the inside of me out of the corner of my eye. I had not realized it, but there was still a car behind me. I tried to stay straight, but on the gas to keep from being passed. One more lap and the checkers are out. I later found out the 33x of Mike Sherwod had finished behind me.
When the lineups came out, we were to line up on the inside of the 7th row in the stock car A Feature.
One last check of the factory stock to be sure the tire pressures are right and see that I have enough tearaways on my helmet and it's time to get strapped into the car. The 22 of Shawn Howard is to start on the pole, with the B6 of Travis Burger on the outside pole. The T54 of Tom Creek was to start in the second row, right in front of me, and the 54m of Gary McGinty was starting on the outside of the second row. The 9 of Gary Laflin was starting on my outside, with the 03 of Aaron Roth starting right behind me.
As I sat in the car waiting to get lined up, I tried to figure out what I would do when we went green. The 22 car is not very fast, and the T54 has really struggled, having a tendency to push in the corners. I think I can pass both the T54 and the 22 before we get into turn 1, but I'm sure the 03 will be following me.
We're pulling onto the track and taking an extra lap to get lined up. Once we're in line, we're out of turn 4 on the parade lap, with the crowd waving to us and the drivers all waving back. Time for one final tug at the belts to be sure they're tight, we're down the back chute and the lights flash, then go off. In the middle of turn 3, we're starting to accelerate and the green is out!
The T54 started to drift toward the middle of the track, while the 22 held his line. I went to the bottom and passed both the T54 and the 22 before getting into turn 1. Into turn 2 side by side with the 54m and down the backchute 2 and 3 wide. The B6 leads into turn 3, with a large pack of hungry drivers behind.
I'm still not sure what happened going into turn 3, but it seemed like everybody was trying to occupy the same space at the same time. I got hit in the back several times, but managed to keep the car straight. Out of turn 4, I accelerated, but something was wrong. I could not hold the car straight. As we're going down the front chute, the yellow comes out. I'm off the gas and into turn 1, and nearly lose control of the car as it suddenly wants to point at the outside wall. I manage to get it straightened out and fall into line for the re-start.
The 89 of Ronda Meves is stopped at the bottom of turn 4. It looks like she has a broken axle, which will put her out for the evening. The 23 of Carey Ames has also been involved, but he manages to pull away on his own, although he has two flat tires and some suspension damage.
Under the yellow, I accelerate again and the car doesn't react the way it should. I'm thinking I either have a flat tire or a broken axle. As we idle out of turn 2, the turn 2 flagman signals to me that I have a flat tire. We're still yellow, with the wrecker just getting hooked up to the 89. I'm into the pits for a tire change.
Racers are a great bunch of people!! I showed up with no pit crew this evening. Pulling into my pit area with a flat tire, there are a half dozen guys ready to change the flat right rear tire. I'm stopped and somebody already has a jack under the right side. By the time the tire has cleared the ground, somebody else has already used an air wrench to get the lug nuts off the flat tire. The rim is pulled off and the replacement tire zipped into place with the air wrench, and the jack is let down. I'm back to the track, hopefully as good as new.
I pull to the back of the pack and wait to see if the officials move me forward any. I'm trying to count back from the leader to see how far back I really am, but it's a LONG way! Once we're lined up, it will be a single file restart with the R & R Racing/Blue Knights Monte Carlo restarting somewhere around 14th place.
The green is out and we're racing again! This time, it's a good start and everybody gets through the next lap without too much damage.
We restarted behind a pack of cars which included the 9 of Gary Laflin, the 94j of Jeremy Jensen and the x69 of Pete Kruse. I go into turn 1 alongside the 9 and manage to get to his inside and pass him coming out of turn 2. I set my sights on the 94j, who is the next car ahead of me. However, he's having to deal with the x69, who is struggling through the corners. With about 7 laps down, there's another yellow. This time, I see part of a driveshaft sticking in the back chute. Track workers are trying to pull it out, but apparently not having any luck. A wrecker is eventually summoned and they hook the winch up to the driveshaft, getting it out of the way.
A couple of more laps under the yellow and we have another single file restart. Once again, the x69 is loose in the corners and the 94j is trying to not get collected. With about 10 to go, the x69 drifts high and the 94j goes to the bottom in turn 2, passing the x69. I follow the 94j, who suddenly slows and drops to the bottom of the back chute as I pass him.
I am able to start to count back from the leaders and I'm thinking we're in about 9th or 10th place. With about 10 to go, the 23 of Carey Ames passes me high going into turn 3. I thought he'd gone out on the first yellow!
I tried to pass the 23 back, but could only pull alongside of him and not make a pass. With 7 to go, the 54m of Gary McGinty pulled to my inside going down the back straightaway. I managed to beat him into the corner, but he wasn't able to turn and we had contact. It didn't seem to hurt anything and we raced side by side for another lap before I was able to maintain my lead over him.
With 6 to go, the 6R of Roy Armstrong slowed ahead of me and dropped out of the race. I counted back and saw that we were in 8th place.
As the laps counted down, I tried everything I could to pass the 23 but was not able to. The 7 of Jeff Shew and the 6B of Travis Burger were in 5th & 6th, and we could not gain any on them, either. White flag, one last try to pass the 23. I catch him going into turn 3, but he pulls away coming out of turn 4. We take the checkers in 8th place. All in all, it was a good run considering that I had to restart in the back!
I had just enough time to get the car cooled down and back on the trailer before it was time to get back into the R & R Racing/Blue Knights stock car. I made another quick check on the tire pressures on the car, then I was back in and strapped in.
We're back on the track and getting lined up. I'm starting just behind the 89 af Sam Howard. The 98 of Todd Laflin is lined up outside of the 89 and the 10 of Tracy Arntt is lined up on my outside. It sure looks like a long ways to the front of the pack.
The parade lap completed, we're on the back chute and the lights flash and go out. Out of turn 4 and the flagman is waving the green flag. Here we go, let's hope everybody gets through turns 1 and 2 unscathed.
The 33x of Mike Sherwood, who started behind me, does not waste any time getting past me. We;re out of turn 2 and near where we're running at, we're single file. A bit closer to the front of the pack, they're running two and three wide! The track has stayed tacky and is real fast. There are some ruts, but for the most part you can drive around them.
I'm able to stay close to the 89, and wait for a bobble on his part that will allow me to get past him. He washes up a bit in the corners and I try to shoot under him but don't have quite enough bottom end to get the job done. About 4 laps in, he goes into turn 3 a bit too hot and loops the car to the bottom of the track, allowing me to get past. A couple of laps later, the 29j of James Griffith also loops it in turn 3 and I gain another spot. However, a couple of laps later, there's a yellow for the #1 car of Derrick Fralin, as he stops on the track, the victim of mechanical woes. That closes us all back up.
On the green, the 29j of James Griffith again passes me. I'm able to stay ahead of the 89. We have a pretty long green flag run going and with 6 laps left, the leaders start to lap me.
Somewhere along the line, the 10 of Tracey Arntt had dropped out. The 45 of Brandon Johnson also had a flat tire right in front of me and I had to make a hard right and use the brake to keep from hitting him. He went into the pits for a tire, but had to wait for the next yellow and lost several laps.
Shortly after being lapped by the leaders, the yellow came out again as the 63 of Mike Nichols came to a stop at the top of the track in the middle of turn 1. He was pushed off the track, we lined up and we went green once again. I counted back from the leaders and it looked like I was in 11th place.
After taking the green, the 89 passed me on the bottom in the middle of turn 1. I was able to stay within 3 or 4 car lengths of him to try to re-take the position from him. We came under the flagstand with two to go and I still wasn't able to close on him. Out of turn 2 and down the back chute and I gained a car length on him. He's into turn 3 on the bottom, but was apparently in too hard, and once again spun out on the bottom. I'm about 3 car widths higher and go by him; the white flag is out. One more lap and the checkers are flying. We take a respectable 11th place finish. Just goes to show that the fast cars don't always finish.
In checking the cars over, it looks like the usual nuts and bolts check on both cars this week. I did develop a brake problem on the factory stock that I hope will not be too hard to remedy. Hopefully, everything will fall into place and both cars will be ready to race.
Next races will be at Beatrice Speedway on Saturday July 16th. The next week, Saturday July 24th, is the Gage County Fair and I hope we can make a good showing that night.
We hope to see everybody at the races soon!
Ernie
#6 Factory Stock
#6 Stock Car
Beatrice, Nebraska Speedway
Secretary, Blue Knights NE I
Factory Stock
Racing Results for 7-9-05
A Feature:
1 Neal Mittan Wymore
2 Aaron Roth Pleasant Dale
3 Mike Schwartz Beatrice
4 Jason Jensen Cortland
5 Jeff Shew Beatrice
6 Travis Burger Summerfield KS
7 Carey Ames Beatrice
8 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
9 Gary McGinty Fairbury
10 Peter Kruse Deshler
11 Mathew Spanjer Fairbury
12 Roy Armstrong Beatrice
13 Shawn Howard Fairbury
14 Matthew Post Beatrice
15 Jeremy Jensen Cortland
16 Derek Sand Hanover KS
17 Gary Laflin Beatrice
18 Tom Creek Wymore
19 Ronda Mewes Blue Springs
Factory Stock
Points as of 7-9-05
1 428 Roy Armstrong Beatrice
1 428 Neal Mittan Wymore
3 427 Jason Jensen Cortland
4 426 Mike Schwartz Beatrice
5 411 Ronda Mewes Blue Springs
6 388 Aaron Roth Pleasant Dale
7 382 Jeremy Jensen Cortland
8 364 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
9 331 Matt Post Beatrice
10 326 Gary Laflin Beatrice
11 314 Derek Sand Hanover, KS
12 313 Travis Burger Summerfield, KS
13 308 Tom Creek Wymore
14 299 Jeff Watts Wymore
14 299 Gary McGinty Fairbury
16 295 Shawn Howard Fairbury
17 259 Carey Ames Beatrice
18 231 Delmar Wells Hallam
19 196 Matthew Spanjer Fairbury
20 188 Darcey Dobrovolny Waterville KS
21 135 Pat Welch Lincoln
22 127 Owen Spanjer Lexington
23 126 Ryan Young Blue Springs
24 95 Kasey Garvin Manhattan KS
25 59 Jeff Shew Beatrice
25 58 Peter Kruse Deshler
25 26 Kurt Wilson Hanover KS
27 24 Jeff Stohs Hanover KS
28 22 Scott Jones Fairbury
IMCA Stock Car
Racing Results for 7-9-05
A Feature:
1 Lance Borgman Beatrice
2 Josh Carpenter Fairbury
3 Eric Bartels Jansen
4 Robby Marsh Hebron
5 Eric Rempel Palmyra
6 Kevin Snyder Beatrice
7 Mike Sherwood Beatrice
8 Todd Laflin Beatrice
9 Corey Koca Milligan
10 James Griffith Beatrice
11 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
12 Samuel Howard Fairbury
13 Derek Fralin Beatrice
14 Tracy Arntt Endicott
15 Mike Nichols Harlan IA
16 Brandon Johnson DeWitt
IMCA Stock
Points as of 7-9-05
1 422 Josh Carpenter Fairbury
2 420 Lance Borgman Beatrice
3 419 Brandon Johnson DeWitt
3 419 Robby Marsh Hebron
5 415 James Griffith Beatrice
6 413 Todd Laflin Beatrice
7 375 Eric Rempel Palmyra
8 372 David Murk Blue Rapids KS
9 361 Mike Sherwood Beatrice
10 356 Samuel Howard Fairbury
11 338 Ernie Reiss Beatrice
12 260 Corey Koca Milligan
13 240 Eric Bartels Jansen
14 168 Derek Fralin Beatrice
15 158 Darcey Dobrovolny Waterville KS
16 126 Greg Deters Centralia KS
17 94 Leif Weyer Centralia KS
18 96 Kevin Snyder Beatrice
19 60 Francis Dobrovolny Waterville KS
20 59 Terry Franz Concordia KS
21 27 Tracy Arntt Endicott
22 26 Mike Nichols Harlan, IA
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
Email: blueknightne1@email.com
